Planting Annuals

          
With the coming of Memorial Day comes the starting gun shot of all things planted outdoors; and this weekend looks to be great one to do just that.

 A few tips for you as you set out to add some color in your yard.

 First, and to most this may sound like a no-brainer, but rough up all the ground with your hand cultivator and throw down some good garden fertilizer while you're doing it. You will be doing a lot of watering the first week or so and you will want the water to stay put and not run out of the bed you are trying to soak.

 Second. As you remove the plant from the cell pack rough up the root ball a little. Not too much, you don’t want to injure where the roots stop and the stem begins, but you do want to get the roots spread out some, they were living in some very cramped quarters there for a while. This will get the roots to grow out and not continue growing around and around in a tight circle before finally growing outward.

 Lastly, products like Preen will keep the weeds down until the plants have bushed out enough to starve the weeds of any sunlight. Preen, and Preen with fertilizer, kills the weed seed at the point of germination, it will not work on a actively growing weed, those you must pull.

 And finally thank a Vet for the freedoms you enjoy this and every weekend.