Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for July 2023

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for July 2023

Perennials

As we venture into July, it’s crucial to adjust your watering strategy to account for potential dry spells. Early-season shallow watering could leave plants unprepared to source water from deep within the soil. Therefore, for this month, make sure to water your garden deeply, albeit only once per week if the weather is dry. Watering early in the day helps minimize the water loss to evaporation and can also reduce the likelihood of diseases. Be mindful to top up your watering in response to evaporation. July might bring breathtaking beauty, but also harsh heat.

 

Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay
Image by Jos Didier from Pixabay

Shrubs

Are you observing something unusual with your shrubs? It might be a fungus problem. Common symptoms include a powdery white substance on stems and leaves, black spots, noticeable pores or visible mold. While most fungi aren’t life-threatening, they can affect the aesthetics of your plants. Combat these fungi with an appropriate fungicide, available in various types at our garden center. If you’re uncertain about the best product for your needs, or need more information on plant treatment, our team members are ready to help. However, remember that Rust, a common issue, isn’t remediable with a fungicide.

 

Trees

If your spruce trees are browning and shedding needles, they might be suffering from Rhizosphaera Needle cast, a fungal disease. If detected early, needle cast can be treated with fungicides containing chlorothalonil. To protect your majestic trees from this fungus, ensure they’re planted in areas with ample airflow. Since the fungus proliferates in humid central parts of the tree, a well-ventilated area is ideal to inhibit fungal development.

 

 

Image by Stefan Östman from Pixabay
Photo by Gustavo Fring: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-black-and-gray-lawn-mower-5163423/

Lawn

When it comes to establishing a new lawn, there’s a choice between sod and seed. Generally, seed emerges as the superior option for most of our customers due to its cost-effectiveness, low maintenance, and quick ground cover, which usually sets within 1-2 weeks. However, if you need an instant grass cover, sod might be the better option, albeit it’s pricier and offers fewer varieties.

Don’t miss out on these gardening tips and our special offers for June at Heritage Hill Nursery, Inc. Visit our garden center and start enhancing your outdoor oasis today.

Don’t forget to take advantage of our Monthly Specials

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for June 2023

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for June 2023

Perennials

Discover three stunning perennials that can elevate your garden and bring joy to your gardening endeavors this season. Take a closer look:

  1. Yarrow: Thriving in sandy soil and full sun, Yarrow is well-suited for drought-prone areas. With its rapid spreading habit, it creates a remarkable impact in the garden.
  2. Balloon Flower: Sporting beautiful purple blooms that balloon before opening, this perennial performs well in the Wisconsin area (zones 4 and 5). Consider staking it to showcase its tall and straight growth, adding charm to your garden.
  3. Aster: Are you seeking to attract more butterflies and pollinators? Look no further than Aster. With slightly moist soil and proper care, it can reach impressive heights of 6 to 8 feet. This versatile perennial thrives in various light conditions, making it a delightful choice for your garden.
Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay
Image by Jos Didier from Pixabay

Shrubs

If June is your preferred month for planting shrubs, ensure you have a well-planned watering schedule in place. Nothing is more disheartening than returning from a weekend getaway to find your newly planted shrubs wilted beyond recovery. If you’ll be away for an extended period, consider asking a neighbor, friend, or family member to tend to your yard. Additionally, shrubs that have already bloomed early, such as Forsythia and certain lilac species, can now be pruned. However, remember that premature pruning may hinder or shorten their flowering potential for the current season.

Trees

Are unsightly tent worms infesting your trees? It is crucial to address them properly before they spread and cause extensive damage. Avoid cutting them out unless you plan on immediately burning them or sealing them in an airtight bag to dry out in the sun. Dispose of the bag of dead worms in your trash. Cutting out tent worms without killing and disposing of them can lead to their proliferation and the destruction of other trees. A more convenient method to deal with tent worms before they hatch is to drench their nests using a spray tank and an insecticide containing permethrin, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, and/or malathion.

 

Image by Stefan Östman from Pixabay
Photo by Gustavo Fring: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-black-and-gray-lawn-mower-5163423/

Lawn

To maintain a lush and healthy lawn during the hot summer months, occasional watering may be necessary. Contrary to popular belief, it is best to water your lawn early in the morning rather than around noon when it’s hottest. This allows the water to penetrate deep into the roots, where the turfgrass can efficiently absorb it.

