Monday, March 18, 2024

How to plant your new bare root perennials, vines and ground covers.

 Bare root liriope

When your plants are delivered, they should find them bundled and wrapped in a moist medium, such as sphagnum moss or paper. Since there is no soil around the roots to provide protection, they must not be allowed to dry out. When the plants arrive, open the box as soon as possible. Set the bundles upright in the box. Protect the package from exposure to wind, sun, freezing temperatures. Keep slightly moist. Plant immediately. If that’s not possible, keep the package stored for a very few days as directed.

The day before planting, inspect the roots. If they’ve dried, plunge them in water for a few hours to re-hydrated. When planting, continue protecting the plants from the elements. A few minutes root exposure can be damaging.

Have the soil prepared and the holes "punched" in the ground before you begin. We recommend using a dibble or garden trowel with depth markings etched for guidance. Cover the roots after planting each one. Water well after planting to set the soil in contact with the roots.

Do not allow synthetic fertilizer granules to contact the plants above or below the soil line.

A thin layer of mulch may be added to aid in moisture retention and weed control.

Return to GoGardenNow.

FAQ: What is a dibble?

Dibble image by Davie Bicker from Pixabay
Basket, dibble and garden trowel

A dibble (aka dibber) is little more than a pointed stick used to aid in planting rooted cuttings, small transplants, seeds and bulbs. 

They are usually made of wood, metal, plastic, or a combination of materials about 1.5” to 2” diameter and varied lengths. Most have simple handles such as knobs, pistol grips, t-handles or stirrup handles. Some have horizontal markings etched or carved into the lower end of the shaft for uniform depth control.

The invention of dibbles is obscure, though undoubtedly it happened in ancient times across regions and cultures when our ancestors thought of a better way to make little holes in the ground than poking them with their fingers. Then, when they got tired of laboring on their hands and knees, longer dibbles were designed for working from a standing or walking position. 

 Ancient dibbler

Two-woman teams of dibblers are known to have been employed. One dibbled while the other dabbled. Perhaps representing an evolutionary regression, most modern garden dibbles are short and dibblers often work alone.

As with all tools, dibbles should be cleaned of soil after using to prevent rust, corrosion or rotting.

Return to GoGardenNow.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Call Before You Dig!

 Shovel image by Poor_photographer from Pixabay

Call before you...WHAT?

‘Tis a season for planting. Homeowners are gearing up for improving their properties, making plans, buying trees and shrubs, and maybe even installing irrigation, fences or mailboxes. No doubt, this will involve digging holes or trenches.

Before you begin, you'd better find out what you're getting into. There could be electric power lines, outdoor lighting, conduits, gas lines, fuel oil pipes, buried telephone or internet cables, fiber optics, potable water or irrigation pipes/valves, sewage/drain pipes. You don’t want to cut through any of those. Accidents, some with very serious consequences, can occur if safety isn’t heeded, including explosions, flooding, electrocutions. Make a list of all utilities and contractors that you THINK might be involved.

Mark the specific area(s) where you’ll be working, so utilities aren’t flagging or painting your entire yard.

To find out utility locations, Dial 811 - Call Before You Dig, to make “a locate request.” It shouldn’t cost you anything, but it might. (Get that settled up-front.) The call center will contact all utilities in your area that subscribe to this service. You should receive a confirmation “ticket” or some such communication telling you which services have been contacted. Bear in mind, though, that not all utilities or contractors subscribe to this service! If you suspect that a utility wasn’t included on the list, double-check. Personally call the contractor, if necessary.

Here are a few of the most neglectful or uninformed contractors:

  • Cable TV companies;
  • Invisible dog fence installers;
  • Irrigation contractors;
  • Security firms.

In some cases they have no idea where their lines were buried. “It was so long ago…”

Utilities and contractors that have been notified must come to your property to mark their lines, usually with flags or paint, within a specified period of time particular to your state or area.

The markings are color-coded.

Red: Electric power lines, cables or conduit, and lighting cables.
Yellow: Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or gaseous materials.
Orange: Communication, alarm or signal lines, cables or conduits, and fiber.
Blue: Potable water.
Purple: Slurry, irrigation and reclaimed water.
Green: Sewers, drainage facilities or other drain lines.

Once you’ve waited the few days required, check your list to confirm that the notified utilities have responded. If some didn’t, report it.

When you’ve done everything required for your safety, proceed with caution. Be sure not to dig where markings have been displayed. Dig promptly before the markings disappear due to wind, rain or landscape maintenance. Avoid surprises.


Return to GoGardenNow.






Saturday, March 2, 2024

How to use less soil and save money in your raised bed garden.

 Raised bed with filler

Though raised-bed gardening is an excellent way to grow flowers and vegetables, it can require a large initial investment. Whether you construct it yourself or buy it in kit form, the materials come at no small price, unless you’re scrounging around for scraps.

Add to that the cost of soil. A typical 4’ x 8’ x 1’ box will require 32 sq. ft. of soil. To confuse (obfuscate?) matters, commercially available soils may be sold in liters, square feet, square yards, cubic feet, cubic yards or quarts. One nationally advertised brand sells for around $11.00 for 1.5 cubic feet. If you knew what you’d be spending beforehand, you’d be gobsmacked.

Get out your calculator and search the internet for a formula to convert your square feet to whatever. UnitConverters.net is a good place to start. You’ll need to do this if you aim to budget ahead and find the best deal on soil.

