Home Grown Notions: Trimming, Pruning, Fertilizer Methods

Off to a Growing Start-

After a harsh winter, like we have had this year, it is very important to assess any winter damage to your garden. Many of our hollies and boxwoods emerge from winter with burned, bronzy leaves. After trimming and pruning away the dead and damaged portions and to help ensure the recovery, apply a slow release fertilizer such as Espoma Holly Tone. We recommend this, as it is organic and will not burn the roots. The optimum times for tree and shrub fertilization are spring and fall. This is also the case for our favorite acid loving shrubs, such as the beautiful Azaleas and Rhododendrons. These too, will also benefit from the Holly Tone fertilizer. You should fertilize in spring just as the shrubs begin to put on new growth. After the stress of winter, fertilizing in early spring will help them green up and get them off to a growing start. The same also goes for your other trees, shrubs, and roses. We recommend the granule fertilize Espoma Tree Tone and Rose Tone that we carry. These are both organic, and provide excellent balanced nutrition for your trees and roses during the growing season.

When fertilizing trees and shrubs, keep these two points in mind: (1) Fertilizer is beneficial when it is needed; (2) Use it in the right amount, at the right time and in the right place.  Knowing when to fertilize is as important as using the right fertilizer. Keeping both of these in mind this will give your plants optimum growth and development. Also be sure to following the package instructions for proper application and amount according to the plants size. Have questions on fertilizing? Call us at Mammoth Cave Transplants 270-597-2533.

Gardening requires lots of water — most of it in the form of perspiration. ~Lou Erickson

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