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March 2011 

In This Issue
The Spring Thing
Open for the Season
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Greetings!

 

The best cure for spring fever is to get outside and take care of some landscape chores!  There is nothing like some physical activity out-of-doors to clear those winter doldrums; and getting out there early means you may have some free time later to actually enjoy spring. 

 

Pruning

DO YOUR "SPRING THING"

PRUNING*  Most trees (except Maples and Birches) are best pruned WHEN DORMANT. It is much easier to see the form of the plant and work with it successfully when the tree is leafless. Remove any crossing branches or ones that rub on each other to prevent bark damage and eventual problems. Also remove that branch that whacks you in the head when you drive by on the riding mower. Don't forget to cut off water sprouts (those shoots that grow straight up from branches) and suckers that grow from the base of trees - these usually occur on crabapple trees. No pruning should ever be done between August 15 and November 1; and Maple and Birch trees are best pruned after they are completely done leafing out, as they are "bleeders", and sap will ooze from the cuts made in early spring. 

The proper timing for shrub pruning is based on the time of year that they bloom.  If they bloom in spring, before June 1, they are blooming on OLD WOOD that was formed the previous year.  They should be pruned immediately after they finish blooming. Plants that bloom after June 1 each year bloom on NEW WOOD formed the current season and should be pruned in early Spring, before the new growth begins.  Hydrangea pruning can be confusing, so it is best to wait until new growth is just beginning, and then prune back to the first set of strong green buds. Roses should be pruned at the first sign of new growth - this is usually about the time that forsythias bloom. Prune back to live (green) wood just above an outward  facing bud.

* We carry a nice selection of Felco and Corona pruners - both left and right handed.  

CLEAN UP  This is by far easier to do early, BEFORE the plants have begun to leaf out; and this way you avoid damaging the young,emerging tender foliage.  Rake, pick up leaves, and remove dead branches and twigs, etc. from your landscape beds. This not only gives a fresh appearance to the beds, but also removes overwintering pests and eggs of pests as well as possible disease spores.  Spring flowers will also be more easily viewed when they don't have to poke through the debris that accumulates in beds in late fall and winter.

RE-EDGE BEDS  Even beds edged with vinyl or other edging may need a little "tune-up" if the edging has heaved in some areas.  If your beds are hand-edged with a spade, these edges, too, will likely need to be cleaned up and re-defined.

WEED PROBLEMS?  If there are only a few weeds here and there, they can probably be removed by the use of hand tools.  If grassy weeds exist AND the foliage is green, apply Glyphosate (Roundup or KillzAll) onto foliage now.  If your bed is weed-free, but weeds have been a problem in the past, consider a pre-emergent herbicide such as Treflan or Dimension to prevent the weeds this year. The pre-emergent must be immediately watered in or covered with fresh mulch to prevent the active ingredients from escaping into the air instead of forming a weed barrier.

RE-MULCH*  Ideally, re-mulching with shredded hardwood bark is done every other year.  The mulch should be about 3" deep in all areas of your beds, except near the base of plants where it should be no more than 1" deep.  This application helps to control new weed growth, protects the roots of your plants by helping to maintain a fairly consistent temperature and moisture level, and enhances and unifies the garden beds.  As the bark breaks down it also "feeds"  the soil in your beds.  Trees in the lawn area should have mulch rings approximately 4' wide and 3" in depth.  These mulch rings offer protection that prevents the trees from being hit and damaged by lawn mowers or string trimmers. 

*See link to our mulch sale above in the Quick Links box.

 
Tulip

Our Garden Center will open for the season

 on Friday, March 25 at 9:00 AM.

Come visit us as we

WELCOME SPRING!! 
 

Visit us soon

226 E. US Highway 6 (1 mile East of State Road 49)

Valparaiso, IN 

219-464-4941

 www.FourSeasonsValpo.com

[email protected]