Johnson's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2008 PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/tips.html M A R C H 2 0 0 8 LAWN CARE Apply ferti-lome Crabgrass & Weed Preventer plus Lawn Food containing prodiamine (Barricade) now through mid April. This is the first step in Johnson's ferti-lome Lawn Care Program. Our basic program includes five applications--four fertilizations (one early spring, one late spring and two fall feedings) and a soil conditioner, Natural Guard Soil Activator. Soil Activator is a soil amendment that can go on in spring or fall. Also, you receive 500 bonus points on your Johnson's Garden Rewards Card when you purchase the program (see store for details). March is a good time to seed or overseed cool-season grasses. Expect the seed to germinate more slowly than in the fall because of cooler soil temperatures. Another potential problem with spring planting is weed competition. To reduce weeds use a seed starter fertilizer and crabgrass preventer with sidruon, also called Tupersan. Tupersan is the only pre-emergent weed control that can be used on newly seeded lawns. Tupersan doesn't last as long as Barricade; so to extend crabgrass prevention, follow up in late May to early June with Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper. This product contains the pre-emergent Dimension, but no fertilizer. Dimension prevents germination of a wide range of weeds and kills small crabgrass seedlings. That makes it a good choice to use on warm-season grasses and to use later in the season than conventional pre-emergents. It is also a good weed preventer to use in landscape beds. TIME TO GET "GROWING" This month, vegetable gardening moves into full swing. Plant seeds of beets, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach and turnips. It's also time to put out cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower plants. Other vegetables to plant now include asparagus, garlic, rhubarb, potatoes and onion plants or sets. Asparagus and rhubarb are planted as perennial roots. They don't produce the first year and harvesting the second year will be limited. Both garlic and onion sets are bulbs. They may be planted 1-2 inches deep and about 3 inches apart. Onion sets are generally used to grow green onions. Use onion plants to grow larger slicing onions. Potatoes are traditionally planted around St. Patrick's Day, March 17th. Prepare seed potatoes by cutting them into 1 1/2 to 2 inch pieces, each with one or two good eyes (buds). Allow the cut pieces to heal (or dry) for several days before planting. Plant the pieces eye up 3 to 4 inches deep and 12 inches apart. All these vegetables will benefit from loose, well- drained soil. If your soil needs some help follow Johnson's Soil Recipe. Water in all transplants with ferti-lome Root Stimulator or Blooming & Rooting to get them off to a good start and ensure higher yields. TREE & SHRUB CARE Early spring is a good time to do some pruning. Make cuts to clean up broken or ragged branches and any loose bark. Pruning coupled with feeding will help plants flush out better. Use ferti-lome Tree & Shrub Food, an easy and effective way to fertilize trees and shrubs. Just broadcast the granules around the area under the entire tree and water in. Healthy plants are the best insurance against disease and insect attack. For extra protection on trees susceptible to insect attack, like birch, ash, maples or trees with a problem history, use a systemic insect drench containing imidacloprid (Merit). This is a liquid watered in at the tree base that will be effective for a year. If you need to replace a tree or just plant a new one, early spring is a good time. Planting at this time gives trees and shrubs a cool season to get established before the heat of summer. Use ferti-lome Root Stimulator when planting new trees and shrubs or when transplanting existing plants to a new location. As always, work Cotton Boll Compost into the planting hole and backfill to enrich the soil and improve drainage. Adding MYKE Tree & Shrub when planting or transplanting is another way to ensure success. MYKE contains mycorrhizae beneficial fungus, which colonize on plant roots to encourage more fibrous root growth, reducing transplant shock and increasing growth and health for the life of the plant.