Don’t miss out on these gardening tips and our special offers for June at Heritage Hill Nursery, Inc. Visit our garden center and start enhancing your outdoor oasis today.

Don’t forget to take advantage of our Monthly Specials

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for May 2023

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for May 2023

Perennials

May is a busy month for gardening! For perennials, bring out the peony cages and other plant supports to provide the necessary support to the plants once they become top-heavy. Make sure to guide new stems into the squares early, as it becomes more challenging to squeeze them in between the wires once the flower buds open.

Newly purchased perennials can be safely planted this month, though if the temperatures have been unseasonably low, wait another week. Place the pots outside during the day and bring them into a protective environment at night. For existing perennials, slow-release or liquid organic fertilizers can be beneficial. Once the plant is in the ground, make sure to water it daily in the morning to prevent wilting in the afternoon.

Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay
Image by Jos Didier from Pixabay

Shrubs

When it comes to shrubs, sprinkle a slow-release fertilizer around the base of the plant. To prevent damaging insects and fungi, take proactive measures early in the season. Bonide Systemic Insect Control and Bonide Infuse Systemic Disease Control are both effective products that come in a liquid concentrate and can be safely mixed together and used on a wide range of plants. Since these products are both systemic, the liquid is absorbed into the plant, so you can water plants freely without washing off the product.

 

Trees

When planting new trees, make sure to stake them correctly. The tree should be loosely secured to the stake using a tie to prevent excessive swaying that can tear new root hairs, which the tree needs to survive. The tie should allow the tree to sway back and forth in the wind to allow proper root flare development. It should be staked until the roots have established into the ground.

 

Image by Stefan Östman from Pixabay
Photo by Gustavo Fring: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-black-and-gray-lawn-mower-5163423/

Lawn

As for lawns, now is the time to fix any dead patches by over-seeding. This process involves top dressing your yard with high-quality soil and adding a seed mixture that’s more suited to your light and soil conditions. This cost-effective option can be completed in one day and will grow quickly enough to ensure you have a lush lawn to enjoy this summer. Visit Heritage Hill Nursery, Inc. for all your supplies.

Don’t forget to take advantage of our Monthly Specials

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for April 2023

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for April 2023

Perennials

As the snow melts and the ground begins to thaw, you’ll notice the early risers trying to poke their way through the layers of mulch. You can help these new plants along by moving the ground cover to the side, allowing the stems easy access to the warmth of the sun.

Unfortunately, spring in Wisconsin doesn’t necessarily mean that the cold has moved on. Therefore, keep extra mulch handy in case there’s still the possibility of frost. Any perennials that needed dividing last season can safely be divided and transplanted to a new location. Pull any remaining weeds from last season and top dress beds with freshly shredded mulch.

Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay
Image by Jos Didier from Pixabay

Shrubs

Uncover rose bushes as the weather warms but be ready to recover them if the temperature is supposed to drop significantly. Any shrubs that need to be transplanted can safely be done at this point. Pull any existing weeds and top dress beds with 2-3” of shredded mulch.

When spreading mulch, be sure to taper away from the base of the plant. Too much moisture can weaken the outer layers, making the plant susceptible to disease. Any shrubs that need to be transplanted can be safely done until the buds begin to open.

 

Trees

Doing an annual tree inspection and taking corrective action if needed can help maintain overall stability. During the inspection, pay close attention to the base. If there is some critter damage, the tree will heal itself and be fine. However, if a large section or a complete ring of bark has been removed, it’s likely that the tree will eventually die due to disease vulnerability.

Broken branches, branches that are that are rubbing against each other, and branches growing at weird angles should be pruned.

When temperatures consistently stay above 40 degrees, apply dormant spray to crab trees to control overwintering pests. Make sure to remove any winter protection from around the trees such as cloth, plastic tubing, stray etc.

Image by Stefan Östman from Pixabay
Photo by Gustavo Fring: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-black-and-gray-lawn-mower-5163423/

Lawn

April showers bring May flowers! Unfortunately, over time the ground around your house can settle and all this extra water can pool on your lawn. If areas of your lawn are underwater for too long, it can really damage the plant and lead to dead areas in your beautiful lawn.

