Preparing for Summer…

Spring brings longer days with more sunshine and new seedlings will be encouraged to grow. Seeds for flowers, veggies and herbs should be started this month if you haven’t already done so. Potted seedlings should be indoors, and gradually acclimated to the outdoor weather.

You should prune all plants & shrubs to encourage new growth. Once you do this, your plants should grow faster. You can cut your pruned stems into smaller pieces & use as mulch around the base of plants, or add them to your compost. Placing your mulch around the base of the plants, rather than on top of it will allow the sun to warm them up.

You should begin feeding your outdoor gardens, plants, shrubs & trees. This will boost the growth & give them strength for the hot weather to come. It’s best to feed the plants when you’ve got a few days of sunny days approaching.

Mulching is very important during the hot Summer months. You should check periodically to see if you need more mulch throughout the month. Mulch should be 2-3” thick to help hold in moisture. Cedar bark mulch will help keep bugs away.

This is a great time to fertilize your lawn. Using an organic fertilizer will help boost your soil. You may need to consider increasing your watering cycles, and raise your mower decks for a more lush green lawn.

Container Gardening Tips:

If you’ve considered gardening but don’t have the space, soil condition is poor, or don’t want to invest a lot of time & money, container gardening might be a good solution. All you really need is an area with lots of sun. Container growing is much easier to manage too. Here are a few tips to get you started.

• Choose your plants—most vegetables grow particular well in containers
• Choose you container—You don’t have to go buy new containers. Use your imagination& find household items that work well.
• Choose the right soil—be careful not to disrupt the root system when transplanting to your containers.
• Fertilize & water your garden—plants grown in containers need to be fertilized more frequently, because they lack nutrients they would normally absorb from the soil. You can use a time-release or water–soluble fertilizer.