Bob & Pete's Seasonal Landscape and Gardening Tips for the Sierra Foothills

BP Landscapes of Grass Valley, Nevada City, Auburn, Folsom, and surrounding areas. Voted best landsape design firm for 6 years in a row by readers of The Union newspaper.

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Bob & Pete's Seasonal
Landscape and Gardening Tips

August 2010 Gardening Tips:
Summer Lawn Care...
A brown lawn is not necessarily a dead lawn. Grasses can go dormant in hot, dry weather, but adequate water can bring them back. Lawns need one inch of water every week this time of the year, and it's best to water them during early morning hours, thoroughly and deeply, allowing the soil to warm up afterwards, growing deep, plant sustaining roots. A taller lawn height will help cool the roots and retain moisture; consider adjusting your mower.

All about Xeriscaping...
Here in the Sierra foothills we are fortunate to have abundant water for our landscaping projects, but xericaping, gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental irrigation, is gaining in popularity. Xeriscaping uses locally native plants and those that require little supplemental watering, and it takes full advantage techniques such as mulching, low maintenance design and rainwater retention. Xeriscapes may look more austere, but have the advantage of simpler, less stressful gardening.

Moisture in the Garden
If the hot summer weather is stressing you, take a moment to think about how it may be stressing your plants! Container plants and hanging baskets need more attention in hot weather, check them daily for adequate moisture by pushing your finger an inch or two into the soil. Drip systems are available for container gardens and are terrific time savers; call us for more information and help with your summer landscape needs.

Pruning the Dead...
It can be easy to neglect our garden chores in hot weather, but just a little daily maintenance grooming your flowering plants can make a big difference in your garden's overall appearance. Take a few minutes to pick off dead flowers on annual and perennial plants and you will promote their flowering longer into the season. Pruning hybrid roses now encourages fall blossoms and more enjoyment later!

July 2010 Gardening Tips:
Defensive landscaping...
Living in California means living with wildfires. Your best protection includes keeping that defensible space around your home by mowing down tall grasses and weeds, trimming dead growth from shrubs and trees and pruning back any overhanging branches from rooftop areas. Irrigation systems that keep your landscape green are an added protection and a true property asset. If you need help with irrigation system installations or repairs, call or e-mail us!

Pinch and feed…
Removing dead flowers on roses and other perennials will help maintain the overall health of the plants and will promote bloom production. While you're spending time on these plants, help boost their energy by fertilizing with a well balanced flower/rose fertilizer or organic plant food. If you're blessed with abundant blooms on your roses, take the time to bring some into your home for round the clock enjoyment!

Watering Time…
Summer's warmer temperatures require closer attention to your lawn and garden's water needs. The best watering time is early to mid morning; if you have a sprinkler system on a timer, set it to begin no earlier than 5 AM.
Late evening watering may promote fungus growth; it's best to avoid watering during the PM hours. Mulching around plants in your garden will help retain moisture too. Our landscape experts are available to help with warm weather gardening needs.

Pruning tomatoes?…
By now your tomato plants may be well established and growing quickly. You may want to try pinching back "suckers" that form where the plant branches meet the main stem to help keep your plants open to sun and air and controllable in size. Small suckers can easily be pinched off with your fingers; use a pruner on more established stems. You may be rewarded with larger, more robust tomatoes as your plant develops into harvest time.

Weeds!…
Warm weather can bring on unwelcome weed growth. Here are a few tips on weed control: Weed often, pull a few weeds every day to avoid sore muscles. Weed early in the season: small weeds are easier to remove! Remove flowering and near flowering weeds first to prevent spreading their seeds. Choose low maintenance plants with broad foliage, tall or large plants and vigorous growers to fill in your garden and there won't be as much room for weeds to establish.

June 2010 Gardening Tips:
Ugh, slugs!...
Our exceptionally damp spring may have invited this pest into your garden. Pulling weeds frequently and removing decaying matter and old leaves discourages slugs; be especially cautious in shady areas and under decks. Prune shrub branches lying on the ground to destroy slug havens. Organic deterrents: walk with a salt shaker, try stale beer in a small bowl and always destroy slug egg clusters (whitish, jelly filled and BB sized) you find. We owe it to our gardens to control this destructive creature!

Econo-garden Gifts...
Fathers’ Day is next Sunday; consider economical garden related gifts for Dad this year. Find Dad friendly plants at your local nursery; perhaps a favorite herb he can use in BBQ recipes or a bonsai plant to nurture. Make his garden chores easier with new garden hoses and attachments. Kids can create coupons for garden chores (weeding, lawn mowing, turning compost piles). More generous gifts might include landscape services and drip watering systems. Give us a call for help and more ideas.

