The Gardener's To-Do List for May

 

Wow! April seemed to pass so quickly.

May is upon us, so here are some things to do in and around your garden.

Surely you've taken a soil sample to your nearest County Extension Service office for testing. You have, haven't you?

You should be keeping a garden journal. Record what you planted where, when and how. Note your successes and failures, weather conditions, etc. This might help you repeat your successes and avoid failures in the future.

 Northeast

Get rid of those weeds. Either pull them, hoe them or mulch deeply to suppress them.
If the threat of frost is past, plant tomatoes, peppers, okra, pumpkins, beans, corn, squash and other heat-loving crops. Otherwise, wait.
If frost is still a possibility, start seeds for those plants indoors.
Get your perennial herbs in the ground.
Harvest rhubarb and asparagus.

Mid-Atlantic

Finish planting trees, shrubs, perennials and fruits. Hot weather will be coming soon.
Add compost to your garden.
Plant your flower beds with summer annuals.
Water your garden to keep your beets and other root crops growing.
Fertilize roses.
Divide older established perennials if needed.

Mid- and Lower South

Direct-sow more vegetable seeds in your gardens and raised beds.
Begin to thin radishes, beets and other crops closely sown.
Keep watering your garden.
Add compost to your garden.
Turn your compost pile and add more to it.
Fertilize roses, again.
Check for pests and diseases.

Midwest

Start seeds indoors for cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and melons.
Fertilize your roses, again.
Turn your compost pile, again.
Remove some of the mulch applied last fall so new growth can emerge.
Divide perennials, if necessary.
Plant beans, squash, corn, peppers, and tomatoes, if danger of frost is past.

Pacific Northwest

Stay on top of your weed situation. Don’t let them get out of control.
Divide perennials.
Plant peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, squash, and melons once your soil has warmed to 70 degrees F.
Plant summer-blooming bulbs, perennials and perennial vegetables.
Turn your compost pile.
Add finished compost to your garden beds.
Fertilize your roses, again.
Continue pest control in your orchard.

West Coast

Finish harvesting cool weather crops.
Fertilize trees, shrubs and roses.
Plant summer-blooming bulbs, perennial and root vegetables.
Add compost to your garden.
Prune roses and shrubs that bloom on fresh wood.
Remove excess mulch.
Refresh mulch, if necessary.

Southwest

Plant summer-flowering bulbs.
Finish harvesting cool weather crops.
Plant outdoor vegetables and warm season annuals.
Add compost to your garden beds.
Fertilize your roses again.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Are you thinking about becoming food self-sufficient?

 

Are you beginning to think you should become food self-sufficient?

You've seen significant price increases at the grocery store. It seems there's no end in sight.

The USDA predicts, “Food prices are expected to grow more slowly in 2023 than in 2022 but still at above historical-average rates. In 2023, all food prices are predicted to increase 6.5 percent, with a prediction interval of 4.9 to 8.2 percent. Food-at-home prices are predicted to increase 6.6 percent, with a prediction interval of 4.4 to 8.8 percent. Food-away-from-home prices are predicted to increase 8.2 percent, with a prediction interval of 7.3 to 9.0 percent.”

But that's not all the bad news.

Fertilizer production seems to be at risk. 

A recent dairy farm explosion destroyed 18,000 cattle. That's got to have an impact on the food supply.

In January, 2023, 100,000 chickens died in a Connecticut egg farm fire.

In 2022, 18 weather and climate disasters, each with damages exceeding $1 billion struck the U.S. coast-to-coast.

More than 500,000 US farm animals died in barn fires in 2022. Most fires occurred in the Upper Midwest and Northeast.

This FDA website lists the following recent food recalls:     

• Recalls of Food Products Associated with Peanut Butter from J.M. Smucker Company due to the Potential Risk of Salmonella,
• Recalls of Food Products Associated with Onions from ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms due to the Potential Risk of Salmonella.
• Recalls of Food Products Associated with Onions from Thomson International, Inc. due to the Potential Risk of Salmonella.
• Recalls of Vegetable Products Associated with Mann Packing Co., Inc. due to the Potential Risk of Listeria monocytogenes.
• Recalls associated with Almark's recall of hard-boiled egg products.

