Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2002
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/gardentips.html

Garden Tips 
April 2001
Marty Johnson, President, Johnson's Garden Centers, 
KS. Certified Nurseryman

FERTILIZING AND PRUNING
    The one-two punch of last year's summer heat and severe early cold
has taken its toll on all plants. Use ferti-lome Tree & Shrub Food on
all types of trees and shrubs. This feeding not only helps plants
recover from last year but also builds up plants to withstand adverse
conditions this year.

    Prune out branches that are dead or have severe winter injury.

SUMMER BULBS & ANNUALS
    In mid to late April when the soil warms up, start planting summer
bulbs such as tuberous begonias, caladiums, cannas, dahlias and
elephant's ear.

    In early May, the danger of frost is finally past. We can now safely
plant all those annuals (vinca, impatiens, marigolds, begonias, coleus,
zinnias, etc.), shrubs (butterfly bush, crape-myrtle) and vegetables
(cucumbers, eggplant, sweet potatoes) that prefer hot temperatures.

FEED BEDDING PLANTS
    Use ferti-lome Blooming & Rooting as a starter solution for bedding
plants and vegetables. The high phosphorus content (9-59-8) helps plants
root out better and then produce more flowers and more fruit.

    Then feed flowers and vegetables once a month with ferti-lome
granular Gardener's Special. Its 11-15-11 analysis is a good all-purpose
fertilizer for most gardens.

    HINT:  Use Blooming & Rooting in-between the granular feedings to
get the most production or blooms from your plants.

SPRING PLANTING
    Continue planting all shrubs, trees, vines and perennials. Use
ferti-lome Start-N-Grow slow-release plant food in the planting hole to
maintain your landscape plants through- out the season.

    Water in all new plantings with ferti-lome Root Stimulator. Use it
once or twice on smaller plants and weekly for the first month on trees
and shrubs.

STOP PULLING WEEDS!
    Eliminate backbreaking hand weeding with Weed and Grass Stopper.
Simply shake Weed and Grass Stopper on the soil according to label
directions and water it in.

    It's an easy way to prevent weed growth in flower beds, around
trees, between shrubs and with certain vegetables, too.

    You should pull existing weeds before using Weed and Grass Stopper
because this product prevents weeds from germinating but does not
eliminate weeds that are up and growing.

    Next time you're planting,try using both Start-N-Grow and Weed and
Grass Stopper. We fondly refer to this combination of favorite gardening
products as ... START 'N STOP!