Growing Lavender...
Growing lavender is popular with many foothills gardeners. Lavender loves dry, sunny, rocky habitats; it thrives in warm, well drained soil and full sun. Alkaline soil conditions enhance lavender’s fragrance. Once established, lavender is tough and drought resistant and, a bonus in rural areas, it’s avoided by deer. Plants can be pruned in spring to encourage new growth, but take care if your lavender suffers winter die-back; too early disturbance may cause your plants to give up. Look for new growth at the plant base first. Need help? Call us!

Summer Temps and Dry Conditions...
By now summer temperatures and dry conditions may require more frequent watering in our gardens. Remember to water during early morning hours to minimize evaporation and adjust sprinklers to only water necessary areas (not the house, sidewalk or street!). If you haven’t done so already, check your hoses, sprinklers and irrigation systems for leaks and malfunctioning. Give us a call for inspections, necessary repairs and new installation plans.

May 2010 Gardening Tips:
It’s time to get your garden site and soil ready for planting, then you can have fun purchasing your plants! This month we’ll focus on tips for site preparation and soil readiness and then move on to plant selection.

SITE SELECTION AND PREPARATION...
The best garden sites have lots of light, drainage and breezy air flow. Permanent garden bed development is an ideal way to jump start your garden from year to year. You may want to consider raised beds; you can grow more in less space, digging is easier, soil compacts less and it warms up more quickly. If you’re not sure you have the right location or are not able to do the work yourself, give us a call, we provide free consultations.

SOIL PREPARATION...
Soil testing is the best way to determine your soil is ready to help your plants thrive and should be done every three years. Garden centers and nurseries carry a variety of test kits you can perform at home to help you decide on proper soil amendments. If organic is right for you, consider common amendments such as compost, lime, peat moss, leaf mold, composted manure. We have experts to help you when you’re ready.

PLANT SELECTION...
You may want to sketch your garden and note what types of plants you want and where you will plant them. Considerations for selecting include: desirable and compatible flower and foliage colors, potential plant size and shape, sun and shade requirements of various plants, selecting plants that bloom throughout the growing season and will grow well in your soil conditions, choosing plants with similar water requirements. If you need expert advice, call out professional design team.

PURCHASING HEALTHY PLANTS...
Close inspection of your plants when you’re purchasing can insure a good start in your garden. Look for good root development, but make sure roots aren’t growing out the bottom of the pot. Root bound plants may suffer from transplant shock and will never thrive. Check for good soil moisture and avoid plants with weeds growing in the pot. Avoid plants with wilted or yellowing leaves, spindly growth or signs of insects and diseases. Have fun with your garden and remember us if you need advice!

April 2010 Gardening Tips:
GREEN Landscaping offers the homeowner a chance to save money, time, and resources while establishing healthier plants and soil, and adding to the diverse ecosystems of the planet. The future of sustainable landscaping lies in our capacity to accurately mimic the processes of nature for maximum efficiency. Not with short –term, quick-fix, chemical solutions that push our plants and poison our earth. This month learn how to go GREEN.

SOIL QUALITY...
Green Landscaping is all about quality….of the soil that is. Since healthy soil equals healthy plants, green landscapers, (here at BP Landscapes,) are constantly on the lookout for ways to boost soil fertility. When you’re a company focused on sustainable results for the long term, they will provide you with new plants and healthy soil rich in organic matter. This reduces maintenance and watering requirements and increases the life of your plants.

ECO-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE ESSENTIALS...
Organic matter is the most basic element that determines soil fertility, and compost is the best organic matter source that you can offer a landscape, so compost is an essential part of any green landscaping project. Its job is to nourish your plants by infusing the soil with life and fertility. “Feed the soil, not the plants.”
Bagged compost can be purchased at any hardware store or nursery, but the best quality compost is often found at our local landscape material supplier in bulk form.

IRRIGATION TECHNIQUES AND MOISTURE RETENTION...
The next step in green landscaping is to consider your irrigation options.
Installation and Conservation. Drip irrigation far out performs the alternative – installation is fast and inexpensive, and the system waters deeply while using considerably less water than spray irrigation.
Water Wise. Sustainable landscaping techniques pair choices like a drip irrigation system with drought-tolerant plants, so that deep watering twice a month is often sufficient.
Plant Health. Drip irrigation assists with the development of deep root systems that encourage a stronger, healthier, and more drought-resistant landscape.
Savings. Your natural landscape will naturally lead to a substantially lower water bill.

