GARDEN GUIDE
EASY STEPS TO GARDENING SUCCESS
PICK THE RIGHT SOIL
Soil might not look like anything special, but it's the foundation for your garden's success. Good soil, whether you're talking about potting mix (used in containers) or garden soil (used in planting beds), is crucial for strong roots. Just like a plant's leaves need the right growing conditions, roots also need certain things in order to thrive.
Miracle-Gro® soils and potting mixes are created with premium ingredients like coir, sphagnum peat moss, and aged compost to ensure your plants have the ideal soil consistency to grow big and beautiful. Plus Miracle-Gro® soils are enriched with continuous release plant food — so your flowers, vegetables, and herbs have the nutrition they need to thrive.
PREMIUM GARDEN SOILS such as Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil are made from premium ingredients specifically designed for in-ground gardening. This improves the existing soil so plants can build strong roots and produce bigger blooms or a more bountiful harvest. These are mixed 50/50 with your native soil.
POTTING MIXES such has Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix are made specifically for planting in containers. They are formulated with ingredients high in porosity to allow for increased air movement. This prevents root rot and allows for healthy and strong root development. Potting mixes also have ingredients that provide moisture retention to help preserve water inbetween watering.
REMEMBER TO FEED
Just like people, plants need to eat in order to thrive. Regularly feeding your plants ensures they grow properly, produce beautiful blooms and fruit, and build resilience to harsh weather conditions and disease.
Plant food typically comes in two different forms:
release granulars
SLOW RELEASE PLANT FOODS, such as Miracle-Gro®
Shake 'n Feed® All Purpose Plant Food, usually comes in granular form, and the nutrients are released slowly over time. Mix this type of plant food directly into the soil surrounding the plant.
WATER SOLUBLE PLANT FOODS, the feeding happens when you water. Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food, for example, can either be mixed in a watering can or delivered through your garden hose with the Miracle-Gro® Garden Feeder attachment. These kinds of plant foods need to be applied more often (every 7-14 days) than slow release fertilizer, but the nutrients reach plants more quickly.
To give your garden an extra boost, apply Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® at the start of the season and follow up with Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble every week throughout the summer for better results.
GARDENING TIPS
WATERING: The best way to know if your plants need water is to dig 2 inches down into the soil with your finger. If the soil is dry, it should be watered. Make sure to aim the flow of water at the base of your plants so the leaves stay dry, which helps prevent disease. Plan to water your garden thoroughly about twice each week, or more in especially hot, dry weather. If you’re growing in containers, you may need to water daily.
MULCH: Accomplishes many great things for both plants and soil. Mulch helps your garden retain moisture, prevent weeds and plants get some disease-fighting help. Choose a mulch made from natural forest products like Scotts® Nature Scapes® Mulch. It will naturally degrade over time and add organic material to your soil.
GROOM AND TIDY: Regular grooming tasks like deadheading annuals (removing spent flowers), pinching perennials, and harvesting fruits and vegetables encourages continued, vigorous growth while making plants less vulnerable to problems. Pulling weeds regularly, and removing diseased or severely damaged plants promptly, helps create a healthy environment where pests and bacteria can’t hide.
PROTECT YOUR GARDEN
Almost every plant in your garden can be attacked by insect pests and create damage in a matter of days. Inspect your plants regularly for insects that can prey on your garden. When looking for insects, make sure to inspect both the tops and bottoms of leaves, as well as the ground around the plants.
Slugs and snails require moist conditions, so they like dense growth such as hostas and ivy. ORTHO® SLUG B GON® ECO SLUG & SNAIL
BAIT provides immediate protection to plants, as slugs stop eating as soon as bait is consumed. Affected slugs and snails die within 3-6 days.
Aphids can distort or stunt growth and can also carry many plant diseases. Aphids, as well as earwigs, mealybugs, spider mites, and other insect pests can be controlled with an insecticidal soap. ORTHO® BUG B GON® ECO
INSECTICIDAL SOAP kills insects on contact, so be sure to cover both sides of the leaves. Reapply every 2 weeks, until the problem is gone. This product can be used on edible crops up to and including day of harvest.
It only takes one critter to wreak havoc in your garden and ruin the hours of hard work. If you need to control the damage caused by a variety of animals including skunks, rabbits, raccoons, deer, squirrels, rodents and more, use ORTHO® ANIMAL B GON MAX®. The product stops animals from chewing, eating, licking, biting, and gnawing on plants and surfaces that needs protecting.
MIRACLE-GRO® ORGANICS SOIL AND PLANT FOOD
Astonishing results, every time — that has always been the Miracle-Gro® mission. Miracle-Gro® Organics delivers the Miracle-Gro® results you expect with the natural & organic ingredients you want.
When you grow with Miracle-Gro® Organics soils and plant foods, you’ll be rewarded with an abundant harvest of vegetables and herbs — compared to unfed plants. Plus, you’ll feel great about your delicious and healthy harvests, not to mention the fact that you’re caring for the earth, too.