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GA Webinars | Prepping your Garden for Spring

Posted on by Brandi
GA Webinars | Prepping your Garden for Spring
08
Apr

How do you like being woken up? If you’re anything like us, you like it to be gradual and soft. Right?! We can apply that same thought to our gardens. Although it’s too early to plant anything outside in Alberta, we can still get out in the garden and prepare some things now that will ease your workload later in the season.

A big thank you to everyone who attending our webinar today. We look forward to all the successes you’ll encounter this spring! Continue reading for a recap of todays event and for links on all the products Colin recommended from fertilizers to amendments.

 

What kinds of things can you do right now?

Trees & Shrubs

Spring is a good time to look at your trees and shrubs. How are they doing? Winter may not have been kind to our trees and shrubs and You may need to prune. Look for any dead, diseased, damaged, or dangerous branches and cut them off with a clean and sharp pair of pruners. Weather, wildlife, and just life can impact your trees and shrubs so taking this time now to ensure they’re healthy is so advantageous. If they’re spring flowering, you’ll want to save pruning for autumn to you don’t shock the tree/shrub. For more, sign up for our upcoming trees and shrubs webinar on May 6th, 2023 

Lawns

Once the snow is gone and your lawn is dry, you can start preparing it for spring! Gently rake to remove debris. You’re just fluffing up the grass to encourage more airflow and removing any winter mold that may have developed. If you’re looking to dethatch your lawn, only do this when your lawn is dry. Consider leaving a pile of leaves in a corner of the yard to give our garden bug friends a place to hide out until aphids and pests need exterminating. You may need to rake a couple times, so don’t try to remove everything in one go. Once you start to see your lawn actively growing, feel free to begin your fertilizer program. You’ll typically fertilize a few times in the year. For more, sign up for our upcoming lawn webinar on April 15th, 2023 

  • Scott’s Turf Builder Starter 24-25-4 | Click Here

Flower Beds & Raised Planters

Start tending to garden beds once soil is dry. Weed, fluff up the soil, amend the soil, and assess your perennials to see if they need some help or if you need to start fresh.

 

Amending your Soil

Amendments are not fertilizers and should be done annually. What you’re trying to do is improve nutrients, aeration, drainage, and overall texture. If you’re amending flower/veggie beds, you only need to amend the top few inches. Feel your soil and refer to the list below to add products that will improve whatever you think is lacking. If you’re dealing with raised planters, stick with light amendments like worm castings and peat moss. The biggest thing is to not get concerned with overdoing it. If you want to just try a couple amendments and see how it goes, great! Learn something new every year and don’t be afraid to try.

  • Compost | Mix of decayed & broken down matter readily made for plants.
  • Coconut | Shredded coconut husks. Improves soil textre. Aids in water retention and root development.
    • Coconut Coir – Natural, pellets, kits | Learn More
  • Manure | Composted animal waste used to improve soil structure, aeration, water retention, and nutrients for plant development.
  • Peat Moss | Fibrous material from decaying mosses. Helps with water retention and aeration.
  • Worm Castings | Highly active worm waste. Anchors nutrients, feeds plants, adds beneficial micro-organisms, and improves aeration.
  • Volcanic Rock Mineral | remineralizes soil and adds micro-nutrients.
  • Perlite | Water retaining volcanic glass. Helps root development, aeration, drainage, and texture.
  • Vermiculite | Aerate soil and retaining water and nutrients.
  • Bio-char | Organic material that helps neutralize acidity, improve water and nutrient retention. Encourages beneficial soil microbes, bacteria, and nematodes.

While you’re amending your soil, break up soil tension, but be careful around existing perennials. Also take this opportunity to pick out any weeds by hand or tool.

 

Fertilizing

Start a fertilizer program when you begin to see active growth. Less is always more, so follow manufacturers instructions.

 

Tools & Accessories

Take inventory and make note of anything you need to replace before the season kicks off. What do you need to clean up or sharpen? This includes, but not limited to, hoses, rain barrels, pots, pruners, shovels, trowels, and gloves. Get more inspiration here

Resources

More Detailed PowerPoint Presentation | GA Webinar Presentation – Spring 2023

Encore Video Presentation | Visit our YouTube Channel

 

Next Webinar | Lawncare – Seasonal Care and Tips | Apr 15, 2023

Sign up for future gardening webinars | Click here

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Calcium Nitrate:

Mix Ratio: Apply ¼ teaspoon per 2 litres once a week. I full scoop makes 24 litres or 6 gallons.

Recommended preventing blossom end rot and calcium deficiency in tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchinis, and cannabis. It is also highly beneficial for all leafy greens and cruciferous plants (cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli etc.).