Once you’ve figured out how much soil you’ll need, divide that by about one-half. That’s right! That’s how much soil you’ll actually need if you follow my advice.

A gardening technique that is gaining a lot of attention with thrifty gardeners is called Hügelkultur. It literally means “mound culture.” The authentic form involves building a mound with decaying wood, brush and leaves covered with soil. After a period of time, vegetables and ornamentals are planted. Advantages are many. Burning isn’t needed, nor are other means of disposal. More or less permanent garden features are established. Decaying organic material provides abundant nutrients. Rainfall runoff can be better controlled. Garden soil drainage will be enhanced. NOTE: As with many things, advantages can be limited.

The hügelkultur method can be modified for use in raised beds. Simply collect organic yard waste, and half-fill your raised bed structure. This will save you a whole lot of money!

Over time, the filler debris will decompose, and the soil level will sink somewhat. That’s to be expected. But the addition of mulch and humus season after season will tend to offset the shrinkage.

I believe you’ll find the hügelkultur method to be much to your liking. If you’d like to learn more about the history and proponents of Hügelkultur, check out works by Josef "Sepp" Holzer, Rudolf Steiner, James Paris, Luke Potter, and Herrman Andrä, among others.

Return to GoGardenNow.

Monday, February 19, 2024

Do you really need a raised bed garden? No, but…

 

Garden image by venture_out from Pixabay

Back in the day, most gardeners gardened in the good old-fashioned way by planting directly in the ground. It seemed like the right thing to do because we’d always done it that way, and others had, too. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that if it’s your choice.

But some of us have abandoned our past methods and adopted raised-bed gardening for our vegetable and ornamental plants. Why? Here’s why.

  Garden image from Pixabay

Weed control is less of a problem. Because we raised-bed gardeners usually buy soil and humus or produce our own compost, fewer weeds are imported than if native soil is used. This saves time, energy and frustration.

Watering is easier to control. Plants are usually grown closer together. There’s no wasted space. Consequently, irrigation is accurately directed where it’s needed. Less water is wasted irrigating spaces between rows normally found in traditional gardens. Whether or not you have a private well, this represents a significant savings.

Watering image by Ralph from Pixabay

Soil compaction is eliminated because you aren’t tromping through your raised beds.

Raised beds invite closer plant spacing, therefore producing higher yields in less space.

Soil in containers and raised-beds warms earlier in the season due to sun exposure on the sides, stays warm longer, and extends the growing seasons. When cold weather does arrive, it’s easier to protect plants with protective frost covering.

Because soil is confined in the containers, rainfall and irrigation waters don’t run off. Erosion is reduced.

You can adjust your garden soil to suit the needs of your crops in their assigned spaces. It’s easier to amend pH and nutrient levels as required, and native soil has less of an impact on your planting soil.

No more bone-jarring roto-tilling is required!

You can garden wherever you want. Would-be gardeners with limited space on a balcony or patio can still grow stuff and transform their environment into productive spaces.

Raised-bed gardeners don’t have to bend over so far to work. What’s more, gardening height can be adjusted to suit their needs. This is just the ticket for disabled persons and senior citizens

So, if you desire to plant a garden but feel that you don’t have the space or ability to do it, raised-bed gardening might be just right for you.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Friday, February 9, 2024

Behind the Garden Wall: Mead Botanical Garden, Winter Park, FL

Mead Botanical Garden Entrance

Sometimes hidden gardens present fine rewards. Such is the case with the Mead Botanical Garden in Winter Haven, Florida. Tucked behind a residential neighborhood, Mead Botanical Garden is a modest trove of tropical species.

Theodore Mead, age 22

The Garden opened in 1940 in honor of noted horticulturist Theodore L. Mead (1852 – 1936). Mead was a pioneer in breeding new varieties of tropicals such as caladiums, bromeliads, orchids, daylilies, amaryllis and crinums. He was also a butterfly aficionado, apprenticed to William Henry Edwards, author of The Butterflies of North America. Mead is appreciated for discovering more than 20 new species of North American butterflies.


Neoregelia carolinae

Theodore and his wife moved to Oviedo, Florida in 1881. Oviedo was formerly known as the Lake Jesup Community. There he built greenhouses, propagated epiphytes and other tropicals, planted a citrus grove and gardens.

South Florida Railroad Depot

He was a sort of pioneer in the area. This was the “Old Florida” that some of us love to read about. Central Florida was becoming more accessible, thanks to railroads such as Henry Plant’s South Florida Railroad from Sanford to Tampa, with a railroad link to Oviedo. The Steamboat, Volusia, plied the waters weekly from Sanford. Orlando was soon to be re-incorporated.

Florida steamboat

 Considerable interest in citrus production was being promoted. Orchards were being planted. 

Of course, transportation was needed. A historical marker, located at the boat ramp at the end of Black Hammock Fish Camp Rd, east of FL 417 and north of Oviedo, tells of some efforts.  

“The Lake Jesup Steamboat company was incorporated in 1882 by lake area fruit growers by acquiring the steamboat Isis. This shallow-draft flat-bottomed boat sank that same year north of here in Lake George, a part of the St. Johns River...

South Florida Railroad's Oviedo Depot

“In 1888, Oviedo orange growers formed the Oviedo, Lake Charm & Lake Jessup Railroad, with the proposed rails to end at Solary's Wharf. This line never operated, but it did serve as a ploy in forcing the South Florida Railroad to lower unfair rates for hauling fruit.” Theodore Mead, having a degree in Civil Engineering from Cornell University, might have been involved.

