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) 

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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

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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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May Gardening Tips for Wisconsin Gardeners

Seasonal Tips, Older Entries, Perennials - Care, Planting

Keep Perennials Healthy by Dividing

May brings May flowers and everything else green and growing.

However, no matter how warm gets now, early May is still too soon to plant most annual flowers such as impatiens, begonias, coleus, marigolds and so on. Most perennials, on the other hand, can be planted immediately. And it may be a good time to divide your perennials too.

Early spring is an ideal time to divide summer- and fall-flowering perennials. Try to tackle the task before plants reach 6 inches tall. Don’t forget to water newly transplanted divisions.

Not sure if you need to divide? Ask yourself these questions:

1) Are clumps too big and crowding other plants?

2) Has flowering been reduced during the last growing season(s)?

3) Does new growth ring a dead spot in the middle?

4) Do you want more starts of that perennial?

Above information courtesy Better Homes & Gardens 

 

Read More About Dividing Perennials

White Birch in Stock up to 16 ft!

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