"Newsletter"

How did I do that? Next season you may want to recreate a favorite planter combination.

Hello Plant Lovers,

Planting season is in full swing and it's time to give you a tip to ensure next season will be wonderful by doing a little something early this season. We'll also share methods for good maintenance once your Mayflower plants are in the ground or in your containers.

Save Yourself!

Plan now to take the anxiety out of next spring's planting. So many times each spring, customers come into the greenhouse wishing to replicate that wonderful container planting they did last year - but they can't remember the names of the plants they used. Here's a simple solution. Save one tag from each variety you planted and stuff them in a zip lock bag and put them in your gardening file. Next spring, if you remember where you put the file, the collection of labels will refresh your memory as to what you planted - making life easier for you and us. If you bought from more than one source (heaven forbid), you could put the tags from each source in a separate bag with a little slip of paper indicating the greenhouse where the plants came from.

Basics for Planting Containers

Mayflower goes the extra mile to make sure the plants you purchase perform optimally once you get them home.

A simple zip lock baggie with one each of the plant markers can save you!

However, even the best quality plants won't last or provide the colorful show you expect if they are neglected or, as is sometime the case, killed with a little too much tender loving care. We're assuming you got everything off to the right start by:

• Purchasing quality potting soil with good moisture retentive qualities from your local garden center.
• Making sure your container has an adequate drainage hole at the bottom.
• Planting an appropriate depth in pots. With your plants planted, the soil line in the pot is about an inch below the rim of the pot. This allows you to fill the recessed area with water and let it slowly sink in (you also won't have soil washing over the side of your container).

If you've taken care of these basics, you're on your way to a satisfying and durable container gardening experience.

Watering

When watering it's important to remember:

Time of Day. The best time of the day to water is early in the morning before you launch into your busy day. That way your plants will have the water they need during the heat of the day and if any water ends up on the foliage, it will have plenty of time to dry before nightfall.

Water Directly to Soil. You will also want to remember that the best practice is to water directly to the soil, not over the tops of the plants. Wet foliage is of no use to the plant and, in fact, it may cause harm by encouraging pests and diseases that prefer a moist environment.

Water directly to soil, not over leaves.

Hot Weather Watering. Plants are not necessarily revived by a dousing of cold water in hot weather. The plant leaf physiology of sun loving plants and even some shade lovers is quite well adapted to handling the blistering rays of the sun - if the plant has adequate moisture at its roots going into the heat of the day. Providing your plants with a good moisture retentive soil is key.

Develop Empathy. Then too, develop some empathy with your plants. Don't just water on an arbitrarily set schedule. Most plants will benefit if the soil dries out slightly between waterings - the plants may droop a bit but that's OK. A little drooping is preferable to constantly wet soil which can lead to root rot and pest problems.

Dramm Watering Can for watering directly to soil where hose won't reach.

Dramm Watering Wand for watering directly to soil where hose reaches.

Watering Tools. Use a gentle stream of water like that provided by a watering wand. The soil that's best for container plant culture is easily washed out if there is too much pressure. The wand manufactured locally by the Dramm Company of Manitowoc is excellent if you have a large number of pots.

Their watering can with an extra long spout with a brass rose (detachable nozzle) also works very well in situations where dragging a hose around isn't practical.

Wheel topiary (Above) and picture frame (Right) pose special watering challenges.