With all the rain, it has been a struggle just keeping the grass mowed this growing season. If the lawn is not a deep green after cutting, it is time to fertilize. Yes, fertilizer will make it grow more. However, when hot, dry weather conditions occur, the lawn will be stressed from not having enough nutrients, plus the lack of water, which could cause the turf to die. Feeding the lawn now will give added insurance that the lawn will survive during hot weather.
A good fertilizer to use is Espoma Organic Lawn Food or Milorganite. Both give a longer, slower feeding than most other lawn fertilizers even if you are using a 4-step lawn program. Because of the excessive rain, the program should be supplemented this growing season. Yes, you might have to mow the lawn an extra time or two, but when you are finished, the lawn will look green, not a pale green and yellow as it does now.
Plants in pots and baskets should be fertilized with a liquid or granular fertilizer at this time. If the pots are out in the weather, lightly fertilize them with Plant-tone, Flower-tone or 5-10-10 fertilizer. The key word is "lightly." Apply about 2 tablespoons for a 10-inch pot.
Pots that are unde rcover, such as those on a porch, can be fertilized with a liquid fertilizer such as Jack's Blossom Booster.
If pots that are out in the open are not doing well, check the potting soil. If you use a soil that is on the heavy side, that might be the problem. To help ensure gardening success, use quality soils. A popular quality potting soil used by many growers is Premier Pro Mix. Now, if you are having success with the soil you are using, stay with it. Do not fix it if it is not broken.
If plants that are getting leggy or are not as full as you would like, pinch or cut them back so they will fill out.
Damage from insects and diseases on flowers is starting. Aphids are a problem now. Good insect controls to use include insecticidal soap, rose and flower dust or malathion. Most of these controls are available in a ready-to-use container or in a concentrate. Select the one most convenient for your use.
Garden tip: Start spraying tomatoes with Daconil for the control and prevention of late blight.
Send questions to Dave Vargo, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Fourth Ave., Tarentum PA 15084. Vargo has a degree in horticulture from Penn State University and owns Arnold Feed & Garden Center and Kiski Plaza Garden & Feed Center.
