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Great Soil and Compost!

January 21, 2004

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.
 


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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.

 


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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

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