When I see those buds on my bald cypress swelling, I think
of one thing – ORGANICS!
Cotton Burr Compost, Flower Bed Amendment, Nature’s Blend,
composted chicken manure, composted cow manure and / or SeaHume are great
products to use now on your ornamental plants. For best results spread over the
whole bed; however, you can spread the products around individual plants. If
you plan to do individual plants, be sure to cover where the roots are and out
a little past where you think they are. Also remember to keep compost or mulch
off the trunk of trees and shrubs.
Organic products feed the soil as microorganisms break the
organics down into a usable form to the plants. When the soil is cold, these
microorganisms are inactive. As the temperatures warm up, the microorganisms
begin to break down the organic material and make the nutrients available to
the plant. The plant is beginning to grow and put on new leaves as the
temperature warms up, so like magic there is food available to the plant right
when it needs it most. The forest with its leaves, twigs, limbs, and
microorganism population is fertilized in this manner.
Cotton Burr Compost, Flower Bed Amendment, Nature’s Blend,
composted chicken manure, and composted cow manure are all composted to the
point that they do not tie up nitrogen. Some organics can actually steal
nutrients away from the plants while they decompose fully. Wood chips, fresh
raked leaves, or grass clippings are best put into a compost pile until you are
unable to tell what they were originally, and they are fully composted.
SeaHume is a combination of cold water kelp (Ascophyllum
nodosum) and humates.
The seaweed is full of sixty major and minor nutrients,
amino acids, carbohydrates and natural occurring plant growth promoting
substances (bio stimulants) that increase plant vigor, quality and yield.
Humates increase the availability of nutrients in the soil, increase root
growth, keeps nutrients in area that roots can reach (high CEC), make the soil
more friable and many other benefits.
Control summer annual weeds before they emerge with
preemergent herbicides. Crabgrass will be germinating soon, so get your
preemerge of choice out now! Also try not to prune azaleas now or you will be
removing their flower buds and their spring flowers.
