Plant Care

You've planted a garden but now what?

Wonder what to do now that you have all your containers, garden beds and vegetables planted? We've got some tips and tricks to keep your plants growing strong!

We like to educate our customers and fellow gardeners on how to properly take care of your beauties because after all they were an investment.

Lets start with the basics.....

Water

Its an obvious one, plants need proper hydration to survive. Although it may seem simple there are multiple factors to consider to ensure they will get adequate hydration. Location, temperature & the size of the container are a few.

Fertilizer

We encourage you to invest in some plant food or fertilizer as we call it. This will allow the plant to reach its maximum potential by giving it the nutrients it needs to thrive and survive. There are LOTS of choices out there, mostly any will do. Miracle Grow, Organic, & our most favorite brand Jack's! We recommend fertilizing once a week or every two. Simply follow the instructions listed on the back of the container. If you have purchased Jack's from us, use one spoon full per watering can or gallon of water. Your plants will THANK YOU!

Deadheading

Some plants require you to physically remove the old blooms to continue growing and produce new buds. This is where a handy pair of snippers come in handy, scissors will do too. To deadhead simply cut the old bloom off from the first pair of true leaves. Let me reiterate it again for the people in the back. **You want to make sure you cut it back to the first pair of true leaves from the old bloom. Deadheading also encourages the plant to produce more energy creating more buds & growth.

Common plants that need deadheading:

• Ageratum

• Argyranthemum

• Bidens

• Cosmos

• Dahlias

• Geraniums

• Helianthus

• Marigolds

• Osteospermum

• Salvia

• Zinnias

Mulch

Covering your garden beds with mulch helps retain moisture and decrease weed growth. Straw, cardboard and wood chips are all great options. Wood chips from a local store or landscape retailer are most commonly used for commercial and residential garden beds. Shredded straw or cardboard work great in vegetable gardens with the benefit of disintegrating into compost. Use what you have!

With some basic skills and knowledge your garden will be bloomin' all summer long! We hope you enjoyed this post and can use some of the tip & tricks we've provided!