Gardening Tips

Correct pruning is critical to the long-term health of your plants, especially trees and shrubs. Determining the correct timing for your specific plants is the first step.

Spend time testing your soil. Determining its pH and NPK will help you determine which amendments are needed to enrich your soil. The soil testing kits are inexpensive ($20) and will provide you with incredible information that will pay off in the long-term. 

Use a plant identification app to figure out if you have any invasive plants in your garden. These plants are labeled as invasive because of their incredibly aggressive spreading habits. Dealing with them early on is vital to a healthy garden.

Water your plants according to their needs. Native plants, once established, tend to not require regular irrigation. On the other hand, vegetable and cutting gardens will need regular watering.

The best time to plant - in my zone - is the fall (late September/October). The next best time is the springtime. And remember, you can always move plants around. The first step is to get them in the ground. 

Your local Master Gardener group will provide excellent advice. And, if you get advice online, be sure to cross-reference it with other trusted sources.