Fertilizing Shrubs and Trees

Blueberries  (from blueberry seminar – see blog)

• Fertilizer - use ammonium sulfate, NOT aluminum sulfate. Be careful here!
• Yellow leaves indicate an iron deficiency and high pH.
• Do not need to fertilize the first year; second year - use ammonium sulfate, 2 oz. per bush; mature plantings - use ammonium sulfate, 8 oz. per bush or 1/2 lb. cottonseed meal per bush.
• Fertilize in spring or early summer, BEFORE JULY 4.  Avoid winter injury by not fertilizing after July 4.

 Hollies (http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/holly.html)

• A dose of acid-based fertilizer in late fall will give the plant a good start on the growing season. Adding a good layer of compost helps fertilize the plant and adds organic matter to the soil.

Lemon Trees

http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/extensionservices/adults/horticulture/english/article563.aspx

• Citrus tress need to be fertilized. They are heavy feeders and need adequate levels of fertilization in order to obtain adequate growth and production.
• The amount of fertilizer applied to a citrus tree depends on the size of the tree and how much fruit it produces.
• It is best to fertilize all citrus trees with a special citrus fertilizer that contains minor elements like magnesium, manganese and baron. However, if such a fertilizer is not available, use a common 6-6-6 general fertilizer. As long as the mature leaves are healthy, showing a good deep green color and full size, continue with your program.
• Occasionally, the leaves will show yellow patterns. When this occurs, use a complete nutritional spray that can be found at most garden supply stores. It will generally contain zinc, manganese and boron. Some will also contain copper.
• Fertilizer Program for young trees: The following recommendations are based on an 8-0-8-2-0.5-0.1 citrus mix fertilizer. Do not fertilize trees recently planted until new growth starts. Fertilize according to instructions on package when the new growth appears; then, each six weeks thereafter, until October. Do not fertilize young trees after October.
• Application rates for fruit bearing trees: Be consistent and fertilize about the same time each year, make four applications as follows: First in March; second in May; third in August and fourth in October. The amount of fertilizer to use at each application can be determined by a simple method. Measure the tree trunk circumference in inches at its greatest point near the soil level and divide that number by the number of applications per year (four applications suggested). For example, a tree measuring 20 inches in circumference needs 20 lbs of fertilizer per year. If four applications are used per year, then 20 divided by four will make 5 lbs of fertilizer per application.

Roses (http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1205.html)

• Using  5-10-5 fertilizer and three applications; the first in mid to late May (for spring planted roses the fertilizer should be applied after new green vegetative growth begins), the second in mid-July, and the third in the autumn after a killing frost, or very early in the spring before new growth begins.

Azaleas and PJM’s (rhododendrons)

• Rhododendrons and azaleas benefit from an annual fertilization.
• Apply the fertilizer either in late autumn after a hard freeze has occurred, or in the early spring.
• Regardless of the type of fertilizer used, no fertilizer should be applied after the first week in June. Fertilizer applied after this date may spur late season growth that does not have sufficient time to harden before freezing temperatures occur in the fall, and late growth will likely be burned or killed.

 

Garden Notes - May 27, 2013

I was outside by 10:30 this morning, determined to make the best use of this gorgeous day.  I didn't stop until 4:30.  I only stopped because I could feel my shoulders stinging from sunburn.  But, it was a productive day!

First, I brought out all my plants into the sunshine and checked everything that I had already planted.

Next, I went to work in the front.  Jamie is anxious to get the mulch down, but I wanted to prune all the azalea bushes, hollies, and Japanese barberry bushes first.  I pruned them as far back as I could. Every year we mulch first, but then after I prune the bushes, I feel like I'm scooping up all the mulch when I pick up the branches.

I also did a lot of weeding up front. I still need to fertilize all the bushes up front, but I can do this after the mulch is laid.  The front is now ready for mulch.

The front took most of the day, but after I fertilize and mulch, I won't have to think about it again until next year.  And it looks so pretty!  Michael finished painting the rose trellises, so I'll put those in place tomorrow or Wednesday. And I planted the Snowball marigolds that I grew by the Midnight salvia and roses.  It should look lovely when they bloom (although I think the salvia will be spent).

Then I worked a little bit on the perennial garden.  I planted the Baptisia plant I bought at the plant sale, as well as the two Rose Campion plants.  I weeded a little bit and cut some dead canes off the climbing rose, and had to prune back a butterfly bush the a deer pushed over. Grrrr.





I planted all of my French marigolds, too - some at the edge of the perennial garden, some along the edge of my bean garden, and the rest along the edge of my vegetable garden.

Actually, before I planted the marigolds, I started to rake and shovel the vegetable garden.  It was impossible!  It was all hard and lumpy, and now I feel really bad that I put my seedlings into such unprepared soil!

When I realized that it would take me all day to prepare the soil, and that I already had an aching back, I worked up the courage to pull the rototiller out.  I was worried that I wouldn't be able to start it up, since I'm not really good with machinery.  Well, it started up (after a prayer!).  In no time, the vegetable garden, James' pumpkin patch and my bean garden were in perfect condition for planting!



So, moving right along!  Tomorrow, I plan on putting in the rest of my seedlings, all of my seeds, and my dahlias.  I plan on setting up some fences and the rose trellises, doing some fertilizing and setting out some mulch.  Another busy day!

A couple of concerns.  The deer and rabbits.  And the fact that a few of the plants are struggling (see plant on left.  Yikes!).

