A homeowner with a new yard to landscape thinks must select trees, shrubs and flowers to plant. A well-landscaped yard is not planned at a minute’s notice. It requires thoughtful attention and a plan on paper.
You can get help in various ways. First, consult back issues of magazine articles on yard beautification. There are also good books on the subject. Your state extension service might have literature on landscape planning and choosing plants.
Three Basic Steps in Landscaping
There are three basic steps in landscaping. The first is to develop the plan, the second to select suitable plants, and the third to plant.
- The selection of plants presents many pitfalls. If someone outside your area designed the plan, some of the plants suggested may not be hardy for you.
- Check carefully with a local nursery before planting. If the plants chosen are not hardy, the result following a severe winter will be replanting with hardier kinds.
- Check your state extension services for lists of recommended plants. The best way to know what’s hard for you is to take notes of established plantings of trees and shrubs in the locality.
Soil Testing
When something is wrong with plant growth, the advice often given to gardeners is to have their soil tested.
Certainly, soil fertility and soil conditions influence plant growth, but they are not the only factors in poor growth.
Measuring of Soil Elements
Soil tests usually measure the availability of some of the major elements—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and will reveal the degree of acidity and conductivity.
The latter indicates the presence or absence of salts building up in the soil possibly from poor drainage, over-use of fertilizers, and poor irrigation water.
The usual soil test does not always give a clue to many plant growing problems, for some factors other than fertility may be an important cause of poor plant growth.
Soil Compaction
Soil compaction for example, which causes reduced aeration in soils, isn’t necessarily revealed by a soil test.
Take stock of your horticultural practices before blaming soil fertility for poor plant growth. Weather and climatic conditions are important to consider also, as insects or diseases.
Damages from Mites and Spiders
Red spiders and other mites cause considerable damage without your knowing about it. They are quite small and infest a wide range of plants. They are most abundant during hot, dry weather. A good hand lens helps to spot this pest on plants.
Virus diseases cause off-color foliage or leaf and stem distortions, without usually killing plants. They can spread rapidly without being noticed.
Bacterial and Fungus Diseases
Bacterial and certain fungus diseases, too, can work unseen for a time. Rots due to fusarium organisms work unsuspected below the ground.
Some insect pests and nematodes work on the roots of plants. Improper watering or other poor cultural practices are also responsible for garden plants’ unsatisfactory growth.
Soil Fertility Problems
If you decide your problem is soil fertility, then a soil test might reveal an answer to poor growth.
In sampling garden soil, take soil from random areas throughout the garden. Usually, soils are sampled down to a depth of 6” to 12” inches.
Mix these samples together thoroughly and then take out the amount required for a test. Your county agent or state college can advise you on sampling and probably can conduct tests for you. Usually, a small fee is involved.
Soil Analysis
To interpret the soil analysis properly, provide as much information as possible such as previous crops that have been grown in the soil, what fertilizers have been applied in the past, and how much.
Watering Method
Mention your method of watering, how much you apply, and whether it’s applied overhead or the water is run in furrows.
State whether you think you have a drainage problem. It is also important to tell why you thought the soil should be tested.
If you can supply this additional information, the interpretation of your soil test can be much more meaningful and helpful.
44659 by Leonard A. Yager