v2_MayJune_online.pdf Jun. 2014 | Page 16

FARM & GARDEN ★ By Christine Miller P hotos Courtesy Of H aw Valley Creative W ant to keep your hanging baskets looking great all season? Start by buying your hanging basket s from a reputable dealer. Poorly taken care of plants s tar ving for nutrient s is not a good way to achieve a beautiful maintainable basket all summer long. Did yo u kn ow t ha t there is a “proper” way to wa te r yo ur b a s ke t s? By watering correc tly you stand a much better chance of a healthy plant. Over watering is just killing your plant s with kin d n e s s . Plan t s n e e d water, but the roots need ox ygen too. Too much water and too little oxygen is not a good thing. The best advice is make sure that the soil is somewhat Divas In Disguise d r y b e f o r e y o u a d d water. Don’t be afraid to stick your finger into the soil. Water thoroughly, until the water runs out the bottom of the pot and try not to get the leaves wet. Wet leaves invite sun damage and disease. For the best results, water in the morning, when it’s cool outside. Keep in mind as you water that overwatering is a bad thing but so is under watering, wilting plants take weeks to recover. Hanging Baskets Fe r t ilize, f e r t ilize, f e r t ilize. E a rly in t h