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Great Pruning Tips for Landscape Trees and Shrubs

brock — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:16:33 +0000

When you plant a tree or shrub, its’ easy to simply forget about it and let nature take its course. I mean, there are thousands of forests out there and no one’s pruning them. In reality, new trees and shrubs are open to a variety of illnesses, and pruning is a form of preventative maintenance.

Pruning needs to start right after planting. Take a look at the tree or shrub and find any branches or leaves that are dead or diseased. Don’t prune main stalk or any large branches. Large stumps can leave the tree open to disease and insects.

The main trunk should be left alone, but the many offshoots are fare game. Young trees need to grow straight and strong, so eliminate branches that rub against each other or turn inward toward the tree. You want to promote a natural growth pattern and maintain spacing between branches, so they can continue to grow outward.

The only time you should prune off larger branches is if they pose a possible danger, such as tree branches that hang over the roof. If tree branches get too close to power lines, then contact the local power company and have them send tree trimmers. Do not try and prune these branches yourself as it could be dangerous if you or the branches come into contact the with power lines.

When a tree matures, pruning is usually used for thinning branches throughout the crown of the tree. This helps create a better form because light can get to lower branches. Also, you can remove lower branches to provide more ground clearance.

Many trees will grow smaller trees near the base. I have a tree that sprouts about 10 of these a year. You don’t want these trees growing because it steals nutrients from the ground and can impede the growth and form of the larger tree. It’s a good idea to cut these off as soon as you see them.

When pruning small branches or twigs, make a cut about 1/4 inch above the bud, so the plant will grow in the proper direction. Larger branches require three distinct cuts. Cut the branch about a foot and half from the trunk about 1/2 way through.

The second cut, about an inch out from that until it breaks. The final cut severs the branch from the main stem at the base of the branch. Be careful to only touch the branch and not the wood from the trunk. This eliminates the stub and it will heal faster.

Fruit Tree Perils: Apples and Peaches and Pests, Oh My!

brock — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:48:18 +0000

Many people like the idea of using fruit trees as both a landscaping tool and as a food source. My own father had a small grove, and I have extolled the fun and difficulties of growing them.

Fruit trees are never more beautiful than when they flower up before developing fruit and it can turn a yard into a wonderland of colors and scents. However, these trees are not without their problems and can quickly become more of a hassle than a blessing.

Lets talk about the fruit itself. Regardless if it’s peaches, apples or pears, it always seems to be a feast of famine situation. Either your trees are weighed down with succulent fruit or they are completely bare. A expectation of baking endless summer pies can quickly be dashed or your yard can become a mine field of rotting fruit.

My aunt had a giant apple tree in her back yard and as she got older, she stopped picking the apples and baking. Instead, she just let the apples fall and accumulate on the ground. The apples would fall and slowly rot into a mass of congealed nastiness. There is nothing worse than stepping on soft rotten apples and feeling them explode under your feet. OK, I admit that I thought it was awesome as a kid, but that all changed when I grew up.

The fruit needs to be picked every year, or at least cleaned up at the end of the season to prevent a squishy apple graveyard.

The major peril of fruit trees are insects. You have your standard bees pollinating the flowers and worms burrowing into the occasional apple, but you haven’t seen anything until a few of the apples or peaches fall and break open. The sugary sweetness of the fruit is like a claxon call to every insect within a 5-mile radius.

Your backyard under the tree can end up looking like some b-move horror film with legions of ants and flies invading the fruit tree. You can try killing them with an insecticide, but odds are you won’t get them all.

Fruit trees can be a great addition to a yard and help to create the vision you have for the landscaping, but they can also ruin it if left unattended. Don’t let rotten fruit and bugs turn you perfect landscape into a nightmare.

Plant Care: Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be Bad

brock — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:51:01 +0000

Many people don’t realize that plants are a lot like humans. We need to eat and exercise in order to have a healthy and strong life. If we get too much or too little of one or the other, it can have serious effects on us.

