A beautiful, thriving garden requires more than just planting and occasional watering. To keep your outdoor plants healthy and maximize their life spans, certain care and maintenance is essential. Following best practices for assessing plant health, watering, soil care, cleanup, and more will ensure your garden remains vibrant for years to come.
Below are some key tips for properly caring for outdoor plants:
Monitor Plant Health
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Walk through and visually inspect plants regularly for signs of disease, insects, wilting, spots, etc. Catch issues early before they spread.
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Remove and discard diseased or insect-infested plants and foliage to prevent spreading.
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For diseased plants you want to save, treat with appropriate organic pesticides/fungicides.
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Prune away dead or damaged growth to encourage new healthy growth.
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Check soil moisture with your finger to ensure plants are not too wet/dry.
Water Outdoor Plants Properly
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Water early in the morning to allow plants to dry out during the day, preventing disease
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Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation for slow, targeted watering that saves water.
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Water deeply and less frequently, soaking the full root zone rather than frequent light sprinklings.
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Allow soil to partially dry between waterings to avoid overwatering.
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Adjust watering frequency and amount based on weather, plant types and soil.
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Potted plants may need daily watering in hot, dry weather. Pay extra attention to container plants.
Improve Soil Health
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Test soil pH yearly and amend with lime or sulfur to maintain optimal pH for plant types.
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Improve drainage in clay soils with compost; improve water retention in sandy soils with peat moss.
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Replenish nutrients by applying compost tea or organic vegetable fertilizers.
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Add 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to retain moisture and discourage weeds. Wood chips, bark, and leaves work well.
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Aerate compacted soil with a tool or by adding organic material like compost.
Keep Gardening Tools Clean
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Remove dirt and debris from tools after each use with a stiff brush and wipe with a cloth.
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Regularly disinfect tools with isopropyl alcohol to prevent spread of disease between plants.
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Sharpen and oil blades yearly to keep tools performing well. Replace worn handles.
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Organize a clean storage area in the shed or garage to keep tools from rusting.
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Cut away damaged branches and stems with clean, sharp pruners to minimize harm to plants.
Perform Regular Plant Maintenance
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Pinch back new growth to encourage bushiness and flower production.
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Stake tall, top-heavy plants to provide support and prevent damage from wind/rain.
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Prune branches threatening sidewalks or structures that obstruct pathways or growth.
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Deadhead spent blooms by pinching or cutting them off to encourage new flowers.
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Weed regularly to prevent competition for water and nutrients. Apply mulch after weeding.
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Remove fallen leaves and debris to prevent disease and control pests like slugs and snails.
Remove Weeds
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Pull weeds out by hand frequently before they grow roots, which disturb soil and plants.
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Use corn gluten meal or vinegar-based herbicides for chemical-free weed control. Avoid toxic herbicides.
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For gravel or paver areas, use a torch to kill weeds growing in cracks.
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Place landscape fabric around plants and add mulch on top to block light from reaching weeds.
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Edge along beds and borders weekly with a half-moon edger to prevent weeds from creeping in.
Protect Plants from Wildlife
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Use fencing with small mesh to block rabbits and deer from nibbling on plants.
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Sprinkle blood meal around beds to deter furry pests from digging in and biting foliage.
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Install plastic owl or hawk decoys to frighten away squirrels and birds from feeding on plants.
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Apply animal repellent sprays made with hot pepper wax, garlic oil, or other natural ingredients to deter pests.
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Trap problem animals like moles, voles, and rats humanely and relocate if they persist in destroying plants.
Stake Plants Properly
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Use green metal or bamboo stakes that blend into plants and are weather resistant.
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Place stakes 6-12 inches from the plant stem for support without hindering growth.
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Use soft ties designed for plants to gently secure climbing stems to stakes without damage.
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Stake tall, top-heavy plants in the center in addition to individual stems for added support.
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Drive stakes at least 6 inches into the ground and 1-2 feet taller than plants’ expected height.
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Check ties and stakes regularly and adjust position as plants grow. Remove in fall once plants die back.
A flourishing garden full of vibrant plants requires regular care and maintenance. By taking preventative measures, you can keep your landscape healthy andminimize disease and pest issues. Proper plant care also improves the longevity and productivity of your garden. Follow these tips to give your outdoor plants what they need to thrive season after season. Investing a little effort into proper plant care will yield happy plants and an eye-catching garden for many years to come.
7 Tips To Keep Your Outdoor Plants Healthy and Alive
If you’re like most people, you probably take great pride in having beautiful plants around your house. They not only add a touch of class, but they also make your home feel more alive and open. However, keeping outdoor plants healthy and alive can be tricky, especially if you don’t have a green thumb. There are a lot of helpful hints and tips you can use to make the process a little easier. And if you want to know how to keep your plants outside happy and healthy, keep reading.
Is it Possible to Revive a Dying Plant?
While it may be possible to revive a dying plant, it is often difficult to do so. It is likely that a plant is dehydrated if it is wilting, its leaves are drooping, and its stems are weak. To revive a dehydrated plant, water it thoroughly and then provide it with plenty of shade.
If a plant is suffering from too much sun, its leaves will be yellow or brown. To revive a sun-scorched plant, move it to a shadier location and make sure to water it regularly.
It is likely that a plant is sick or has pests if it is wilting and its leaves are turning black. To bring a sick plant back to life, cut off any parts that are sick or have pests on them and then treat the whole thing with the right pesticide or fungicide.
Lastly, a plant that is wilting and its leaves turning brown probably got too much water. To revive an overwatered outdoor plant, allow the soil to dry out completely before watering it again. With proper care and patience, it may be possible to revive a dying plant. However, sometimes the best course of action is simply to start anew.
Outdoor Gardening : How to Take Care of Outdoor Plants
FAQ
How often should you water outdoor plants?
How do you make outdoor plants thrive?
How to care for new outdoor plants?
How do I care for my Garden?
Learn how best to care for your garden, below. Watering plants is one of the most important ways to care for your garden. Plants lose moisture from their leaves through a process known as transpiration, so it’s important to ensure there’s enough in the soil for them to reabsorb through their roots.
Why is proper garden care important?
Proper garden care can increase the quality and longevity of your plants, fruits, and veggies. A few hours of full sun is a must for nearly every plant, but different plant species require different levels of care.
How do you take care of a flowering plant?
Prune and clean up dead, broken, or diseased branches. Prune summer-flowering shrubs. Rake, groom groundcovers, and fertilize. After dry winters, thoroughly water new plants. Remove any dead groundcover or shrubs. Amend soil with organic matter. Plant cool-season flowers and vegetables. Remove old mulch and refresh. Prune and plant roses.
How do I maintain a new or inherited garden?
We take you through the essentials of maintaining a new or inherited garden. There’s a lot more to gardening than planting plants. As a gardener, you need to care for your plants once they’re in the soil, making sure they’re well watered and fed, given adequate support and are not growing in competition with other plants or weeds.