Retired horticulturalist Dave Decock answers lawn and garden questions from KFGO listeners who are working their gardens, mowing lawns and more.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Establishing a lilac – a caller is concerned that after two years, they are seeing very little growth and almost no flowering. Dave asks about the state of the roots when planted. “Potbound” refers to the state of the roots when removed from the pot. You should always check that the roots aren’t tangled into each other. Shaking the roots loose will allow the lilac to establish easier and let the roots do their work. Patience will pay off.
Animal Damage – whether we are talking about pesky winter rabbits or a deer made a feast out of your bushes, Dave suggests that time is your friend and enemy. Pruning a bush or tree that had bark eaten away can be compounding the harm that the plant has already gone through. Give it a season. By the Fall you will know if these are going to make it. That being said, if you have growth at the base, you can cut back a small amount – just to where it was eaten.
Soil Combination – A listener is planting inside an old barrel. Dave suggests a mixture of half potting soil and half regular dirt (locally sourced). Most potting soils have peet moss, so no need to add any extra. Making sure that the soil locks in moisture while also allows a wash through. A 5-10-5 fertilizer would be a good bet to add if you are planting vegetables!
Information about Flowering Crabs and Canada Red Cherries and some suggestions on getting a hearty hydrangeas, plus a whole lot more.
Plant Talk with Dave Decock brought to you by…
Dave’s West Fargo Tire and Service
–Additional Content–
Plant Talk: Seeding After Spraying,
Plant Talk: Protecting Against Frost, Replanting Grass Seed and More!
Plant Talk: Fertilizers, Moving Plants and Garden Prep!
Plant Talk: Sap Suckers, Weed Killing 101 and More!
Plant Talk: Trimming Trees in the Spring, Earthworm Damage and More
Plant Talk: Voles, Sapsuckers and Spring Lawn Tips
Plant Talk: Good Friday Potatoes, Evergreen Limbs and More!
Cleanup Week Rescheduled to Mid-September
(Amy Iler & JJ Gordon are talk-show hosts at 790 AM KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. “It Takes 2 with Amy & JJ” can be heard weekdays 11am-2pm. Check out the show page on FACEBOOK. Follow Amy on Twitter @AmyKFGO . Follow JJ on Twitter @JJGodon701 .)
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