A Timely Trim

20% off All Plants* and bagged EarthMix® Landscape™ through 7/17!

We have certainly hit the stride of Summer. Temps are rising and the rain has been intermittent. You may have wandered into the garden over this past long weekend and thought to yourself, “The tomatoes are flourishing, we’re up to our eyeballs in zucchini, but I feel like I may be missing something…” If you are like my dear mama Renee, the clippers may be calling your name! We are squarely in the time of year where it’s best to trim back some things in order for them to be hardened off for winter.

A good rule of thumb for pruning back flowering shrubs is to trim just after they have finished blooming. However, right now there are some things that could benefit from a little extra love. Shrub roses like the Knock Out or Drift would benefit from a summer pruning to send out another wave of blooms. If your Buddleia’s splendor has died down, a trim could help it flush out and bloom again. I know the butterflies would thank you! Deadheading your Cannas can encourage new blooms to help the hummingbirds through the hot days too.

Naturally, there are some things to avoid snipping. Crape Myrtle, Abelia, Smokebush, Rhododendron, and some varieties of Hydrangea bloom on the old growth. You may be inadvertently cutting off next year’s flowers!

Lastly, let’s talk about a little preventative care. As you trim, clean your tools off before & during with isopropyl alcohol to ensure you’re not transmitting any pathogens between plants. Sharp tools are best for cutting. Dull tools can crush branches, which provide an opening for disease. After your clipping and snipping, water your plants thoroughly to keep them in good spirits. It certainly would not hurt to throw some Landscape™ soil conditioner around the drip line too! Speaking of Landscape™, BatesRewards Members get 20% off all plants* and bags of Landscape™ this week as a thank you for your continued patronage.

Tune in Saturday mornings at 8 am to "Gardening Inside Out" to catch what’s blooming with Caroline & Austin. You can also listen to the podcast version on your platform of choice. Come see what they're up to on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube too!

Happy Gardening, 

Sara Bates

*in-store only, Japanese maples are excluded