November
15, 2000
A Great
Garden Gathering...
What a pleasure it was to meet so many Savvygardeners at the Sweet
Onion Garden Party last Friday evening! I was so
pleased with the number of subscribers who braved the frigid
temperatures to mingle with other gardeners. I must say
that Andrea Neumann and her staff really outdid themselves. The
Sweet Onion was transformed into an enchanted garden.
Candles illuminated the nursery making it picturesque and tables
normally displaying The Sweet Onion's wares were filled with
savory edibles. Who could ask for more - great food, a
whimsical place and delightful conversations. I'm sure that
everyone who attended would agree with me!
A function
like this is great for getting a feel for what our readers really
like. We heard time and again how everyone really enjoys
the quote at the end of our newsletter. I was thrilled to
hear this of course because I also love that part. I find
quotes to be very inspiring and I enjoy looking for new ones that
will help us through our gardening woes. Thanks
for all of the positive feedback and if you ever have any ideas
about how we can improve what we are doing please let
us know!
Brrr!
Enough said! Try to keep warm and if you did not get a
chance to plant bulbs (like me) don't get discouraged.
Hopefully in the near future we'll receive a warm up that will
allow us to finish our November to-do list. Although from
the looks of the weather map we may have to keep our fingers
crossed with gloves on!
~
Shelly
Cutting
And Mulching...
Now that we've had an extended run of killing frosts it's time to cut
back dormant perennials to about three inches above ground.
Apply four to six inches of mulch on your perennial beds after
the soil has frozen. Mulch is important not only to protect
your perennials from cold, but also from warmer fluctuating
temperatures. In years of little or no snow cover bare soil
may thaw during warm winter weather leading to
premature growth of some plants or soil heaving, which damages plants. Mulch protects the
"crowns" or growing points of the plants and keeps the
soil frozen all winter. Good mulching will ensure a successful
show of plant foliage and color next season.
Amaryllis
Advice...
Growing amaryllis bulbs this winter? They may not bloom if they are in too large a pot.
These guys like close quarters. There should be no more than one inch of space on each side of
the bulb and at least one third of the bulb should be above the soil
line.
African
Violets, American Favorites...
Among houseplants African violets are a favorite of many
gardeners. If you want to grow some this winter remember
these tips:
- They do
best when planted in rather small pots. A
good general rule is to use a pot one-third the diameter of the
plant.
- To humidify African violets, surround the pot with moist
peat contained in a second pot.
- When buying new plants, avoid
those with any signs of yellowing leaves.
- African violets require
a day temperature of 70F and a night temperature of 65F. They may
die if the air temperature dips below 55F.
- African violets do
well under fluorescent lights 12 to 14 hours a day; lights should
be 8 to 12 inches from the plant.
Dig
This...
If you are planning on having a live, balled and burlapped
Christmas tree this year you will want to dig a planting hole
soon before the ground freezes for the winter. Last week's
cold snap may have frozen your soil but it should thaw
again before winter really sets in. Once your hole is dug
fill it with straw or hay to keep it from
freezing. Store the soil in a garage or shed so you will have
something to work with when you need it for planting the tree.
Moving
Mums...
This fall I really bought a lot of potted mums. They
dressed up the deck and front porch so nicely. Many
gardeners (myself included) choose to transplant their potted
mums into the garden. Well, now is the time. For best
results follow these important tips:
- Transplant mums into well-drained
soil. Winter injury is most common when mums are planted in
poorly-drained soils.
- Before planting, make
sure there is an adequate amount of organic matter incorporated
into the area. Potted mums are often grown in a mix that
is very high in organic matter. If these are planted in very
heavy clay soil without first amending it, the difference between
the two soil situations often prevents good root establishment
and increases the chance of winter kill.
- After leaves have turned brown, cut back the tops
and apply six inches of loose mulch. The purpose
of this mulch is to provide wind protection and keep the soil
shaded and frozen so that frost heaving is minimized. Protective
mulch may be removed or pulled away from the crown by early to
mid-April after danger of severe cold is past.
Source
What's
Hot On the Hotline...
At the Hotline we are frequently asked about what gardeners
should do to prepare
for winter. With temperatures heading steadily downward,
the question seems particularly timely. In short, do it now,
while you can still work in comfort outdoors! Find out more
in this
week's Hotline...
Look
Sharp, Be Sharp...
Most of your gardening tools will be more effective and look
a lot nicer if they are well maintained. Sharpening the
cutting edges of shovels, spades, hoes and other tools is a great
way to really make gardening a lot easier. Technique is
very important however. Sharpening tools on a power grinder
may be easy but the heat produced can cause the edge to lose
its tempering and make the metal prone to breaking. To
really make your tools
last longer learn the age-old art of blade
sharpening this winter. Follow this
link for an informative "how to" article on
sharpening garden tools.
Finally... "November
comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.
With night
coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.
The fires
burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring." ~
Clyde Watson, Children's Book Author |