January
3, 2001
Happy
Anniversary, Savvygardener.com!
Here it is - 2001. One year since the first
issue of Savvygardener.com was published! So many
questions. What will this year hold for us? What will
the weather be like? Will it be a good planting year?
I know one thing for sure, spring is right around the corner and
I have got to get busy with some planning. I must admit
that I am somewhat relieved that the holidays have passed.
I tend to be most comfortable when there is a routine in place
and it has been very difficult these past couple of weeks to
adhere to any kind of schedule. So now that the kids are
back in school and the Christmas decorations are down, it is time
to plan for this year's garden. I try to take some time to
sit and leisurely browse through some of my favorite gardening
catalogs. My mission - to fill the vacant spots in my
garden with plants that should thrive in the spaces
available. Now this is not as easy as it sounds.
"Why?" you might ask? Well, like so many
gardeners, I want everything I see. Not a good
idea. After all, I am shopping for a small landscape - not
two acres. So, what I try to do is write down the plants
that I like (big list) then go through and narrow the list to
make it work for my landscape. This process may take
a few days or a couple of weeks. Once completed I always
feel like I am on the right track to being better prepared for
planting.
A special
"hello" to Savvygardener Frank C. who is visiting the
Netherlands but still making a point of reading Savvygardener.com
each week. That's dedication to gardening!
Well it
sounds as if we are going to thaw out a bit this week. They
say the temperatures may be rising into the 50's so we will be
experiencing a lot of melting. It will be nice to see the
ground in it's natural state again. Try to get outside and
enjoy the warm-up!
~
Shelly
Blowin'
In The Wind...
When those north winds blow we humans find ourselves feeling
colder than the actual ambient temperature would suggest.
We know that as the "wind chill factor". For warm-blooded animals, wind chills can have a profound effect
on their ability to keep warm. However, plants do not respond to
wind chills because they do
not need to maintain a temperature above that of the outside
temperature. It's not all good news for the plants
however. Wind is desiccating and can dry plant tissues.
Plant
tissues require moisture to survive and high wind speeds can
cause excess moisture loss from those tissues. This desiccation may be
great enough to injure or even kill tissue, particularly the
smaller size wood as in peach twigs, apple spurs or blackberry
canes.
Source
Low
Light Lover...
One of the great challenges for indoor gardeners is getting
enough light to our plants. An alternative approach is
finding plants that don't require as much light. Variegated Peperomia
(Peperomia obtusifolia) is a good choice. Best growth occurs in an east window or
anywhere with medium light
intensity. It's variegated leaves make a nice show and it's
easy to care for.
Source
Photo
Heave,
Ho, Snow...
There's been some talk about the temperatures rising this
week and next. Sounds great but we've learned to take the
weather on a day by day basis. Either way now is a good
time to revisit the mulch in our gardens. Remember, the
reason for winter mulching is to keep the ground at a near
constant temperature. It's OK for it to be frozen, we just want to avoid the
cycles of freezing and thawing. One way
to get the job done is to use snow mulch. Just pile
the snow (as gently as possible) on the areas of the garden that
need extra protection. The snow will serve as an effective
insulator helping to keep soil temperatures constant.
Belated
Bulb Burial...
If you're like me you were counting on warmer weather in
December to finish your bulb planting. Mother Nature had
other plans. If you didn't get your bulbs planted before the ground froze,
plant them now in individual peat pots and place the pots
in flats. Set them outside where it is cold and bury the bulbs
under a thick blanket of leaves. If we're lucky the ground
will thaw again this winter and we can use the opportunity to
transplant them into the garden.
Pelleted
Seed Explained...
You may find yourself perusing a seed catalog and come across
something called pelleted seed. Some mail order seed companies offer pelleted seed of
lettuce, carrot, and a few other small-seeded crops. Pelleted
seed is like any other seed except that it has a special coating
that makes it larger. While almost anyone will appreciate
the convenience of larger seeds it is
especially valuable for children and gardeners with arthritic
hands, weak eyesight, or poor coordination. When using pelleted seed, plant in
moist soil and keep it moist as the coating has to dissolve
before the seed can germinate.
Winter
Wisdom...
The holidays are past us now but the plants we associate with
the holidays are not. In this week's Winter Wisdom we take a look
at three holiday favorites explaining their origins, culture, and
growth habits. Check out this
week's Winter
Wisdom...
Something's
Sneaking Through The Snow...
That blanket of snow outside your window sure is
pretty. Ever wonder what's going on below the
surface? Don't wait for the snow to melt to discover that
mice have been sneaking up on your trees for a sub-surface
snack. Tamp down snow near young trees to discourage them from
nesting under the snow and damaging the roots or
bark. For sure-fire protection wrap the base of trees with
metal hardware cloth.
Finally... "Melt,
O snow! the warm winds blow
To thaw the flowers and melt the snow;
But all the winds from every land
Will rear no blossom from the sand." ~
Christina Rosetti, Author, 1830-1894 |