Colonial Landscaping & Garden Shop Inc.
Sullivan, Indiana - 812-268-6820
In business since 1968
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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
- When should I trim my fruit trees?
- Why should I dormant spray?
- When should I trim my shrubs?
- When should I winterize my roses?
- When should I cover my strawberries?
- When is the best time to over seed or put in a new lawn?
- How late in the year can I plant shrubs and trees?
- How soon can I plant my tomato plants and annual flowers?
- How do I keep weeds out of my shrub beds?
- When can I transplant my perennials?
- What is the difference between a perennial and an annual?
- Where can I find information for small fruits and fruit trees?
- How do you prevent frost cracks on the bark of young trees?
- How often should I water newly planted trees and shrubs?
- What can I do about Asian Ladybugs?
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You should trim your fruit trees in the latter part of February or the first part of March. The temperature should be above freezing.
You should dormant spray to kill any over wintering insects, eggs, and scales. Dormant spraying should be done in January, February or March when temperature is above freezing. The preferred temperature for dormant spraying is 45 degrees.
You can trim your evergreens any time it is above freezing. Flowering shrubs should be trimmed after they bloom. The old wives tale that you should only trim your shrubs during months that contain an "R" is not true.
You should winterize roses after 2 - 3 hard freezes in the fall of the year. This usually falls in mid December or after. Winterizing roses to early creates problems. Roses can be winterized by cutting back half way and putting soil over the top of the graft union (crown). Rose cones can also be used to cover the entire plant after trimming. In early spring when roses bud out, you must finish cutting the plant down to the required height. Heights are different for each variety of plant. These instructions do not apply to climbing rose plants.
Like roses, strawberries need to harden off and go through 2 - 3 freezes before you winterize. The general rule is mid December. Winterizing too early creates problems. Winterize your strawberries by covering them with 2 - 3 inches of straw.
They very best time to over seed or put in a new lawn is the first part of September. Grass grows best with warm days and cool nights. The next best time is early spring when the ground can be worked.
As long as the ground is not frozen, you can plant trees and shrubs. A common misconception is that you should not plant trees or shrubs in the fall. This is not true. In fact, this is one of the best times to plant trees or shrubs. The warm days and cool nights are ideal for root development.
Tomato and annuals can be planted after the last frost date. This is generally May 15 in central and southern Indiana. If a frost warning is issued after planting, protect plants by covering them overnight (do not us plastic to cover your plants).
After planting trees and shrubs, the home owner should determine the type of mulch they want to use. When using stone mulching, use either black plastic or landscape cloth underneath. If using chunk or shredded bark mulches, a pre-emergence herbicide (Preen) needs to be applied to the bare ground before mulch goes down. Preen is activated by rainfall or watering. Each following year in March, apply Preen over the top of the shredded bark so that spring rains will activate and keep beds relatively free of weeds for the season. To eliminate weeds during growing season, Roundup post emergence herbicide can be applied to each individual weed. Be very careful not to apply post emergence herbicide to desirable flowers, plants, and trees.
Early Spring or mid Fall. Don't forget to water and mulch.
Annual plants only last a single growing season whereas perennials return every year.
Colonial Garden Shop has free literature and booklets for Customers.
Paint trunks of young tress with white latex paint or wrap trees with tree wrap, burlap, or tree guards in November or December. If using tree wraps, remove them in the spring. Colonial Garden Shop carries tree guards and tree wraps.
Newly planted trees and shrubs need at least one inch of water per week for the first 12 months. It is best not to use softened water on plants or trees.
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