After Mead’s death in 1936, his orchid collection was bequeathed to Eagle Scout and protégé, Jack Connery. With the aid of Rollins College Professor Edwin Grover, an effort was begun to create the botanic garden in Winter Park on 40 donated acres, about 15 miles from Oviedo. This is the basis of the garden we enjoy today.

Mead Botanical Garden kiosk

Mead Botanical Garden is a pleasant diversion from the well-known area attractions. Most of it is well-kept. (There’s only so much that volunteers, non-profit corporations and city partnerships can do.) Even so, good camera angles can capture the best features.

The garden is bordered on two sides by Howell Creek and Lake Lillian Marsh. Short strolls provide good views of both. Other points of interest include a camellia and cycad collection, a wildflower garden, rose garden, hummingbird garden, greenhouse, lovely bromeliads and various venues for meetings, lectures and entertainment.

Follow me behind the garden wall.

Mussaenda erythrophylla

Succulent, Euphorbia and palm collection

Billbergia pyramidalis

Livistonia chinensis

Creek view

Boardwalk

Medinilla magnifica

Codiaenum variegatum

Clerodendrum thomsoniae

Bromeliad collection

Neoregelia carolinae

Aglaonema communtatum

Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri

Tradescantia spathacea




Creek view

Aristolochia macrophylla

Bletilla striata

 
Clerodendrum trichotomum

 

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Monday, January 29, 2024

Looking for an ideal companion plant for your vegetable garden?

 

Image by Willfried Wende from Pixabay

If you’re looking for an ideal companion plant for your vegetable garden, you can’t go wrong with Yarrow. Achillea species and hybrids – aka Yarrow – attract many helpful insects such as pollinators.

Beside pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which are crucial for abundant harvests, yarrow also attracts beneficial insects for natural pest control. Flower flies – Syrphids – and ladybug larvae devour aphids. The more, the better. Right? Then there are the parasitic wasps that gorge on caterpillars, such as tomato hornworms.

Yarrow varieties can grow from 1 to 3 feet tall with colors ranging from white to pink, red to yellow. Shorter varieties are best for vegetable gardens for they are unlikely to overshadow your goodies. They can spread, but are easily divided. The divisions can be replanted elsewhere.

So, if you’re looking for a fine companion plant that’s helpful in the garden, as well as highly ornamental, consider Achillea.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

The Gardener's To-Do List for February

 

Aquarius image by Dorothe from Pixabay

You're probably getting the itch to get outside and begin gardening. For some of us, the time is now. For others, not so soon. February barely hints of spring. Swinburne described the month cleverly:

Wan February with weeping cheer,
Whose cold hand guides the youngling year
Down misty roads of mire and rime,
Before thy pale and fitful face
The shrill wind shifts the clouds apace
Through skies the morning scarce may climb.
Thine eyes are thick with heavy tears,
But lit with hopes that light the year's.

If, lit with hope, you must do something, here are a few gardening tasks for February organized by region.

Northeast States: Continue pruning dormant deciduous trees, shrubs, vines; but avoid removing spring flower buds. Continue removing snow from evergreens to avoid limb damage. Inspect indoor plants for disease and insects. Refill bird feeders often. Browse seed catalogs and nursery web sites. Order spring flowering bulbs, onion sets, strawberries, rhubarb and asparagus, if you haven’t already. Start cool season veggies and annuals indoors. Check bulbs and roots in cool storage; throw out rotten ones. Clean and oil garden tools. Organize your potting supplies.

Mid-Atlantic States: Continue pruning dormant deciduous trees, shrubs, vines; but avoid removing spring flower buds.  Maintain house plants, checking for disease and insects. Feed the birds. Browse seed catalogs and nursery web sites. Order spring flowering bulbs, onion sets, strawberries, rhubarb, and asparagus, if you haven’t already. Check bulbs and roots in cool storage; throw out rotten ones. Add mulch to planting beds, if needed. Plant bare-root trees and shrubs. Sow warm-season annuals and vegetables in cold frame. Prune fruit trees, shrubs and vines. Clean and oil garden tools. Take soil samples to your local Cooperative Extension Service for analysis.

Mid-South States: Continue pruning dormant deciduous trees, shrubs, vines.    Avoid removing spring-blooming flower buds. Spray dormant oil on dormant fruit trees, if you haven’t done so yet. Refill bird feeders often. Add mulch to planting beds, if needed. Take soil samples to your local Cooperative Extension Service for analysis. Adjust pH, if necessary. Sow warm-season annuals and vegetables in cold frame. Plant bare-root trees and shrubs. Clean and oil garden tools.

Lower South and Gulf States: Continue pruning dormant deciduous trees, shrubs, vines. Spray dormant oil on dormant fruit trees, if you haven’t done so yet.    Continue planting and transplanting broadleaf and evergreen trees and shrubs, perennials and ground covers. Continue to irrigate shrubs and trees as long as weather is above freezing. Fertilize trees and shrubs when dormant, if you haven't done it yet. Fertilize roses. Add mulch to planting beds, if needed. Take soil samples to your local Cooperative Extension Service for analysis. Adjust pH, if necessary.

Plains and Rocky Mountain States: Follow the same regimen as for Northeast States. In addition, Prepare your grow lights and seed-starting supplies. Take inventory of your garden tools, and buy more, if necessary.

