Ornamental Plant Care
Ornamental plants, which brighten gardens and bring beauty to landscapes, need regular care and maintenance to thrive. Although some plants---such as grasses and some shrubs---need less attention than others, all ornamentals require some degree of ongoing care. Does this Spark an idea?
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Water
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Ornamental plants need the proper amount of water to stay healthy. Too much water is as bad as too little. The plant itself can tell you when it needs moisture. Wilting or pale leaves indicate the plant needs more water. Watering in early morning minimizes rapid loss of moisture due to evaporation.
Fertilizer
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An application of general purpose fertilizer at intervals of four to six weeks during the growing season benefits ornamental plants. Those in sandy soil generally need more fertilizer than those in clay soil. Fertilizer should be spread evenly over the soil. Fertilizer left on a plant's foliage will cause leaf burn.
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Disease
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Disease prevention is a vital part of caring for ornamentals. Over-pruning---the removal of more than one-third of a plant's foliage at one time---can be harmful. The presence of weeds increases the likelihood of disease. Providing plants their preferred soil type, sun exposure and microclimate helps them resist pathogens.
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References
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