Proper Plant Care and Maintenance
Garden plants are somewhat like pets: they need food, water, and attention in order to thrive. To begin with, they must be planted and grown in nutrient-rich soil. Next, they must be given the proper amount of water as often as it is needed. Lastly, but just as important, they must be given attention. This means that you must check them daily for signs of wilt, rot, or insect damage in order to give them what they need in time to save them from whatever problems affect them.
Soil composition largely determines how big and productive your plants will be. Before you enhance the soil, you must first either till it well or, if a tiller is unavailable, turn it over with a shovel and chop it into small chunks, and then rake over it until the dirt has a finer texture. If you have access to a barn or pasture, then get some dirt mixed with decomposing manure to add to your soil. Another option is keeping a compost pile and shoveling it into your garden area. Combine the enhancing materials with your soil, using either a rake or a cultivator.
Regardless of the type of plant you wish to grow, a good rule to follow is to dig a hole deeper and wider than the plant’s roots. With one hand, you can hold the plant up in the hole, letting the roots dangle, and fill the dirt in with the other hand, crumbling it loosely until the hole is filled, and the plant’s roots are completely encased with soil. Water the plant immediately, but don’t water so much that you cause erosion of the fresh soil. Just moisturize it lightly. Mound up a small amount of dirt around the base of the plant to provide support and prevent erosion and subsequent root exposure.
Though plants differ in moisture requirements, generally all will need their environment to be kept moist but not saturated. Some flowers, such as zinnias and galliardias, can go a couple of weeks without being watered and be fine. Others, such as pumpkins and chrysanthemums, require at least a bi-weekly watering. Frequently monitoring your plants will allow you to determine when they need watering.
If your plants seem sickly yet have no visible mold or insects, then they most likely need some fertilizer. The nutrients in the soil may have been depleted, and it is up to you to refurbish them. You can use either dry plant food or a powder that you mix with water and sprinkle or spray onto the plant and soil. A feeding every two weeks should be sufficient to keep your plants healthy.
If you notice black spots or bites being taken out of your rosebush leaves, then you need to use a pesticide. Organic varieties are available that are less toxic to both animals and the environment. Spray the entire rosebush with pesticide. Don’t water the roses before or immediately after, as the pesticide will need time to soak in and do its job. This should clear up those black spots and eliminate pests that eat the rosebushes. Spray the plants whenever you notice the reemergence of spots or disappearance of leaf sections.
Growing pumpkins can be a delightful anticipation of fall, but it can quickly turn into a disappointment if you allow the squash bugs to get out of hand. These pests feast on the foliage, sucking the juices from the leaves. They also inject a toxin that makes the plant wilt and turn black. One way to hinder these bugs is to make a spray out of soap and water and spritz it directly onto the bugs as they feast on your pumpkin plants. You can also pluck them off of the plant, and drop them into the soapy water. Be sure to pluck and drop their eggs as well to avoid future infestation. Pumpkin plants must be checked daily for new squash bugs.
Weeds, though not as ominous as mold or insects, can be deadly to your plants. They can grow so thick and tall that they choke out what you originally intended to grow. You should pull weeds from your garden at least once a week to maintain the health and good appearance of your plants. Wear garden gloves while weeding, because thick, strong weeds can cut through your skin. Grasp weeds at their base and wiggle them to and fro before yanking them with a brisk, forceful tug. This will loosen up their roots a bit, so they will yield more fully to yanking. If you have grass growing amongst your plants, then you will need to trim it with garden shears so that it does not overgrow your plants. If yanking up weeds eradicates a noticeable amount of soil as well, then replace it with some more compost or manure-enriched dirt to help the plants recover from sudden exposure and to prevent any erosion.
If you are attempting to grow corn and are stopped short by raccoons dragging down the stalks and eating the ears, then you may need to invest in an electric fence. Raccoons are climbers, and one attempt at scaling that fence would be enough to discourage them from ever bothering your garden again. A fence with wires starting low to the ground and reaching to about 3 feet should keep pests like rabbits out of your vegetable garden as well.
