This is the right time to prune any plants in the pine family. The new growth emerges as what we call a candle, and to keep the evergreen compact and full, we cut 1/2 to 3/4 of that individual candle off. When the cut is made this early in the growing season, the cut edge will have time to develop new growth buds for the next growing season, so instead of a long space between tiers of branches, that interval is short resulting in a dense, full appearance.
We spend much more time trying to keep most ornamental evergreens small than waiting for them to get large.
Those lovely planters and hanging baskets you received as gifts or purchased on your own are used to getting tender loving care in the greenhouse ... now that they are yours and outdoors, they have to adjust to a considerably more “abusive” environment in terms of wind and temperature.
Don’t make water and feed be one of the abusive elements that you are responsible for in caring for your planters and hanging baskets. I can’t give you a watering schedule because temperature, wind, container size and root mass in the container all determine the frequency of watering. Feel the soil surface and add water when the soil is dry to your touch. If the surface feels moist, give it time to dry down to prevent root rot. I do know that just like you, those flowers will continue looking great if they get fed adequately ... not excessively.
Every plant food that is sold will give the nutrient analysis on the container. You don’t have to remember that combination, just be sure that of the three numbers listed, the middle number should be higher than the first and last numbers. That nutrient analysis indicates a balanced fertilizer for our blooming friends.
In the event you are growing plants for their foliage rather than flowers, the first number in the analysis should be the highest. As long as you follow the directions, usually 1 teaspoon per gallon of water, you can safely feed with every watering.
It seems that this spring, every time I feel it is safe to plant my tender, warmth-loving plants, the weather throws a curve at us. It’s Monday morning and I think I spent three hours yesterday afternoon trying to protect plants from predicted frost. Well, this morning, I’m not sure how close we got to freezing or how long that temperature was at that level, but I am hoping that is done for the season!
And then how about all these purple flowers that are appearing in lawns all over town? That, my friend, is called creeping charlie or ground ivy. Plenty of moisture last summer and fall and then a nice snow cover for the winter and another wet and cool spring and this weed is HAPPY! Sometimes I think we should just use it in place of our grass because it is ruggedly hardy, stays green without watering, doesn’t have to be mowed and has a minty fragrance and pretty purple flowers.
Therein lies the problem because that is how we got it in the first place. It was brought in to use as a ground cover, but it soon became evident that ground ivy doesn’t play by the rules and it doesn’t care where your property begins and ends. It spreads by seed as well as stolons that grow on the surface of the soil, and it spreads rapidly.
Getting rid of it is another story … it is hard to kill. Trimec herbicide used double strength with repeat treatments every two weeks will get the best of it but it will require diligent attention to the repeat applications to be effective.
Your other choice is to hire a professional lawn service to do the treatments. Ignoring it doesn’t mean it will go away!