Five steps to take now for a Beautiful Summer Garden

Now that the snow is starting to melt (here in the
Northeast), I’m jumpstarting my summer garden with a few simple chores. You might also want to take these 5 steps so you’ll se beautiful results int he months to come!

Prune

Before their spring flush, prune rose bushes and other woody
ornamentals like hydrangeas. Be sure to work with quality pruning toolsthat are nice and sharp to make sure you get a clean cut that will ward off
insects and disease. Make sure your cuts are just above dormant buds or close
to the main trunks of the plants.

Fertilize

Apply a slow-release fertilizerto young or small shrubs to
give them a supply of energy for the growing season. For mature shrubs, like
english laurel, that you think are large enough, skip this step.

Till Your Beds

Prepare annual and perennial beds by tilling the soil and
adding rich compost. Tilling aerates the bed and helps promote growth.

Tame Those Weeds

As the ground begins to warm, many weeds are lurking beneath
the surface just waitng to germinate. Apply a registered preemergent herbicide,
add landscape fabric, or apply a thick layer of mulch to keep them from
sprouting.

Check Hand Tools

Make sure your hand tools like shovels, hoes, and trowels
don’t have cracked or dry handles and/or rusted metal parts. Sand down the
handles and rub them with linseed oil. If you are looking to buy new tools, check out the latest from Fiskars.

A little landscaping work now will have a big payoff in the
summer months. You’ll be able to break out the lemonade and enjoy the blooms.

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