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	Plant Feeding & Watering
	Feeding Flower Beds - In the spring or fall mix some peat humus into the soil. In the late fall or early winter when annuals have been pulled and perennials clipped for winter, sprinkle 25 lbs. of dehydrated cow manure for every 100 ft. of bed area. This will gradually seep in over the winter. Annuals - I am a great fan of Miracle-Gro® applied every 10 - 14 days according to instructions. Perennials - An additional application of dehydrated cow manure in mid-spring. If you have a mixed bed of annuals and perennials, don't worry about it . PlantTone® by Espoma is another excellent product to use. Shrubs/Bushes - HollyTone® is excellent for acid loving plants applied once or twice a year. But don't over do it on hydrangeas or you'll get a lot of leaves and few flowers.			Watering Annuals are very shallow rooted and need water on the same schedule and amount as grass. Perennials are slightly deeper rooted and can better survive dry spells than annuals, but if you have to water the lawn due to dry conditions, water these also. Shrubs and trees can endure much longer periods of time between watering due to their deeper roots. If these plants haven't been getting regular water and endure a prolonged dry spell, run water very slowly out of a hose at their bases. Shrub Exceptions - Azaleas and hydrangeas need water as often as your perennials.
		For better water retention around newly planted shrubs and trees, make a 3 x 3 inch circular mound on top of the soil at approximately the diameter as the planting hole. Pack this mound tightly by hand and you'll have gone a long way toward preventing water from running off.