Need to Clean Things Up - Front of House

 

 

I have so much work to do up front:  Besides pruning the azaleas, I have to lay down new weed cloth before I can mulch, because the gardens are being over-run with grass, mint, weeds, and lily-of-the-valley.

 

I also need to get those new trellises painted so I can tie the climbing rose to it.  It's been spilling all over the place for the last couple of years.

 

And I need to do something about all the mint growing by the rosebush.  It looks like it's going to choke the bush if I don't get to it soon.

 

I'm not sure what to do with our walk-way.  It really needs to be replaced, as the bricks are crumbling and it's overgrown with weeds.  Maybe next year.

Garden Notes - May 17, 2013

April Last Year

I found this in on my computer in my documents - not a very effective way of keeping records.  I prefer this blog because it allows me to keep everything so organized and I can find anything I need with a click of the mouse.

Rereading this entry from last April reminded me that it was actually hot at this time last year!  Today (April 2) was freezing!

Here are my notes from last year:

April 16, 2012

Today is unusually warm for Massachusetts – 91 degrees!  We had mulch delivered on Saturday, the 14^th, so Jamie has been laying it all around the garden beds up front – to start.

I have been yanking weeds.  Buckets full.  I feel like I’m wasting a lot of time, but I also feel like it’s better to yank them than to pour more chemicals in our yard.  Also, if I yank them, hopefully they won’t spread their seeds.  I read that the grass has a better chance of growing thicker when it doesn’t have to compete with the weeds. Makes sense.

We hired WEED MAN to do our lawn for us this year, but we asked them not to touch the yard on the side of the pool by Jan’s house, because that’s where a vegetable garden is going.  We don’t want any chemicals touching any veggies we’ll be eating.

We have asked Joe to mow our lawn for us.  Two calls to him so far.

I am ordering another grow light.  I resurrected one that I bought about 20 years ago and have put a bunch of seeds under it:  snapdragon (3/?), poppies (?), plum tomatoes, peppers, cosmos (4/2).  So far, everything is taking off except the peppers.  I’m a little concerned because the tiny plants seem to reach a certain height and then flop over.  I see this happen with all of them except the poppies – probably because they are still quite small.  Overcrowding is another problem.  When I go to thin the plants, I end up killing some of them because they are disturbed.  Next year I will sow the seeds more sparingly.

I started a compost pile behind my shed.  I admit, I don’t really know what I’m doing.  But you have to start somewhere!  I threw in all the grass that grew into my flower beds, all the weeds that I yanked, plus stuff from my kitchen, like old broccoli, green onion tops, orange rinds, banana peels and a little spaghetti.  Don’t know if any of this is off-limits for a compost pile, but I guess I will learn.

I planted some sweet pea seeds in a shallow terra cotta container.  I plan to make a trellis for it out of branches when the little plants emerge.

I need to get all of my tools organized so that they are easy to get to and don’t get lost in the shuffle.

I had to stop myself from ordering a half dozen books online last night.  I have so many questions, so many goals.  I need to remind myself constantly that there is no rush… I have lots of time to learn and it’s OK to make mistakes.  I need to enjoy the process, just as I have enjoyed learning the process of cooking over the years.

April 23, 2012

I’m reading a book called Square Foot Gardening, by Mel Bartholomew and I am really excited because it makes gardening seem so much easier, not so overwhelming.  Already I got a great tip for starting seeds – don’t use nearly as many seeds when starting plants, and cut the extra seedlings with scissors instead of ripping out.  So smart!

I set up my new grow light and moved it into Jamie’s room.  He insists.  Poor guy – it seems so bright!  I sowed more seeds tonight – dill, parsley, zinnias and basil.  I discovered that my peppers, which are finally starting to shoot up after 21 days, are organic, so I will be able to save seeds.  The plum tomatoes are also organic.  I made little signs to put in the trays and removed the seed packets, which were getting wet.  Supposedly, the seeds will last for a few years if stored properly.  I have them in a little plastic filing case but need to find something bigger.

May 3, 2012

I planted more seeds on the 27^th, April:  3 different kinds of zinnias, cucumbers and zucchini squash.  I’m beginning to realize that I should have started the seeds earlier.  The plants are all tiny – especially the snap dragons.  I guess I’m supposed to put a heating pad under the seeds.  Maybe I’ll try that next year… I don’t know.  It seems like growing seeds can get kind of expensive after a while.  Might as well just go out and buy the plants!  I’m keeping track of all of my expenses, so I’ll see whether it’s worth it or not.  Any way, it is a good thing to know how to grow things.

That 90 degree weather we had a couple of weeks ago convinced some of the shrubs to send out its blooms a little early.  A few nights ago, we must have experienced a frost, because I noticed our lilacs are almost dead, and I barely noticed they were out yet.  Some of the azaleas were also affected.  I made me sad to see all the little frost-burned lilacs and white flowers.

I mowed the lawn for the first time the other day – good thing, too, because we’ve had nothing but rain since.  I did the front; Jamie did the rest.  I want to take care of our own lawn, because I think it’ll look better if we take more of the responsibility on ourselves.  I need to start reading more and make some plans to care for this lawn.

I spent a lot of time cleaning up the flower bed by the garage.  Grass had grown through where juniper and phlox are supposed to be.  I’m going to lay some new weed cloth there.

Finally, I went to Lowes and priced boards to make my square foot gardens.  It’ll cost about $10 per garden for the wood.  I need to find someone to help me cut it, since Jamie doesn’t really have the tools, and neither of us have the know-how.