20 May May 2014 Edition of Nursery Corner
Flowers!
May is my favorite month for flowers. With an abundance of assorted colors to choose from, the right combination can really make your yard “POP”. Remaining aware of bloom times for annuals and perennials will allow you to enjoy vibrant color all summer long. A few easy maintenance tips can mean all the difference between dull, weak plants and bright, thriving plants.
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“Dead-head” annuals to allow space for new flowers. Removing finished blooms will enable the plant to concentrate all it’s energy on pushing new buds.
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Dig and divide early blooming perennials immediately after flowering if desired.
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Move house plants outdoors only after night temps are consistently above
50-60 degrees F. -
Prune early Spring flowering shrubs after bloom to assure a healthy full bloom
for next year. -
Be conscious of where you are planting sun thriving or shade loving plants. As temps increase this becomes more of a factor.
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When planting both annuals and perennials, loosen up the root ball before planting to encourage immediate root growth.
While I concentrate a large portion of my time and energy on my plants, I never forget about my lawn. Nothing makes a property look better than a think healthy green lawn. May is a good time to fertilize your lawn and apply a crab grass pre-emergent if you had problems in the past. Tackling weeds early will lead to an easier, more inexpensive solution. Keeping a regular cutting schedule is key to having a beautiful lawn.