Mulching plants will help conserve water and cuts down on weed maintenance.

After last year’s drought we all know the importance of water to our plant’s health.  To help retain moisture in the soil during the dry summer, maintain mulch to a depth of 3 inches.

Mulch will also add organic matter to the soil and help condition clay soils over years.  The decomposed mulch will help aerated and add nutrients to the soil.

All plants need one inch of water per week.   Test the soil by digging down 6 inches, if the soil is dry its time to water again.

An application of aluminum sulfate on blue hydrangea will help maintain “blue” color.

Treflan, weed seed kill treatment, can be applied to mulched beds to cut down on weed germination.

Encourage new growth and continued flowering on annuals and perennials by deadheading.  Deadheading is a term referring to removing the spent flowers from the plant.

Fertilize perennials three times per year with a surface fertilizer.  Apply one application in early spring, second in June and final application in summer.

Annuals and flowering baskets should be fertilizer every 7 to 10 days with a water soluble plant food.   Fertilome Blooming and Rooting plant food analysis is 9-59-8. The “59” is phosphate which promotes blooms.  What is your fertilizer’s analysis?

Leaf scorch on trees occurs during hot weather, usually in July and August.  Leaves turn brown on the edges and between the veins.  Sometimes the leaf dies.  Many trees loose their leaves during the summer because of leaf scorch.  To prevent scorch, water deeply during hot, dry weather.  Young branches are affected by this condition but generally the tree does not die.

Apply Step # 3 Fertilome Lawn Food Plus Iron in late summer.  Helps maintain a thick, rich and healthy lawn.

Holes in your hosta leaves?  Control snails, slugs and pill bugs by applying Snail & Slug Bait around plants to pre-moistened soil. Best results in the evening.

Brown areas on junipers and Dwarf Alberta Spruce? Check for spider mites by holding a white paper under the plant and gently shake the plant. If you see tiny specs that move then the damage is caused by spider mites.  TREAT IMMEDIATELY!   Mal-a-cide Spray is effective for killing spider mites.

Add lots of organic humus or peat moss to existing soil to promote good drainage and root growth.

Add Fertilome Root Stimulator and Start N Grow fertilizer to the new plants.