We hear news too often about some fresh vegetable being recalled due to contamination. ABC News recently warned, "Check your fridge for these salad kits and lettuce recalled due to listeria concerns."

The Market Realist reports, "In May (2022), there was a fire at a commercial egg farm in Minnesota that left thousands of chickens dead. Fortunately, the fire incident didn't lead to the loss of human lives. The egg farm fire comes at a time when some areas have been witnessing an egg shortage. What caused the fire at Forsman Farms? Was it an accident or intentional?"

Eat This, Not That! recently listed 12 Major Food Recalls You Need To Know About Right Now.

There's more, but you get the idea.

Dependence on the system sometimes seems precarious. So, you might have the urge to do something for yourself. Some of us have the time and places to garden, raise poultry or rabbits and such, but I expect that most folks do not. So, what do you do if your resources are very limited?

Start small.

Assess your space, time, physical ability and any other limiting factors. Write them down.

Make a list of vegetables that you like to eat a lot of: beans, radishes, lettuce, eggplant, tomatoes, chard, okra, peas, squash, onions, garlic, shallots, turnips, mustard, peppers, etc. Don't forget your herbs and spices: thyme, parsley, rosemary, oregano, marjoram, basil, dill, ginger root, turmeric and such. How about fruits? Strawberries, anyone?

Do a little research to learn which of them are easy to grow in your area. Are they prone to pests, or not? Will your neighbors mind? How much sun should they receive? How much water? Can they be grown in small spaces? Will they thrive in containers? Can any be grown indoors on a windowsill or under a grow-light? 

Let's say, for example, you love radishes and you can't do without them. Radishes are easy-peezy to grow. They take up very little space, germinate quickly, mature for harvest in a few short weeks, and then you can start all over again. Eat radishes fresh or pickle them. It might not seem like a lot, but you can easily become self-sufficient in radishes.

Is that all you can manage? Okay. If not, add another plant to your list.

How about thyme? You can grow thyme indoors year around. It's compact, delicious and has many health benefits. Set your mind to growing it and you might never need to buy thyme again.

There are many such things you can grow to eat fresh, dry, preserve, can and store for future use.

There's no way that most of us can be self-sufficient in everything we need. But we can become self-sufficient in something. If you can become self-sufficient in only one or two foods, you won't feel so helpless. You'll feel safer, good about yourself and your accomplishment, and you'll save some money, too.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

How To Make A Simple Composting Barrel

 

Composting happens all the time without human intervention. Leaves fall, grasses die, wood rots and the circle of life from a seedling to a plant’s final end returns the basic building blocks of life to the soil for another go-round.

Gardeners can use this process to their benefit by gathering and confining the organic material to an easily accessible location for the process to occur. It can be in an open pile or contained in a box, barrel, bucket or bin. The choice is yours. The end result is COMPOST – black gold for the garden.

For the organic material to be useful, it must be decomposed. For it to be useful sooner, it must decompose faster. The key to faster decomposition is turning – turning the material over and over so that all the ingredients are exposed to the insects, worms and micro-organisms for digestion and decay.

We’ve tried every basic method – open piles, boxes and bins. Some were flimsy. Others were not very durable. Some were simply inconvenient to manage. I’ve seen the manufactured barrels that rotate on metal or wooden stands, or those on rollers for kicking over and over. I was sold on the concept, but not the products on the market, so I decided to try composting in a barrel of my own making.

I paid a visit to The Barrel Man. He’s just down the road from me. He sells all kinds of used barrels at very reasonable prices. I selected this 60-gallon plastic, flat-sided barrel with a screw-on lid. It also has an inner lid for better sealing.

“What was it used for?”, I asked.

“Meat processing by-products”, he said.

I opened it up to sniff. It smelled clean enough; not offal.

“Oh, it’s been cleaned”, he informed. “It’s food-grade plastic.”

So, I paid him, loaded it into my pickup truck and headed home.

Why did I choose a flat-sided barrel? I’m glad you asked. I don’t intend to mount it on a stand, but to push it over on its side and kick it around several times to mix the ingredients, and maybe turn it upside-down, too. I figure the flat sides will do a better job of shifting and mixing the material inside for faster decomposition. It can’t get any simpler than that.

