With the spring rains and now the heat, many gardeners are having problems with perennial weeds in the flowerbed and garden like creeping Jenny (field bindweed) and thistles. The use of herbicides in the garden is not a choice, so what to do?
This is not a popular solution, however, hoeing or cutting the weeds off is the best solution right now. To suppress the weed growth, I use mulch whether plastic or straw (rotting alfalfa hay) is a good option.
I had good luck spraying the asparagus bed in the early spring for Bromegrass. Sprayed a couple of times before the asparagus came up and now, I can manage the few blades of grass returning. You can try spraying around the garden with Roundup to kill the weeds from repopulating the garden but be careful not to get the spray in the garden or flowerbed.
When planting a tree or shrub that is grown in a container, do not dig and amend a large hole. The tree thinks it has been transplanted into a larger pot. The roots will grow in the kinder soil and when they reach the surrounding soil, the roots will turn around and keep growing in the “good” area.
Dig your hole the same depth as the container and a few inches wider in diameter of the pot. This will force the roots into the surrounding soil faster, anchoring the tree.
Remove the plant from the pot and gently loosen the roots on the sides and bottom of the root ball. If the roots thick and growing around the ball, you might want to take a utility knife and slice the root ball in four places. You want the roots to start growing out from the container. Place in the hole so the crown (where the stem meets the roots) is about 1 to 1 1/2 inches above the surrounding ground level. This allows water to runoff from the root crown prevent any rot from setting in.
Place the broken-up soil back in the hole. I do not use any amendments like manure or compost mixed in the soil. I might place some slow-release fertilizer mixed in. Gently step on the soil around the plant to remove any air pockets which would kill some of the roots. The tree should stand on its own. If it is planted in a windy area, you might want to stake it.
Lastly, I create a berm (a circular ridge of soil) around the tree to hold the water. Now I water well and place a mulch of wood chips or straw a few inches deep leaving an area around the stem bare. Check the dampness of the soil every week for the first year. The soil 4 to 6 inches should be moist. Do not think lawn sprinklers will keep the tree or shrub watered well. Use a hose with a slow drip during the day or night.
If you are planting a grafted tree, the graft will be above the soil. Older thinking was to bury the graft below the soil for winter protection but the root crown would be buried also. Just make sure the graft is winter hardy. It may say on the label if it is an M27 drawf (which would be hardy). A G65 is hardier but does not have as much dwarfing capability.
Do you have a backyard tree that is unsightly underneath where no grass is growing? You can landscape to make the area look nice. The first thing is not to harm the tree. Never pile the dirt around the ground roots or on the bark. Many trees have surface-feeding roots like maples, cherries, and plums that can be suffocated. Remove the soil around the tree being careful not to damage roots or the bark.
Bring in new soil to replace the soil you remove and top with a mulch. Plant in shade-tolerant perennials like hostas, ribbon grass, ferns, coral bells, or fast-spreading groundcovers relies on attractive colored foliage. Remember the plants under a tree need a little more water than plants growing away from trees because the tree root sucks more moisture.
Early blooming bulbs work great under trees like crocus, grape hyacinths, and early daffodils. The yellowing foliage will give way to the growing perennials or annuals.
If you want to choose another route, instead of using plants fill in with a layer of sand. Then place patio blocks around and sit some chairs or a bench under the tree. If you want some color, plant annuals in buckets like impatiens or coleus. I have seen wood decks built around trees.
If you want to keep it simple use these rubber mats around the trunk. They conserve moisture and prevent weeds and grass from growing around the tree which is especially important when the tree is young. You can then place a fountain or sculpture on the mat for interest.