Plants are the same way. When you start a garden, you know what will happen if a plant gets too little of something, but they require balance like we do. Even in plants, too much of a good thing could lead to disastrous results.

1. Too Much Water. This is one that most people have a basic understanding of but, still, some people over-water their flowers and vegetables. When you get thirsty, do you go and drink a glass of water or take out a jug and try to swallow the whole thing at once? Plants get thirsty too, but they don’t need a jug of water to survive.

When plants get too much water, the effects are similar to those that don’t get enough. The leaves will begin to wilt and turn brown, they will stop growing and, in some cases, algae can even begin to grow in the soil. ALGAE! Suddenly, your flower pot has become an aquarium. Plants don’t need a standing puddle of water, they only need enough to make the soil moist. Many people think that by adding more water, they can go longer periods between watering, but that’s not true.

2. Too Much Sun. What? Is it possible for a plant to get too much sun? That’s not possible, right? Wrong. Different plants require different amounts of sunlight. While many plants and vegetables will do fine with long periods of direct sunlight, others can die. It’s similar to how some people tan naturally and can spend hours out in the sun, but others can go outside for 15 minutes and come back burned.

Plants use sun for photosynthesis and there is a molecule in their makeup that protects them from getting too much sun, called zeaxanthin. It allows the excess chlorophyll to be eliminated as heat. Different plants can tolerate different amounts of sunlight, but if the zeaxanthin gets overrun, then the plant receives oxidative damage and could eventually die.

3. Too Much Nitrogen. When we start out gardening, it’s expressed to us in no uncertain terms that nitrogen is the key to good plant growth. We load our soil up with nitrogen and watch as our plants grow like skyscrapers. Yeah, not so much. Plants use nitrogen to gain energy and help make protein. This is key to being strong plants.

When a plant is overloaded with nitrogen, it grows large, but not strong. The plants will be leafy, but their stems and roots will be weak. This makes them prone to disease and even small infestations of bugs can destroy them. Any fruits from the plant may also have an imbalance of sugar and vitamins, making them taste significantly different, if they form at all. It’s all about moderation. It’s like a human eating a candy bar a day to help with energy versus eating 15 in a day. You’ll grow bigger alright, but not in the right way.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/flickerbulb/136052626

Gardening Tips: Dealing With A Bad Year For Your Yard

brock — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:34:51 +0000

As much help and information about gardening as I try to provide, whether it be vegetables or flowers, there is occasionally going to be a bad year. You work hard and do everything right, but sometimes Mother Nature just gives you a small crop of veggies or only a few blooms.

Growing up, my mom planted lilac bushes outside our patio. She could hardly wait for the day they would bloom, and how the sweet smell would waft in through the windows. She waited…and waited. Every year, the lilac bush would grow lush with leaves, but never a single flower.

My mother did everything possible to get that thing to bloom, but to no avail. It literally took five years before that plant did what it was supposed to do. We never did figure out what the problem was, but my mom never gave up.

Bad years are going to happen; it’s just a fact of gardening life. The tomatoes could be too small, the radishes could look like shoe strings and the carrots could be the size of quarters. It’s frustrating because you put in so much work into helping them flourish and then…nothing.

Don’t give up. Take the good with the bad. Wash up and eat any veggies that are good and enjoy them for what they are. They are the product of your hard work. The following year could be completely different, with bushes of vegetables and dozens of blooms, making your garden more beautiful than ever. Keep everything in perspective.

Try to go over everything you did this cycle and see if there could be a problem with soil acidity or a disease that you may not have noticed. It might have been a sudden overnight frost that hit your garden hard. Ask a few gardening friends if they had any problems with their crops and flowers.

When you start the next year, be extra vigilant and cognizant of such things. If this happens for several years, you might want to think about switching your garden spot, or getting a Master Gardener to come by and give you some advice.

We’ve all had bad years. The key is to not let them get you down too much. Bounce back and make a fresh start next year.

