Hey have a couple of early spring questions. I live in south New Jersey.
1. When is the earliest I should fertilize my shrubs like hollys, junipers,
and plants that keep leaves all winter? New house so I have a ton of new
shrubs. Old house I use to hit them with some holly tone fall and spring.
2. I have some decorative pepper plant seeds. Very colorful fruit, red,
yellow, and orange. When should I start them inside for a late April/may
planting? Is April may too early for pepper plants?
3. I planted a Cleveland Pear tree last fall 2002, 20 gallon or so. It is
about 15 or so feet now. When I got it, the branches were very tight and
most branches only went straight up. I guess they prune them like this to
help when shipping. This past spring I cut some of the branches that were
near the trunk only going straight up. It is starting send some branches out
to the sides. Is it too early to prune the tree, if so when should I prune?
I'm only cutting branches that are growing into the tree rather than out to
the sides. Also, there are about three or four branches at the very, very
top that are growing straight up with no side branches, one is kind of the
main trunk. Should I cut this to promote side branches?
4. I planted some bulbs and afterwards I added some low voltage lighting. In
some places I can see some of the bulbs poking up near the lights. Is it too
late to move these bulbs?

Thanks

"Sammy'" wrote in message
. com...
Hey have a couple of early spring questions. I live in south New Jersey.
1. When is the earliest I should fertilize my shrubs like hollys,
junipers,
and plants that keep leaves all winter? New house so I have a ton of new
shrubs. Old house I use to hit them with some holly tone fall and spring.

You can use the Hollytone, but wait until you see new growth appearing in
spring. Plants are not able to metabolize fertilizer unless they are in
active growth.

2. I have some decorative pepper plant seeds. Very colorful fruit, red,
yellow, and orange. When should I start them inside for a late April/may
planting? Is April may too early for pepper plants?

Possibly. Depends on when your last frost normally occurs. Out west, we
recommend not planting out hot season crops like peppers until after
Mother's Day. Figure about 60 days prior to that to start seeds.

3. I planted a Cleveland Pear tree last fall 2002, 20 gallon or so. It is
about 15 or so feet now. When I got it, the branches were very tight and
most branches only went straight up. I guess they prune them like this to
help when shipping. This past spring I cut some of the branches that were
near the trunk only going straight up. It is starting send some branches
out
to the sides. Is it too early to prune the tree, if so when should I
prune?
I'm only cutting branches that are growing into the tree rather than out
to
the sides. Also, there are about three or four branches at the very, very
top that are growing straight up with no side branches, one is kind of the
main trunk. Should I cut this to promote side branches?

Narrow, ascending branch structure is the growth habit of ornamental pears.
Despite whatever pruning you may do, it will never develop a very outward
spread. I'd limit my pruning to removing any crossing branches or any that
are obviously dead or diseased. Clevelands are much stronger trees than
Bradford pears and don't require the same degree of maintenance. Excessive,
even regular annual pruning is seldom necessary and can be detrimental.
Pruning of deciduous ornamental trees is normally recommended for late
winter, just before they break dormancy.

4. I planted some bulbs and afterwards I added some low voltage lighting.
In
some places I can see some of the bulbs poking up near the lights. Is it
too
late to move these bulbs?

They can be moved now if your ground is not yet frozen, but I'm not sure I
see the need. Growing up around the lighting will not concern the bulbs.
Unless you find this aesthetically unpleasing, I'd leave them alone.

pam - gardengal

"Helen J. Foss" wrote in message
...
Spring has sprung,
the grass if riz
I wonder where the pretty flower is?
BG
--
This is a rip off of a Burma Shave signs:

Spring has sprung,
The grass has riz,
Where last year's carless
Drivers is!

VGSEG