The only tools needed were a power drill, a 1” hole saw, a 2” hole saw, and a big, black, felt-tip marker.

I began by marking the ribs on all four sides where I’d drill the aeration holes. These holes were drilled with the 1” inch hole saw.

Then I turned the barrel upside-down. I used the 2” hole saw to penetrate the very center, and the 1” hole saw to make four more drainage holes around the circumference. When the barrel is filled, I hope these drainage holes will also provide entry ways for earthworms and other busy critters when the barrel is in direct contact with the ground.

Important tips: 1) the bottom is thicker than the sides, so takes longer to penetrate; 2) take your time cutting with a firm hand, 3) better do your work over a tarp so you can gather the plastic shavings and dispose of them properly.

It wasn’t long before I had the barrel mostly filled with leaves, vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds and torn paper filters, shredded documents in layer upon layer. I could see that it wouldn’t be long before my barrel would be maxed-out. So I headed back to The Barrel Man for more barrels. These flat-sided composters can be easily lined up near the garden, all in different stages of decomposition, taking less space than round barrels.

 That’s all there was to it. You can do it, too.

To see a YouTube video of this process, click here.

 Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Grow Your Garden Anywhere

 

Some form of gardening seems to be in everyone’s blood. It might be for the love of beauty, fascination with the world of plants, the feeling of accomplishment or for health benefits. Yet, many feel defeated before they begin simply because they don’t think they have the right space to garden.

Don’t despair. Let me assure you, THERE’S ALWAYS A SPACE TO GROW. From the smallest window sill to the back forty acres, successful gardens can be established. Plants “know” this instinctively. They can take root in the smallest, most inhospitable places and thrive. 

 

Whatever the situation, there are plants to fill any nook, cranny, pot, box, room or yard.

To begin, define your needs, interests and limitations. Are you casting about for ideas? Take a walk through your neighborhood or city to see what others are doing. 

 

Visit public gardens, or make friends and visit their private spaces. Browse the internet. Do you just want something green? Do you crave beauty? Do you want to eat your plants? Write these things down.

Do you prefer certain plant types such as tropicals, succulents, herbs, bulbs, bulbs, or veggies, for example? Make your list. If your space is very limited, make it a short one.

 

Which brings us to assessing your available space. Account for the size, light and temperature exposure, and accessibility. While you’re at it, assess your own limitations. You might not have a lot of time to care for plants, or the mobility to do so. Seek advice. Record your evaluation. You can always find something to satisfy the needs.

With all those things in mind, and having narrowed your scope, select your plants. Browse the internet, thumb through plant catalogs, visit local garden shops, BUT DON’T BECOME DISTRACTED. Keep your plan in mind and your list in hand. Focus, FOCUS, FOCUS!

 

Next, purchase the appropriate supplies: containers, soils, fertilizers and tools.

Oh, and don’t forget to ask for help or do a little research to find answers to your gardening questions. Your local Cooperative Extension office should have plenty of brochures, and the experts there might give personal insights. Blogs like this one are packed with info. Folks sometimes reach me by phone or email through GoGardenNow.com for assistance. YouTube is crowded with videos and insights offered by “half the free world and China.” You won’t be at a loss for help.

From there on out, you’ll have success, make some mistakes, learn more, and have fun. 

 

So Go Garden Now! 

The Gardener's To-Do List for April

 

Along with the coming of April come more garden tasks. Here are some suggestions organized by region.

If you didn’t get around to it last month, take a soil sample and send it to your nearest County Extension Service office for testing. It amendments are required, add them.
 

Northeast

Sow cool-season vegetables and flowers.
Divide perennials if they’ve grown too thickly..
Remove some of the mulch that you laid on thickly in fall so new perennial growth can emerge easily, but check your weather forecasts to see if severe cold is coming before doing this.
Begin to harden off cool-season veggies and flowers that you started earlier.
Complete maintenance of your garden tools.


Mid-Atlantic

Prune your roses and shrubs that produce on new wood before it’s too late.
Finish planting trees, shrubs, perennials and fruits if danger before hot weather sets in.
Add compost to your garden.
Plant your flower beds with summer annuals.