Home Landscape: How to Prepare for Designing Your Yard

brock — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:50:03 +0000

When a person first builds their own home, it can be on a vacant lot, and it’s up them to landscape it how they want. It can be an intimidating experience for someone with little to no experience, and a cash cow for professional landscapers preying on newbie homeowners.

However, there is no reason you can’t landscape your own yard and do most of the work yourself. It might take more time than if you hired a professional, but it will save you a ton of money.

1. Take a look at your land. Are there any existing trees? Are there patches of barren land where there is no grass? Do you have uneven terrain or gopher holes?

Write down all the information you can in a notebook for reference, and try to get an idea of the things you want to have on the land. Would you like a flower garden, concrete path or walkway? Is there a favorite type of tree you want? Write these down as well.

2. Talk to the experts. Tree nurseries, flower shops and green houses are great places to visit for ideas and advice on plants, types of trees and special needs of the local soil. The last thing you want to do is a plant a sapling tree and find out that its completely wrong for your soil type.

Ask plenty of questions and they will help you as best you can, especially if they know there’s a big sale at the end of it. You can also talk to the local Extension office and one of their master gardeners for inspiration and advice as well.

3. Drive around. So you now know what you want in your yard, but how are you planning to arrange it all? Drive around the area and bring a camera along. Examine the yards and landscaping of other homes and take pictures of the ones you really like.

These people probably spent tons of dollars on their yards, and you can reap the benefits without the costs.

4. Shop around. If you plan on making gravel, wood chip, tile or concrete walkways or other items that require some type of masonry work, then you are going to want to shop around to find the best deals and selections. You should not only visit the big box home stores, but also local masonry shops and foundries. You’ll be surprised by the different styles available.

5. Be Brave. The hardest part of landscaping is taking the first step. You now have a plan for what you want, the items you’d like to build and plant, now all you need to do is start. It can be a daunting task, but stick to your plan and you’ll be fine.

Gardening Tips: Indoor Plants to Enhance Your Home Decor

brock — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:09:49 +0000

I spend a lot of time telling people how to start and manage a garden outside, but there are many who prefer to turn their home into indoor gardens by placing several potted plants in their rooms. The care of an indoor plant is a little different than plants that have steady access to sunlight and water.

Insects

Even inside plants can get bugs and other annoying pests. Bugs have a natural talent of finding their way inside the home regardless if your home is locked up like Fort Knox. The problem is that more pesticides can be harmful to children and small pets, so you don’t want to expose them to that.

Instead, rub alcohol on the leaves and stems of plants; dish soap and chili powder also work well. Mix a little turmeric or limestone in water and pour it around the soil, not directly on the plant.

Choosing the Right Plant

It’s not a good idea to try and grow roses and other major flowering plants inside the home. They are difficult to grow even in the best conditions, and being inside isn’t natural for them. Try sticking to plants that are easy to grow like ivy, ferns or spider plants.

Something to also be conscious of is that many outdoor plants can be poisonous if eaten. All it takes is a curious two-year-old or a hungry puppy to cause a trip to the emergency room or a call to poison control. Flowering plants also smell good and add another layer of enticement.

Don’t Over Water

The most common problem that kills indoor plants is the tendency for the homeowners to water their plants on a schedule rather than when it’s needed. Even the same kind of plants can use water differently depending on differences in size and root structure. Instead of watering on a weekly schedule, check the soil. If the soil is dry and crumbly, then add water. If it is still moist, then leave it alone.

Lighting Requirements

While most plants like to be placed in sunlight, there are a few plants that don’t need any at all and are perfect for those interior rooms that have no windows. Plants like sansevieria and aspidistra don’t need sunlight, and spider plants only need a little and can be placed near a window that spends most of the day in the shade. Other plants need to be near a window where they can get sunlight on a regular basis.

Indoor gardening is perfect for those people who don’t want the hassle of outdoor garden upkeep. Your selections may be smaller, but there is still plenty out there to make your home look beautiful.

