~ March 19, 2008 ~

Is It Spring Yet?
When I got out of bed on Saturday and saw snow falling I thought I was going to have to go back to bed. Our oldest son Noah said, "Snow, you have got to be kidding!" Everyone in the Marsh house is fed up with the cold weather. We have begun to drive each other crazy. Kevin and I are still fighting off this flu bug and the kids have been basically left to fend for themselves. Let's just say that the arrival of spring could not happen soon enough. It has been a long winter and we are all tired of being cooped up.

Ready, Set, Wait...
With that heavy rain earlier this week garden soils are going to be 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.

Clipping Clematis...
Clematis can be a confusing group of plants to prune, since they are not all pruned the same way.  In fact there are three methods that can be applied to major groups depending on the time of year the plant flowers.  The earliest flowering clematis bloom on old wood, while later flowering types must produce new growth in order for flower buds to form.  Prune carefully, since vines are usually well entangled.  The complete directions are a bit long to fit in this space so we published them in our Features section.  Check out Pruning Clematis...

Relief For The Root-Bound...
Judging when a houseplant needs a new, larger pot is mostly a matter of roots, according to Kansas State University Research and Extension horticulturist Chip Miller. Many container-grown plants need a new home every year. But some grow so slowly that relocating every two or three years can be enough. "To check whether plants are becoming root-bound, you need to knock them out of their pot. If you water several hours before trying this, you'll be able to remove the plant more easily," Miller said.

He recommends two approaches to this dislocation:

• For plants in pots that are 8 inches wide or smaller, place one hand over the top of the pot with the plant's stem passing between two fingers. Turn pot and plant upside down, and rap the edge of the pot against a table. The root ball should come away from the pot and into your hand.
• For larger combinations, place the pot on its side and rap its edge with a rubber mallet. Roll the pot a few degrees and repeat the rapping. Continue the procedure until the root ball "releases" and you can slide the pot down.

"If you then see a clear network of roots, the plant needs to be moved into a larger pot," Miller said. "The new pot should be just 1 inch wider if the plant was small enough to remove into your hand. It can be 2 inches wider if the plant's old container was at least 10 inches wide."

Rosy Days Ahead...
Now that we are well past mid-March it's time to start thinking about roses.  Actually we can start doing something too!  Now is a good time to plant bare-root roses and give existing roses some TLC.  Got roses?  Read Getting Started on the Growing Season in our special Rose section.

Do Not Disturb...
All around Kansas City, bulbs are popping up everywhere.  I'll bet yours are too!  Look closely at your bulb beds.  Are there weeds popping up as well?  If so remove the weeds by gentle hand pulling.  Removal with a cultivator or other weeding tool may disturb the bulbs unnecessarily.

Finally...
"Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night."

~ Rainer Maria Rilke