No....do not shoot a beaver. But what you need to do is to come out of winter hibernation and start to rebuild the landscaping around your own lodge just like this beaver. Unless your plants were a gift you have already invested your hard earned money in them and a little bit of spring attention will help to protect that investment.The following is a list of the things you need to do to insure the health and vigor of your plants.

1.

The first and most important thing you need to do is to sharpen   and clean all your pruning shears. This may not seem important but a set of dull blades do not cut, they tear, rip, shread, mutilate and injure your plants. A torn, ripped, shreaded, mutilated stem or limb is a perfect place for unwanted pests and diseases to begin their new lives. And, dirty shears can also spread diseases. If one plant has a problem there is no sense in spreading that problem around your landscape. Helpful Hint: Clean your shears with a diluted solution of either 1 part alcohol or bleach to 10parts water. We use small spray bottles. They are comfortable to use and the handle easily hooks on your pants pocket for easy access when pruning.

2. Prune all but not ALL of your shrubs and trees in early spring before they begin their new flush of leaves. All but not all???? Now that makes alot of sense. Well...here's the catch. Not all plants should be prunned in early spring. Many need to be pruned after they bloom such as lilacs, mockorange, azaleas and rhododendrums and forsythia. Helpful Hint: If it blooms before June 1st. it probably blooms on old wood and should be pruned within 2-3 weeks after it blooms. If it blooms after June 1st it probably blooms on new wood so prune it in early spring. This is not absolute but is a good guide. If you are not sure call the nursery.

3.Clean up all the mess you just made together with all the junk that dropped on your plants and ground over the winter. If you didn't clean the leaves and debris out last fall now is a good time. With spring rains coming March is a good time to get rid of all the debris that if left unchecked can be another good place for insects to breed and diseases to take hold.

4. Fertilize your plants. A good general purpose fertilizer such as 12-12-12 can be applied now but you'll probably need to re-apply in about 6 weeks. Another alternative that we use both on our container plants that we grow here and on our customers plants that we do maintenance for is to use a "time release" fertilizer such as Scotts Osmocote. It costs a little more but you only apply it one time and it slowly releases its goodies throughout the year. HINT: We have Osmocote, 12-12-12 and other fertilizers available here for sale. 

5. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide throughout your landscape beds to keep weed seeds from germinating. Preen and Treflan are good choices. HINT: We have Treflan available here for sale.

6. Apply a good quality mulch. Do not overdo. 3" deep is sufficient. Too much is as bad as too little. The mulch helps keep moisture in and weeds out. If you put it around your trees keep it at least 4-6" away from the trunks. HINT: We have bulk mulches in Black, Brown and Red available here for sale.

7. OOPS...I Lied!!! This is the most important. Now that you have accomplished all this.......Relax in a quiet place with a cold drink and listen for the faint sounds of gratitude from your plants.

P.S. If you don't have time, the desire or physical capability to do your own Spring Maintenance we would be more than happy to give you a free estimate for this service. Just call or e-mail us.

Enjoy the sunshine,

Ken

cedar garden swing

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             $ 269.00 value

One of these beautiful rustic cedar garden swings will be given away on Saturday May 14th. As always, there is no purchase necessary. Just fill out the form and put it in the jar. Maybe you will be this years WINNER!