Springtime FAQ

1. When is the last freeze and frost date for Montgomery County?

Typically April 10 is the last freeze date and May 10 is the last frost date. These are arbitrary dates and freezes and frosts have and will occur beyond these dates. But usually the ground is now warm enough on these dates that most plants will not be damaged. Do not confuse freeze and frost. Frost can occur when the temps get below 40 degrees and it is clear. Freeze occurs when temps get below 32 degrees.

2. When can I plant most annuals and vegetables (tomatoes, impatiens, etc)?

Annuals and summer vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, squash- veggies harvested later in summer) should not be planted until Mothers Day (mid-May). Many annuals can go in the ground late April but you must watch the weather and be prepared to protect the plants if the temps are predicted to be in the mid 30's. The ground is not sufficiently warm enough for veggies until Mid-May so even if frost does not get them, they will not grow in the ground until it has warmed to the right temps. However, you can plant annuals and veggies in pots in late April so long as they are near your house where it is typically warmer.

3. I came out this morning and all my flowers were gone (pansies, impatiens, etc).
What happened?

Usually the culprits are deer or sometimes rabbits. Those tender, tasty plants are a nice change from the growth they have been eating for the last 5-6 months. We recommend several easy solutions: Liquid Fence, a spray which has a terrible smell and makes the plant taste bad when first applied. It lasts approx 30 days and it is guaranteed to work, even if it rains. We all have used it and it works well. Deer Scram is a granular product which repels by smell but is "odorless" to humans. This is best used when having to surround a large area. Milorganite is a granular organic lawn and garden fertilizer which has proven to be very effective in repelling deer. We usually recommend this when using for a veggie garden. We also sell deer netting - a very effective, low cost solution, but not very pretty.

4. Why use mulch and which is the best to use?

Mulch serves 3 purposes: Moisture retention, weed control and aesthetics. The most popular in our area is shredded hardwood. It comes in natural dark and dyed black. Cedar mulch comes in natural and dyed red. It is best used if insects are a concern as it does not attract any. Their also is a pine product which comes in Mini nugget and large nugget. Very decorative, but not as effective in moisture retention. The best we sell is ICBIN, a bark only product. It contains no wood so it decomposes quickly and thus can be turned into your garden as compost. It is very dense and dark in color.

5. How much mulch do I need?

A 3 cubic foot bag covers approx 36 square feet when applied 1 inch thick (typical application). There are 9 bags of 3 cubic foot mulch to a cubic yard. A pallet of 3 cu ft mulch has 5 yards (45 bags). A 2 cubic foot bag will cover approx 24 square feet. You will need 13-14 bags to make a yard.

6. How do I plant a tree/bush?

Most trees' and shrub's need good drainage to survive and thrive. Dig a hole 2x as wide as the root ball and only as deep as the root ball. Place the plant in the hole using a mixture of 50% existing soil and 50% organic matter-a compost that does not form a solid clump when squeezed in you hand. We recommend either Leafgro, a locally made compost or Bumpercrop, an organic soil conditioner. The plant should be approx 2-3 inches above the existing grade. Fill your dirt up to the plant and taper off. The plant will be above the ground! We do not want the part where the plant and the soil meet below the ground. Mulch well and water in.

7. My plants always seem dry even though I water everyday. What do I do?

Depending on the plant, it probably is not getting enough water to last the day. A typical hanging basket needs approx a ½ gallon of water every day unless it rains. A new shrub should be watered an inch a week. What is best is to do water deeply every 2-3 days in the beginning, tapering off to every 4-5 days after several weeks. After 6-8 weeks, unless it does not rain, the plant should stand on its own. If we have little rain, a good weekly soaking should be sufficient. We want the plant to reach deep with its root for moisture. Watering a little a day only trains the roots to stay near the top.

