gardening tips

March, 2006

When Night Equals Day

The Vernal Equinox, which occurs this year at 1:26 p.m. EST on March 20 and marks the official beginning of spring. It’s the seasonal period of renewal when the days become longer than the nights and when warmth and life return to the land. Evan though the calendar tells us its spring we will still have some nights in the twenties for a while.

If you haven’t already done it, clean out bird houses. Birds like clean houses too.
Trees and shrubs may have been damaged from below freezing temperatures. Do not be in a hurry to cut any branches until things begin to leaf out. Watering will help many things to recover. Apply Bradfield Organics® Luscious Lawn & Garden™ 3-1-5 as soon as it’s convenient. The healing properties of the alfalfa in the formula will produce more benefits than anything else you can do. All your property—landscape should be treated with Bradfield Organics® Luscious Lawn & Garden™ 3-1-5.

Question: When should I fertilize my trees?

Answer: Only fertilize trees with Bradfield Organics® Luscious Lawn & Garden™ 3-1-5 and now is a good time to do it. Using chemical fertilizers kills the beneficial microbes that provide nutrients to trees, shrubs, and other landscaping.

Question: When should I fertilize my azaleas?

Answer: Most ornamental shrubs require little if any fertilizer period. Again, Bradfield 3-1-5 is the miracle worker for your soil. Apply a cup per plant of Bradfield Organics® Luscious Lawn & Garden™ 3-1-5 now and again after they bloom. Do Not prune them until they are finished blooming and only then.

Question: My tulips are always pretty and green but have no blooms. Can you tell me what’s wrong?

Answer: You may be putting too much nitrogen or chemical fertilizer. Soft Rock Phosphate is the magic potion to put down. You can even make a tea of it and get quicker results. Bradfield Organics® Luscious Lawn & Garden™ 3-1-5 should accompany the Phos.

Now is a good time to clean beds for the coming season. I am a big believer in mulches.
For veggie gardens it’s just about time for cool season plants but if you wait until the later part of the month and you haven’t planted a cover crop now is time. There’s nothing like it to improve the fertility of your garden. Try a combination of Austrian Winter Peas and clover and vetch. It won’t matter if you don’t get much top growth, it’s still worth it. Remember frost date—still weeks away.

For more information on organic fertilizing techniques, visit www.safelawns.org.

gardening tips

March, 2006

When Night Equals Day

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