Frankie Flowers

LAWNS

• Remove debris (sticks, stones, garbage etc).
• Fix mole damage and or tunnels and apply blood meal to prevent further damage. (moles are controlled by getting rid of grubs once soil temperatures warm).
• Rake and de-thatch.
• Aerate if compacted.
• Top-dress and reseed to thicken.
• For established lawns fertilize with CIL^® Golfgreen^TM20-0-5 slow release.
• If crabgrass was a problem last season apply CIL^® Bio-Weed^TM and Feed with corn gluten (note you cannot re-seed your lawn when applying CIL^® Bio-Weed^TM as it will coat both annual weed and grass seed and prevent germination).

GARDENS

• Remove debris (leaves, old annuals from last season, garbage etc).
• Prune dead wood and broken branches.
• Cut back dead growth on existing perennials.
• Amend soil with Nature Mix^TM Annual and Perennial Soil.
• Plant frost tolerant annuals to add colour (my favourite are pansies).
• Before Fruit , Shade trees and flowering shrubs crack bud apply Green Earth^® Dormant Spray Kit (rids over wintering disease and insects.
  
• Create a garden budget and plan with the ultimate goal of selecting the right plant for the right place.
  

VEGETABLE GARDENS

• Remove debris.
• Amend Soil with Nature Mix^TM Vegetable Garden and Herbs or Hortibec^TM Composted Manures (my favorite manure is sheep).
• Start Tomato and Peppers indoors (only if you need a ton of tomato plants).
• Purchase Seed Potatoes (selection goes quickly).
• Create a plan for the vegetable garden remember always grow what you eat.
• For those creating a veggy garden for the first time one key is to plant in full sun the next recommendation is to build a raised 4 x 8 box but do not use pressure treated lumber as the sealant could leach into your soil.
  

THIS SHOULD GET YOU GROWING!!!

Frankie

The reasons to seed start:

Selection: If you are looking for cool, unique and even organic flower and vegetable varieties seed offer you endless choices. Take a look at some of the online seed catalogues for huge offerings.
Save $$: If you need a lot of plants seed starting can save you money!!

Knowing the source: If you thinking about growing organic this gardening season starting your own seeds allows you to control exactly how they were grown.

Rewarding: Growing a tomato from seed and caring for it until harvest is a rewarding process and gives you bragging rights to other gardeners.

Share with friends: Seed starting allows you the opportunity to share seedlings with friends, family and even to local organizations who hold plant sales. My recommendation: If you known for growing great marigold seedlings while a friend is an expert on tomatoes. Get them to grow the tomatoes while you grow all the marigolds and share later on.

The reasons not to seed start:

Takes time: If you find your day to day schedule doesn’t allow you time to workout, cook and even pay the bills due to your son’s hockey practice or your daily work schedule don’t seed start.

Takes space: If you live in 650sq ft condo and you have thoughts of growing several packs of seed just remember seeds make plants and plants need space.

New to gardening? My goal is always to make your first attempts to garden an enjoyable experience. Starting seeds is work, many fail because they start seeds to early. Many times it’s easiest just to purchase pre-grown healthy plants from your local garden supply sources (garden centre, grocery, home do it centres).

You only need a few plants: Your married, you don’t have kids and you love tomatoes. One tomato plant if grown in the right conditions will provide enough yields to feed 4 people. Why grow a whole pack???

Costly: Investing in seeds, investing in seed starting soil, investing in trays and pots can add up and if your not serious about seed starting and taking care of the seedlings you’ll end up failing at your attempts and spending more than the cost of buying pre-grown plants in season.

To seed start or not …that is the question …now what is your answer?

Frankie Flowers .....follow me on twitter @frankferragine