Fertilize!
Thursday, March 4th, 2010Welcome to our blog and thank you for stopping by. Sure Lawn has been serving in the NW since 1999. We‘re dedicated to proving only the highest level of service, experience, and quality. We’ll update our blog every week with plant knowledge, maintenance tips, and company happenings.
March 2010 has arrived, the year seems to be flying by already doesn’t it? Like we have skipped winter and we’re enjoying spring early. My wife always says it will snow on the daffodils and she’s right every year. This year I might win one if the weather keeps cooperating with me. Our daffodils are blooming and they will be done soon here in Oregon.
With all of this great weather many plants have had an early start. This means we need to make certain that plants don’t absorb the nutrients available before we have replenished them. To prolong blooming periods and maintain or improve overall health, plants need nourishment whether chemical or organic in nature. This is even more important in planting beds where bark is present. Bark, although beautiful and a great weeds barrier, also steals from the soil. Because the bark is not decomposed like mulch it will steal nutrients as it decomposes that would otherwise be available to your plants. We prefer organic fertilizers whenever or wherever possible. You can find these at your local nursery or Home Depot/Lowes.
Things to keep in mind for the health of your plants. Always keep an eye on plant color, foliage, and luster. When you see a loss of the plants natural color there may be a serious problem. For most plants turning yellow-brown is not a good sign. Sometimes its lack of fertilizer, too much or too little water, an invading insect, disease or even bark.
Quick things to determine the problem.
- Have you fertilized recently? If so move on.
- Is there surface water showing (too wet, possible drainage issue)? If not dig down 2” if still dry then you may need to be watering.
- Check for holes in the leaves, fine webbing underneath the leaves, fine sawdust on the bark or at the base with woody plants/trees, small spiders or aphids visible. You may need to have a professional spray for pests or visit your local nursery to identify the pest and learn about treating for it. There are many different pesticide applications available at Home Depot/Lowes.
- Check for disease in the form of black spots, mildew, rot, fungi, and peeling bark. Treatments may be necessary consult your local nursery.
- Check to make sure bark has not been piled up against the trunk. This can result in Crown rot if above the plant’s crown, slowly killing the plant. We’ve also seen the bark of the plant decay and peel off due to being covered.
Great tips for March:
- Schedule your spring window cleaning and gutter cleaning.
- Fertilize most plants mid Feb.-March with a balanced fertilizer such as 16-16-16.
- Apply Lime on turf areas to help balance soil pH.
- Remove dead rose and raspberry canes, tie this years raspberry canes
- Divide dahlia and daylily tubers throughout march and prepare planting area
- Remove 1-2 old trunks from bush type lilacs
- Keep ahead of the weeds now so you don’t fight them all summer.
In addition to our landscape maintenance, flower displays, and window cleaning, we will be promoting our container herb, vegetable, and fruit farming. Over the past two years many of our clients and their friends have asked that we plant Herbs, Vegetables, and Fruits in small container gardens. Through much study, trial and error the result is a bountiful harvest of homegrown healthy foods. Over the coming months we plant to update our blog and our website with pictures of these modern day farmers and their crops.
From Every One at Sure Lawn, thank you for your Patronage!
We serve the greater areas of:
Salem, OR
Dallas, OR
Monmouth, OR
Independence, OR
Keizer, OR
McMinnville, OR
Redmond, WA
Woodinville, WA
Kirkland, WA
Bothell, WA
Everett, WA
Edmonds, WA
Mukilteo, WA
Monroe, WA
Snohomish, WA
