Your Tree’s Need for Fertilization

Is your tree on fertile ground—or is a little fertilization in order? Trees, shrubs and plants are living things, and they need the right nutrients to thrive. Also, just like you, they might need a little help in that area. You take a multi-vitamin or shake up your diet to optimize your health, but what if you were stuck with the same old (limited) fare every day? Your trees can’t head to the supermarket for a daily multivitamin or vary their meals; they’re relying on the same soil day in and day out. Chances are it’s not optimized for their health. Nutrient deficiencies in the soil mean your tree won’t be the best it can be. It’ll be more vulnerable to pests and diseases, and will have a shorter lifespan than comparable trees who are well fertilized. There are two major

4 Easy Fruit Trees and Plants

Want to really chow organic, local and save money? Planting a few fruit trees can do the trick—you just need to match the trees with your region and ability. Of course, the latter can definitely be a challenge. Not all fruit trees are equal when it comes to how much attention they demand, how “fruitful” they really are and there are some fruit trees which are difficult for even master gardeners. Luckily, there are more “easy trees” than difficult ones. Be realistic when thinking about how much time you have to dedicate to them. Here are a few of the easiest to grow fruit trees, perfect for beginners, that will have you digging in to truly yard-to-table fare quicker than you can spell “sustainable” backwards: 1. Apples You don’t need an entire orchard to whip up

Got Fruit Trees but No Fruit?

With proper fruit tree care, you should be enjoying the literal fruits of your labor—but any gardener knows that’s not so simple. One of the most common complaints from fruit tree owners is that their trees “look” healthy and vibrant, but they don’t bear fruit or only do so every other year. You planted that apple, cherry or other fruit tree with visions of enjoying your bounty pesticide free. There were some serious yard to table aspirations, so what went wrong? Most often there’s a lack of “tree vigor,” even if everything seems fine. Your trees are working hard simply to be alive, and actually bearing fruit takes a lot more energy or “vigor” than growing wood. Two of the most common causes of lack of vigor are too much pruning and too much fertilization. If you

5 Flowering Tree Blossoms that Make Gorgeous Twig Bouquets

Why not extend your fruit-tree-care abilities to creating a beautiful blossoming twig bouquet for your paramour? Roses are overplayed and other flowers like lilies and carnations might be lovely, but there’s nothing unique about them. If you’re lucky enough to have a flowering fruit tree in your yard—or access to those blossoms—you can really make a statement this year. Of course, it all depends on the region you live in, what’s in season and just how prone your trees are to blooming. Here’s your cheat sheet to fruit trees and how you can put together a bouquet of blossoming twigs for the record books. As an added bonus, many of these blossoms are wonderfully fragrant (and pair perfectly with a box of chocolates). 1. Apple blossoms Gorgeous pink blooms are an ideal

3 Tree Pests That Aren’t Insects

You might be on top of insect control for your plants and trees (or have a professional taking care of it for you), but keep in mind that not all tree pests are insects or arachnids. In fact, some of them are downright cute—but still wreak havoc on your landscape. It’s crucial to stay on top of insect control, disease control and general pest control. Otherwise, you’re dishing up a veritable love motel and all you can eat buffet to your non-human neighbors. Let’s start with woodpeckers. They’re found throughout North America and while they might be cute at first glance, they can destroy your trees. Plus, the sound of that constant pecking is enough to drive anyone batty. There are humane ways to drive off woodpeckers, but bear in mind that all those holes they bore are als