Tips for Maintaining Healthy Lush Gardens at Home

Once you’ve planted your gardens it is important to maintain them. Many people who aren’t heavily into gardening assume that their work is done once they’ve planted a bed full of perennials and occasionally give them water, but there’s more to it than that. Here are a few tips to keep your gardens healthy and looking spectacular this summer.

1. After planting new seeds, bulbs or plants, be sure to give them a healthy dose of water to help them take root.

2. Starting the season off with a bit of Miracle Gro is a great way to get your plants to come up healthier and stronger.

3. Mulch your gardens with a fresh layer of mulch each spring. It helps to know what type of wood mulch you are using because many are more acidic than many delicate plants can tolerate (such as pine mulch).

4. Be sure to pull weeds regularly or they will begin to choke off otherwise healthy plants. When weeding, pull from the base of the weed to optimize your chances of getting the roots out. If you only pull the top off, the weed will be back within 24 – 48 hours. If you can’t get the roots by hand, use a thin digging implement made specifically for weeding.

5. Using a weed killer such as Preen is a great idea because it will prevent new weeds from growing but will not harm your plants. Be sure to read in label however, because such products won’t kill existing weeds and they are to be used with caution for those that have pets and young children.

6. Keep neighboring plants pruned to prevent encroachment and shading of plants that need full sun.

7. Deadhead your plants regularly to allow new blooms to sprout. Proper deadheading is done by cutting off the dead head only. Use a sharpened pruner and cut down on the stem to the nearest V (or area from which another bloom or leave has sprouted). Be sure to cut on a diagonal as you would with fresh cut flowers.

8. Water plants every other day if the weather is very hot (or 2 to 3 times per week otherwise). Watering should be done in the morning or evening after the harshest sun’s rays are done, allowing the water to really soak into the roots and hydrate your plants.

9. If you are planting new items in your garden, be sure to leave enough room for them to grow without having roots become entangled or blooms to crowd one another out. Labels on plants will tell you how big to expect your plants to get. Pay attention so that you do not have to transplant later. Many plants cannot handle transplanting well. Remember, it may take three or more years for newer gardens to grow into themselves and look their best, but your patience will be worth it.