Pacific Northwest States: Follow the same regimen as for Mid-Atlantic States. In addition, plant fruit trees, roses, and cool-season vegetable crops. Divide perennials like hosta, daylilies, such.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Bad-mouthing Ground Covers?

 

Lamiastrum galeobdolon

Bad-mouthing Groundcovers?

Embrace Them, Instead

Gardening articles frequently appear in magazines and newspapers complaining about “invasive”, “aggressive”, “opportunistic” or “energetic” plants that gardeners should avoid. The authors might be well-intentioned, but their opinions are almost entirely based upon personal, subjective experiences which are sensationalized, ill-informed, poorly considered, or they are parroting others. Nevertheless, their alarms are read by other gardeners and accepted as gospel-truth. Consequently, many fine solution plants are shunned, especially groundcovers.

Here’s a list of some that we are told to avoid:

Ajuga reptans - Bugle Weed
Carex spp. -
Sedges
Dichondra argentea -
Silver Dollar Weed
Euonymus fortunei -
Wintercreeper
Ficus pumila -
Creeping Fig
Gelsemium sempervirens -
Carolina Jessamine
Hedera spp. -
Ivy
Hemerocallis fulva -
Ditch Lily
Hydrocotyle spp. -
Pennywort
Hypericum calycinum -
St. John's Wort
Lamiastrum galeobdolon -
Yellow Archangel
Laurentia fluviatilis -
Blue Star Creeper
Lespedeza spp. -
Bush Clover
Liriope spicata -
Creeping Lily Turf
Lysimachia clethroides - Gooseneck Loosestrife
Lysimachia nummularia -
Moneywort
Mazus reptans -
Creeping Mazus
Nassella tenuissima, aka Stipa tenuissima -
Ponytail Grass
Ophiopogon japonicus -
Mondo Grass
Pachysandra terminalis -
Japanese Pachysandra
Rubus calycinoides -
Ornamental Raspberry
Trachelospermum asiaticum -
Asiatic Jasmine
Sedum spp. -
Stonecrop
Veronica spp. -
Speedwell
Vinca major -
Big Leaf Periwinkle
Vinca minor -
Periwinkle

Yada yada yada. The list goes on and on.

What those “experts” are ignoring is that these plants do what effective groundcovers are supposed to do; they cover ground. Without them, we are left with the kinds of problems that bare soils present us – wind and water erosion, soil compaction, weed infestations or bare spots where nothing else will grow, parched earth or boggy soils, and just plain ugliness.

Choose wisely.

Rather than eschew such solution plants, they should be adopted happily, planted selectively and maintained appropriately. Recognize from the start that ground covers, just as any other group of garden plants, serve particular purposes which others may not. Erosion, soil compaction, weed infestations, dense shade, arid and boggy soils can be solved with appropriate plant choices. Groundcover plants are in high demand as lawn grass substitutes, and what grass substitute is worth planting if it doesn’t spread rapidly and extensively.

Set limits.

Know that ground covers will do just that – cover ground. With that in mind, define their limits and stick to them. Physical barriers such as steel, brick or concrete edging are usually effective. Mechanical edging with power tools also works very well, sometimes in combination with physical barriers. 

Maintain them.

Nearly every plant in the landscape requires maintenance. Fertilizing, pruning and occasional mowing might be needed. Gardeners should assess their own willingess or abilities, and select their groundcovers accordingly.

Briefly said, take those exaggerated alarms about ground covers with a grain of salt.

Return to GoGardenNow.

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

The Gardener's To-Do List for January

 

Capricorn image by Dorothe from Pixabay

There’s not much new garden work to do in January. If you completed all your garden tasks in November or December, you should relax with your coffee or tea, seed catalogs and spring garden plans. In case you’re not sure, here is your checklist to review.

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Get your seeds ordered ASAP before they’re sold out!
Inspect your cold frames for needed repairs.
Organize your garden tools.
Add kitchen scraps to your compost bin.
Check the wrapping on your evergreen trees and shrubs, if you added any for snow protection.
It’s easy to forget watering during winter. Make sure your garden gets a couple inches each week.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

South

Start planting asparagus and strawberries.
Be ready to cover crops again with frost cloth in case temperatures drop severely.
Get your seeds ordered.
Plant trees, shrubs and vines.
Add fallen leaves and kitchen scraps to your compost pile.
Prune certain ornamental trees and shrubs, grape vines, and fruiting shrubs.
Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

Midwest

Organize your garden tools.
Inspect your cold frames for needed repairs.
Get your seeds ordered very soon.
Check your garden beds in case more mulch is needed.
Check the wrapping on your evergreen trees and shrubs, if you added any for snow protection.
Don’t forget to water your garden. Rain and snowfall might not be enough during dry winters.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

Pacific Northwest

Get your seeds ordered now.
Add kitchen scraps to your compost bin.
Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.
Organize your garden tools.

West Coast

Plant bare root trees, shrubs and vines.
Add compost to your garden.
Refresh mulch, if necessary.
Organize your garden tools.
Keep your plants well-watered.
Get your seeds ordered now before they’re sold out!

Southwest

Plant winter vegetables and warm season annuals.
Be prepared to protect citrus from cold snaps.
Organize your garden tools.
Check frost protection fabric for tears.
Get your seeds ordered right away.
Inspect your irrigation system for leaks. Now is no time to waste water.
Make needed repairs to your garden tools before the spring rush.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

What foods were served for the first Thanksgiving?