RECYLCED GOODS...
Using recycled materials in the hardscape ensures that the consumer is not inadvertently supporting environmental degradation by buying stone and rock trucked from far away places. Instead of using expensive lumber that risks damage to the environment, use one of the many recycled plastic products that can be substituted for decks and landscape edging. The recycled materials also last longer because they are not susceptible to rot, like wood, making them a highly attractive option for the hardscape.

March 2010 Gardening Tips:
This month we will giving tips on: How to know when to hire a Landscape Professional. Every landscape improvement has the potential to be a rewarding project you can do yourself, but sometimes it is better to just hire a professional to do the job. Here are some objectives to remember when deciding whether you need a professional to do the work for you.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS...
Decide what areas of your lot you want landscape. Consider your lifestyle. Do you need a flat open area for children to play in, or a fenced-in area for gardening out of the reach of the deer? Do you want to increase your privacy from the street or neighboring houses?

COME UP WITH A PLAN...
Sketch out a plan the meets your needs and wants. Discuss your proposed design with the landscapers. Consider their suggestions, particularly if you’re uncertain about the layout you want. Or consider hiring a landscape designer if your project is large or if you’re having difficulty deciding what you want.

February 2010 Gardening Tips:
GET THE GARDEN TOOLS READY...
What better month to get your garden tools ready for the spring ahead. Maintaining your garden tools on a regular basis assures that they will be ready to go to work on your next garden chore. Following a few basic rules will add many years of life and use to all of the tools which make your gardening tasks easier.

MAINTENANCE FOR TOOLS...
Always remove all of the soil from your digging tools after each use. Usually hosing is all it takes, but, use a screwdriver to remove dried mud. Never put your tools away wet. Allow them to dry completely before storing to prevent rusting and handle rot.

MAINTENANCE FOR TOOLS PART II...
After each use, wipe the metal parts of pruners, shears, and loppers with an oily rag. Alternately, you can wipe your tools dry with a clean rag, and spray lightly with a penetrating oil such as WD40. For extra rust prevention, fill a 5 gallon bucket with builder’s sand and pour a quart of new motor oil over it. Use this as a shovel cleaner/oiler each time you put your tools away. Push each tool into the oily sand several times. You can also use this bucket as a shovel stand.

January 2010 Gardening Tips:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!...
January is a slow month for landscaping, so what better month to focus on planning the Water Feature you will be installing this spring. There is nothing more relaxing than taking a break from gardening and settling down beside a gently splashing waterfall. Water features can be large and splashy or as simple as an urn or basin. We can help with your desire and budget.

CONTAIN IT!...
Begin with your container. Be creative when selecting a container. Don’t limit yourself to what you have already seen. Anything that is or can be waterproofed can work. Be creative. Do you want plants or fish? This will determine the container size.

HEALTHY POND = HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM...
Remember filters and pumps are only absolutely necessary when you have fish, but a small bubbler or fountain will not only make your garden more aesthetically pleasing, it will also keep it healthier by oxygenating the water.

ENHANCE WITH WATER...
Container water features can be fun to create, that being said, if you are looking for a large pond, pondless feature or large fountains you will be taking on a much larger project. Here at BP Landscapes we have specialist to help with your design, installation and understanding how they are to be maintained.

PONDLESS WATER FEATURES...
What are the advantages of a pondless water feature?
First, they’re safer, there is little risk of children drowning in a pondless water feature. Homeowners can save money, vanishing water features use less water and electricity, and maintenance is a breeze. Give us a call for your new fountain design.

December Gardening Tips:
STAY OFF THE FROZEN LAWN!!...
Don’t let your hose freeze and burst. Stretch it out with both ends open, to allow the water to drain completely. Coil it up and put it away. Make sure your outdoor faucets are covered to protect them from freezing.
**Above all else, have a happy and SAFE holiday season.

Provide protection in cold winter weather...
If there is a sudden drop in the temperature, provide extra protection for your more tender flowering plants. You can provide temporary, emergency protection by driving in three or four stakes around the plant, and then simply covering the plant with some type of cloth. Don’t let this material come into direct contact with the leaves of the plant. Remove the cover completely as soon as the weather moderates.

Don't forget about winter watering...
Winter rains tend to make you forget about watering your gardens. However, plants and shrubs which are growing beneath large evergreens or under the eaves of the house, may be bone dry by this time. Lack of water in the cold winter months can be fatal to many of these plants. A quick check will let you know if you need to do a little winter watering.

