Keeping Planters Looking their Best

It’s been hot and wet in our area for weeks! Many pots are looking lush and full - but they may also be getting overgrown and too dense. When air circulation among plants decreases, the chances for disease, especially leaf fungus, increases. We follow a few important rules to help keep plant leaves dry:

1) Water the soil, not the leaves. Yes, when it rains, the leaves get wet, but we don’t have to add to the problem by wetting the leaves additional times. Watch our short video, here.

2) Let the soil dry out between watering. If it’s been raining, we still check our pots - overgrown plants can keep water from reaching the soil. But if the soil is wet below the surface when you push a finger in, skip the watering can! Watch our quick video, here.

3) Keep plants trimmed back so they don’t trail on the ground and keep them thinned out to keep the air circulating. Check out our video below on keeping basil well pruned.

If plants aren’t looking great, do some sleuthing to assess the problem. Are roots getting enough water? If a pot gets over-dry at some point, the soil can pull away from the inside of the pot creating a gap where water runs out instead of into the soil. Water very s-l-o-w-l-y to rehydrate the soil. Are leaves and flowers getting smaller and sparser? Maybe a bit yellow? By late July, time-release fertilizer added in May has run out and it’s time to add more or start using water soluble fertilizer weekly. Are insects attacking the leaves? It’s important to identify the insect so you can find the lowest impact way to treat them. Check the webpage of your state’s Agricultural Extension Services - most have information on common insect problems for your area. Meanwhile, trim any insect damaged leaves and cut back stems to encourage new growth. And remember, September is just around the corner - you can always refresh planters by swapping a few tired or damaged summer plants with fall plants that are in peak bloom!

Visit our Care & Feeding page for more tips, a downloadable infographic, and links to more quick videos.