Mid- and Lower South

Direct-sow vegetable seeds in your gardens and raised beds.
Plant those vegetable and herb sets.
Add compost to your garden.
Fertilize roses.
Prune azaleas and camellias when they’ve finished blooming.
Spray for citrus scale in southern-most areas.

Midwest

Plant and divide perennials.
Fertilize roses.
Turn your compost pile.
Remove some of the mulch applied last fall so new growth can emerge.
Plant trees, shrubs and vines.

Pacific Northwest

Divide perennials.
Plant summer-blooming bulbs, perennials and perennial vegetables.
Add compost to your garden beds.
Fertilize your roses.
Plant bare-root and container grown shrubs and trees.
Continue pest control in your orchard.


West Coast

Fertilize trees, shrubs and roses.
Plant summer-blooming bulbs, perennial and root vegetables.
Add compost to your garden.
Prune roses and shrubs that bloom on fresh wood.
Remove excess mulch.
Refresh mulch, if necessary.


Southwest

Plant summer-flowering bulbs.
Plant outdoors vegetables and warm season annuals.
Add compost to your garden beds.

Hawaii

Spray for citrus scale.
Fertilize shrubs and trees.
Continue weed control.

Consider the benefits of raised-bed gardening.

What with the current economic situation in the U.S., inflation and supply chain disruptions, we’re thinking more about supplementing our foods with home-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs. Self-sufficiency is not possible for most folks, but container- and raised-bed gardening is well within the reach of the vast majority. Even those with plenty of growing space can benefit from these techniques.

So, what are the benefits of container- and raised-bed gardening? I’m glad you asked.

There are fewer weeds to control. Because raised-bed gardeners usually buy soil and humus or produce their own compost, fewer weeds are imported than if native soil is used. This reduces a whole lot of labor.

Watering and soil management are better controlled. Because plants are grown closer together and every inch of space is used to its best advantage, less water is wasted watering those spaces between the rows one finds in traditional gardens. If you’re not on a private well, this represents a big savings in water bills.

Soil compaction is eliminated since you won’t be walking through your raised beds.

Raised-beds allow for intensive gardening with closer plant spacing, therefore producing higher yields in less space.

The soil in containers and raised-beds warms earlier in the season and stays warm longer resulting in longer growing seasons.

Soil pH is easier to control.

Soil erosion is reduced by the confinement of the containers. Rainfall and irrigation waters stay put.

You can “customize” your garden soil to suit the needs of your crops because the influence of native soil is reduced dramatically or eliminated entirely.

No tilling is required!

You can set up your garden almost anywhere. A few square feet on a balcony or patio can accommodate several containers. Close quarters around buildings in urban settings can be transformed into verdant gardens.

Raised beds are very accessible, so are ideal for senior citizens and disabled persons.

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.

Soil Tests – The Why and How

 

No doubt you've learned somewhere that soil tests provide essential guidelines for gardening. Perhaps the "why" and "how" have eluded you. This article might help.

You’ve probably noticed that different types of plants grow in different places. That’s because they are either native or adapted to distinct habitats. Drive through the countryside and you’ll see what I mean. On one side of a hill you might find a hardwood forest. The other side might be predominantly native pine. In another place there will be a grassy meadow. Farther along you might see a bog with sedges and alders. Each area has its own soil type, nutrient levels, drainage and chemistry. The lesson here is that plants thrive in locations and conditions that meet their needs.

Garden spaces are sometimes not so easy to judge. Further inspection and discovery will probably be necessary. Follow a similar exercise to your drive in the country when garden planning. Walk around your landscape taking note of drainage, sun exposure, slope and the plants that are thriving. Even moss and weeds can tell a story, but we'll delve into that some other time.

There are a couple of ways to determine your soil type, chemistry and condition. The first is to take a soil sample for testing. The second is to utilize the USDA Web Soil Survey tool. Taking a soil sample is easy enough. Using the USDA Web Soil Survey tool? Not so much.

A basic soil test will tell you three things: the soil pH (acidity or alkalinity), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen (N) is not so easy to determine, so test results probably won’t show it. Advanced soil tests can reveal organic content and some minor element content. Keep in mind that a single soil test only provides a “snapshot” in time. Some of the element levels can change over the seasons.

