What do we do for the future? First try to reduce the stress on your landscape. Insects and disease are more likely to hit plants that are weakened by stress. Try to improve compacted soils and get more organic matter in there. The plants will get better roots system and moisture will runoff better. Look for low areas where water collects and level them out. Using mulch around ornamentals will help protect their root systems and hold water when times are dry. 

Clean out weeds away from plants as they can harbor insects and hinder air movement which can lead to diseases. They also use moisture that your ornamentals may need.

Prune out any weakened or broken branches on plants.

Fertilizing can help plants that are stressed or weakened. Do not get any fertilizer on the plants and do not work into the root system. Scatter it lightly around the plants and allow it to work itself in. 

Look for scale or other insect damage on the plants. If there is a question on what the damage is, please call or bring a piece in. Right in Westfield, we also have the Master Gardeners, who have been trained in many problem areas. They can look at samples and identify.

Water as needed. Use soaker hoses for most efficient watering. You can lay them out in the mulch and turn on when needed.

With wildlife, there are repellents that can be applied around and on plants. You made need further protection of fencing or netting. One of the best things is to plant things that they do not like. This is not easy as the list of deer resistant plants seems to grow smaller each year as their numbers grow. Even things they do not like can be damaged. Deer are browsers and tend to sample as they move about. 

If plants showed winter burn in the past, you can apply an antidessicant, like Wiltstop” or “Wiltpruf”. This is sprayed on the leaf and reduces the moisture loss in the plant. This needs to be applied when temperatures are over 40 degrees. These products can also help with plants that suffer from summer scorch and can even be used with Christmas evergreen cut trees and brush.

When planting new things, make sure you are using the right plant in the right spot. If you have planted rhododendrons in a spot to have them each die, don’t use rhododendrons there or amend the soil differently. If impatiens stressed in that sunny spot by the road, try flowering vinca.

Space plants out when planting. Things may look a little open at first but, time goes quickly, and they usually fill in before you know it. Plants that are too close can compete against each other and the chance of getting diseases like black spot is greater because of the poorer air flow.