Annual Plant Bed Preperation

Exbury Hybrid 

     A great mid spring blooming Rhododendron is the Exbury. It shows us a different color in the landscape that features yellows and reds mixed in with the green fresh new leafs that will also get a tinge of red to them later in the summer. The plant is a slow grower and will reach  8 to 10 feet and will meet 12 feet wide. This Rhododendron will need to be planted in protected areas and in groupings with each other to survive harsh winters as well as the heat of the summer. It does require attention when powdery mildew arrives by cutting out the disease.  Some varieties include Ghent, Knapp Hill, Mollis and Northern Lights.


                                                                   Annual Plant Bed Prep.

Compacted Soil

The biggest part of planting annuals is plant bed preparation. Many  plant beds become hard or compacted over the course of a couple of seasons. This is mostly due to weather related conditions. Rain and wind will do havoc on soil conditions over the winter months and into spring. This year the dry spring along with very windy days harden the soil to the point of compacted layers that looked like slate. Add some pedestrian traffic and you almost have concrete. Start by turning over the soil with a shovel.

Mechanical Cultivation

The Name says it all

A mechanical cultivation is helpful in softening soil conditions to a depth of about 7 or 8 inches. Starting with soft soil and keeping is soft all year will provide good aeration for root growth, thus providing healthier plants. This procedure is the single most important thing you should do for plant bed preparation.



Adding organic material such as Bumper Crop is a great way to give the annuals a jump start towards success. Mixing in with the other soil medium helps aerates compacted soil, increase moisture retention and conditions soil, making mass plantings easier. This organic material contains worm castings, lobster crab shell deposits,  lime and composted wood chips. We had great results with it last year and it is highly recommended by the staff at 16 Acres Garden Center.

Surface Roots

If the location of your plant beds are in areas where there might be trees, surface roots can be an issue. If the cultivator does not look like this one here you are not doing enough to soften the soil and thus you will have problems all year. Try and keep plant beds well away from large trees and when possible plant larger items using 10 or 12 inch plants so the annual does not get lost to all the surface roots. Sometimes the plant will do better when planted in this environment. But weeding and cultivating are a bitch afterwards.

     With the onset of memorial day we will cover the vegetable garden along with the hot button issue of an increase of the trash fee to the Springfield residents and homeowners.  Also we will try and show a new Coleus that is darker, almost black, and according to Martha Stewart black is in this year,so we will give it a try. Good luck and remember change the gas in the lawn mower and use High test in is for best performance.

                                                                                Edward Pagliaro C.G.M.

P.S. Can't wait for my Italian Ice from Albanos Market.