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Bulbs, Tubers, and Roots
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Basic Gardening Tips
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The three most important considerations for successful gardening are:
1. Soil Conditions 2. Watering 3. Fertilizing
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1. Soil conditions
Determine the present quality of your soil. If your soil has too much clay or too much sand,
you need to amend it before planting. Up to 60% of amendment may be necessary.
"Amendments" include peat moss, planting mix, redwood compost, composted
manure and gypsum.
Sandy soil won't hold moisture long enough for plant roots to absorb water. Adding
peat moss or redwood compost is critical for moisture retention.
If soil has too much
clay there will not be enough oxygen for the roots to "breathe."
Clay soils stay wet too long, encouraging molds and fungus to grow. Consequently, roots
suffocate or die of disease. Roots, like our lungs, need a balance of moisture, air and nutrients. In
this case, gypsum and Roger's Planting Mix would be beneficial.
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2. Watering
The condition of your soil determines how you water. If you amend your soil
properly, watering will be less frequent and much more effective. After the soil is
amended, concentrate on the individual plant's water requirements.
Lawns and most
annuals have a shallow root system (3-8 inches).
Along the coast: these plants need watering every five days. Moist ocean air slows evaporation and humidifies
the plant. Inland: (5 miles or more from the coast) water plants about every three days.
NEVER WATER EVERY DAY (except perhaps during Santa Ana wind conditions).
This prevents oxygen from re-entering soil space and causes the roots to suffocate.
Shrubs and trees have deeper roots (up to three feet for shrubs, more for trees) and
need deeper, less frequent watering every 7-10 days. Once established, some plants
require watering even less frequently than that.
The two most important rules of watering are:
1. THOROUGHLY saturate the root system &
2. DO NOT water again until soil is somewhat
dry.
Plants need a good, DEEP drink (a little water on the tongue of a thirsty man will not quench his thirst). Over
the millennia, plants have developed the ability to
wait for rain. Over watering and frequent, shallow watering are the
most common problems and the hardest to remedy. If soil
condition is poor and TOO MUCH or TOO LITTLE water is applied, plants become stressed
and unable to fight off problem invaders such as insects and diseases. Plants
must have good air spaces (pore spaces) in the soil in order to thrive.
Always apply water SLOWLY, thoroughly saturating the root system. Allow soil to
become nearly dry before watering again.
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3. Fertilizing
NEVER fertilize a dry plant.
Yes, you mix the fertilizer in water, but you DON'T then
pour it on a thirsty plant. You need to THOROUGHLY water your dry plant one day
before feeding. Fertilizer "burns" the roots of
dry plants but plump, moisture-filled roots happily drink it up.
DO NOT FEED SICKLY PLANTS! The problem may be poor soil condition, not the
plant itself. Try fixing the soil first!
Annuals are the "speed demons" of the plant family. They produce all their growth
and flowers in one season. They need a LOT of fuel.
Feed annuals every two weeks for best results.
Perennials fall into many different categories for feeding.
A general rule would be to feed with Roger's Soil Activator once a month.
One last note on planting in poor soil that has been
amended: Most gardeners dig a new hole for planting, removing most native (existing) soil, then add 75-100% of amendment in
the space. In clay soil, this method will create a loose-draining area surrounded by a wall of clay.
The amended area will act like a sump, drawing all the moisture that is trapped in
the surrounding clay soil. Mix 1/2 native soil with 1/2
amendment.
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Recommended Products...
1. Roger's Flower Food: Highly concentrated so weaker dilutions are possible.
2. Roger's Soil Activator: Ideal for all plants, veggies, herbs, new plantings and as a
boost for slow, weak growers and clay soils.
3. Roger's Planting Mix:Ideal for amending garden soil.
4. Roger's Potting Soil: For gardening in pots... this is where you begin!
5. Safer Products:Low-toxicity pesticides & fungicides for minor insect infestation & fungus.
6. Osmocote:A timed-release fertilizer to add to your "heavy feeders" for better blooms.
Use along with regular fertilizer.
7. Syphonex: Hose attachment that "makes fertilizing a breeze."
8. Water Wand: Makes watering a pleasure. Be careful, though... you could have so
much fun that you over water. Use low pressure
only.
9. "That's It" Snail & Slug Bait: Use faithfully every two weeks. Water soil surface
lightly before spreading out.
10. Sunset Western Garden Book: A must for every gardener. Refer to it for specific
watering and feeding requirements for perennials, shrubs and trees.
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