May Garden Tips for Wisconsin Gardeners

Seasonal Tips, Perennials - Care, Planting, Shrubs & Bushes, Trees - Planting & Care

May and Early Spring Garden & Yard Tips

This is the perfect time to identify the plants that didn’t make it through the winter, you’ll know the ones! Remove what may remain, discard, and come for a visit to our garden center.  We will do our best to get you back on track and give you the color you want.

Perennials:

Now is the time to cut down all the old or dead growth.  Try not to damage the new growth that is already coming up.  In some cases, new shoots are further up the stem so you want to cut the stem down to right above the new buds.  For grasses, give them a buzz cut down to 3-4” above the ground then rub the center with your hand to break off dead stems.

Shrubs:

This is a great time to see the structure of the shrubs.  Anything that is dead, rubbing, or crossing should be taken out.  Make your pruning cuts as far down the stem as possible.  For Spirea, cut the entire shrub down to 4” above ground.  Break off any of the dead wood than is inside.  Flowering shrubs such as Lilac should not be pruned until after they flower.

Trees:

If you have small trees, check the branching habit.  If there is something growing at a 90 degree angle, prune it out.  Always look for dead, rubbing and crossing branches.  If any are present, prune them off.  Look for any damage to the trunk.  Critters sometimes like to strip or chew the bark off.

 

If you have any questions, concerns, or “just don’t know”, we are here to help!  Stop in and we will do our very best to give you answers!  Also, be sure to check back for our Monthly Tips, Weekly Spotlight Plant, and soon to be available “How To” videos to help you LOVE YOUR LANDSCAPE!!!!

Visit the Heritage Hill Nursery and garden center now! We are conveniently located, close to Cedarburg, Jackson, West Bend, Slinger, WI.

 

Remember – We have some
Terrific Special Offers for 
MAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pesky Slugs and How to Get Rid of Them

Uncategorized, Seasonal Tips

Slugs are a gardener’s unwelcome pest that seem to invade everywhere.  

This is the perfect time to start using remedies to ward off those little critters, when the soil is damp or wet, to entice slugs up to the surface of the soil  Of course you can always get slug pellets or granules to sprinkle around the plants, but why not consider a few very easy methods that are also 100% natural? 

Here are just a few:

  1. Cornmeal
    • Slugs love it… but they can’t consume it.  Put a couple tablespoons in a small glass jar and place it sideways so slugs can get in.  In the morning, check for the dead slugs and remove. Keep this up until the area is free of the pests
  2. Beer
    • Another thing slugs love, but will kill them. Pour some beer in a small plastic glass, and bury it close to the plants that are being invaded, so it is at pretty much ground level.  You’ll find dead slugs there, remove them and keep going with the beer treatment.
  3. Coffee Grounds & Egg Shells
    • Start saving both of these and mix them together.  Coffee smell is a natural repellent for slugs and egg shells cut their bellies. Sprinkle this mixture around your plants and it should keep them away. A plus to this method is the added helpful compost fertilizer it provides. 

Additional Ideas (courtesy of Natural Living Ideas) 

More Info

 

 

Throughout May

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Above video courtesy of “Grow Veg” YouTube Channel

Season Tips – Wisconsin May Lawn & Garden Tips

Shrubs & Bushes, Seasonal Tips

Early May 

Shrubs, Care & Planting

Spring is a good time to prune out any frost damage to your shrubs, trees and other plants, which may have occurred from the harsh winter. In spring, you can prepare your yard for summer landscaping by thinning or removing deadwood and/or removing the unwanted parts of your existing landscaping. This will help prevent damage to any new landscaping.

  • After the Ground has dried, thoroughly water shrubs that may have suffered from deicing salts. This will help wash the chemicals into the ground and away from the roots
  • Look for and prune out any signs of tent caterpillars.
  • When temperatures stay above 40 degrees but before new growth appears, apply dormant sprays of lime, sulfur, or dormant oil to control overwintering scale on mugo pines and deciduous shrubs. 
  • Transplanting shrubs should be completed after the soil thaws but before new growth appears. If you missed that time frame, wait until the fall when the plant goes dormant before attempting to move. 
  • If adding new plants to landscape, write down space requirements and look for new plants that develop fall and winter interest as well. 
  • Apply fertilizer in the spring if needed. New plantings will come already fertilized so hold off until the next year or two. 
 

