Sod needs to be kept wet and watered continually for about two weeks when new. After that, a daily or every other day watering schedule should be followed, depending on the weather. Seed needs to be kept wet until it germinates. Again, after germination a rigorous watering schedule should be followed. Trees can be watered every other day BY HAND with a hose. You can let the hose trickle for about 15 minutes near the base of the tree.

We are fortunate to have a strong relationship with a number of excellent nurseries and greenhouses. We are continually searching for the best plant materials for our customers and often buy directly from the grower or from a well-established nursery. Some of the materials we offer our customers is grown by us directly at our own licensed nursery in Maine.

BOB: If there is less than one-inch of rainfall per week, thoroughly water new trees and shrubs once a week during the growing season (spring and summer).

Answer: Possibly. Cicadas don't kill flowers and shouldn't damage shrubs, but they can do damage to young, wimpy trees like ornamentals. If you have wimpy little trees, you can net them to keep the cicadas off. Tree species that aren't native to North America won't fare as well as native species. Trees that lose a lot of branches typically revive after a year or two, but they will be ugly in the mean time. Cicadas actually are a benefit to trees, as they destroy the weaker branches.

organic or time-release fertilizer balanced in all three elements: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K). We use Nature's Turf 15-1-6, Turf Saver 4-3-4 and Tree Saver 3-0-20 from John Deere's natural line.

BOB: While there are a few trees (Oaks and "fleshy rooted" trees) that should only be dug in the spring, most plants today are containerized or balled-and-burlapped (B+B) and can be planted anytime of the year. [More about shrub planting and tree planting]

When sod is first laid, you must water at least one inch a day for the first two to three weeks. This is approximately two to three hours of watering. During the summer heat it is vital to keep your sod watered! Once sod is established every other day or every few days is sufficient. Keep a watch on your lawn and water if it looks necessary.

In southern New Jersey, Kentucky Bluegrass is the most common type of grass seed or sod to use. Seed is usually chosen because it is economical. Sod is usually preferred because of the "instant yard" look it gives. The real difference between sod and seed is the time it takes to get a full lawn and the amount of money that you want to spend. The best time to seed a lawn is in the fall. During the fall we have constant weather, with few rainstorms to wash away the seed.

There is a common misconception that seeding is the best way to establish a lawn because it is much less expensive than sodding. In realty, sodding turns out to be less expensive over time once costs such as increased maintenance inputs and repair are accounted for. Add to that the instantaneous and finished look you get with sod and its clear to see that sodding is preferable in most instances.

Yes. However, we recommend that plants be no closer than 18 inches (45 cm) to the unit. This allows for plenty of room for air circulation in and out of the unit. Without this room for air circulation, the unit could overheat, resulting in a premature need for service, excessive wear, excessive electrical consumption and possible compressor failure.

My White Pine trees have lots of inner needles that have just recently turned yellow. Are the trees dying? (September question)

Many local nurseries carry plants that make good wildlife habitat. In addition, the state operates a nursery in Ames. Orders are taken every year during the winter for spring delivery. The phone number for the state forest nursery is (800) 865-2477. The local NRCS District also sometimes orders plants for wildlife and windbreak plantings. Their number is (712) 943-6727.

Yes, many trees and shrubs can be pruned during spring. However, spring blooming plants (azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, lilac) should be pruned after they flower. During early spring, some plants may bleed, but this causes no permanent damage.

Most major pruning on deciduous plants (plants that loose their leaves in fall) should be done when the plant is dormant. During the growing season, a plant's leaves contain food, in the form of sugars. Removing these leaves, before they are able to send this food back down to the plants roots in fall, will rob the plant of essential food and stunt it's growth.

Pruning is a simple and easy gardening task and just requires a little knowledge. First you need a pair of hand shears or hedge shears. If you need power tools, its probably not pruning that needs to be done, and if it is, call a professional to do it. First and foremost, make sure the blade is sharp. The cardinal rule is to prune back to a branch or bud, or you will leave a stub that can cause disease in the tree.

Yes. Local deliveries of nursery stock can be arranged and is free. Call to find out whether we deliver to your area.

We recommend using Jirdon’s Tree and Shrub fertilizer. It is formulated specifically for trees and shrubs in the Rocky Mountain region. You should apply a light application around May 15, June 15, and July 31. If you are fertilizing less often shoot for May 15 and July 15. You don’t want to fertilize after the first part of August. You don’t want to push too much new growth late in the season.