Denny's Soapbox

Loosen Existing Mulch

Processed hardwood mulch, the most popular mulch used, should be loosened monthly using a garden cultivator. This allows air and moisture to continue though the mulch and into the soil below. To end this monthly chore, mix pine bark chips in with the processed hardwood to keep the mulch from crusting and forming a barrier. Hey, have you tried the Pine Straw yet?

¬Droopy Flowering Hanging Baskets

Many of the flowering hanging baskets that were purchased this spring are in hanging pots that do not drain but collect extra water and hold it in the pot’s water reservoir at the base of the pot. This system can keep the soil in the hanging basket too wet and the plant wilts like its dry.

Take a large screwdriver and a hammer and put 3 to 4 holes in the bottom of the hanging pot to allow trapped water to escape. You will notice that your impatiens and other flowers should perk up with-in a week. Patio and deck pots that have their drain hole/holes on the very bottom of the pot should be elevated at least ¼” off of the floor to allow excess moisture to escape. Use large galvanized washers to elevate.

Weed Seed Control

Weed seed control should be applied or re-applied to all of your planting beds. There are still many weed seeds that have not germinated yet that still will, including chickweed that germinates in the fall. Apply Preen now and again in early September. Apply Dimension now and it will work for the balance of this year. Read the label of either to get your application directions.

Dead Head your Summer Blooming Flowers

This is the time of year that some of your summer blooming annuals and perennials start to grow tall and lanky. Go ahead and pinch this tall growth back half way and your plants will respond with new, bushier growth and some new bloom. Continue to remove the spent flowers from your Knock Out Roses and other summer blooming shrubs to get more color in the weeks ahead.

Bambi Proof for the Summer

Deer still remain the number one enemy of most homeowners. There are many great products out now to discourage deer from setting a dinner table up in your landscape. Some of the better deer repellants include ‘Liquid Fence’, ‘This One Works’, ‘Deer Scram’, and Milorganite. The secret to success is rotating products using different ones a month at a time and then switching to another. Don’t let the deer get used to one smell or taste.

A Tree for Dad

This Father’s Day weekend would be a great weekend to plant a new tree in Dad’s name. It is a gift that will keep on giving to future generations. The following is a quote from Lord Orrery in 1749 “Trees are the best monuments that a man can erect to his own memory. They speak his praises without flattery and they are blessings to children yet unborn”. My personal favorite saying is “The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago – the next best time is today.