Indian corn image by Deborah Hudson from Pixabay



The first Thanksgiving is believed to have taken place in November 1621 when the Pilgrims and native Wampanoags gathered at Plymouth for a fall feast. The Pilgrims’ first year was a disaster. After a three-month voyage, they arrived near Cape Cod in November, 1620 – not exactly their intended haven. Virginia Colony was the original destination, but storms prevented traveling south. With winter approaching, they organized a sort of communist enterprise in which they organized their efforts and pooled their resources. Governor William Bradford observed that communal living “was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort.” Starvation and disease took their toll.

The settlers reorganized so everyone was made responsible for his and his family’s well-being. The strategy worked. So, with much help from the local Wampanoag people, the Pilgrims survived. They were thankful, indeed. A three-day feast was organized to show their gratitude to kind Providence.

What did they eat? I’m glad you asked. According to the journal of Edward Winslow, Governor Bradford sent a small party to hunt fowl. Were they turkeys, partridges, quail or pigeons? I don’t know. Winslow also noted that the Wampanoag contributed five deer. Beyond that, what they ate is a matter of speculation, but we can assume that they feasted on the fruits of their labors – home-grown vegetables, locally harvested fruits and seafood.

Behold the possibilities.

The Wampanoag might’ve instructed them in growing the “Three Sisters” – corn, pole beans and gourds/pumpkins planted together as companions.

Corn harvest was said to have been abundant that first year. ‘Abenaki Rose’ (NOT pictured above) was a common variety of “flint corn” in the Northeast about that time. Easy to dry but impossible to eat fresh, it was probably ground into meal and boiled into something like runny grits.

Beans would’ve been easily dried after harvest, then served up later in a soup or stew. “Amish Nuttle”  might’ve been included. It was well-known among the Iroquois, and possibly elsewhere.

Native squash were widely grown. Cultivars might’ve included ‘White Scallop’ (aka Patty Pan), ‘Long Island Cheese’ and some similar to Seminole pumpkins of the Southeast.

Some of these heirloom vegetable cultivars are available through specialty seed companies. Perhaps you can locate, grow and harvest them for an authentic 17th century North American Thanksgiving in 2024.

Other foods could’ve included American groundnut (Apios americana) , tree nuts (Juglans and Carya), acorns (Quercus spp.) late-ripening or dried fruits.

Being located near the coast, fish and shellfish would've been available.

If you gather around a heavily laden table groaning with typical Thanksgiving fare, think of those brave, stalwart, hungry souls of yesteryear, and be grateful for the abundance available to you.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

The Gardener's To-Do List for December

 

Image by Susanne Jutzeler, Schweiz 🇨🇭 suju-foto from Pixabay

We probably won’t feel like working in the garden, but there are some tasks we can accomplish even in December. Here are some to handle this month.

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Inspect your cold frames for needed repairs.
Plant trees and shrubs if you can still get your shovel in the ground.
Add more mulch to your garden beds.
Check the wrapping on your evergreen trees and shrubs, if you added any for snow protection.
Winterize your gas-powered garden tools, if you haven’t already. At the very least, drain fuel from the tanks and run the engines until they’ve used up what’s in the carburetors.
Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil, applying a thin layer of oil.
It’s easy to forget watering during winter. Make sure your garden gets a couple inches each week.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

South

Be ready to cover crops with frost cloth just in case temperatures drop severely.
Plant trees, shrubs and vines.
Add fallen leaves to your compost pile.
Add a couple inches of mulch to your garden beds.
Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil, applying a thin layer of oil.
Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

Midwest

Plant trees, shrubs and vines.
Inspect your cold frames for needed repairs.
Check your garden beds in case more mulch is needed.
Check the wrapping on your evergreen trees and shrubs, if you added any for snow protection.
Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil and applying a thin layer of oil.
Don’t forget to water your garden. Rain and snowfall might not be enough during dry winters.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

Pacific Northwest

Plant bare-root and container grown shrubs and trees.
Protect evergreen trees and shrubs from snow burdens.
Maintain your garden tools by removing soil and applying a thin layer of oil.
Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

West Coast

Plant cold-hardy annuals and perennials.
Plant bare root trees, shrubs and vines.
Add compost to your garden.
Refresh mulch, if necessary.
Keep your plants well-watered.

Southwest

Plant winter vegetables and warm season annuals.
Be prepared to protect citrus from cold snaps.
Check frost protection fabric for tears.
Add compost to your garden beds.
Inspect your irrigation system for leaks. Now is no time to waste water.
Make needed repairs to your garden tools before the spring rush.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.



Wednesday, November 8, 2023

The Gardener's To-Do List for November

 

Scorpio image by Dorothe from Pixabay

Cold weather is nearly upon us. Some regions have already had their first snow. Here are some garden tasks to handle this month.

