Bloomin Times

Spring is a very good time of the year to fertilize your trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns. After application, the spring rains will work the fertilizer down into the root zones of your plants, trees and lawns, making them readily available.

TREES:
Holes should be dug about 18 inches apart in a broadening circle around the base of the trees. They should begin about 1/3 of the distance from the tree trunk to the outer perimeter of the branches. Using the rate calculations printed on the back of the bag, pour the correct amount of fertilizer into each hole. Small to medium trees should be no problem for the homeowner. Large trees should be left to professional tree men, who have equipment to get the job done much easier.

LAWNS:
Spring applications of fertilizer will green-up your lawn and also spur new top growth. There are many different brands of both organic and inorganic lawn fertilizers available in several forms, including granular, pelletized and liquid. As far as the nutrient supply is concerned, both organic and inorganic materials accomplish the same thing. Rates vary, so be sure to check whats printed on the package.

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   PRUNING

Shrubs that bloom later in the summer on new wood that will be produced this summer, can be pruned now. These include: Abelia, Buddleia (butterfly bush), Franklinia, Hydrangea, and Rose of Sharon. Although Roses are also included in this group, they should not be pruned until the new buds break.

Early spring is the best time to cut off many of the Ornamental Grasses you may have, cut them down to about 6-12 inches from the ground. This is also a good time to prune any grapevines, Cherries, Plums, or Peach trees you have.

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   GROUND COVERS

Once their roots are established, many vines make good ground covers. Here are a few that will survive and thrive in shade or partial shaded locations.

  English Ivy -----Hedera Helix       
  Euonymus -----Euonymus radicans
  Ground Ivy -----Nepeta Glechoma
  Kenilworth -----Linaria Cymbalaria
  Shrubby Cromwell -----Lithospermum fruticosum
  Moneywort -----Lysimachia Nummularia
  Myrtle -----Vinca minor
  Partridge-Berry -----Mitchella repens
  Yellow-Root -----Zanthorhiza apiifolia
			  

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   DIVIDING PERENNIALS

Any time in early spring (late March-early April), your over-crowded late blooming perennials can be lifted and divided. The job of lifting and dividing the plants really isn't that bad, its the question of what to do with all the surplus plants that is perplexing and bothers me most.

I have given divisions of some of the more vigorous growers to just about everyone I know that will take them: including friends, relatives and neighbors. For the last several years I have posted a sign for FREE PLANTS in front of my home, but even that doesn't seem to attract many takers any more. The last resort is my compost pile, but somehow that just doesn't seem right.

Here are some of your perennials that should be divided now: Asters, Boltonia, Chrysanthemums, Helianthus, Helenium, Michaelmas Daisies, and Phlox.

Did you know that Banana peels are rich in potassium
and posphorus and can give your plants, especially
roses, vegetables and houseplants, an extra boost.

•Air dry peels until crisp
•Crumble and store in sealed envelopes
•Add to soil when planting