Twin Branch Nursery and Landscape

LAWNS and pre-emergent herbicide application: It's time to to turn your focus to the current condition and needs of your respective lawns. Before you begin to care of your turf however there is one basic fundamental thing that you need to know and consider - How big is it? ... Application rates for weedkillers and fertilizers are based entirely on applying a certain amount of product for each 1000 square feet of lawn so it's important to have a fairly good idea of size before proceeding. Pre-emergent should be applied now (unless you are seeding- then do NOT use pre-emergent!) . Pre-emergent herbicides are those that kill weeds before they emerge from the soil. Common warm-season grasses in our area are Bermuda, Zoysia and Centipede. Bermuda is by far, the most popular around Atlanta because of its drought-tolerance. Examples of Cool-season turf includes varieties such as tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass. Fescue is the most common cool-season type in the Atlanta area. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide such as 0-0-7 with Prodiamine at a rate of 2#/1000 ft squared. Water in or apply prior to forecasted rain. 0-0-7 retails at $20.00 per 50lbs bag and is available in stock.

We are into February! This may surprise some, but it's a good time to plant container-grown and/or ball-and-burlapped trees. Planting now during a dry and mild period in the winter where the ground seldom freezes affords trees an opportunity to establish their roots before the heat of summer makes itself known. What's important though is doing some research and taking the necessary planning and preparation steps to ensure the success of your respective installs. Ask yourselv...es: What area will be home to your tree? Is the spacing apart from other trees and vegetation around it suitable? Where do the shadows of these existing trees fall and how far do they extend? You're trying to establish whether the chosen space receives adequate amounts of sun or shade. Is it wind protected? What type of soil do you have, and does it hold moisture? Unfortunately, most of our soils do have a particularly heavy clay content so proper excavation and soil amendments are crucial. So, if the area soil does not drain well and remains damp (and you're set on a specific tree) you may have to work on improving the existing soil conditions. The alternative is to select varieties that thrive in wet soil conditions - Red Maple, Sweet Bay, Black Gum, Bald Cypress and Magnolia are a few examples. How to Prepare: Keep trees (both container or B&B) damp until you install. Remove all weeds, turf grass and other debris from the soil surface. When digging a hole do not make it too deep. As a good rule of thumb, we recommend that trees be installed at or slightly above soil level, but never any deeper than soil level. Widthwise make sure that hole is wide enough - a hole size of twice the size of the plants root ball is recommended. Set the soil aside and combine with a 20-25% mixture of organic material such as a soil conditioner before filling in around the roots. To ensure proper and easier watering trees may be installed with a mound around the outer edges of the root ball. Do not on any account apply fertilizer directly to the planting hole. Doing so could result in root burn and stunt the growth of the tree. Stake where necessary and water promptly and thoroughly upon installation. The first two weeks of watering are critical for establishing healthy, happy, and trouble-free trees. We recommend spot checking the area by feeling the soil or using a meter right at the ball of the root. During normal February weather conditions, watering is normally necessary every 3 to 4 days. days. Extreme Cold is stressful to a new install, so be sure to water before bitter cold is predicted. Unbelievably, wet roots will fare better in the cold than will dry roots. Interested in a new addition to your landscape? Here are a few ideas that could spruce up your space!

Brrr it's indeed a chilly day today but there's good news as General Beauregard Lee has spoken...Spring will be early this year!!! Georgia’s renound furry friend saw no sign of his shadow this morning. ... Happy Groundhog’s Day everyone.

Early Rose Helleborus

There's always work to be done. In the cold, rain, sleet or snow the show must go on. Literally hundreds of daylily, peony, hosta and astilbe perennials are currently being potted, labeled and winterized.