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January 26, 2005

Few And Far Between...
I was glad to be outside doing some clean-up yesterday. There are always leaves to rake, sticks to pick up, old pansies to dispose of and general organizing that needs to be done. I should have been doing laundry but instead chose to be outside enjoying the warmer temperatures - a tough decision to make but I struggled through it. Kevin and I finally took down the Christmas wreath and the next task on the list is removing the Christmas lights. With busy schedules, the warmer days seem few and far between. I am hopeful that the lights will be down before Valentine's Day.

This is a tough time of year for gardeners.  It's cold.  The ground is frozen.  And it's too early to start most seeds. With the exception of a nice day every so often it's easy to lose faith.  Don't!  Spring really is just around the corner and together we can get there without getting cabin fever.

Hang in there!

~ Shelly  

A Gentler Approach To Houseplant Pests...
Insects on houseplants are a major pain.  Not only are they hurting your plants but control measures using chemicals are pretty undesirable to a lot of homeowners.  Here are three control approaches that minimize risk to you and your housemates.

  • Physically pick-off caterpillars, slugs, and other larger pests.
  • Swab pests with a small brush or cotton swab moistened with rubbing alcohol. This method is feasible when plants are small and infestations very light. It is tedious and must be done once a week over a period of time.
  • Plants can also be washed in a diluted mixture of water and insecticidal soap, or gently spray-washed with lukewarm water.  Repeated washings over a period of time are necessary to gradually reduce infestations.  

If the infestation is severe, it may be preferable to discard the plant and replace it rather than attempt chemical control.

Source

Tipping The Scale...
Now is a great time to inspect your trees and shrubs for scale insects. With the leaves off the trees, inspecting the stems and bark crevices is much easier. Go slowly and look carefully, since many types of scale look like a part of the branch or otherwise blend in well with the host plant. Plan an application of horticultural oil if scale populations are above tolerable levels. Horticultural oil can be applied at any time of year, but temperatures should be at 40°F or higher for 24 hours after an application. Be sure to read and follow all directions on the label.

Source

Winter Water?
With the recent dry weather that we have been having, landscape plants may need some additional water to survive the winter unscathed. Newly transplanted woody plants and evergreens should be first on your list. Be sure to water all of the area from the trunk to the edge of the outermost branches (called the dripline) and not just near the trunk. Water to depth of 8 to 12 inches. The depth can be checked with a metal rod, dowel or screwdriver with a long tang. Wait until the temperature is above freezing and the soil is unfrozen so the water will soak in.

Deciduous plants (those that drop their leaves) will need to be watered about once per month if there isn't significant precipitation. Evergreens such as pines and junipers as well as recently transplanted trees and shrubs will need water about once every two weeks. Also, plants with a limited root system such as those near sidewalks will need to be watered more frequently than those in green areas.

Source

 


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Viability Verification...
So, you're getting ready to start some seeds indoors and don't know if last year's leftovers are still good.  Well, you can start by checking the typical viability of 20 popular vegetable seeds in the table below:

Vegetable Viability
(Years) 
Vegetable Viability
(Years)
Beans 3 Muskmelons 4-5
Broccoli 3-5 Peas 3
Brussels Sprouts 3-5 Peppers 2-3
Cabbage 3-4 Pumpkin 4-5
Carrots 3 Radish 5
Cauliflower 3-5 Spinach 5
Corn, Sweet 2 Squash, Summer 3-4
Cucumbers 5 Squash, Winter 4
Lettuce 5-6 Tomato 3-4
Lima Beans 3 Turnip 4-5

To be absolutely sure here's a trick we use to determine if seeds are still good:

  • Take ten seeds from the package and place them on a paper towel that you have moistened with warm water. 
  • Fold the paper towel over to cover the seeds.
  • Keep the towel moist and warm (on top of the fridge usually works for warmth) until they start to germinate. 
  • If less than six seeds (60%) germinate you might as well throw the rest away. 
  • If six or more germinate it will be worthwhile to plant the rest. 
  • Don't waste your test seeds!  The ones that germinate should be carefully moved to your preferred seedling container and cared for until ready for transplanting outdoors.

Source

Mulching Tea Roses...
It's not too late to provide winter care mulch for your tea roses.  Mulching tea roses involves protecting the graft union of the plant, normally just at, or below, the soil level.  The best and easiest way to protect the graft is with a mound of soil. The mound of garden soil should be six to eight inches, poured in a cone shape right over the center of the plant. This soil should not come from the surrounding plant, as this could damage the rootsIt is best to bring soil in from another part of the garden or purchase a bag of topsoil.

Care For Amaryllis...
We've had several readers ask about the ongoing care of  an amaryllis received during the holidays.  Here are some quick tips:

  1. Remove any spent flowers after blooming.
  2. Place the plant in a bright sunny window to allow the leaves to fully develop.
  3. Keep the soil evenly moist, not soggy.
  4. Feed occasionally with a general purpose houseplant fertilizer.

Seed Scarification...
The coat of certain seed is extremely tough and must be penetrated by special means.  Particularly hard seed may be scarified.  Scarification involves breaking, scratching or softening the seed coat to allow moisture penetration.  Two methods of scarification commonly used by the home gardener are mechanical and hot water.  

  • Mechanical scarification involves breaking or weakening the seed coat with a file, sandpaper or hammer. 
  • Hot water scarification involves placing seeds in water that is 170° to 210° F. After the water cools, seeds should continue to soak for 12 to 24 hours. 

Then they are planted. Specific instructions for scarification are usually mentioned on the seed packet or in the seed catalog.

Source

Finally...
"With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy."

~ Lope de Vega, Spanish playwright, 1562-1635

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