Gardening dos and don’ts for 2017

The new year is upon us and many of us champion resolutions to guide our thinking and doing for the coming days. This week, I would like to share some useful dos and don’ts of gardening that hopefully will help us in resolving to be better gardeners in 2017.

DO prune summer-flowering deciduous trees and shrubs along with evergreen shrubs in January and February.

DON’T prune early spring-flowering shrubs such as azaleas, spirea, quince, rebud and dogwood until after they bloom and before about July 1. Their flowers arise from old wood (previous season’s growth), so pruning them now results in many lost blossoms.

DON’T murder your crape myrtles when pruning! More on this topic later.

DO fertilize pansies and violas and other winter-flowering annuals with a complete fertilizer every few weeks. Be sure to use a fertilizer containing the nitrate form of nitrogen, which is the form of nitrogen that plants can use immediately, regardless of soil temperature.

DO apply mulch around your favorite trees, shrubs and flowers. DON’T apply more than 4 inches of any mulch.

DO raise the lawn mower blades during times of drought.

DO take soil samples from your flowerbeds and garden spots. Only then will be able to accurately fertilize and monitor pH levels of your soils.

DO know that the numbers on the front of the fertilizer bag tell you the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that are found in the bag.

DON’T bag those grass clippings unless you are using them in the compost pile.

DO start a compost pile. More on this later, too.

DON’T sprinkle grits around fire ant mounds. It will not cause the ants to explode if they eat it.

DO read the labels on the pesticides you use in your garden. DON’T think if 1 ounce is good, 2 ounces is better.

DO always water in any newly transplanted trees, shrubs or flowers immediately after planting. This is to remove air pockets and settles and firms the soil around the plant’s roots.

DO know what plants are deer resistant if you are having trouble with deer in your landscape.

DON’T plant glossy privet, wisteria or Bradford pears anywhere.

DON’T overwater your houseplants. Wait until the soil in their pot feels dry to the touch. Then water until a small amount of excess water drains through the bottom of the pot.

DON’T plant shrubs and trees too close to your house. Give them plenty of room, keeping in mind their size at maturity.

DO divide and replant perennials every three to four years.

DON’T apply garden pesticides early in the day when bees are foraging. Wait until very late in the afternoon when bees have returned to their hives. DO know which chemicals are toxic to bees and which are safe.

DO wait to plant caladiums, amaryllis and gladiolus in May after the soil has warmed.

DO keep your compost pile moist but not wet. DO turn it about once per week.

DON’T plant your tomato transplants too early. Wait until the soil temperature has warmed and stays consistently warm (60 degrees or so) for a couple of weeks.

Happy 2017 gardening!

Tim Lewis is a Georgia Green Industry Association certified plant professional, gardening writer, former Perry High School horticulture instructor and former horticulturalist at Henderson Village and Houston Springs. He and his wife, Susan, own and operate Lewis Farms Nursery located on Highway 26, two miles east of Elko, where he was born and raised. He can be reached at (478) 954-1507, timlewis1@windstream.net or LewisFarmsNursery.com.

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