Tips

A lot of times gardeners think by fertilizing, they will have automatically solved the problem, which is not always the case. Poor growth could be caused by inadequate moisture, soil aeration, or nutrients. The plant could also be under stress due to low lighting or extreme temperatures that could cause nutrient deficiency problems. If your plant is not doing well, be sure you determine the specific cause for the situation and the appropriate solution. 

All plants, including trees and shrubs, require macronutrients as well as micronutrients for normal growth. They also need carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that are found in the air and water. The 3 essential nutrients consist of Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorous, which can be found in Schultz® Nursery Plus™ Evergreens, Trees and Shrubs Plant Food along with other micronutrients such as Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum and Zinc.

Nitrogen is a major element in plant nutrition and promotes rapid growth, leaf formation and green coloring.

Phosphate is the source of Phosphorus, which is essential for a strong root system plus brighter, more beautiful flowers and overall growth. It also hastens maturity and increases yield.

Potash is the source of Potassium, which is a catalyst for many plant functions. It helps build stem strength, increases disease resistance, aids in photosynthesis, and increases root growth. It also provides starches and oils, helps reduce water loss and wilting, and is necessary for plant protein formation.

Here at Schultz, we know plants feed at different rates depending on the soil temperature. That’s why we created Schultz® Nursery Plus™ Evergreens, Trees and Shrubs Plant Food to deliver important plant nutrients in several ways. This special formula provides quickly available nutrients for initial feeding and slow-release nitrogen that releases nitrogen for up to 3 months. Plant-feeding rates increase as soil temperature goes up. The release-rate of the specially coated slow-release nitrogen granules is based on soil temperature, not moisture level. Therefore, an increase in soil temperature causes the proprietary slow-release nitrogen granules to respond — providing a predictable, continuous 3-month feeding that ordinary evergreen, tree and shrub food without slow-release nitrogen can’t deliver.

How to Apply Schultz Nursery Plus:

For new plants in the spring, work into the top 6 inches of soil and repeat every 12 weeks. For established plants, sprinkle 8-10 inches from the base and gently work into the top 1/4 inch of soil. Be sure to avoid damaging the roots at all costs.

If you decide Schultz Nursery Plus is the product for you, be sure to apply the correct amount of fertilizer at the appropriate time. Below is a quick guide for easy directions. Keep in mind the following numbers are based on the Schultz 3.5 LB Nursery Plus Plant Food.

Bare Ground, New Beds, Ground Covers, Small Trees:

When: At time of planting.

How Much: 5 Cups per 100 Sq. Ft.

New Trees, Shrubs, & Vines:

When: At time of planting.

How Much: 6 Tbsp. per 9 Sq. Ft. 

Established Shrubs & Vines:

When: Every 3 months throughout the growing season.

How Much: 4 Cups per 100 Sq. Ft.

Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Ferns, Ground Covers, & Full Grown Plants:

When: In the early spring before growth begins.

How Much: 4 Cups per 100 Sq. Ft.

Established Trees:

When: In the early spring before growth begins and again in the fall after the first frost.

How Much: 1 Cup per 25 Sq. Ft. then 2 Cups per 49 Sq. Ft.

Fall is here and so are the leaves! They’re in the gutters, on the porch, in the yard, and even in your landscaping rock. The best thing to rid those leaves this fall is to use a leaf blower. If you have never used a leaf blower before or just want to be more effective this season, follow these great leaf-blowing tips and tricks: 

Safety first! Use eye wear, work gloves, sturdy shoes, ear protection, protective clothing, and make sure to keep hair up and out of the way when blowing leaves. Never let children use the leaf blower and never point a leaf blower at people or pets.

Wind can help and hurt you. Blowing your leaves with the wind is much easier than against. Consider the direction of the wind before you start blowing your leaves.

Think of an appropriate time of day. Leaf blowers are loud machines and can disturb your neighbors if you are blowing leaves too early or too late. Between the hours of 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. is a good rule to follow.

Make sure the leaves are dry. Wet leaves are too heavy and will stick to the ground when using a leaf blower. Wait for a dry day in order to utilize your leaf blower.

Have a plan. Before you begin, put down a tarp to blow the leaves onto. This makes it easy to haul the leaves. If you are moving the leaves into a wooded or compost area, make it easier for yourself by blowing them into sections rather than trying to move it all from one end to another.

Pick a direction. Make sure you only blow your leaves in 1 direction so you don’t have to keep going back or blow leaves in an area you already completed.

Watch for dust and dirt! Raise the leaf blower and wet down dusty areas so dirt doesn’t come flying back at you. Don’t forget certain nozzle attachments can help reduce dust.

Follow up with a rake. Blowing the leaves is sometime not enough. Using a rake afterwards helps to get stragglers.

Save those leaves! Hold onto the leaves and compost them into your garden. Leaves are also great to use around trees, bushes, and perennials for protection during the winter.

Tree selection is the most important step in the tree planting process. Make sure the proper time is taken to make the selection. It might be best to write down the reason to have the tree. A tree will be a part of the landscape for many years. These are a few tips to choosing the perfect tree. 

Location: Select the area to plant the tree. This will help determine the size of tree to purchase. Choose a tree that will have plenty of room to mature and grow freely in the space provided. The rate of the trees growth is another aspect to think about in this process. Pay attention to soil requirements and hardiness zones of the tree to make certain it can grow healthy in that area. 

Maintenance: Think about the amount of maintenance the tree requires. Some trees require extensive maintenance and care to keep them growing, while others can be nearly maintenance free. Select a tree that proper care can be provided. 

Type: Determine the type of tree. First figure out if it is going to be deciduous or evergreen. That will narrow down many of the options. From that point then decide on whether to have a flowering, fruit, drought tolerant tree, and ect… 

Colors: Pay attention to the colors that a tree obtains throughout the year. The colors of a trees leaves can change dramatically depending on the time of year. Ensure that the colors go with the surrounding landscape and provide extra beauty to the area. 

Benefits: Consider many of the benefits that the tree can offer. Go to our Benefits on trees article. 

This is a very important process that the proper time needs to be taken to decide. Go through these helpful tips to narrow the decision down. Then begin to study up on the selections.