Keep that spring fever momentum all year long with these gardening tips
Spring fever got you dreaming of lush gardens and sunshine? Despite what you might see on TV, beautiful landscapes don’t happen overnight. Weeds will invade your beds and need to be pulled. The mulch will break down and require replacing. And your attention span will no doubt move on to shinier things long enough for your garden to fall into disrepair.
Your spring fever may be temporary, but if you get to know your garden’s unique conditions and choose the right plants, you’ll ensure that both the garden — and your enthusiasm for it — will last for a lifetime, so make sure to get professional help from landscape services so you can have the best looking garden in the neighborhood.
Invest in your soil
To get the dirt on your dirt, perform a soil test with your local agricultural extension office. This will tell you everything you need to know about what will grow there and how to improve it.
In the meantime, amend your soil with as much organic matter as possible — either by starting a compost pile or by adding bags of composted manure. This will give it a better texture, a diverse population of beneficial organisms, and more fertility.
If your soil is poorly drained, either grow plants that tolerate wet feet, or have drainage specialists install a French drain to prevent standing water. You may need to work with an excavation contractor to dig up a part of your garden to install a drainage system and any other landscape features.
Ditch the trash trees
With any luck, the trees that you plant today will be there for a long, long time. Keeping that in mind, don’t grow things that you’ll regret one day — like a messy silver maple that drops seeds all over the lawn, or a cypress that will eventually dwarf your house.
When choosing a tree or shrub for your garden, consider the eventual size, form, and habit. According to local Pest Control Experts, planting anything that has weak limbs or is susceptible to pests and blights, because tree removal is a costly and unnecessary expense.
If you discover that your garden has been invaded by field mice, you may need professional mice pest control or animal removal services. Pest problems can be disappointing when a hopeful garden season ends abruptly because of a pest infestation. This guide will help you better understand how your garden works so you can grow your best crops. Preventing garden pests is an essential part of your garden maintenance plan. If you want some tips and or help during the process, get more information at the link.
Understand your garden’s sunlight
Those little “full sun” and “part shade” icons are on the plant tag for a reason — too much sunlight will burn the foliage and compromise the plant’s health, while too little will make it lanky and weak.
Choose plants that thrive in your conditions. A spot that receives eight or more hours of direct sunlight is a perfect place to grow vegetables, fruit trees, and most easy to grow flowers. Part to full shade is ideal for growing plants like perennials, ferns, and small trees that are naturally found in the forest’s understory.
If you have a shady yard but can’t live without roses and tomatoes, consider hiring a professional arborist to remove trees or large limbs to get more sunlight.
Purchase plants with confidence
If it seems like everything you grow dies sooner or later, stop buying unhealthy plants. Inspect the foliage at the garden center and slip the plant out of its pot to check for firm, white, and healthy roots. The best place to find healthy plants is on the internet.
If you can’t find the plant you’re looking for, order seeds, bulbs, and plants online from reputable sellers like Burpee Seeds and Plants, Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, and Plant Delights Nursery.
Plant for all four seasons
It’s tempting to do all your plant shopping in spring, but those pretty blooms will soon fade away. To avoid 11 months of boredom, choose a variety of plants that offer interest at different times of the year.
Grow summer-blooming plants like canna, coneflowers, and guara to keep the show going until fall, when colorful foliage and fall bloomers like mums and goldenrod take over.
For winter interest, look to trees with interesting branch patterns and bark, as well as unusual cultivars of evergreens — like heuchera and abelia — or even architectural, hardy palms and succulents.
Divide and conquer
Here’s a huge money-saving trick: Choose a perennial, bulb, or ornamental grass that can be propagated by division — one that you’d love to see growing all over your garden in a few years.
Plant several copies of that plant in your garden. After a couple of years, divide the plants by digging them up and slicing through the middle with a sharp spade. For best results, do this in spring when the weather is cool and the plant is actively growing.
Plant the divisions in the ground again, cover the space between the plants with mulch, and water them thoroughly to help them establish. Repeat these steps every two years, and you’ll have not only a ton of free plants, but also a garden that looks cohesive and established.
Spring is a season of boundless energy and renewal — make sure to channel that springtime energy while you have it and turn it into a garden you’ll enjoy all year long!
BY STEVE ASBELL ON 27 FEB 2017
https://www.zillow.com/blog/6-tips-for-spring-garden-planning-212368/?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=emm_0317_harrietmailcurbappeal_gardencta_a&utm_medium=email
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