Live Christmas Tree for December...
This year, consider purchasing a living Christmas tree for you home. They really aren’t that much more expensive than a cut tree. This is an excellent way to improve your landscape, and at the same time, save a tree. Before bringing a living tree into the house, water it thoroughly. Living Christmas trees should not be kept in the house for any longer than 10 days.

November Gardening Tips:
Prep your lawn for the winter...
If you haven’t already applied a fall or winter type of lawn fertilizer (20-9-9), now is the time to do it. This encourages good root development and helps improve the color of the lawn. Lime can also be applied, if needed. Give your lawn a good raking to lift away accumulations of debris. Keep leaves raked from the lawn. They should be composted. Alternatively, you can just mow over them, turning them to mulch which adds important nutrients back to the lawn.

Fun with the Almanac...
A tip from The 1899 Old Farmer’s Almanac “Useful hints”:
“Keep all fruit stones (pits), cooked or uncooked. Dry them slowly in the oven, put in a large jar and in winter throw a hand full on the fire of an evening. They will crackle for a moment, send up a bright flame, and fill the room with a delicious aroma.”

Prep your roses for winter storms...
Make sure that the canes of your climbing roses and other vine plants are securely fastened to their supports. Winter winds can whip and severely damage unprotected plants. Don’t tie them so tightly that the string or twist-tie cuts into the stem. I recommend using a length of an old nylon stocking because it will stretch as the plant grows, rather than cutting into the stem, as string will do.

Protection from frost...
Be sure that your tender plants are protected from the frost. Mulching with bark, sawdust or straw will help create a blanket of protection over the root system. Should the weather get suddenly cold, place burlap, cloth or dark plastic over your tender plants to give them some added protection from the cold. Be sure to remove this covering when the weather has stabilized.

October Gardening Tips:
Mulching for fall...
Be sure that new plantings and perennials which were divided and moved last month are kept watered if there has been an insufficient rainfall. Mulching fall planted perennials will keep the soil warmer longer, allowing root growth to continue, however, the plants do need time to harden off for winter. Spread a thin layer of mulch after fall planting, and then add a thick layer once the ground has frozen.

Prep your perennials...
Mark your perennials with permanent tags, or create a map showing their locations so you’ll know where and what they are when they die back at the end of the season. This will help you to avoid digging up something you intended to keep when you plant bulbs and plants this fall and next spring.

Winter storage done right...
Clean and oil your garden tools for winter storage. Place some sand and some oil in a large bucket, then slide your garden tools in and out of the sand. This will do an excellent job of cleaning them, as well as applying a light coat of oil to prevent rusting.

Check irrigation lines...
Now is a good time to check your irrigations line before the frost and freeze arrives. Check for leaks and repair. Cover exposed irrigations lines with installation and know where your shut off valves are, be prepared for an emergency. Give us a call and let us know if we can be of help to prepare you for the winter.

Clover and Cow Peas oh my!
After you have finished harvesting your summer vegetables, plant a cover crop of clovers, cow peas or soybeans for the purpose of plowing under next spring. These nitrogen producing plants will provide good organic matter and food for your garden crop next year, as well as helping to control weeds over the winter.

September Gardening Tips:
Seed and sod new lawns…….
September is one of the best months of the entire year for seeding or sodding new lawns. The days are sunny and the nights are cool. Give us a call, we can help with design and a free estimate.

Winter prevention done right in September…….
As the Summer flowers start to fade away, give a little color to the garden with Winter pansies, Flowering kale, Flowering cabbage and don’t forget the fall mums may be planted now. Adding bark for ground cover is a great start for winter prevention of roots freezing.

Get ready for winter…….
Fall is a good time to select and plant trees and shrubs. Fall planting encourages good root development, allowing the plants to get established before spring. If weather is dry, provide water up until the ground freezes. For plant selection, placement and design, call us for a free estimate.

One last good weeding before winter…….
One last effort at weeding will help improve the appearance of your garden throughout the winter. Clean back and mark your perennials with permanent tags or create a map showing their locations so you’ll know where and what they are when they die back at the end of the season. This will help you to avoid digging up something you intended to keep.

August Gardening Tips:
Pull, tug and spray…….
Weed control is very important, because with the warmer weather and increased watering the weed seeds will germinate and grow faster, and mature to the point of producing more seeds. Remember once the weeds go to seed you can be fighting that weed seed for up to seven years or more.