If you notice areas of pooling, you should contact Heritage Hill to install hidden underground drainage tubes. This system allows water to drain and be carried away, so you never have to deal with unsightly pooling again.

Don’t forget to take advantage of our Monthly Specials

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for November 2022

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for November 2022

Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay

Perennials

Shhh… I’m sleeping. For most perennials, after they have been cut down for the winter, there isn’t anything more that will need to be done.

However, some perennials such as Butterfly Bush or Lavender, will benefit by adding 6-8” layer of mounding mulch material for additional insulation.

If you choose to “heal in” your perennials, you will want to make sure that that the plant is no longer green and has already died back for the season.

Image by Jos Didier from Pixabay

Shrubs

Take care to clean shrubs of fallen leaves. Any accumulation of leaves over a long period of time can lead to rot. After the leaves have fallen completely feel free to use a leaf blower to make it very easy.

If pruning escaped your list of things to do the previous month, no worries. Shrubs that haven’t formed next year’s buds already can still safely be pruned.

Lilacs and Forsythias for example are shrubs that you do not want to prune in the fall as next spring’s buds are clearly visible and if pruned now, would result in no blooms later.

Image by Stefan Östman from Pixabay

Trees

If you haven’t already, mulch your trees! Mulch acts as a layer of insulation that protects the roots and keeps the tree happy all winter. This especially rings true for arborvitaes.

In addition to mulch, another layer of protection that can be done for trees, shrubs, and perennials that seem to struggle during winter months is applying an application of Wilt Stop.

Derived from pine resin, once applied a soft, clear, and flexible film forms helping to protect the plant from drying out, winter burn, winter kill, and salt damage.

Although it is safe for most plants, arborvitae, junipers, and cypress should be avoided. For the application to be successful, it must be applied before freezing temperatures. Wilt Stop isn’t just for your outdoors.

If you prefer real Christmas trees, applying Wilt Stop before the tree is decorated, will assist in preventing moisture loss and premature needle drop.

Although our garden is center is closed until November 25th, Wilt Stop can be obtained sooner by setting up an appointment to purchase.

Photo by Gustavo Fring: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-black-and-gray-lawn-mower-5163423/

Lawn

Your lawn should now be dormant, and much like you when you’re sleeping it just wants to be left alone. There is no need to water, fertilize, or treat for weeds.

If you choose to install lawns late in the season like in the picture, it will more than likely be dormant seeded. This means the seed will not grow until the next growing season. Take care not to disturb this area over the winter.

Not sure how to proceed or have questions? Stop by Heritage Hill Nursery Inc., and one of our representatives will be able to assist you.

Don’t forget to take advantage of our Monthly Specials

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for October 2022

Wisconsin Gardener’s Tips for October 2022

Perennials

 After your plants have turned dry and brown it is time to cut them back. Be careful not to cut them too soon though. In order to prepare for winter, the roots will reabsorb all of the nutrients from the stems.

Perennial plants with woody stems, like Russian Sage, should not be cut all the way to the ground. Some less hardy species like to be tucked in with a layer of insulation like mulch to help them survive the winter.

Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay
Image by Jos Didier from Pixabay

Shrubs

Some shrubs should be pruned to the desired shape in the fall.

While you are out doing fall leaf clean-up cut away old branches and cut to the desired shape.

Stop into the nursery for more information on which shrubs can be pruned now.

 

Trees

Most deciduous trees can be pruned now and into early winter. When pruning make sure there are no areas where debris can accumulate as this can cause the tree to rot.

Not sure how to prune? No problem. Stop by the garden center and schedule an appointment for our pruning services.

Image by Stefan Östman from Pixabay
Photo by Gustavo Fring: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-black-and-gray-lawn-mower-5163423/

Lawn

Summer is coming to end, and it is time to put away the lawn mower. Before doing so, we highly recommend winterizing your rig. If any gas is left in the tank add a winterizer so it stays fresh through the winter. It would also be a good time to scrape any leftover debris from the bottom of the mower deck.

If your lawn needs a little boost, applying a fertilizing treatment this fall will help. If you are not already on our list, stop in today and find out how you can be added.

Not sure how to proceed or have questions? Stop by Heritage Hill Nursery Inc., and one of our representatives will be able to assist you.

Don’t forget to take advantage of our Monthly Specials

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