Early’s Green is looking good! The entrance to the pool area has a new look with sod and mulch . GreatScapes will begin the trimming of the bushes in late June. The landscape preference forms will be sent via email the last week in May to all homeowners with emails on file and by mail to the homeowners who are not registered.
Remember if you are doing major landscaping work or any architectural change an ARC form must be submitted for review by the Board of Directors. In order for an application to be reviewed in a timely manner, please be sure to submit the form two weeks or more before the scheduled board meetings which are the third Wednesday of each month. Here are some gardening tips for flower beds
TIPS FOR SUCCESS EVERY SEASON
- Before you start digging, arrange the potted plants on the bed so that you can get a general idea of what the garden will look like. Remember to leave space between the plants to allow them to grow wider.
- Plant from the back of the bed to the front. Set shrubs and perennials at the same depth as they are in containers.
- For a lush look, plant tulip bulbs thickly (about 5 per square foot of bed). After they bloom, remove the dead flowers so that the bulbs put their energy into storing nutrients for the next season rather than into setting seeds. Remove tulip leaves after they brown. Don’t worry about appearances; nearby perennials will cover up the aging leaves.
- Fertilize if you want these plants to thrive. Scrape away any mulch from the base of each plant in the early spring and spread an inch of compost around the plants. In July, lightly mix bonemeal or a slow-release fertilizer into the surface of the soil above the bulbs. (Note: Bonemeal may attract rodents that will dig for bones.) Learn more about organic soil amendments.
- Spread 3 inches of mulch over the bed. It will help to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Use an organic material (such as shredded bark or leaf mold), which adds nutrients to the soil as it decays. Cedar bark mulch is an excellent choice as well, because the resins in it repel many insects and prevent fungal diseases. Learn more about mulch.
- Remove fading flowers to increase perennials’ bloom production. Shrubs drop their old flowers and will bloom again if conditions are right.
- Do not remove brown foliage on perennials until early spring when new green growth appears. The dead material insulates plant roots from the temperature extremes of winter.
- If you must prune your shrubs, do so after the shrubs flower, not in early spring.
Once your three-season plot is planted, be patient. Perennials reach their full size and beauty by the second season. Shrubs grow more slowly, reaching full maturity .
