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March 31, 2004 |
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Labor of Love...
I was working in a friend's garden
on Monday, raking, weeding and tending to other general clean-up
before the rain chased me inside. How is it that I could be so
happy sitting in the garden pulling weeds and removing dead
foliage, meticulously picking leaves from shrubs and any other
place they had chosen to over winter? It finally dawned on me. I
am happiest when I am cleaning and manicuring gardens. Not just
mine but anyone's. Sounds a bit crazy
doesn't it? I agree but that is where I find the most joy and
satisfaction. Now don't get me wrong, I love to plant,
but having a clean garden - free of
weeds, leaves or anything else that might distract from it's
beauty seems to be high on my priority list. I guess we all have
our own strengths and it is nice to know that I have finally
found mine.
Not only do
spring showers bring beautiful flowers
but how about a bunch of worms? Our sons Noah and Jake were
challenged by their father to see how
many they could collect
(photos).
A dime for each worm picked up ever so delicately to be later
placed in its new home - the Marsh garden. How cute!
I think we
are going to get an opportunity to enjoy a real spring this year.
The extended forecast shows temperatures hovering in the lower
60's for the next 10 days. Perfect spring weather. Get out and
enjoy it
~
Shelly
Scat Cat...
So, your neighbor's cat has decided that
your garden is its designated litter box? Here are some tips
that might actually work to keep that feline from soiling your
garden:
- Try planting rue.
This attractive blue-green herb has a scent that most cats find
disagreeable.
- Modify the
cat's behavior. Spray water at the cat when it comes into
the garden. If the cat associates an unpleasant shower
with your garden it will likely find another place to hang out.
- Plant a garden
just for the cat. By creating a small space that the cat
enjoys you may be able to keep it away from the rest of your
plantings. Try catnip, catmint, cat thyme, and valerian
.
Keep 'Em
Covered...
Gardeners anxious to get their yard and garden chores done in
spring may be tempted to remove the mulch from their strawberry
beds in March or early April. A portion of the strawberry crop
may be lost, however, if the mulch is removed too early in the
spring. Removal of the mulch plus several days of warm weather
may encourage the plants to bloom before the danger of frost or
freezing temperatures is past. Temperatures of 32°F or lower may
severely damage or destroy open flowers. Since the first flowers
produce the largest berries, a late spring frost can drastically
reduce yields.
To reduce
the chances of frost or freeze damage leave the mulch on until
the plants show signs of growth. Periodically examine the plants
under the mulch during periods of warm weather in the spring.
Remove the mulch from the strawberry plants when about 25% of the
plants are showing new growth (it will be white or yellow in
color). Rake the mulch to the center aisles between rows. If
there is a threat of a frost later in the season during bloom,
the mulch can be lightly raked back over the plants.
The
Great Divide...
Dividing perennials is important for the garden and the
soul. The garden benefits because many perennials become
overcrowded and need to be thinned out once in a while. The
gardener's soul benefits because it provides an opportunity to
share our garden treasures with other gardeners who will go on to
expand their beauty.
Don't
divide the wrong plants! Before you start take a look at our
handy guide
When to Divide Perennials in our Features section.
Dig
This...
Depending on which "how to" guide you're reading you might
see different references to what many simply refer to as
digging. While some people use the terms interchangeably
digging, shoveling, and spading are actually 3 different
actions. Digging turns up, loosens or removes soil.
Shoveling moves loose material from one place to another.
Spading mixes the material leaving it in the same location.
For example we dig a hole, we spade (work) compost
into the soil, and we shovel the soil mix back into the
planting hole. They're not just different actions either.
Digging, shoveling, and spading require different tools to get
the job done right.
- For digging the
best tool to use is a round-point shovel. The point at the tip
of the blade focuses the digger's weight on a very small area,
increasing the pounds per square inch on the shovel and
allowing the cutting surface to move through the soil easily.
This becomes a disadvantage if the blade hits a tough root or
rock.
- For shoveling the
tools of choice are a square-point, flat-backed shovel or the
round-point shovel. On a flat surface the square-point,
flat-backed shovel works more efficiently. For shoveling out
planting holes, the round-point works best because its smaller
head can fit into tight spaces.
- For spading, a
digging fork or a round point shovel work well.
Source
Proper
Pruning...
Part of your spring clean-up may include some tree pruning.
Take your time and do it right. In particular don't leave stubs
behind when pruning. Stubs usually die and become entry points
for decay fungus. Instead cut just outside the branch collar,
the slightly thickened area at the base of the branch. As an
extra precaution remember that pruning should never be done in
damp or wet weather when the fungal spores and bacteria that
infect plants through fresh wounds spread easily.
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What's Hot On The Hotline...
At Family Tree's Open House last week it was interesting that
an evident concern of many visitors as well as to Hotline callers
this week was “Is it too late to plant grass seed?” If you are overseeding an existing cool season grass lawn or
dealing with bare spots, the right answer is a conditional “no”.
What are the conditions attached to this "no"? Find out in this
week's
What's Hot On the Hotline...
Zoysia
Zzz's...
If you have a zoysia lawn it is still dormant and you should
not be applying any fertilizer to it. Any fertilizer
added now will just feed the weeds and they're overfed as it is.
Be patient. You should be able to fertilize your zoysia lawn in
about six weeks.
Finally... "I love being asked
to identify plants, and I don't know which gives me more
pleasure: to know what they are or not to know what they are." ~
Elizabeth Lawrence, Through the Garden Gates, 1990 |