Tim's Tip of the Day: Marigold Maneuvers - Eye on Gardening TV

You should pinch off the blossoms on your marigold plants as soon as they start to decline, which is usually after several days.

If you don't pinch off the spent blossoms, it can interfere with future blooming and block other blossoms from breaking through.

I recommend using a slow-releasing fertilizer such as NutriCoat Osmocote or Dynamite. Follow the label instructions and apply about a teaspoon of the fertilizer in the planting hole before setting the plant on it.

You can use a weed control product called Preen. Shake it throughout the bed, making sure to get it on the surface of the soil. Water it in thoroughly, and it will provide weed control for about three to six months.

In the early morning before the sun comes out, pull back the plants to reveal the snails hidden under the leaves. You have two options: use a product called Slug and Snail Bait by Ortho, or sprinkle salt, such as Absence Alt, around the perimeter of your beds and in open areas. The snails will die when they come in contact with these substances.