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

  • Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Better make your choices and order early while the selection is best.
  • If gardening over winter, inspect your cold frames for needed repairs. Construct low-profile hoop coverings for raised beds.
  • Plant cold-hardy perennials and add some mulch for protection.
  • Store your bountiful harvest over winter. A cool dark place is best. A root cellar, basement or utility room might do.
  • Clean up your garden by removing organic debris to the compost pile.
  • While you’re at it, turn that compost pile once again before winter sets in.
  • Mark your perennials and bulbs with garden stakes.
  • Plant trees and shrubs while you can still get your shovel in the ground.
  • Add a couple inches of mulch to your garden beds.
  • Protect evergreen trees and shrubs from breaking because of snow burdens. Wrapping them in burlap is a useful and inexpensive way of doing it.
  • Winterize your gas-powered garden tools, if you haven’t already. At the very least, drain fuel from the tanks and run the engines until they’ve used up what’s in the carburetors.
  • Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil, applying a thin layer of oil to metal
  • parts.
  • Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
  • Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

South

  • Since it’s probably too late for you to sow seeds, plant winter vegetable sets in your gardens and raised beds.
  • Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Order early while the selection is best.
  • Clean up your garden by removing organic debris to the compost pile.
  • Turn your compost pile once again.
  • Plant cold-hardy annuals.
  • Plant trees and shrubs because “Fall Is for Planting!”
  • Add a couple inches of mulch to your garden beds.
  • Winterize those gas-powered garden tools. Drain fuel from the tanks and run the engines until they’ve they run out of gas.
  • Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil, applying a thin layer of oil.
  • Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
  • Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

Midwest

  • Plant cold-hardy perennials.
  • Add garden debris to your compost pile, and turn it again.
  • Plant trees, shrubs and vines.
  • If gardening over winter, inspect your cold frames for needed repairs. Construct low-profile hoop coverings for raised beds.
  • Store your harvest over winter. A cool dark place is best.
  • Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Shop now while the selection is best.
  • Mark your perennials and bulbs with garden stakes.
  • Add a couple inches of mulch to your garden beds.
  • Protect evergreen trees and shrubs from breaking because of snow burdens. Wrapping them in burlap is a useful and inexpensive way of doing it.
  • Winterize your gas-powered garden tools, if you haven’t already. At the very least, drain fuel from the tanks and run the engines until they’ve used up what’s in the carburetors.
  • Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil and applying a thin layer of oil.
  • Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
  • Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.

Pacific Northwest

  • Prepare your cold frames and hoop structures over your raised beds.
  • Add compost to your garden beds.
  • Plant bare-root and container grown shrubs and trees.
  • Remove debris from your orchard and berry patches.
  • Protect evergreen trees and shrubs from snow burdens.
  • Winterize your gas-powered garden tools.
  • Complete maintenance of your garden tools by removing soil and applying a thin layer of oil.
  • Make sure your garden gets a couple inches of water each week.
  • Drain garden hoses and store them out of the way after each use.
  • Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Better make your choices and order early while the selection is best.

West Coast

  • Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Shop now while the selection is best.
  • Plant cold-hardy annuals, perennials and root vegetables.
  • Add compost to your garden.
  • Refresh mulch, if necessary.
  • Remove organic garden debris to your compost pile, and turn the pile once again.
  • Keep your plants well-watered.

Southwest

  • Plant winter vegetables and warm season annuals.
  • Seed and plant catalogs are arriving in the mail. Order early while the selection is best.
  • Be prepared to protect citrus from cold snaps.
  • Add compost to your garden beds.
  • Inspect your irrigation system for leaks. Now is no time to waste water.
  • Make needed repairs to your garden tools before the spring rush.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Keeping A Garden Diary

  Diarist image by Pexels from Pixabay

When I was preparing my fall garden yesterday, I purposed to write down each and every step. I didn’t at the time, and if it weren’t for the dreary, rainy weather today, I might not still.

As William Allingham (d. 1889) wrote,

A man who keeps a diary, pays
Due toll to many tedious days;
But life becomes eventful--then
His busy hand forgets the pen.

But if yesterday’s gardening activities and thoughts aren’t noted, they’ll, no doubt, be forgotten, successes seldom repeated, failures repeated too often, and, perhaps, creative ideas remembered no more. We should, therefore, keep a garden diary.

I make this distinction between a garden diary and a mere journal. In most cases, a journal is simply a record of what has been done. A diary, however, may include much more. Yes, all those gardening details are included, but so are personal reflections, “thoughts and intents of the heart”, and other things besides.

What shall we write in?

There’s no rule here to follow; only preferences. I prefer a hard-bound octavo (8vo) size book, approximately 6” x 9”. Nothing smaller. My wife writes in a quarto (4to) 9.5” x 12” sketch book. Spiral-bound, paper-cover books don’t provide the permanence we desire.

There are gardening apps available for logging such things. I have one on my phone, in fact. It’s novel, but not as satisfying as putting a writing instrument to paper.

Now what? As any writer or artist will tell us, there’s nothing more intimidating than a blank page or canvas. But, begin we must. (Note: We mustn’t expect perfection at first. Writing will become easier as we go.)

So, what shall we include?

Details, details, details.

Every garden begins with a foundation, id est. soil. Gardening successes and failures usually depend on it. Whether planting in native or imported soils, let’s begin with a soil test. We can do it ourselves with a kit, available at garden shops or online, or stop by the nearby Cooperative Extension Office for assistance. Remembering that “this is only a test” and a snapshot of soil conditions at one place and time, the results are worth knowing. Believe it or not, soil test results can differ with the seasons, so take soil samples for testing the same time or times each year. Keep a record.

Times and seasons change, as does the weather. Take note of them (month, day, year) and weather as we work. Record early and late frosts, dry spells, and such. My grandparents were firm believers in “planting by the signs”, so kept a dog-eared Farmer’s Almanac close at hand all year long for handy reference. It made sense to them, and now to me. Let’s write it down. Did we or did we not plant during the right “sign”? Even if you’re not “a believer”, try it. You might be converted.