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Iron Chelate

Mix Ratio: Soil drench – apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once every 2 weeks. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Mix ratio: Foliar spray - apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 4 Litres of water once every 4 weeks. A full scoop makes 24 litres or 6 gallons.

Recommended for correcting iron deficiency in a variety of plants grown in high pH soil. Iron deficiency is diagnosed by the yellowing or pale colour of the plant leaves, especially in young growth.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

High Drainage

Moisten Thoroughly before use: (optional) Peat moss can be water-repellent. Before use, thoroughly wet the soil.

Potting:

Use pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot.

Fill the pot with the moistened soil, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.

Gently place the plant in the pot and fill in around it with more soil.

Firm the soil gently.

Watering:

This is crucial! Water frequently, especially during hot weather.

Check the soil moisture regularly by sticking your finger into the soil.

Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry.

Fertilizing:

Since peat moss is low in nutrients, fertilize regularly with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

Consider Amendments:

For plants that prefer more moisture retention, you can add a small amount of coco coir or vermiculite to the mix.

Important Notes:

Overwatering: While frequent watering is necessary, avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.

Plant Selection: This type of soil is well-suited for seed starting as well as plants that prefer well-drained conditions, such as cacti, cannabis, succulents, and some tropical plants.

Adjustments: You may need to adjust your watering frequency based on the specific plant and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, sunlight).

Alberta Blend

Moisten the Peat Moss before use: (optional) Peat moss can be hydrophobic (water-repellent) when dry. Before using it, thoroughly moisten it. You can do this by placing it in a container and adding water, then squeezing out any excess.

Mixing: (optional) Our Private Label Alberta Blend comes ready to use, expertly formulated for your plants, either indoors or outdoors.

If you're using this mix as your own base, combine it with worm castings, volcanic dust, vermiculite, etc. to improve nutrition, drainage and/or aeration.

Potting:

When potting your plants, ensure that the pot has drainage holes.

Fill the pot with the moistened potting mix, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.

Gently place the plant in the pot and fill in around it with more potting mix.

Lightly firm the soil around the plant leaving ½ inch to an inch of space at the top for watering.

Watering:

Because peat moss retains water, be careful not to overwater.

Allow the top layer of soil to dry out slightly before watering again.

Fertilizing:

Since peat moss is nutrient-poor, you'll need to provide your plants with regular fertilization.

Use the correct fertilizer according to the plant's needs.

20-20-20 Houseplant Complete

Mix Ratio: For all houseplants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week once every week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

It is highly recommended to start your houseplants on a fertilizer regime, but only while they are actively growing. Houseplants tend to have a period of dormancy (normally winter, however poinsettias, Xmas cacti etc. are exceptions to this rule) and whilst dormant they should not be fertilized.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

22-6-15 Plus Herb and Leafy Vegetable

Mix Ratio: For all herbaceous and leafy vegetable plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This fertilizer is ideal for all leafy vegetables and for herbs. This product can be used year-round if you grow herbs indoors.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

20-12-28 Tomato and Fruiting Vegetable

Mix Ratio: For all fruiting vegetable plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Use this fertilizer on planting day and push right through until the plant either stops producing or reaches the end of season. In the case of transplanted seedlings this fertilizer should be used after the 2 feedings of Js - Jump-Start & Transplant.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

10-52-10 Jump-Start & Transplant

Mix Ratio: For outdoor summer plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water. Normally two applications, one at the time of transplanting, the second application can be done one week later from the initial fertilizing. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Mix Ratio: For seed starting - apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water. Do not over water seedlings, feed every 2 weeks until transplanted outside. Feed them at the time of transplanting outdoors, then one more feeding a week later. After that start using the correct fertilizer for type of plant. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

 e.g. Vt Vegetable: Tomato and Fruiting for tomatoes, F3 Flower flower flower for bedding out/annual plants.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

4-5-28 Perennial Complete

Mix Ratio: All perennials (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water every 2 weeks from spring to late summer. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your perennials. For existing perennials, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. new shoots etc.). For new perennials we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

28-14-14 Plus Trees and Shrubs - Fruit and Flower

Mix Ratio: Trees and/or shrubs (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water per week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs.

For existing trees, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. bud break, new shoots etc.).

For new trees we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

14-7-21 Tree and Shrub Leaf & Needle

Mix Ratio: Trees and/or shrubs (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water every 2 weeks. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your evergreen/coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs.

For existing trees, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. bud break, new shoots etc.).

For new trees we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

15-10-30 Flower, Flower, Flower

Mix Ratio: Outdoor plants (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water twice a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your annual plants. We recommend starting to fertilize at time of planting outdoors and go through to first frost.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.