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Gardening Tips
Landscaping, vegetable garden, a beautiful water feature, or an amazing collection of indoor plants, we are here to help you every step of the way. Here you can find helpful tips, tricks, and advice to make things a bit easier.
Lawn and Garden
As we head into fall, here are some things you may not have known:
- Fall is a great time to rejuvenate your lawn and fill in troublesome spots with new grass. Weed competition is at a minimum and rainfall a little more regular thus allowing new seed to fill in lush and green.
- Fall is the time for planting! Trees, shrubs and perennials will be pushing more below ground this time of year, ensuring a better performance next Spring.
- Fertilizing in fall is very important! Evergreen plants prefer acidic fertilizer like Hollytone, and other trees and shrubs can be fed with an all purpose product to strengthen roots for the long winter nap.
- As plants begin to loose there leaves our furry forest friends begin to search harder for things to eat. We offer an organic solution to protect your landscape and keep your plants safe throughout the winter.
Indoor Gardening
Indoor gardening is a fun and creative way to bring nature into your home. Here are a few suggestions to help you along.
- Bring those herbs inside! Hopefully you had a successful season with your herb garden this year. Take the opportunity before it gets cold to bring your favorite herbs inside to a sunny window and continue to enjoy the fresh flavor into the winter months.
- Before it gets too cold, move your houseplants outside and treat them thoroughly for insects and disease by spraying with your garden hose and insecticidal soap or neem oil. Simulating rainfall with your hose nozzle will take care of many of the common pests and the organic treatments are safe for your whole family including pets.
- While preparing your plants for the winter season it is also a good idea to identify those plants that may need a larger pot. Although there are many varieties that prefer to be tight in their homes, many others perform much better and grow bigger when given a larger pot. A good rule of thumb here is to move up 1 size at a time, for example; if you currently have a 6" pot, moving up to an 8" pot would be recommended.
Water Garden Tips
There are important steps to take in preparing your water garden for colder weather an ensuring the safety and health of your fish and other aquatic life.
- Fall is the best time to clean your pond. Your fish have been active and eating throughout the season and are strong enough to endure the stress of being captured and temporarily stored while the work is done. This also gives you the opportunity to remove excess fish and avoid overpopulation. Your unwanted fish may be brought to our nursery and we will set them free in one of our ponds.
- It is not necessary to completely drain and clean the pond every year but it is important to limit the amount of "organic" material left in the eco system over the winter months. This can be accomplished by cutting back dormant plants and lily pads and covering the pond with a net to keep the leaves out when they begin to fall.
- Bacterial products are available to prepare the water for colder weather. These will digest any left over organics in the pond ensuring the best possible conditions to over winter your fish.
- Maintaining a hole in the ice that forms over the pond is critical to the survival of all aquatic life. This can be done by using an air pump, pond de-icer or simply by setting up your waterfall pump to bubble at the water surface.
Our knowledgeable staff is here to help you every step of the way. We are always available to answer questions and make sure you have what you need to succeed.
Green Products
More and more "green" products are readily available to help you maintain your garden's natural health. Before using a product, however, be sure it is suitable for your situation, and follow all application and use instructions. Even organic or eco-friendly products can become toxic contaminants if they are improperly used. Popular options for green gardening products include:
- Espoma Organic Traditions line of products includes bone meal, kelp meal, garden sulfur, potash, and garden lime to help improve your soil without artificial chemical compounds.
- Bonide offers organic fertilizers and organic formulas for pest and plant disease control, such as fruit tree sprays.
Developing "green" gardening practices benefits you and your family, your garden, your native plants and animals, your water supply, and our world.