Needles & Leaves

Three Things To Do NOW for Better Plants This Year Treat Iron Problems
By Jennifer Huefner, Bear Lake Landscape, Garden City

Have you wondered why you have to use so much chelated iron to keep your trees green? The soil we have in most parts of our valley is alkali. Because the pH is so out of balance, many plants struggle to metabolize the existing iron in the soil. That's why even if you treat a yellowing tree with chelated iron, you will find yourself needing to do it over and over again with mixed results. Although adding chelated iron IS good for your plants, remedying the cause of your problem will help your plants much more in the long run.

Here are a few things you can do to mitigate our pH-caused iron problem. Adding acid to the soil around your affected plants in the form of Iron Plus Acidifier, Soil Acidifier, and Copperas will help to correct the pH of the soil, thus allowing the plant to more easily metabolize the iron already in the soil. A foliar application of Ferriplus or chelated iron will help to green up the leaves quickly.

My most important recommendation to help remedy the soil around your plant is to top dress the soil with Live Earth Humate. Although it is best to add Live Earth Humate with any trees or shrubs when you plant, adding to the top and watering in will help your plant too. Live Earth Humate balances the pH in the soil. The best course of action for an already planted tree is to use a combination of the above. If you're considering planting a tree or shrub, DON"T FORGET to add Live Earth Humate to the soil you backfill with.

We have all these products in our Garden Center! Come on in. We'll be glad to help you with all your yard problems! (Sorry, we're not qualified for any of your other problems! :) ).

Gardening Step #1: When is the last freeze in our area? When can I start sowing seed in my garden? The old farmers' rule of thumb for our high mountain valley is sow seed on or around May 15. In the Bear Lake Valley, we are in official frost danger until June 15. (Those of us who have lived here a long time know we are really NEVER out of frost danger. Another old-fashioned saying around here is, "Plant early and plant often!" So if you sow garden seed before May 15, chances are very good you'll have to plant again because a frost has killed your seedlings. (You can plant peas, sweet peas, and a few other cold-hardy seeds before May 15.) The May 15 date is almost here!

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW is till soil pep or compost into your Iron-deficient Silver Maple