Obtain a soil sample bag or bags from your local Cooperative Extension Service office. Fill in the blanks with your name, address and contact information. Check off the tests you want performed. Collect soil samples from various comparable places around your garden or landscape to provide a soil “profile.” Before taking samples, remove leaves and other debris from the immediate site. Scrape down to the actual soil. Mix the samples thoroughly in a clean plastic bucket. Transfer the mix to the soil sample bag, and return it to the office. A report should be mailed to you.

Using the USDA Web Soil Survey tool is another matter. You might find it here:

https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

I can’t walk you through the steps. It wasn’t intuitive for me. You’ll just have to play around with the website until you figure it out for yourself. Nearly every square foot of the United States is included in the survey. No doubt you’ll find your square feet.

Here’s an example. Zeroing in to a delineated area on my property shows that it consists of two soil types: Pelham loamy sand (5.4% of the area) and Tifton loamy sand (94.6% of the area). What does that mean? According to the USDA, “The Pelham series consists of very deep, poorly drained, moderately permeable soils that formed in unconsolidated Coastal Plain sediments. These soils are on nearly level broad flats, toe slopes, depressions and drainageways.” “The Tifton series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in loamy marine sediments. Tifton soils are on interfluves. Slopes range from 0 to 8 percent.” Understanding these characteristics helps me figure out what to plant and where, especially if drainage is important.

With such facts in mind, the gardener can choose suitable crops and where to plant them. Obviously, this isn’t so vital if one is planting in containers or raised beds. However, when the homeowner is planning landscape plantings of trees, shrubs, perennials and vines, they are essential considerations.

You might have some particular plants in mind. If so, read the plant descriptions and learn about their soil requirements. Choose those that seem most compatible with your conditions.

If soil test reports indicate that amendments are necessary, make them weeks or months ahead of planting time to allow them to be incorporated into the soil and take effect.

It’s far easier to select plants appropriate to your situation than it is to dramatically change or amend your native soil to accommodate unsuitable plants of your choosing. Be realistic. Make it easy on yourself. Work with nature, not against it.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

How To Plant Perennials From 2-1/2” or 3-1/2” Pots

 

It's not uncommon for folks to visit their garden shops at the first breath of spring, buy a few plants, then wander about the yard looking for some place to put them. That's not the way to go about it.

Before you purchase your plants choose them with your site conditions in mind. Site conditions include your USDA climate zone, sun exposure, soil moisture, soil texture, soil chemistry (soil pH) and those constraints that limit the types of plants you can grow.

Ideally, you should’ve begun preparing the planting bed before your plants arrived. If you haven’t begun preparations yet, set your plants aside out of the sun, wind, extreme heat or cold. Get started.

Have a soil sample tested. Drop by your nearest Cooperative Extension Office for some soil sample bags. Follow instructions on the bag. Your report should arrive in a few days. Follow instructions in the report. Plant your perennials with other plants having similar cultural requirements.

Prepare the planting bed by cultivating at least 8" deep, removing all traces of weeds. Compacted soil should be cultivated to 12" deep.  Amend the soil according to the Cooperative Extension Service report.

As a general rule, though, compost may be incorporated into the soil.  Incorporate 5-10-15 fertilizer at a rate of no more 2 lbs. per 100 square feet into the top 4" to.  6" of soil. Avoid synthetic fertilizers contacting any part of your plants.

Space plants in 3-1/2” pots about 12" to 18" apart. Space plants in 2-1/2” pots about 8” to 12” apart. Plant spacing is not an exact science. Sure, you must consider the mature sizes and growth rates of your plants, but spacing is as much a matter of your budget and patience.

Dig planting holes into the cultivated soil a little less deep than the depth of the growing container. Place the plants into the holes and back-fill, watering as you go. Press soil around the root balls. Do not cover entirely the root balls with soil. The tops should be slightly exposed. Add a top-dressing of mulch around the plants, not on top of them, about 1" deep.

Fertilize sparingly and allow soil to dry slightly between watering.  Few plants like to be waterlogged, though there are exceptions – particularly those that thrive in bogs and along water features.

Having done that, periodically remove weeds from the planting bed. Fertilize your plants as required.

What’s next? Enjoy the results of your labor!