8. When do I fertilize and prune my azaleas (spring flowering shrubs)?

The best time to fertilize flowering shrubs is after they bloom. Fertilizer asks the plant to grow, so if we fertilize too much before or during blooming, the plant will shed its blooms quickly and leaf out. If we fertilize in late summer or early fall, the plant will grow and the new growth may not have enough time to harden off and will be lost when we get our first freeze. We also prune after bloom time for obvious reasons. We do not want to prune any later than early July (July 4 is a good date) because it is up to this time that spring blooming shrubs are setting buds for the next spring. You can fertilize with a slow release fertilizer in the late fall but do so lightly.

9. What flowers do you recommend if I do not want to water much?

Annual Vinca, Lantana, portulaca, Wax Begonias and Wave Petunias are very drought tolerant. They do require some water after first planting but will do well in hot and dry conditions.

10. When and how often do I fertilize my flowers?

We recommend using the water soluble fertilizer Bud & Bloom every 2-3 weeks. One tablespoon per gallon of water. If a plant is yellowing, it is usually a sign the plant needs fertilizer.

11. I have something I cannot see eating holes in the leaves of my flowers (roses, geraniums, etc). Any ideas?

If we do no see the bug, it is most likely small worms or caterpillars. It could also be Japanese beetles. Regardless of the insect, several products resolve a host of insects on any plant or flower. A conventional product is Sevin, a ready to spray insecticide. Easy to use and relatively harmless. If you want something more organic, use Pharm Solutions Flower product. Safer makes an all natural soap that works well. Stop in our store with a leaf and we can help you choose the right product.

12. What flowers grow best in sun? Shade?

For full sun (6 + hours of sun a day) plant geraniums, petunias, ageratum, portulaca, wax begonias (do not water these when the sun is on them), marigolds, salvia, rudbeckia, bacopa, or verbena. For shade try impatiens, wax begonias (yes!), hosta, lamium, or torenia. Our choices are much more limited here.

13. When should I plant grass seed?

The best time is actually the fall. But you can plant with great success in the spring and early summer (June). July and August are generally too hot and dry for grass to begin successfully, but it can be done. When planting seed, make sure the seed is in contact with soil (we recommend using Chesapeake Green, a lawn soil) so the seed will germinate.

14. When should I fertilize my lawn?

Same answer. Fall is the best time, but spring is the time most of us fertilize our lawns. You can do a summer feeding using Milorganite, an organic lawn product. It will not burn in the heat of the summer if we have little rain. Do not fertilize new lawns until you have cut them at least two times.

15. How late can apply crabgrass preventer?

The rule of thumb is you can apply pre-emergent crabgrass up until the forsythia end blooming - the second to third week of April.

16. My perennials are getting sparse in the center. What is wrong?

They need dividing most likely. They are getting too dense (think black hole) for anything to grow in the center. It is time to divide them. Do this in early spring or late fall after you have cut back. Simply dig up the entire plant and cut with a sharp tool into 2-4 sections and replant. Plant using good compost and mulch well. If doing in spring, water well for several weeks.

17. What plants do you recommend for planters?

You should always have some height and some depth if it is a planter not to be hung. For height, plant dracaena spikes, pennisetum rubrum, geraniums, celosia or even some mini (small) shrubs like boxwood or arborvitae. The body of the planter can be whatever you'd like-ageratum, begonias, petunias, impatiens, marigolds. For depth, use vinca vine, ivy, ivy geraniums, million bells or wave petunias.

18. What plants are deer proof?

• Pieris Japonica
• Nandina
• Pachysandra
• Annual Vinca
• Marigolds
• Boxwood
• Hollies
• Rudbeckia

19. What soil should I use when putting plants in pots?

Potting soil. It is light so water drains and roots can move. We carry gardeners Gold Organic potting soil which actually has almost no soil in it but has organic matter which gives the plant vital nutrients. We also carry Miracle-Gro potting mix.

20. My tomato plants are not producing any tomatoes. Why?

Usually tomatoes that are deficient in calcium suffer from blossom rot. No blossoms, no tomatoes. Enrich the soil with some pelletized lime or use Chesapeake Blue, a soil additive made from crab shells which contains lots of calcium. We are told that the tomatoes produced by plants that have been planted with Chesapeake Blue are delicious! TIP: Do not water the leaves on tomatoes as this too causes the rot.