Spring Fertilizing

As the weather warms and the snow disappears from our lawns and gardens we begin the tasks of preparing our landscaped areas, vegetable and flower gardens and lawn areas for the coming warm weather. After a thorough cleanup, it's time to nourish the plants. With the mountains of product available to the homeowner it's hard to make an informed decision regarding fertilizer. Jolly Lane Greenhouse has chosen to carry a line of fertilizers produced by Jirdon Inc., of Nebraska, that is especially formulated for the soil conditions of western South Dakota, eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. All the fertilizers have high iron content and trace elements. Our soils in the Black Hills are very deficient in available iron and this is why many plants in this area take on a pale yellow leaf color midsummer.

How can you tell if a plant is low in iron? The most noticible effect is a pale yellow leaf color. Upon closer examination you will see that the leaf vein (margins) are much darker green than the surrounding tissue. In severe cases the edges of the leaves can become brown and appear to be burned. This also holds true of evergreens. Many times plants that are in soils that stay too wet will exhibit these symptoms. With proper fertilization and Super Iron Green most of the harm can be reversed within one year. It does take several months for the plant to show an improvement. The most noticible improvement will be in the following year when you find it flushes out with rich green foliage and renewed vigor. Jirdon Tree & Shrub Fertilizer, 4-10-10 + iron, is an excellent choice for trees shrubs, and perennial beds. It comes in both 10 & 20 lb. sizes, and can be sprinkled over the drip line of the plants. ( Never apply an fertilizer to the crown of a plant!) Apply fertilizers before June 15, and always water in well.

Many homeowners, including myself, prefer to fertilize their own lawns to ensure that the fertilizer is applied at the correct times of year and that it is done properly. It is considered sufficient to fertilize at ground thaw, late June and finally early September with a Winterizer applied right before the soil freezes. I have been using Jirdon Greenmaster fertilizers for 10 years and strongly encourage you to try it if you haven't. It is in a concentrated form so it covers a larger area than many popular brands. It takes less of it and it is great ! Jirdon also has a good Weed-N-Feed that can be applied when the weeds are beginning to show. It works great if you apply this early in the morning after a heavy dew. The product will stick to the leaves better so the herbicide can do it's job. If you're seeding a new lawn this spring, apply Jirdon's starter fertilizer for a balanced time-released feeding. Jolly Lane Greenhouse has a complete line of crabgrass treatments and liquid herbicides to treat those pesky weeds mixed in the lawn.

A healthy lawn should be watered deeply and requires about an inch ( 1" ) of water per week. Daily, shallow watering promotes unhealthy shallow roots and a less healthy lawn. Proper fertilization and watering will ensure you have a beautiful lush lawn this season.