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

The Gardener’s To-Do List for March

Can you believe it? The month of March is here already. With it comes a lot to do in the garden. Here are some suggestions organized by region.

No matter where you live, take a soil sample and send it to your nearest County Extension Service office for testing. If amendments are required, now’s the time to add them.

Northeast

The weather is still unpredictable, so you’ll have to take your weather forecasts into account. But, generally speaking, you should proceed with the following:

Shrubs that bloom on new wood should be pruned.
Clean debris from your flower beds.
Spray your fruit trees with dormant oil.
Cut ornamental grasses nearly to the ground to make room for new growth.
Protective winter structures can be removed from evergreen shrubs.
Check your garden mulch. If you applied a heavy layer in fall to protect perennials and bulbs, it might be time to remove some of it to allow for new growth. Check your weather forecasts to see if severe cold is coming before doing this.

Mid-Atlantic

It might feel like spring, but it might not be totally sprung. Keep an eye on the weatherman.
Prune your roses and shrubs that produce on new wood.
Commence planting trees, shrubs, perennials and fruits if danger of frost is past and the soil is workable.
Add compost to your garden.
Plant perennial vegetables such as asparagus and rhubarb.
Freshen your flower beds with pansies and snapdragons.

Mid-South

If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, get with it. You’re late doing those tasks that gardeners in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions are just beginning. See above.

Lower South

It’s time to break out the antihistamine. Pollen clouds are wafting across the landscape.
Prune your roses and shrubs that flower on new wood. Better now than never.
Plant those trees and shrubs, perennials and summer-blooming bulbs.
Direct-sow vegetable seeds in your gardens and raised beds.
Plant those vegetable and herb sets.
Add compost to your garden.
Start pest and weed control measures.
Clean off your power tools and test to see if they work. Better get them to the repair shop now before the lines form and the waits grow longer.

Midwest

The weather is unpredictable. Cold weather is very  possible.
Follow the suggestions for the Northeast.

Pacific Northwest

Your busy season has begun.
Plant summer-blooming bulbs, perennials and perennial vegetables.
Add compost to your garden beds.
Prune and fertilize your roses.
Plant shrubs and trees.
Begin a pest control regimen in your orchard.

Alaska

“When it’s springtime in Alaska, it’s 40 below.” - Johnny Horton. Nuff said.

West Coast

In the northern reaches, fertilize trees, shrubs and roses.
Plant summer-blooming bulbs, perennial and root vegetables.
Add compost to your garden.
Prune roses and shrubs that bloom on fresh wood.

In the southern zones, follow the suggestions for the northern areas, AND...
Start best pest control practices.
Divide perennials and replant them.

Southwest

Plant summer-flowering bulbs.
Plant outdoors root vegetables and those leafy plants that tolerate some cool temperatures
Cold-sensitive vegetables can be started indoors.
Add compost to your garden beds.
Remove old mulch.

Hawaii

Just keep doing what you’ve been doing all year long.
Fertilize shrubs and trees.
Control weeds.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Gardening for Senior Citizens - Making It Easier

This is the second in my series on gardening for senior citizens. 

I wrote about my grandparents gardening in an earlier article, Gardening For Senior Citizens - Thoughts of Grandparents In Their Gardens. I didn’t mention it at the time, but they mostly cultivated traditional gardens planted in native soil and laid out in rows. But, in their last few years they began thinking there must be easier ways. I remember well some of their books and magazines that promised just that. Ruth Stout’s books on “no-till” gardening, as well as their Organic Gardening and Farming magazines were among their collection.

I’ve always been a fan of raised bed and “square foot” gardening. But as I’m now seeing a trail of years behind me, I’m thinking about how we can make future gardening activities easier on ourselves. My thoughts on the subject might be useful to others.

Start small.

Face it; sometimes desire is greater than ability. It’s kind of like when the eyes are bigger than the stomach. We can put more on our plates than we can actually eat. Big ideas might lead us to attempt too much, so start with a few pots or window boxes of select bush-type vegetables and herbs. City-dwellers might be limited to a just a few containers, anyway.

Suitable vegetables might include chard, mustard greens, leaf lettuce, bush beans, compact tomato varieties, radishes, beets, peppers, garlic, chives, green onions and such. Herbs might include thyme, basil, rosemary, and oregano, for example.

