Sunday, July 5, 2009

Garden Talks July 5--Prune and Pick; Fertilize Hungry Plants

Hello again,

We sure hope you had a Happy Fourth of July. What a day today is for weather--and we need it! Probably the most important thing you could do today is get out there and prune and pick any yellow or spotted leaves you have on your annuals, perennials and even shrubs. Such leaves make a perfect harboror home for mildews, leaf spots, blights and other assorted diseases that can weaken your plants over the long term. Also getting this growth off your plants allows for more light and better air circulation which is so vital for healthy plant growth.

Also with so much rain most of any fertilizer you have put down could well be leached out or washed away from the soil--especially if you have been relying on liquid fertilizers. Devote some time to putting down some all natural granular fertilizers like Plant Booster Plus by Organica (sold right here at Skillin's) for your flowers, vegetables, etc. (Espoma also makes Plant Tone, Flower Tone or Garden Tone which are all outstanding for flowers, vegetables and deciduous trees and shrubs. For evergreens we recommend Holly Tone by Espoma. With all this rain and dubious light our plants are starving for nutrients. We applaud the adding of compost to the soil--a well composted soil is essential-but this is Maine gardening we are talking about and we ask a great deal of our plants in a short amount of time. These natural fertilizers will build on a good compost base and add great nutrients to your soil.

If you fertilized with the natural granular fertilizers back in April then that is great! But twice yearly feedings are best so take the time over this month to go back over the feeding again!

Let us know if you have any pruning, fertilizing or gardening questions!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
July 5, 2009

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