WATERING

The most common problem is to little water. The first sign that your plant may be struggling is change of leaf color and wilting. Check first to be sure it is actually caused by to little water in the soil. Watering plants that don't need it does more harm than good. Plants will also struggle in soil that is full of water. Over watering is also a common problem, especially in heavy clay soil which are very common in Missouri and Kansas. The signs are almost identical with too little water. The best way to check for proper moisture for the plant is check soil around base of plant with your hand.

PRUNING

The general objectives of pruning are to modify plant growth based on your landscape or your own needs.

• Prune shrubs that flower in spring just after flowers fade.
• Prune pines in spring when the "candles" are soft.
• Prune formal hedges whenever they begin to appear shaggy or ragged.
• Prune Maples and Birch trees in late fall or early winter to avoid excessive bleeding.
• Prune the vast majority of shrubs and trees in late spring or late fall whenever temperature are above freezing.

Pruning will help maintain plant health by removing dead branches or diseased wood. It will also train or shape plants to make a landscape appear formal or natural.
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WEED CONTROL

Most landscape beds utilize a top-dress material. This may be either a decorative rock or shredded mulch. If decorative rock is used , you will need a synthetic fabric. This will be your weed barrier at the surface. Even with this material, some airborne weeds can land in the bed and cause a small amount of weed growth. The best way to prevent this is to use a granular Pre-Emergent Herbicide in early spring and early summer. This will help control weed growth.

If mulch is used you will not need to use the fabric. Pre-emergent Herbicide should be applied at the same time of installation and re-applied at least two to three times during growing season.

Shredded mulch will turn to compost which is good for the soil. So overtime we recommend to top-dress with additional mulch. This will give a fresh appearance around your landscape and also keep the proper depth.
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