Garden Care Tips

To liven up your hanging baskets that are looking scraggly, don't be afraid to give them haircuts. They love it and the stems and blooms will double in a short time. Be sure to give them some plant food to keep them healthy and full.

Now is the time to start giving your hydrangeas periodic feedings with aluminum sulfate to enhance their bloom and color later.

Trim the spent blooms from your spring flowering perennials and shrubs.

Your Azaleas and Rhododendrons will set their buds in the fall, so now's the time to prune.

When we haven't had much rain, it's a good idea to deeply water your new plantings a couple times a week, to encourage deep roots, as opposed to daily light waterings.

The Perfect Soil:
It’s a matter of science but it isn’t scientifically difficult to figure out if your soil needs a helping hand. A tried and true soil test begins with your shovel. If you take a round-headed shovel and attempt to pierce the soil with the blade and it barely budges, you probably need to make a few changes.

Colorful Clay and Slippery Sand:
Hardened soil is usually caused by a high percentage of clay matter interspersed with very little organic material. Sandy soil, usually thought of as the opposite of clay in that water passes right through it, can also be a problem.

The solution?
Add more organic material. It seems too simple but when it gets down to the root of the matter, a rich mixture of shredded leaves, pine needles and gypsum (calciumsulphate) will loosen the hardened clay and enrich the sandy conditions. Organic material invites vigorous growth and nutritional value to your soil.

While decayed plant material is perfect for improving the quality of your dirt, don’t forget the fertility of animal products like composted animal manure. Animal manure contains vital nutrients and beneficial bacteria that plant matter cannot produce.

How much to add?
For the most part, as much as you can. Vegetation thrives on dark, well-aerated soil but don’t expect these changes to take place immediately. One green-thumb rule is to continually add organic matter every year. This allows plants, earthworms and microbes to break down the plant and animal product. Eventually, the soil will feel smooth and soft: a welcome mat for all of your plant life.

More Soil Tips
Gardening starts with the soil and although the perfect mixture can feel like an unending episode of backaches and blisters, there are a few additions that will improve the future of your garden.

Sand: if you have a lot of clay, add a little sand but be careful with the ratio. If you add too much sand, you could find yourself with a plot of concrete. When selecting your sand, choose the coarse, round-grain sand where the sand kernels are uniform. They’re less likely to adhere or pack tightly when moist.

Topsoil: too much sand? A little topsoil will give a hydrated boost. Additional topsoil is the perfect balance between retaining moisture and slowing down the drainage that sandy soil is known for.

Sphagnum peat moss: a great product to add to your clay or sandy soil in addition to your pine needles and leaves. The Lake Superior Garden Center carries bags and bales of peat moss. This organic material acidifies the soil and continually breaks down, thus enriching your gardening efforts.

Humus: in addition to your organic matter, add a few bags of humus to improve the texture of your soil.