We should record the species and varieties in our gardens, their placement and spacing, their companions, and the sources of our seeds and plants. Those notes can be mighty important when we try to figure out later what went right or wrong. I even take note of the company brand names and “packed for” dates on seed packets.

Personal reflections.

I do more thinking in my garden than almost anywhere else. Before moving on too far beyond the moment, we may “set a spell” to compose a few lines. What does it matter if a bit of dirt gets on the paper? No one will see it, anyway. Dreams, creative ideas, future plans and prayers are fine subjects.

Souvenirs.

There’s no reason – none whatsoever – keeping us from using our garden diaries for pressing flowers and foliage. Though I haven’t done it recently, I’ll occasionally open an old volume to find a blossom or herb among the pages. Then, almost mysteriously, the fragile tissues will evoke memories of the time and place when they were tucked away. Other keepsakes might include such things as small newspaper or magazine clippings, photos, and empty seed envelopes.

Art for art’s sake.

Though it can be mighty frustrating, gardening is often inspirational. Sometimes romantic. With instrument in hand, let’s sketch some beautiful sight before us – a butterfly, fruit, flower, leaflet, a still life or landscape scene. Perhaps we can add a bit of watercolor, conté or colored pencil a little later.

If we’re inclined to poetry or prose, what better place to express ourselves without prying eyes judging our voices?

We might never become as accomplished as diarists Edith Holden or Samuel Pepys, nor should we judge ourselves by them, but our garden diaries may become more useful and precious to us in years to come because they are compositions of our very own and contain memories unique to ourselves.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

 

Pressed flower image by Ri Butov from Pixabay
 

Friday, October 6, 2023

The Gardener's To-Do List for October

 

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Robert Frost's poem, "October", perfectly evokes the images and sentiments of the month that is upon us.

       
O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

This poem is believed to be in the public domain.

Now that some of us are beginning to bundle up against the chill, let's go garden now. Here are some gardening suggestions for each region.

Northeast Region

  • Winterize your irrigation, but keep it available for use. You'll still need to water your plants.
  • Continue dividing your perennials.
  • Plant fall annuals, if you haven't done so already.
  • Protect your roses, removed dead or damaged parts, add extra mulch around the graft union.
  • Add finished compost to your garden beds.
  • Mulch your beds for cold protection.
  • Turn your compost pile, again.
  • Winterize your gas-powered tools. 
  • Pull up stakes and tomato cages, clean and remove to storage overwinter.
  • Clean up garden debris.
  • Begin harvesting your root vegetables.
  • Dead-head perennials.
  • Save seed, where possible, for planting next spring.
  • Cover your hoop houses and cold frames.
  • Store containers that might crack in winter in a protected, dry area.

Mid-Atlantic

  • Plant fall annuals, if you haven't already. 
  • Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
  • Winterize gas-powered tools.
  • Remove garden debris.
  • Clean hand tools and add a protective layer of oil to prevent rust.
  • Get your vegetable starter plants in the ground, if you haven't already.
  • Fertilize winter vegetables and cold-season annuals.
  • Remove spent plants and compost them.
  • Begin harvesting root vegetables, unless you intend to store them in the ground.
  •  Add a protective layer of mulch to your garden.
  •  Pull up stakes and tomato cages, clean and remove to storage overwinter.
  • Turn the compost pile.
  • Cover your hoop houses.
  •  Winterize your irrigation, but keep it available for use. You'll still need to water your plants.

Southeast

  • Cut and dry flowers and herbs for later use.
  • Collect and dry seeds for next year's planting, but leave some for the birds.
  • Plant your spring-blooming bulbs. 
  • Plant cool season annuals.
  • Divide your perennials.
  • Harvest fruits and vegetables.
  • Stop fertilizing trees and shrubs. 
  • Turn your compost pile, again.
  • Keep weeding!

Midwest

  • Plant fall annuals, if you haven't already. 
  • Winterize gas-powered tools.
  • Remove garden debris.
  • Clean hand tools and add a protective layer of oil to prevent rust.
  • Fertilize winter vegetables and cold-season annuals.
  •  Add a protective layer of mulch to your garden.
  • Turn the compost pile.
  • Cover your hoop houses.
  •  Winterize your irrigation, but keep it available for use. You'll still need to water your plants.

Pacific Northwest

  •  Continue harvesting fruits and vegetables.
  • Turn the compost pile.
  • Winterize garden tools.
  •  Clean hand tools and add a protective layer of oil to prevent rust.
  • Add protective mulch to your garden.
  • Winterize your irrigation, but keep it available for use. You'll still need to water your plants.
  • Direct-sow root vegetables and leafy salad greens.

 Pacific Coast

  • Continue harvesting fruits and vegetables.
  • Keep the garden clean of spent plants and weeds.
  • Gardeners in the southern region should plant spring-flowering bulbs.
  • Gardeners in the warmer region can continue the second round of planting for warm-season vegetables and annuals. 
  • Continue composting, turning the compost occasionally.
  • Add finished compost to the garden.
  • Mulch the vegetable and flower garden.
  •  Clean hand tools and add a protective layer of oil to prevent rust.

