Plants naturally come with defenses to fight harmful insects and diseases (much like the human immune system). If the plant is not healthy or is stressed then those defenses grow week and invaders make their way in. The best defense for the fight against harmful insects and diseases is a good offence. Keeping your plants healthy and vigorous with the right fertilizers will eliminate the need for problem solutions down the road.

Following are some of the fertilizing recommendations we make here at Lomond View:

Flowers- annual and perennial: We offer a selection of blooming and rooting options to give your flowers exactly what they need to produce vigorous blooms. Flowers are the star of the landscape show, you’ll want to give them specialized energy and nutrients so they can really shine.

Trees and shrubs: Establishing the root system that first year means everything in the life of a tree or shrub. Make sure your investment will reach its potential by applying Root stimulator every time you plant! We also have tree and shrub food to keep your trees and shrubs healthy and vigorous year after year.

Lawn Turf: If you follow a program of regular seasonal care and maintenance, it’s easy to achieve a beautiful, healthy, disease- and weed-free lawn:March/April- Apply Fertilome Crabgrass PreventorMay/Early June- Apply Fertilome Weed OutEnd of Aug/Sept- Apply Fertilome Lawn Food Plus IronOct/Nov- Apply Fertilome Winterizer

Edibles: We carry a variety of fertilizers that are safe and effective for your vegetables and fruit trees. They will not only keep your plant healthy but will increase your harvest.

Organics: If you like to keep things natural then you will find a great selection of options on our sales floor. With Fertilome’s Natural Guard line you will find an organic solution to any gardening problem you need to solve.

Pruning is one of the first things you want to think about in the Spring. In fact, it can be started in late winter. The timing is important because pruning after the tree or shrub has come out of dormancy will stimulate new growth, if that new growth gets a hard freeze then it may not survive. On the flip side, if you wait until too late in the season then the tree will have expended precious energy creating buds that will get pruned off. Ideally, you get the tree all pruned just before it starts taking stored energy from the roots to put into making new spring growth. This way you optimize the tree’s energy stores. In real life, however, we know that trying to guess what Mother Nature’s Spring schedule is can be a tricky game (especially in Northern Utah). She likes to keep us guessing, so we just do our best to find a balance between pruning too early or too late and usually it turns out.

Your first priority when pruning will be to remove dead or diseased branches. You want to give your tree or shrub a fresh start, dead or diseased areas attract pests that will cause more problems for you down the road. Second, you will create the shape you want for your tree or shrub. This varies depending on your objective. If it is ornamental and you prefer a round, balanced look then that will be your focus. If it is a fruit producing tree then you will want to focus on encouraging sturdy, 45 degree angle limbs at reachable levels for picking. Lastly, with all pruning you will want to consider opening up the center of the tree or shrub to allow light and air to reach all parts of the plant. This last consideration will help your tree or shrub reach it’s highest potential for a healthy, disease and pest free year.

Pruning can be done at other times of the year, but Spring will be the easiest time for your tree or shrub to heal the cutting wounds that are created. When finished pruning, give your tree or shrub an application of our Tree and Shrub Food and it will be on it’s way to a successful year. Visit us with questions or to get supplies.

We can not over emphasize the importance of adding organic matter to your soil, it is the single best thing you can do to improve your soil quality and give your plants the best growing conditions possible. Utah soil is naturally very low in organic matter and regardless of the type of soil you are working with (ie. clay or sand) your plants will always benefit from adding some in. One excellent option is our Fertimulch Poultry Compost. We sell it by the bag or in bulk. Bring your truck and we’ll load it up, or call and arrange for delivery. 801-782-0484. Spring is a great time to get organic matter into your soil, adding compost now will definitely pay off down the road!