It is time to feed your plants.

Here in the Pacific Northwest with all the rain that falls a lot of the nutrients get washed out. You can see that happening when plants have yellow foliage that is supposed to be green.

Poor plant health will encourage pests and diseases to take hold. If you mulch with compost regularly, you will build up the soil fertility and keep the plant healthy.

The program like is to mulch and feed the plants every spring and through the grow season, until fall, so when winter arrives they have a better chance to survive.

I drive a lot for my work and I am always looking at plants everywhere, thinking of ways to help people understand the importance of proper plant health. Plants need vitamins and proper care, too.  As the season starts, find ways you can improve plant health. Do some companion planting. Plant things that like the same elements such as shade and sun. Plant some herbs in your flower beds.

I started planting tomatoes in my flower beds and it is so neat to see the bees going crazy with the blooms and return pollinating the plant. Companion planting helps reduce the amount of pesticides and other harmful insecticides needed to battle insects and diseases.

If you use the IPM method to your garden maintenance practice the environment and you will live happily and healthy. To get the fish compost or any other compost try Morrison Gravel at 360-876-4701. They have some cool stuff so go check it out!

Reader question:

Q. How can I keep my lawn nice and green?

A. Start thatching your lawn. Put a thin layer of fish compost down rake and water it in. Starting in May, aeriate and over seed with the proper seed mix. As we leave spring and go into summer start mowing a little higher and recycle your clippings on the lawn. In my later columns, I will tell you when and what to do next.

Thanks and happy gardening,

Gardener Joe

You can email Joe at besthands@aol.com

Attend a garden class by Joe Machcinski at the Port Orchard Library on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.For more information visit the library’s website at www.krl.org/port-orchard.