KNOWLEDGE IS FUNDAMENTAL
Your landscape is a reflection of you and your personal style. Landscaping is an investment and you must be prepared to take care of your investment. Whether you or a garden maintenance professional takes care of your landscape, you want to make sure that the caretaker is knowledgeable about proper landscape management which includes plant specific care, pruning, and basic pest and disease control. Homeowners must understand that there is no such thing as a zero maintenance landscape. However, some gardens are more work intensive than others.
The most important thing for a landscape manager to know is the following: know your plants. All plants are different and therefore require unique care. Knowledge of plant specific needs is imperative for pruning, fertilizing, watering, and disease and insect control. New plants are developed on a frequent basis so constant education on the latest and greatest varieties is critical.
Optimal timing of pruning varies for deciduous trees and shrubs, evergreen trees and shrubs, broadleaf evergreens, and fruit bearing trees and shrubs. There are always exceptions to the rule. Technique also varies. Leaf type and arrangement affect how a plant should be pruned. An understanding of plant physiology can go a long way in knowing how a certain plant should be pruned.
Take a stroll through your garden on a regular basis and take an assessment of the health of your plant materials. Look for any odd appearances which may have resulted from pest infestation, disease or physical damage. Every gardener must be aware of issues such as bag worms, scale, aphids, fungus and canker. The earlier you can get a jump on a problem, the easier it will be to manage. Timing is often pertinent when it comes to treatment.
A garden is a community of growing, living, breathing organisms which is forever changing and adapting. Sunny gardens can eventually become shade gardens and vice versa. A good gardener will realize that they don’t want their garden to stay static and unchanged, but will understand that a garden must be managed to grow with its changing environment.
Alyssa Eyman
