Tips for successful new perennial plants

 

Spring is a time for adding new plants to your backyard and garden areas. By planting in the spring the plant will have time to adjust to its new home and start producing new roots before the blazing hot days cause the plants to dry and add additional stress to a new plant.

Many may not realize this but plant stress will cause the plant to be more susceptible to insects and disease.

Here are a few tips to consider before you buy a new plant:

Read the plant tag before you bring it home to see if it will grow in your climate zone and will fit into your backyard growing area. There is no sense in buying a shade loving plant if your backyard is all sunshine.

Check the plant over well before you buy it. Are the soil and roots healthy? Is there a lot of stem or leaf damage? Are there any signs of insects or disease? If you see any of these problems, select another plant.

Check the size it will grow and if it says, “spreads easily” This is a nice phrase for “invasive plant that will take over your yard.”

Tips to acclimate your plant to its new home

Check the plant over when you get it home. Remove any damaged leaves.

Water the plant if it needs it and then set it in a quiet place to rest. Plants suffer from stress to and you don’t know how the plant was treated before you bought it.

Make sure your plants new home is ready by adding any soil and removing all the weeds.

I let a plant set apart form other plants for a few days to make sure it does not have an insect problem that you did not notice. You don’t want to infect all your other plants.

Slowly set the plant outdoors. The plant needs to adjust to sunshine so set out for a few hours then move into a shady place. I usually acclimate a perennial for about 5 days, then plant.

Plant your perennial in the morning or late at night so that the plant has less sun just after being planted.

I mulch the area around a new perennial plant to help hold in moisture and keep the roots cool.

You may want to install a chain link fence or plastic around the plant until family and any pets are used to the plant being there. I have lost several plants due to them being stepped on, mowed over or played with by a happy pet.

Perennials will add years of color to your backyard so give them time to adjust to their new home.

Mowing Tips For A Healthy Lawn

 

It may seem like mowing your backyard and landscaped area is just a process of turning on a machine and cutting the grass but there is a right way to mow.

And during dry spells your grass will not brown as fast if its left a little longer.

Before mowing, its best to check the lawn for debris, branches or trash that could become harmful projectiles. Branches can also wear or break mower belts so take the time to pick up the yard.

The best time to mow is during the day when the grass is dry, never when the light is dim or the lawn is wet. But I also try not to mow during the hottest time of the day. The mower will get hot, particularly if you are mowing more than an acre.

It’s best to leave grass clippings on the lawn to return nutrients to the soil. In many areas this practice is frowned upon but you could make compost out of the grass clipping and other mulching materials, which would be beneficial to the gardens and landscaped areas.

Children should also never be allowed to ride on a mower. There have been many unfortunate accidents where children have fallen off a mower and been severely injured.  We has such an accident in our family, so please, watch your children and practice safe mowing habits.

To avoid soil compaction and wear, vary the direction the lawn is mowed. For example, mow vertically one week, horizontal the next and diagonally the week after. This is especially beneficial to small areas.

With my yard with the slopes it has I am forced to mow in one pattern. My mower would tip over if I mowed the hills horizontally. This year I am going to use ground cover and plants in these areas to make them prettier and healthier.

Mowing Equipment

Keep extra gasoline on hand and make sure it is fresh and stored in a clean container. And always check the oil before mowing. I mow a large yard, five acres, so I also check the tires to see that they have the proper air pressure.

It’s important to keep mower blades sharp. You get a more even cut with sharp blades and the grass is stronger with a clean cut. Have the mower blades professionally sharpened once a year to avoid tearing or wounding the grass stems, making them vulnerable to pests and damage.

To prevent residual grass clippings from interfering with the mower blades’ motion, remove the spark plug lead from the engine and hose away any grass sticking to the deck. This will help keep dirt and debris off the engine to insure it doesn’t overheat.

And at the beginning of the season, have a tune-up and safety inspection performed on the mower. Change the oil after every 50 hours of use and the air filter every 25 hours. Always use fresh fuel in a clean, approved container. This step is very important after sitting all winter when gas can go stale. If your mower sputters in the spring the first time it is started it may be due to stale gas.

I try to get the mower as empty of gas as possible and add fresh gasoline in the spring.

Following these simple mowing tips and mower maintenance practices will help produce a hardy, healthy lawn that easily withstands even the most vigorous family pastimes. Your mower will also benefit from maintenance and safety checks.

If you have any questions about mower maintenance, check your owner’s manual for specific information on your equipment. My manual is kept close by the mower.

By keeping your mower maintained and practicing good mowing habits your lawn abd backyard areas will be beautiful and healthier.