Watering the right way…….
Watering can be the biggest task this month particularity if the weather gets hot. Vegetable gardens, most flowering plants, and the lawn all need about one inch of water every week to keep them green and looking nice. Be sure to water thoroughly and deeply each time you water. When possible, water in the morning or early afternoon so the soil has a chance to warm up before the cooler evening hours set in.

Hanging baskets……
Hanging baskets and container grown plants need to be checked every day during hot weather and about every second day on moderate summer days. Push your finger an inch or two into the soil to be sure there is adequate moisture. Having a drip system on a timer is such a time saver during hot weather, give us a call for a free estimate, we will be happy to help you find more time for fun.

Prune your hybrids…..
Prune your hybrid roses to promote the most fall blossoms. Remove about a third of the vigorous growth. Any stems that cross each other should be removed, as well as those that are in the center of the plant. Maintain a spraying schedule to control insects and disease.

Seasonal ponds are down…..
The hot weather has lowered or emptied seasonal ponds. Change the water in your bird bath regularly, and keep it filled, same if you put water out for the migrating deer. Standing water is less healthy for the birds and animals and may become a breeding ground for mosquito larvae.

July Gardening Tips:
Light up your yard…….
With giant burst of Chrysanthemums. They should be lightly fertilized every two weeks. Discontinue pinching your mums mid month so they will be able to develop flower buds for the fall. To promote ‘trophy size’ flowers, allow only one or two main shoots to develop. Remove all side buds as they begin to develop.

Hot, Hot, Hot…….
Contrary to popular belief, a brown lawn isn’t necessarily a dead lawn. Grasses go dormant in times of drought, but will quickly return to life with the fall rains. If a lush green lawn is important to you and you don’t mind mowing, water it regularly, and deeply. If a water shortage is expected, or you hate tending to grass, you may choose to just let your lawn go dormant, and water it as seldom as once a month.

Watering the garden……
The primary rule of summer watering is to water thoroughly and deeply each time and to allow the soil to dry out between watering. Deep watering will allow the plant’s roots to grow deeper, where they are less likely to dry out, as well as anchoring the plant into the ground better. To test, take a trowel or shovel and dig down a few inches. The soil should be moist at least 3 to 4 inches deep to insure that the water is reaching the root zone of the plants.

Creepy Crawlers…..
Be alert to slug and snail damage. These creatures will be hiding during the heat of the day, but will come out of hiding in the cool morning and evening hours or after a rain. Seek and destroy ALL slugs and their eggs!! Continue to watch for insect or disease damage throughout the garden, and take the necessary steps to control the problem.

June Gardening Tips:
Pinch, Pinch, Pinch…….
Pinch back any Annuals, Fuchsias, Geranium’s, Cosmos or any other plants that might be getting a little leggy. Pinch your Chrysanthemum’s to encourage them to be bushier and have more blossoms. Pinch them again, every 6 inches or so, as they grow. Also, pinch, shear or prune Junipers, Cypress or Conifers, now is the time to sculpt them.

Odds and Ends…….
On June 15th at exactly 12:00 noon, set your sundial for 12:00 to get the most accurate time reading thought out the summer. Be alert to slug and snail damage…..Seek and destroy ALL slugs. Continue to watch for insect or disease damage through out the garden, and take the necessary steps to control the problem. Remember the birds…..change the water in your bird bath regularly. Standing water may become a breeding ground for mosquito larvae.

Deadheads……
Deadhead your annuals to encourage more flowers. Remove dead foliage from your spring flowering bulbs, but only after it has died back naturally. Once the foliage of Daffodils has died back, you may divide and move the bulbs to a new spot. Daffodils clusters should be divided up every 3 years to ensure good blooming. Deadhead the developing seed pods from your Rhododendrons and Azaleas to improve next years bloom. Be careful not to damage next year’s buds which may be hidden just below the pod.

Sprinklers…..
Check your sprinklers frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street, minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter. We’re more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, hoses and irrigation lines for leaks. Give us a call for inspections and repairs.

May Gardening Tips:
Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails are out in full force right now. Be sure to take steps to control them now, before they have a chance to reproduce and devastate your garden. Keep a vigilante eye on the roses. Keep them sprayed for aphids and other pests and diseases.

Lilacs are In
Lilacs should be pruned lightly after they finish blooming, removing sucker growths and dead blooms. Feed lilacs in May with a good all purpose 10-10-10- fertilizer after they have finished blooming. Promptly remove spent flowers form any plant unless your intent is to harvest the seeds. It consumes the plants energy to produce the seed, and in many species of plants, removing the dead flowers will promote further blooms.

