Trees & Shrubs

Deadheading

Rhododendrons should be deadheaded after they bloom.  Most shrub appearance is improved if the spent flowers are removed.  Prune the flower stems of repeat blooming roses back to the first leaf bud below the spent cluster to promote active growth and renewed flowers.

Mid April is the time to stock up on dormant oil and lime sulphur.  They should be applied within the next 3 weeks or so.  Dormant Oil works by smothering the offending spores or eggs.  It can be used on coniferous and broad-leaved evergreens as well as deciduous trees and shrubs during dormancy, before the buds start to swell.  We have found there should be 48 hours of dry weather both before and after spraying.  Spray in the morning on a dry, windless day when the temperature is 50 degrees F (10C) or more.  It may be necessary to wait well into April or even early May where spring is late, to get the right spraying conditions.  As long as the spray goes on before the leaf buds swell and open and before the insects become active, it will be effective.

Apply lime sulphur before the buds burst to decrease gall insects.  Fungal infections often occur while leaf buds are swelling and opening, so the first applications should be made on a mild, windless, dry day before the buds begin to swell, usually sometime in April.

Dormant Oil and Lime Sulphur are two of the best lines of defense for your trees and shrugs in spring--ask our staff for information sheets.

With the warmer weather gardeners have lots of tasks ahead and  the first of May is the time to be tending to your fruit trees and shrubs by pruning . Here are a few tips on pruning;

Fruit Trees:

· Remove branches that are damaged or broken

· Remove branches that are growing in toward the centre of the tree, open up the tree for light penetration which will help ripen the fruit

· Remove branches that are too close to the ground

· Remove branches that cross each other

· Remove branches that shade the branches underneath

Spring flowering shrubs ( eg. Forsythia):

· Prune after flowering, if you prune now you will cut off this year’s blooms

Late summer flowering shrubs (eg. Hydrangea, Spirea):

· Prune hard now to encourage new growth and color for late summer

Now is a good time to be fertilizing trees, shrubs and perennials.  The soil temperature has warmed up and things are starting to grow in a great way, especially after the warm sunny days last week.

Apply the right fertilizer for the right purpose—different plants have different needs for nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.  There are three active ingredients you find in fertilizers for the home gardener.  A perennial fertilizer such as the one we carry 6-9-7 contains 6% nitrogen, 9% phosphorous and 7% potassium.  Nitrogen helps keep the lush green growth of the plant; phosphorous helps develop an extensive root system; and potassium is important in the overall health of the plant.

We carry a full line of fertilizers for perennials, evergreens, rhodos and azaleas.  We have bonemeal and bloodmeal which contribute phosphorous which helps in the root development.  Having a health and extensive root system allows the plant or shrub to withstand more drought conditions because they have a more developed system to draw moisture into the plant.  At the Market we have both granular and water soluble fertilizers.  Ask our staff for help in selecting the fertilizer that best fits your gardening needs. 

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