March 7, 2001
Sure
Signs Of Spring...
As Kevin and I walked around the Plaza this past weekend we
noticed several signs of Spring. We spotted hopeful clumps of
crocus huddled against a chilly backdrop of snow.
We also caught a glimpse of some tulips peeking up through the ground beginning their
short, beautiful spring lives. What a sight! True signs to let
us know that a seasonal change is on its way. This is the
moment we gardeners live for. Warmer weather!
Planting weather! Weather that allows us to work hours upon
hours in the garden without wanting to stop. Isn't it funny
how we never seem to tire this time of the year? Do you
think our eagerness would exist if the weather was mild year
round? We have suffered through a horrible winter making
the arrival of Spring sweeter than in the past. Finally,
our time has come!
Once the ground has had a chance to thaw call Savvygardener.com sponsor Missouri Organic Recycling for topsoil blends and compost! What a difference it will make for your plantings to have a rich soil to grow in. Missouri Organic Recycling offers great products and service so give them a call and tell them that Savvygardener.com sent you!
Hmmm, weather. The temperature seems to be stuck in a rut. The 40's were looking good there for awhile but now I am ready for some 50's. Maybe next week?
~ Shelly
More
Guidance For Growers...
Hopefully you seed starters have already checked out our
feature When
to Start Seeds Indoors. We've also added a handy Vegetable Garden Calendar
that not only shows you when Savvygardeners should be
planting but also when they will probably be harvesting in the
Kansas City area. Neat huh?
When
Evergreens Look Brown...
This has been a tough winter, no need to tell you that.
Your evergreens may be showing signs of the stress as well.
Winter browning results from the interaction of injuriously low temperatures, frequent freeze/thaw cycles, and rapid
cooling and thawing rates. Sound familiar?
These conditions are more likely to be found on portions of the plant that get the most sunlight during the winter months. That's why "browning" or "burning" is usually noticed on the south or southwest sides of evergreens. So, the key to reducing this type of injury is to minimize foliar temperature extremes for injury-prone plants. Planting sensitive species in sheltered locations, providing tough companion plants like spruce to shield tender plants, or screening plants with burlap or snow fence can help prevent unsightly browning.
For the plants that already show signs of damage - avoid the temptation to prune browned areas from evergreen trees and shrubs in early spring. These branches may still have viable buds that will produce new foliage when growth resumes. Cross your fingers!
Just
Can't Wait...
If you are just dying to do something in the flower garden
try sowing the seeds of asters, bachelor buttons, calendulas,
delphinium, dianthus, larkspur, and snapdragon. These hardy
annuals should weather the remaining cold days and get your
flower garden off to an early start. As insurance against
really cold weather you can always sow smaller quantities at
weekly intervals.
Don't
go into spring without a subscription to your favorite
gardening magazine! Check out the
exceptional subscription rates available to Savvygardeners
through our partnership with Magazines.com |
Seed
Starting With Structure...
Starting more than three or four different varieties of seed
indoors can get confusing if you're not organized. To keep
from missing the start date for any of your seeds you might try
our simple procedure:
Care For
Climbers...
Many Savvygardeners wrote in appreciation for the Shrub
Pruning Calendar we just published. A few had
questions however. One that bears repeating concerns the
different pruning requirements of climbing roses. We put
the question to our rosarian Al Karsten who responded,
"Climbing roses are different in their procedure of
pruning. Many climbers bloom on new growth and if you prune
in early spring, you are cutting off the spring blooms. I
usually suggest a person not prune a climber unless it is getting
out of control of its growing habit. Cut out only dead
canes - or wait until after the first blooms in the spring , then
prune back." Thanks Al! By the way Al's rose
tips will return here next week.
What's
Hot On The Hotline...
In an effort to push winter aside we have brought the Winter
Wisdom column to a close. Actually it's just time for the
hotline to re-open and that means the return of our popular
weekly feature, What's
Hot on the Hotline... This week we re-introduce our
readers to the hotline and get our heads on straight for spring.
Ready,
Set, Wait...
With the late snow and rainfall that we've had for the last
several weeks, garden soils are wet, and time is rapidly
approaching for spring planting. Although you may be
tempted to work wet soil, remember that there are some serious
consequences. Soil structure can be destroyed, forming
large clods that take weeks or months to break up with natural
weathering. Use of a rototiller is especially damaging in
soils that are too wet. A gentle spading will cause the
least soil damage but is still a risky proposition. It is
better to delay planting a few days or weeks than to try to till
wet soils.
Finally...
"Gardening
is about being grounded, rooted to the here and now with the need
to tidy up. It is the difference between managing life and
entering into life, reminding us that gardening need not be the
fraught, perfectionistic, slightly paranoid struggle that it
becomes for some. Truth is, our love of plants is bound up
with a taste for human error, nature's excesses, and sheer
unadulterated indulgence."
~ Terry Hershey, Soul Gardening
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