Image Credit: flickr.com/photos/chad_k/5132184087/

‘X’ Marks the Spot: Choosing a Garden Plot

brock — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:54:39 +0000

Around this time every year, people start thinking about gardening and how they can make their own little veggie paradise. The location for your garden is a big decision because the wrong spot could mean disaster for your plants.

Here is a little guide on how to choose a garden space; I hope it helps you to create your dream garden.

Front or Back Yard?

Ahh, the eternal question. Should I put the garden in the back yard and let it be my own little private place, or put it in the front yard for everyone to see? Vegetable gardens are generally in the back yard because they don’t really add any aesthetic value to the front. Flower gardens are little more tricky.

Ask yourself why you are creating a garden. Is it a personal decision for your own benefit or do you want something that people will look at end possibly envy? Front yard if you want to put on a show, but back yard if it is something just for you.

Location

Check out the yard situation. You want a place that is a fairly large open area that’s free of rocks and tree roots. You can always take out the rocks and cut the tree roots, but that’s a lot of extra work involved. If you have an area of rocky soil. then it can be a nightmare to clean out.

One thing people don’t think about is how much sun the area receives. Find out how much direct sunlight your flowers or vegetables will need. If you have an area that is covered by trees and doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, then you might want to choose a different place.

Water

I made the mistake of once putting a garden way in the backyard, so it was far away from the house and the kids. It was also far away from the water faucet. I ended up having to buy an extra length of hose to get it all the way out there. My hose reel was so bloated with hose that it looked like a blowfish.

Little Critters

Sometimes when I look out my window I see little squirrels and rabbits frolicking in the backyard. It’s like my own little Disney movie. That is, of course, until I see them chomping on my flowers and vegetables and, suddenly, I want Thumper to jump back into the television. Try to plant the garden in an easily seen area where you can frighten off the little buggers, otherwise you will need to put fencing around the plants.

I can honestly say that I learned much of this the hard way, but that doesn’t mean you have to as well. Good luck on creating your garden!

Happy Gardening: 5 Tips for Keeping It Fun

brock — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:24:47 +0000

Many people start gardening because they want to grow their own food or create a beautiful attraction to their yard, but few realize the amount of hard work it takes to keep a garden up and running.

The weeding, watering, covering up when it’s cold – the list goes on and on. Newbies to the hobby, some might call obsessed, find the process fun in the beginning because they can’t wait to see those veggies sprouting or those flowers blooming.

That tune changes when it takes weeks to see anything and all the while you are constantly second guessing yourself and end up wanting to do anything else besides going out to your garden…again. Here are five tricks that I use to keep gardening fun, even on hot days.

1. Bring in the music. Nothing makes the time go faster than listening to your favorite music while in the garden. Take out that iPod or stereo and listen to music while you’re weeding. Pretty soon, you’re pulling out the weeds to the same beat as the music (just be careful, you can cramp your hand if you’re listening to techno). Soon, the chore is done and you’re energized from the music.

2. Make it a game. I carry a stopwatch in my pocket and time how long it takes me to pull out a row of weeds or apply soil. It may seem lame, but I am so competitive that I strive to beat my old time. Games are integral to keeping a seemingly mundane, but necessary task, fun.

3. Invite a friend. This is a good idea for whatever chore you are doing and not just gardening. Ask them to come over and help in your garden and you’ll promise to feed them a good meal. You will sit and talk, making the time go by faster and you’ll be done in half the time. Friends make everything fun; it’s the nature of friendship.

4. Wait until dusk. Much of gardening is done in the spring and summer months, so the heat can be a problem. Nothing makes gardening more of a chore than sweating like crazy and feeling like you are going to burn up. Wait until the sun is about to set – or when there is a gentle spring rain – to garden and it won’t seem nearly as much a chore.

