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Watering Tips for your Garden & Flowers

With summer coming for most of us, watering may be a chore we think we need to do more often. Although this may seem logical, we should actually water less frequently (weekly), but water deeply. Frequent light watering encourages shallow root development and can be wasteful, whereas weekly deeper watering encourages deep root growth for stronger and healthier plants.

It’s best to water your plants/garden early in the morning before it gets hot out. This will help prepare plants for the heat of the day. If you can’t water in the morning, choose the late afternoon or early evening, just make sure your plant leaves will have time to dry before nightfall. Moist leaves can cause fungal diseases. Therefore if you can water your plants without getting the leaves wet, late evening waterings are fine. Soaker hoses can help avoid moist leaves and also allow for deep, gentle watering. Since soaker hoses water slowly make sure you leave them on long enough; dig a small hole to see how deep the water has gone, if it’s not at least 6” run your hose a little longer.

Sprinklers can be a good watering source, but be aware that a lot of water is lost through evaporation and that your sprinkler will need to be moved frequently since they do not water evenly. Make sure you have a long enough garden hose to reach all the areas of your yard, garden and/or flower beds.

Watering cans and water wands can easily provide water to specific areas and plants. With a gentle rain like output potted plants, flowers are gardens can each individually be watered to their specific needs. These methods can also be held close to the ground to avoid getting the leaves wet.

Finally, if you don’t have the time to go out and water your plants you can get a timer for your sprinkler or soaker hose. These can be simple; water every day at the specific time you select, or they can be high tech and test the moisture to decide whether to water or not.

There are many watering methods to choose from, find the one that is best for you and your plants.

Weed Control for Your Gardens & Landscape

There are few things more satisfying than watching your carefully planted seeds germinate into colorful flowers or tasty vegetables. Unfortunately, germinating right next to your seedlings are the dreaded weeds. Taking over your garden and turning your winter garden dreams into summer weed-pulling nightmares.
There are basically three ways of controlling weeds; weed mats, organic controls or pre and post emergent herbicides.

Weed mats or weed barriers are easy to install and last for years. Simply prepare the ground for planting, unroll the fabric, cut out x’s as needed for new plants and cover with 2-3” of mulch. They are designed to let water and nutrients through to the roots but stop weeds from establishing. Weed mats are an excellent way to control unwanted growth in permanent landscape areas or under walkways and decks.

Natural and Organic controls are spray or dry spreadable products that are made of ingredients which are generally considered good for the environment and safe for use around children and pets. They still must be used as labeled to be safe and ensure proper weed control. Some of these products such as Weed Prevention Plus and Safe N Simple are weed control and fertilizer in one

Herbicides can be applied as pre-emergent’s (forming a barrier on the soil that doesn’t allow seeds to germinate) or post-emergent’s which are used to kill existing weeds. Both are very effective when used according to directions. Timing is critical when using pre-emergent herbicides once the weeds start to grow you must switch to a post-emergent. The herbicides are available in concentrates, ready-to-use and granular formations.

No matter what weed control you decide to use make sure you have a plan. If you stay ahead of the problem you can enjoy your gardens and not have to spend another summer constantly pulling weeds.

Protecting Your Berries & Fruits

You planted your fruit trees, berry bushes and strawberries, lovingly cared for them with water and fertilizer, in some cases for several years, and pruned them just so. The time has finally come to reap the rewards. You head outside to taste the first fruits of the season but instead you find either half eaten produce or nothing at all. What do you do?
Well after you’ve finished cursing Mother Nature and yelling at the dog just because he’s there it’s time to take action.
There are several ways of combating the deer, birds, and rodents that seem to wait until just before you’re ready to pick your fruit to help themselves. We’ll stick with non-lethal ways in this article although if you’ve been in the position I described above you may have been willing to use napalm.
Netting is the most effective way to keep birds off your berry plants and cherry trees. They come in various sizes and shapes for covering large areas, trees or rows. Just place them over the area you need protected as the fruit starts to appear. They do not interfere with sunlight, water or sprays.
You can use fencing, deer fortress or an electronic deer repellent to keep deer and other animals out of the area but be sure they completely surround the plants you want to protect. Also for deer and smaller rodents such as mice, rabbits and squirrels there are various products to repel animals such as deer off, deer/rabbit repellent, defence and repels-all.
No matter what you use be sure to start early enough in the season and follow the label directions so that it’s you and not the local four legged or winged freeloaders that enjoy the fruits of your labor.
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Family time & the Birds

