Spring Planting Tips

In mild-winter areas, spring planting season is on the very doorstep. In colder areas, planting season is right around the corner. But wherever you live, planting should always be a process that is well thought out. Before choosing plants consider how well they adapt to:

• Your general climate. Are they hardy enough to survive the minimum winter temperatures where you live? Will they grow well in the summer heat or lack of it? How much water will they need? Are the plants subject to serious insects or disease? Are pest-resistant varieties available?
• Your yard. Varying soil types, drainage, amounts of sun and shade, predominant winds and other factors around your home can impact how well plants will grow. Before you buy plants, spend time walking around your home and yard at different times of day and analyze how conditions vary. Consider how they will change with the seasons. And have your soil tested.
• Your home and landscape. Make sure the plants you choose are the right size and vigor for your home and landscape. Plants that grow too fast or too tall can present serious problems in the future. They can also be safety hazards. Planted too close to walkways, foundations, sewer or utility lines, many trees and shrubs can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.

And don't forget to consider how well new plants will blend with your existing landscape and other plants. Do flower and foliage colors complement each other? Are you planning for the longest possible season of beauty, using seasonal flower color, autumn foliage and winter berries to their best advantage?

These are important questions that can be answered with the help of a local nurseryman or a good gardening book. You can also get a lot of help choosing plants from past stories on this Web site. But choosing plants is just the first step in the planting process. Proper planting and initial care are also very important. And Bayer Advanced™ can help you no matter what you are planting:

Potted plants

Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Potting Mix Potting Mix (product discontinued) and Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Potting Mix for Roses & Flowers Potting Mix (product discontinued) are specially blended mixes with three benefits:

• Premium, controlled-release fertilizer that starts feeding instantly and continues to do so for up to 9 months.
• Moisture control that helps plants get the right amount of water.
• Insect protection that kills damaging insects for up to 4 months.

If insect protection isn't needed, use Bayer Advanced™ Multi-Purpose Potting Mix with Moisture Control.

Trees and Shrubs

Use Bayer Advanced™ Tree and Shrub Planting Mix Ready-To-Use (product discontinued) in the backfill soil at planting time. This is particulary important with sandy or clay soils. It will improve rooting and hasten establishment.

To get new plants off to a strong start, apply Bayer Advanced™ Triple Action Landscape, Tree & Shrub Food Granules after planting. Triple action feeding works at every level, and one application feeds for up to 3 months.

To help keep your new trees and shrubs strong, use Bayer Advanced™ Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate. It provides 12 months of protection and protects your trees and shrubs from damaging insects with one easy treatment.

With the right answers you can avoid many problems and be sure your new plants, whether flowering annuals or flowering trees, will thrive for years.

Products Mentioned In This Article

Triple Action Landscape, Tree & Shrub Food Granules

Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate