General & Winter Plant Watering & Caring for Your Plant Material

Winter Watering and General Plant Watering:

1. Winter Watering is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT and should take place approximately every three weeks or when there are spells of dry, warm weather.
2. For trees and large shrubs you should turn the hose to a slow trickle and place the hose at the base of the tree or shrub. Let the hose run approximately 20 to 30 minutes or until the area around the tree or shrub is saturated. Do this for each tree or shrub.
3. Deep root watering on all trees is also a good practice.
4. Check soil moisture as often as possible to determine the water needs of the plant. The soil should be moist, not wet.

The Care of Your Plant Material

Pruning and Trimming:

1. In general, prune or trim shrubs and trees just after the flowering period only as necessary. Remove any dead or dying branches.
2. Make all clean cuts.
3. Pruning will not generally be necessary for two to three years after planting.

Fertilizing:

1. All plant material should be fertilized each spring with a well-balanced fertilizer.
2. All plant material should be treated with chelated iron approximately twice per growing season. This keeps the leaves from yellowing.
3. Insect problems should be corrected with insecticides as they are encountered. Weekly inspections should keep these in check; however, if insects are a problem, call for a proper treatment.
4. Chewing insects (i.e. Grasshoppers, etc…) can cause major damage quickly so this situation must be taken care of as soon as possible. Weekly treatments may be necessary.

Wrapping and Staking:

1. All deciduous trees should be wrapped from the soil surface to the first branch each fall (approximately Nov 1). Secure wrapping with masking tape or stretch ties. Do not use wire or string. Deciduous trees should be wrapped for the first four to five years after planting. You can find tree wrap at any local nursery or hardware store.
2. Remove wrapping after all chances of frost have passed, usually around April 1.
3. Remove stakes after the second full season of growing.

Perennials:

1. Perennials must be fertilized in order to perform well.
2. After perennials flower, the seed heads should be removed to promote plant growth instead of seed production.
3. After several years, some perennials may need to be thinned or divided. A reduction in flower production is generally a good indicator that this needs to take place.

General Notes:

DO NOT ignore your plant material. It has very specific needs that, if provided for, will keep it looking great for many years. Follow all container directions carefully when fertilizing or treating for insects. Remember, “More is not always better”.