Southwest

  • Continue pest control.
  • Plant cacti and succulents, trees and shrubs. 
  • Plant cool-season annuals.
  • Continue regular garden maintenance.
  • Remove garden debris and compost it.
  • Turn the compost pile.
  • Add finished compost to the garden.
  • Continue irrigation, checking the system for maximum efficiency.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Monday, September 25, 2023

Plan Ahead to Protect Your Garden from Cold Weather

 

Garden image by FinjaM from Pixabay

We know the routine. Working through the seasons addressing immediate needs, we are often caught by surprising weather forecasts.

OMG! It’s gonna drop tonight into the teens or below! Better cover those tender plants, but with what?

Winter is coming. It always does. Don’t let frigid weather catch your garden unprepared. Get ready now.

There are lots of methods for protecting your garden from deep freezes. Here are a few:

Cloches. Garden cloches are bell- or cone-shaped covers that are placed over individual plants for frost protection. Cloches of yesteryear were made of clear glass. Most are now made of materials such as plastic, or frames covered with light-weight plastic sheeting, polypropylene or polyester fabric. The fabrics trap heat while still allowing light and moisture to pass through. Unless they have devices for allowing heat to escape, those of solid materials must be removed before too much heat builds up.

Frost fabrics. Frost fabrics are those light-weight materials as mentioned above for cloches, but purchased in much larger sheets. They work the same way and should be suspended over your plants, avoiding contact with foliage. This is often accomplished by draping the material over hoops or rods and anchoring the sides and ends to the garden soil or sides of raised beds to prevent the fabric from blowing off. These work fine unless a load of snow is forecast. In that case, the structures should have sloping sides to allow snow to slide off.

Greenhouses. These are commercially available in a wide range of sizes, materials and costs, or they can be homemade. You’ll find a host of videos on YouTube and other media sites to assist you with planning and completion.

Straw mulch. Mother Nature is hard to beat. Straw mulch can be laid around your plants – even over some of them – for protection. Mulch traps heat from the soil just as synthetic materials do. When winter is over and spring has sprung, the mulch can be raked aside and allowed to decompose in the garden, helping to retain moisture and enhancing soil fertility.

So, plan now to protect your garden from frigid weather. Gather your materials now and have them ready for use before that fateful weather forecast is announced.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Friday, September 1, 2023

The Gardener's To-Do List for September

 

Virgo image by Dorothe from Pixabay
Virgo

Helen Hunt Jackson's poem, "September", evokes the images and atmosphere of the month that we welcome so heartily.

        THE golden-rod is yellow;
        The corn is turning brown;
        The trees in apple orchards
        With fruit are bending down.
         
        The gentian's bluest fringes
        Are curling in the sun;
        In dusty pods the milkweed
        Its hidden silk has spun.
         
        The sedges flaunt their harvest,
        In every meadow nook;
        And asters by the brook-side
        Make asters in the brook.
         
        From dewy lanes at morning
        The grapes' sweet odors rise;
        At noon the roads all flutter
        With yellow butterflies.
         
        By all these lovely tokens
        September days are here,
        With summer's best of weather,
        And autumn's best of cheer.
         
        But none of all this beauty
        Which floods the earth and air
        Is unto me the secret
        Which makes September fair.
         
        'Tis a thing which I remember;
        To name it thrills me yet:
        One day of one September
        I never can forget.

This poem is in the public domain.

Now that we're feeling better after a brutal August, let's go garden now. Here are some gardening suggestions for each region.

Northeast Region

  • Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
  • Dig tender summer bulbs for storage over winter.
  • Stop fertilizing. You don't want tender new growth to emerge this time of year.
  • Divide perennials.
  • Continue to be on the lookout for insect pests. Pick them off, if possible, and destroy them. If pesticides are necessary, consider organic alternatives. Always read label instructions. 
  • Plant fall annuals.
  • Add finished compost to your garden beds.
  • Turn your compost pile, again.
  • Construct hoop houses and cold-frames to protect plants over winter and keep them producing.

Mid-Atlantic

  • Plant fall annuals. 
  • Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
  • Get your vegetable starter plants in the ground.
  • Stop fertilizing and pruning to avoid encouraging tender growth that could be damaged by the cold.
  • Remove spent plants and compost them.
  • Turn the compost pile.
  • Gather materials for hoop houses and cold-frames.

Southeast

  • Start winter annuals for transplanting later.
  • Cut and dry flowers and herbs for later use.
  • Order your spring-blooming bulbs, if you haven't already. 
  • Harvest fruits and vegetables.
  • Stop fertilizing trees and shrubs. 
  • Turn your compost pile, again.

Midwest

  • Plant your spring-flowering bulbs, if you live in the northern parts of the region.
  • Plant cool season annuals. 
  • Turn your compost pile.
  • Divide perennials.
  • Dig and store tender bulbs, tubers and rhizomes.

Pacific Northwest

  • Begin planting shrubs and trees.
  • Buy your spring-flowering bulbs.
  • Turn the compost pile.
  • Plant cool-season annuals.
  • Direct-sow root vegetables and leafy salad greens.

 Pacific Coast

  • Continue harvesting fruits and vegetables.
  • Keep the garden clean of spent plants and weeds.
  • Gardeners in the southern region should buy spring-flowering bulbs.
  • Gardeners in the warmer region can begin a second round of planting for warm-season vegetables and annuals.

Southwest

  • Continue pest control.
  • Plant cacti and succulents. 
  • Refresh annuals, as needed.
  • Continue regular garden maintenance.
  • Turn the compost pile.
  • Continue irrigation, checking the system for maximum efficiency. Don't waste water.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.