5. Give yourself a prize. When gardening seems as bad as pulling teeth, give yourself a reward at the end of it. It can be an ice cream sundae, a few hours in front of the television or any other reward you can think of. You will keep your mind on the prize and breeze through the tedious gardening chores.

While I am an avid gardener, I’ve never said it was fun all the time. I have been doing it so long that the tedious and arduous tasks have become part of my life. If you find yourself struggling to make your way into the garden, try these tips and see if they make it a little easier.

How to Aerate a Garden or Lawn

brock — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:08:45 +0000

Aerating is something many people don’t think about for their flower bed or garden. They just naturally assume nutrients and water will effectively soak through the soil and get to the roots, but this isn’t always the case.

Rocks, weeds and compacted soil can keep the water and nutrients from penetrating deeply into the ground and starve your plants. This isn’t so important for flowers and plants that only come up once a year, but if you plan on planting perennials, then aeration is a necessity.

When people plant initially, they either till or at least dig up the soil when planting a seedling or seeds, but then its forgotten. Perennial plants that come up every year are easy to forget about when it comes to aeration. I like to call them my walk away plants because they are hardy and come up on their own.

There’s two ways to aerate; by using a machine and doing it by hand, with both yielding the same result. It requires using a instrument to dig into the ground and either pull out a plug (of soil) from the ground or turn the dirt so it becomes loose. You don’t want to aerate right next to the plant because you don’t it to get waterlogged if it is too close. Instead, aerate in the middle of the rows at about six inches apart.

Whether you pull out plugs or till the soil manually, the important part is that the ground becomes loose or allows access to the nutrients. If you use a plugging aerator, you’ll have a pile of excess dirt, in which case you can use for some of your indoor house plants, like I do. This soil often has fertilizers and nutrients that some of my indoor house plants don’t have. I like to switch out my indoor plant soil every time I aerate, which is about twice a year.

Aeration may sound like a strange thing to do for your garden, but never underestimate the power of compacted dirt. It is a simple and easy way to make sure your plants get the nutrients they need and if your soil consists of a lot of clay, then aerating is very important because water and nutrients have a hard time getting through the thick clay.

Soil pH: A Tricky Concept

brock — Fri, 13 May 2011 17:34:20 +0000

Look up any kind of care information about a flower or vegetable and you’ll come across their ideal soil content pH. This number describes how acidic or basic a soil should be. For example, blueberries prefer soil that is highly acidic, but cabbages prefer soil that is more basic.

The pH meter is a scale from 0-14 with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most basic. To put things into perspective, stomach acid is 2 and ammonia is 11. This may seem complex, but the reality is simple. Plants that are in soil that is too acidic or basic won’t grow well. In order for plants to grow correctly, they need the proper nutrients in the soil.

Soil too acidic or basic causes certain elements to not dissolve correctly. For example, high acidity means lower concentrations of nitrogen and potassium, while basic soil means less iron.

You can do everything by the book, but if the soil conditions aren’t right, then no amount of tender loving care is going to get your azaleas to grow. The only thing growing will be your frustration. There are home kits available to test the pH levels in your soil to prevent any problems.

You can either choose plants and vegetables that work well in the soil condition or you can try and change the soil pH to fit the plant. If you want to make soil more basic, then simply add an ammonia-based fertilizer. This will shift the pH quickly and add lemon juice to soil areas that need to be more acidic.

If you are having a hard time keeping your soil middle-of-the-road, then add mulch or compost. This will help keep your soil neutral regardless if it is currently leaning in the acidic or basic direction.

One word of caution: Don’t buy several different plants with different pH needs. You can’t pick and choose what areas of your ground will be acidic or basic, it’s an all or nothing deal. Pick plant groupings that are of a similar pH and you’ll have a lush and healthy garden.

It may seem a little overwhelming, but with a little patience and some home testing kits, you’ll be an expert in acids and bases in no time. If it becomes too much, then simply talk to your local green house employee; they are experts in making sure their plants all have the right type of soil.