Above information courtesy Melinda Myers books on lawn and gardens. Specifically:

** Month-by-Month Gardening: What to Do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden  All Year / Minnesota & Wisconsin

** Month-by-Month Gardening in Wisconsin: Revised Edition: What to Do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden All Year

** Midwest Gardener’s Handbook:  Your Complete Guide: Select-Plan-Plant-Maintain-Problem solve- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

More Info

 

Remember – we are offering
20% Off of all varieties
of Shrub Roses! 

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April Yard & Garden Tips for Wisconsin

Lawn Care, Seasonal Tips

Prepping Your Lawn In April

This is a busy month – there is so much to do! Below are some tips to get your lawn off to a great new start! 

  • If you couldn’t rake the lawn at the end of last month, due to the weather, rake the grass as soon as the soil is fairly dry.
  • When the soil is completely dry, and raking has been done, thoroughly water areas of grass that were subject to deicing salt. Irrigating now will flush the leftover salts into the soil and help to reduce damage.
  • When your lawn is healthy and properly maintained, you shouldn’t have enough weeds to require chemical treatment. If you have a persistent problem with crabgrass that you cannot control through cultural methods or spot treatment during the growing season, you can apply a crabgrass pre-emergent herbicide.

    This must be applied before the soil temperatures are consistently 53-56* F. Generally, this will be May 1-15. If broadleaf weeds are a problem, apply a selective, post emergent herbicide such as Weed-B-Gone, following the directions on the label. ** Not comfortable handling chemicals? That’s okay, Heritage Hill Nursery is licensed and can handle all your chemical needs. Contact Jason at #262-305-404 for a quote.

    • Late April through May is typically a good time to plant new or repair damage areas of lawn. Most grass varieties can handle the cooler wet temperatures of spring however, wait until early to mid-May for Bluegrass.
    • Newly seeded areas will need to be kept moist, but not over drenched causing seed displacement
    • When mowing, only one -third of the leaf area should be removed at one cutting.Ideally you should avoid mowing any lower than 2 inches, preferably 3 inches as taller grass forms a deeper root system. Grass with deeper root systems are stronger and can fight off diseases, insects and weeds easier than poorly rooted grass systems. However, frequent cutting will be required during the wetter months.

Questions about planting, feeding and watering? Take advantage of our knowledgeable horticulturist & owner, Jason. He is here to help you make good decisions on what will work best and how to properly tend to your new plantings. Visit the Heritage Hill Nursery and garden center now! We are conveniently located, close to Cedarburg, Jackson, West Bend, Slinger, WI.

 

Above information courtesy Melinda Myers books on lawn and gardens. Specifically:

** Month-by-Month Gardening: What to Do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden  All Year / Minnesota & Wisconsin

** Month-by-Month Gardening in Wisconsin: Revised Edition: What to Do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden All Year

** Midwest Gardener’s Handbook:  Your Complete Guide: Select-Plan-Plant-Maintain-Problem solve- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

More Info

Don’t forget! Take advantage of our
April Special Offers! 

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Visit our Special Page for more offers! 

 

 

 

 

Best Fall Tips

Seasonal Tips, Older Entries

Top Landscape Tips for Fall

Autumn is the perfect time to assess your landscaping needs and fill any gaps that exist. Here are the top fall gardening tips from gardening experts at First Editions® Plants:

– Take inventory: Decide what, and where, your landscape is lacking and plug the gaps now. Depending on plant type and local climate, you’ll be able to enjoy a full, bursting garden as early as next spring.

 

Courtesy First Editions – Selected for Success More

Questions about planting, feeding and watering? Take advantage of our knowledgeable horticulturist & owner, Jason. He is here to help you make good decisions on what will work best and how to properly tend to your new plantings. Visit the Heritage Hill Nursery and garden center now! We are conveniently located, close to Cedarburg, Jackson, West Bend, Slinger, WI.

 

Available November 24
Christmas Trees 
Locally Grown

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