Gardening Tips

As gardeners we have an opportunity to be a little more in tune to the changes and happenings as the seasons change. Migrating birds, the coming and going of pesky insects, clouds of pollen, budding, blooming, and eventually, seeding are all things that pass under the nose of the ever-observant gardener. Watching nature can teach you so much about your own garden. One of the biggest questions we get is, “when do I plant this?” The answer for most shrubs, trees, bulbs, and perennials will almost always be: “in the fall.”

Wildflowers, trees, and shrubs all seed in the fall in nature- the summer is filled with fruit and blooms, but the seeds don’t hit the ground until fall. They spend the winter dormant and sprout up right on time in the spring. This works just as well with bulbs and bare-root plants shipped in the fall. They spend their dormant period searching the ground with their roots, slowly becoming established, and they will have a huge leap on any plants planted in the spring.

It is not necessary to plant in the fall, most plants will do just fine as long as the ground isn’t frozen, but the fall planting season is ideal for most varieties. You will have earlier blooms and more productive plants in the following spring and summer.

Drought can be one of the most disappointing things to happen to a gardener. You work all year long, growing beautiful plants, and your yard looks exactly how you want it to look. All of it can be taken away in just a few dry weeks in August. There are a few things you can do to give your garden the best chance of pulling through.

1. When it starts to get dry cut back on the fertilizer or stop completely.
   Your plants do not need to be trying to grow right now, they need to be focusing on survival. Fertilizer stimulates growth and moisture intake.
2. Aerate your soil in the spring.
   This will allow roots to access moisture and nutrients more readily, giving your plants a big jump on the drier months to come.
3. Water longer but less frequently.
   Water deep into the soil, train your roots to grow down to where the soil holds moisture. Shallow root systems will dry out very quickly.
4. Water in the morning.
   Water your garden before 9 am, earlier if you can manage. Later in the day your moisture is more likely to evaporate before your plants have a chance to soak it up.

If you live in an area that is prone to dry weather take a look at Wayside Gardens’ diverse line of drought tolerant plants. You may also want to check your local nursery for native plants that are more adept in your climate.

Summer is the time to enjoy your garden – everything is growing, blooming, and ripening to that a point where everything will be out of your hands, downhill to autumn and winter. Make it last as long as you can by trimming and deadheading your flowering shrubs, trees, and perennials in the summer to stimulate new growth and blooms, keeping your garden looking fresh right up to the first bite of frost.

Keeping hedges and shrubs trimmed promotes fuller growth and keeps your plants looking neat and healthy. Removing unsightly old growth allows the young new growth underneath to reap the full benifit of the sunlight. Removing spent blossoms from flowering plants throughout the summer allows the plant to focus on new growth a keep blooming. Don't be afraid to prune and trim throughout the summer — trimming is not only good for the plant, but keeps your garden looking nice and clean.