PLANTS
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Plant Care Tips
Watering
Receiving an appropriate level of moisture is the
most important factor for the proper establishment of newly installed plant
material. Plants are equally sensitive to both overwatering and underwatering.
Suitable watering of plants includes maintaining the correct amount of moisture
and using the proper method of application.
For the first two to three weeks after installation, plants should be soaked two
to three times per week. After three weeks, plants should receive approximately
one inch of water per week in one application, or more when temperatures exceed
85 degrees Fahrenehit. Plants benefit most from a thorough soaking at the soil
line, rather than sprinkling the leaves or mulch bed. Recommended watering times
are in the early morning or late evening hours. Be careful not to overwater.
More plants die from sitting in standing water than from not recieving enough
moisture.
Fertilizing
Most plant materials benefit from the periodic
application of fertilizer nutrients during the growing season. A granular-type
fertilizer, such as 12-12-12, may be applied to the soil line of trees and
shrubs each spring. Acid-loving plants, such as azaleas, rhododendrons, yews,
and ilex will green up with a soil application of granular aluminum sulfate each
spring and fall of the year.
Keep your shrubs and flowers blooming longer by applying a foliar-spray of a
general fertilizer (Peters, Miracle-Gro, Miracid) every two to three weeks. In
this case, cover the leaves of the plant, as well as the soil line, with the
fertilizer spray.
For every fertilizer, always read the manufacturer's label before application.
Over-application can burn the plant material
Pruning
Evergreens (except spruce and pine): Prune from April through July or mid-September through October as needed to retain shape. Do not shear!
Spruce and Pines: Prune in June or July by breaking candle growth in half.
Deciduous Trees: Prune in late winter. Birch and maple should be pruned only in September and October to avoid excessive sap flow.
Shrubs: Prune as needed throughout the year, except in early August through early September.
All Plants: Trim off any dead or broken branches if they occur. Remove dead blossoms from Azaleas and Rhododendron, after blooming. When pruning, always retain natural shape.
Rancho Alegre
11665 East 300 South
Zionsville, IN 46077
(317) 733-2430
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