Lawn Repair
May is a good month to repair your lawn. Fill in the bare spots by slightly loosening surface of the soil and sow a good quality lawn seed over the area evenly. Tamp the seed in gently and water. Keep the patch moist by covering with light mulch of lawn clippings.

Inspirations Come True
May is also a time of gardening inspirations and dreams. Look around yourself and notice what your neighbors are growing in their gardens or not!! We enjoy helping you keep your garden looking its best. Give us a call for a free estimate and watch your dreams come true.

April Gardening Tips:
AVOID THE BLACK BAG
Avoid using grass clippings, rock mulches or peat moss as mulch materials. Grass clippings can mat down and dry, preventing water penetration; rock mulches absorb and radiate heat, drying out plants. Also avoid black plastic around plants, as it blocks water penetration and a proper exchange of air to the plant.

FUNNY NAME, PROMISING RESULTS
Landscape with Xeriscape (pronounced with a z) trees, plants and groundcovers as a solution to the drought and water costs. It may be time to look into the cheaper landscape alternative represented by xeriscaping plants. To name a few: Ornamental grasses, Rock garden plantings, wildflowers native to our area. Give our office a call for a free consultation.

INSTANT SPRING ON YOUR MIND?
Late March and early April is a good time to transplant shrubs and trees. As soon as the soil is workable, but before buds have swelled or broken open. Prune winter Jasmine after flowering and cut honeysuckle back to 3 feet. For the look of instant spring time, plant Primroses and Pansies.

WEEDING
The most dreaded tasks of all…weeding! It is one that really needs to be accomplished before the weeds have a chance to flower and go to seed. Remember once the weeds go to seed you can be fighting that weed seed for up to seven years or more. Most weeds can simply be pulled or cultivated out of the garden while they are young.

March Gardening Tips:
MARCH IS ROSE MONTH!
March is the month for Rose’s… they can be pruned this month. Severe pruning results in nicer long stemmed flowers and more compact bushes. Feed them and begin to spray for blackspots. With the first day of spring coming March 20, it’s time to get serious and get the garden ready!!

Garden Tip - POOR DRAINAGE A PROBLEM?
March is a good time to note areas of poor drainage. If there are pools of water in your yard that do not drain, fill in the low spot or scoop out a channel for the water to drain away. Possibly a French drain is needed. Repair any fencing, arbors, or trellis work that is weak or has broken over the winter. We’re here to help.

Garden Tip - THE VEGETABLE GARDEN…
should get its first tilling (if weather permits) to allow the weather to aid you in breaking up the dirt clods. Exposed weeds and seeds hopefully will perish. Rhubarb, horseradish, asparagus and artichokes can be planted this month. Strawberries can be planted as soon as they become available.

Garden Tip - A SWEETHEART OF A GIFT
What a great gift for your sweetheart…Pruning shears and Fertilizer! Mid to late February is the time to fertilize shrubs and evergreens. Use an acid type rhododendron fertilizer to feed evergreens, conifers, broadleaf evergreens, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. Use an all-purpose fertilizer to feed roses and other deciduous trees and shrubs. Next week we will talk about Pruning…

Garden Tip - COVER AND PROTECT YOUR PLANTS
Don’t be caught off guard…winter is far from being over! If exceptionally cold weather is forecast, provide protection to early flowering and tender plants by covering them with some type of cloth material. Remove the covering as soon as the weather moderates again.

February Gardening Tips:
Garden Tip 4 - ARE YOUR GARDEN TOOLS READY?
Extra time this month might be well spent getting the garden tools ready for spring. Sharpen and oil tools such as shovels, shears, mowers and the like. Do your power tools need a tune up and how about a new coat of paint on the wheelbarrow?

Garden Tip 3 - SPRING PLANTINGS
It’s not too early to begin to think of a strategy for new spring plantings and garden design. You may want to create a map of your garden, and use it as a guide for ordering plants and seeds. We are here to help with design challenges and questions.

Garden Tip 2 - SNOW = WEIGHT
In the event of snow…be sure to shake or brush off the white fluff from the branches of your evergreens and shrubs. The light fluffy snow poses no real threat, but if it should become wet and frozen, the weight dramatically increases. Branches are more brittle when the plants are dormant, and the weight of the snow may snap them off.

Garden Tip 1 - BULBS
If a few of your bulbs have the foolish idea that spring is near, add a little compost and a thick layer of mulch to protect the tender new growth. This is an excellent use for the branches of your discarded Christmas tree.

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