Today my son and I decided we were going to make some bird feeds. So we went outside on the search for pine cones*. We found a couple, but they were a little soft, so we gathered what we could and went in to start the project. (If it wasn't raining it would have been a good idea to do this outside, my son is almost 2). I got out the peanut butter and put the seed (I'd suggest Sommer's Wild Bird Foods seed) in a bowl for him to cover the cones. Away he went, playing in the seeds and dropping quite a bit on the floor in the process. Anyways, hung them up and now we wait to see if we have any takers. We had a great time together and gave the birds a little treat in the process. Do you have a suggestion for some family time together? Let me know.

*If you can't find any pine cones, just use slices of bread. Leave them sit out for a couple hours so they get a little hard, punch a hole in them for some string, then slather on the peanut butter and sprinkle with your favorite seed.

Bringing Birds to Your Backyard

Bringing birds to your backyard can be easy and fun. Below are 4 tips to keep in mind as you get ready for your feathered friends this spring.
1. Feed Them Well-The more diverse your food selection is the larger variety of birds you will attract to your yard. Provide plants with seeds, nectar &/or berries and dead tree limbs will attract insects for insect-eating birds. Also provide a variety of bird feeders at different heights as well as suets and other high energy foods. Keep your feeders full and clean. See our Bird Food & Feeder Preference Chart.
2. Provide Safe and Warm Shelter-Different birds prefer shelter at different heights. Provide houses as well as trees, dead and live, and shrubs. Evergreens are great for winter shelter and to hide from predators. An ideal bird habitat would have a variety of plants in size and density. This will provide the birds a choice for feeding, nesting, courting and hiding.
3. Quench Their Thirst-Birds need water whether it is fall, winter, spring or summer so provide a bird bath or fountain for them. If you have a stream running through your yard, provide logs, branches or rocks for the birds to perch on. A reliable source for bathing and drinking is what birds need.
4. Create a Place to Raise Their Young-Birds are always looking for safe places to raise their babies. You can help through nesting boxes as well as shrubs and trees. You may want to hold off trimming your shrubs until after nesting season is over, in case you have residents in your shrubs. You can also provide nesting materials such as short pieces of string and pet/human hair. Not only do these tips help out the birds, but they also provide you with the enjoyment of watching them and keeping them in your backyard all year long.
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Springtime Tips for You and Your Pet

You will likely be spending more time outside with your pets on these nice warm days, but make sure your yard is safe for your pets.


Make sure your plants are not toxic to animals. Some pets will chew on plants, flowers, mulch and grass. Tulip and daffodil bulb are toxic as well as lilies, elephant ear, arrow grass, azaleas, rhododendrons, marigolds and oleander. Cocoa bean mulch smells like chocolate so dogs will sniff it out and eat it. If you have a dog, do not use this kind of mulch. Also check fertilizers, weed killer and pest control, the label should note if it is toxic to animals. After applying any of these to your yard it is recommended to keep your pet off the yard for 24 hours.


You may be eating with friends and family more too. Chocolate is not good for pets and even a little can be fatal to dogs. Keep cookies, brownies & chocolate away from them and put your Easter candy up out of their reach. Other table foods could also cause health problems, pets should stick to their own pet foods and treats.


You can call the poison control center if you think your pet has been poisoned. 1-800-222-1222 Poisonous plants to dogs. Poisonous plants to cats.


Provide toys for your pets to play with outside. Frisbees and balls will give you and your pet a little extra exercise. This will also keep them occupied and away from your flowers and garden. If you are not going to be outside with them, or they are not on a tie out, put up a fence to keep them away from the road and any pedestrians walking by.


Also with Easter around the corner pets, especially cats, tend to play with the plastic grass that is put in many Easter baskets. Keep your baskets up out of your pets reach or in a cupboard where it is out of sight. If you are hiding Easter eggs, make sure you find them all. Dogs are good at finding eggs and if found after they spoil can make your dog sick.



Before going on a walk check your leash and your pet’s collar and ID tag. Make sure they are in good condition and not too loose.


Your pet may be spending more time outside therefore making them more susceptible to fleas. Stay on top of their flea treatment schedule.


If you are going to be traveling and taking your pet with you, make sure you have the necessities needed for an easy and safe trip. Seat belt harnesses, seat covers and barriers will all be helpful on a long trip.


Have a fun and safe spring and summer with your pets!


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