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January 21, 2004 |
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Still Chillin'...
Once that shot of Arctic air hit us over the weekend it sure
was nice to have some relief on
Wednesday. After all 52°
felt like a heat wave compared to the ever so chilly temperatures
we experienced over the last few days. Is it not enough that the
temperature itself is so low? Oh no,
add a northern wind chill to the equation and it becomes
completely unbearable outside. So tough to get out of bed in the
morning! It is unbelievably hard to be
inspired by the dark, cold gloom outside. I am certainly not a
candidate for relocating to Alaska or any other area
of the great white north. Maybe it is time for me to
become a snowbird. I'm sure the kid's
teachers wouldn't mind us pulling them
out of school for a few months. They seem to be pretty bright...
I continue
to go through garden catalogs as if they were the last ones I
will ever lay my eyes upon. I am so inspired by the color I see
page after page. It warms my soul to look at the oranges, reds,
yellows and purples. Ah, the beauty of color! Speaking of warm
feelings, spring is just a short two months away. Anyone else
excited?
~
Shelly
Pruning Primer...
If you take advantage of winter to get some pruning done
remember that when pruning large limbs, always undercut
first. This means cut from the bottom up, one-third of the way
through the limb, then finish by cutting from the top. The
undercut keeps the limb from splitting and breaking off, which
could damage the trunk and become an entryway for insects and
diseases. Also, don't cut flush to the trunk. The collar or
enlarged base of a branch produces hormones that help heal
wounds.
Savvy Citrus Crop?
Here's a mid-winter project that is sure to be fun for
Savvygardeners of all ages - grow plants from citrus fruit
seeds. Store-bought oranges, grapefruits, lemons and tangerines,
may have viable seeds. Try germinating them in a light,
potting-soil mixture containing half peat moss. Keep the seeds
well watered and in a warm location. If seedlings fail to appear
in six weeks, try again with new seeds. Citrus plants grown from
seeds generally will not produce flowers or fruit, but they do
have attractive shiny-leaved foliage.
Jade In The Shade?
Many Savvygardeners grow Jade plants because of their
tolerance for low light conditions. However, while jade will
survive in low light, it needs as much direct sunlight as
possible to look its best. Insufficient light will cause your
jade plant to lose most of its old, thick leaves and grow thin,
new ones on spindly stems. Not a good trade-off if you ask me.
Be Savvy, Not Soggy...
Overwatering is a common problem with houseplants. Remember,
most indoor plants should not be watered until the soil feels
dry. Water thoroughly, let the water soak in, then water again
until water drains into the saucer. Empty the saucer within an
hour.
Tell Your Friends About
Savvygardener.com!
You
Could Win A $50 Gift Certificate
Details...
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Winter Wisdom...
We continue to receive calls from persons who brought potted
plants, bushes and trees into their homes before cold weather
arrived. Tips and comments inspired by
their questions are in this
week's
Winter
Wisdom...
Pelleted Perfection...
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.
Finally... "It seemed to my
friend that the creation of a landscape-garden offered to the
proper muse the most magnificent of opportunities. Here indeed
was the fairest field for the display of the imagination, in the
endless combining of forms of novel beauty." ~
Edgar Allan Poe, Domain of Arnheim |