Spring Feeding
By Ken Lain, The Garden Guy

Spring is back and it is time to feed everything in our landscapes. A little bit of time spent feeding plants will help our landscapes look better in very way. I encourage you to feed everything in your landscape: flowers, lawns, roses, trees, even the most prized natives. Well-fed plants develop strong root growth that ensures better flower color and richer leaves. Not only will plants look better, but they're better equipped to withstand our monsoon-drought cycles and our scorching summer temperatures.

There is little, if any, naturally occurring food in our native soils, so cultivated plants depend on us, their cultivators, for essential nutrients. The right kind of plant food is especially important in an arid climate, and I've found that a time-release fertilizer is the best because it releases small amounts of food over a long period of time. When possible I keep with organic gardening, but the ease and consistency of conventional fertilizers makes them my choice at feeding time.

My best fertilizing results have come from fertilome's Start-N-Grow. Over a three-month period, each time they are moistened, these turquoise-colored granules release small amounts of plant food. It''s the perfect fertilizer for high altitude gardening and really makes a noticeable difference.

I feed my landscape three times every year: now, in July, and again in October. I use Start-N-Grow for the spring and July feedings, then turn to Winterizer plant food in October. I use this feeding regimen for everything in my yard and garden. It even works well in raised beds and containers. I don't supplement feedings with either Ironite or Miracle-Gro, which flushes through soil so quickly that plants don't have time to absorb it.

Tough plants, a must at this altitude, are possible only with deep, strong roots. Plants with healthy roots live longer, attract fewer bugs, and come through mile-high droughts more successfully than those with puny , weak roots. I've come to depend on Soil Activator by Natural Guard to promote the strong roots my plants need. An application of this dark, organic granular spread at the same time that I apply Start-N-Grow promotes a burst of new, healthy roots deep into the soil.

Soil Activator causes new roots to grow deep into the soil and Start-N-Grow guarantees that they will grow big and plump. The results of treating plants with this dynamic 1-2 punch are really impressive!

I don't rake either of these additives into the soil. I simply "chuck & go" for a quick and easy way to a better landscape. It's important to keep the granules off foliage and to sweep away any bits that drop onto patios, driveways, or entryways as they can stain concrete. I run irrigation after feeding my lawn and flower beds; trees are left awaiting the next irrigation cycle or rain.

The Pink Dawn Viburnum,Viburnum bodnantense, just coming into bloom at garden centers, is a sure sign that spring is here. The viburnum family of plants grows wonderfully at this altitude, but Pink Dawn gives an exceptional year-'round show. Its fragrant pink blossoms brighten our spring landscape, the rich green foliage brings a cooling touch to summer, scarlet colors appear in October, and then cool weather brings on ornamental blue berries. If you don't have a viburnum in your landscape, Pink Dawn is an excellent consideration. Don't wait, though; most viburnums are available only at this time of year and last year the supply at our garden center ran out early.

Keep in mind that you may submit your questions and thoughts about this column to me at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road, Prescott, AZ 86305 or through my website, www. wattersonline.com. Each comment is delivered directly from your desktop to mine.

Until next week, I’ll see you in the garden center.

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