Lower South
April, 2004
Regional Report
Fertilize Fruiting Vegetables
When the first fruits set on your tomatoes and other fruiting veggies, sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of complete fertilizer around each plant and gently work it into the soil. Then water it in well. This will keep plants vigorous and productive.
Rejuvenate Roses
Remove the spent flowers on roses to tidy up the bush and encourage more blooms. Cut the flower stalk back to the first compound leaf with five leaflets. Apply a boost of fertilizer and water it in well. Then mulch and get ready for another blooming cycle.
Fertilize With Your Lawn Mower
Recycle your clippings when you mow. The best way is to leave them on the lawn. This feeds the grass with free, organic fertilizer. You provide more nutrients by mulching with a season of clippings than with your spring and fall fertilizer applications.
Avoid Weed Killer Damage
Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be damaged or killed by careless application of weed killers, including those found in weed and feed products. Always read and follow label directions very carefully. Focus on proper mowing, watering, and fertilizing practices that promote a dense healthy turf. This will significantly reduce weed problems.
Prevent Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium at the growing tips of tomatoes and watermelon fruit. Calcium-deficient soil, or moisture levels that fluctuate from dry to wet, can lead to this problem. Keep soil evenly moist, especially early in the season when the first fruits are developing. Plants growing in sandy soil are especially prone to this problem.