Choose containers that are easy to move about. Size matters. Obviously, larger ones will be heavier. But materials will also make a difference. Terracotta will require greater strength to move than plastics or fiberglass. Those that might need to be moved about for winter protection or for a change of scenery should be lightweight.

If ability and space allow, add more pots, larger boxes, or even a few raised beds.

Make it accessible.

Mobility and flexibility will be limited as we age. Distances can be harder to travel, so gardens should be as close to living quarters as possible. Working outward from windowsills, container gardens can be placed on porches or patios, closer in the yard or along walkways.

“Low-hanging fruit” might become too difficult to bend over to reach, so raised beds or table gardens could fill the bill. Raised garden beds as tall as 32” are now on the market. They’ll undoubtedly make gardening much easier for folks with limited flexibility.

Choose crops that are easy to grow.

What might they be? How about plants that are well-suited to the climate, adaptable to available sun or the limitations of shade, drought-tolerant, disease and insect resistant? This will require some research. If published material isn’t available, or too difficult to access, contact your nearest Cooperative Extension Service office for help. Your tax dollars are supporting it. Use it.

Select tools that are easy to use.

First of all, shop for tools that are of good quality and well-made. This means you’ll probably spend more for them in the beginning, but you’ll spend far more replacing flimsy, broken implements over time.

Tools and gloves should fit the hands that will use them and be relatively lightweight. Test secateurs to see if they’re easy enough to squeeze. Buy no-kink water hoses that retract or can be easily coiled, hung or reeled to avoid tripping hazards.

Success is only as good as the soil.

Purchase the best potting or garden soils as you can afford. These will be peat-based and possibly contain perlite or vermiculite. Some might boast water-retentive and fertilizer additives. Buy them.

Bagged fertilizers should be in smaller, lightweight bags for easy use. Water-soluble fertilizers should come with measuring spoons. Provide wide-mouth soft plastic cups and watering cans.

With these few tips in mind, the benefits of gardening can be enjoyed for many more years.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Gardening for Senior Citizens - Thoughts of Grandparents In Their Gardens.

 

Some of my most cherished memories are of my grandparents working in their gardens. Even when I was a child, I was impressed by their energy and commitment. I’ll grant you that they had lived through tough times of pandemic, financial depressions and wars, so they were used to gardening of necessity. But even when current events had settled down, they kept at it. I believe that gardening kept them young in mind, even if they all didn’t live into their 90s. Even so, they remained keenly interested in their gardens and continued working them until the end.

They would’ve laughed at the notion of working out in a gym. Gardening was their exercise. It kept them moving with a purpose – putting healthy food on the table. Working outdoors built flexibility, strength, stamina and cardiopulmonary capacity. They weren’t pounding the pavement or pumping iron, either. Theirs was what you might call “low-impact” exercise.

Besides working their muscles, they were also soaking up sunshine. Yes, the men-folk wore their hats, grandmothers wore their bonnets, and all wore long-sleeved shirts, but they were getting enough exposure to produce Vitamin D, build immunity and strong bones. None suffered from osteoporosis.

I remember well the strength in my grandparents hands – the way they’d grab my arm to stop me from  hurting myself or hold my hand to help me keep up. The grandfathers taught me to firmly shake the hands of others, look them in the eye and say, “Pleased to meet you, Sir.” I reckon their strong hands came from hours of shoveling, raking, hoeing and pulling, shelling peas and beans.

“High self-esteem” was not something they thought much of for “pride goeth before a fall”, but I’m sure they were well-satisfied with their handiwork. What better way to gain a sense of accomplishment than working and seeing the garden grow a cornucopia of produce? How beautiful were those rows and rows of canned vegetables in glass jars.

My grandparents had many concerns, but gardening certainly relieved a lot of stress. After a few hours among the vegetables and flowers, they had worked out a lot of their frustrations and replaced them with the sense of jobs well-done. Not only that, the exercise helped them sleep better.

Getting their hands dirty in the well-manured garden was the healthy thing to do. As my Uncle Paul (a Dutchman) used to say, “Dat is goed spul!” Translation: “That’s good stuff.” Scientists have even discovered beneficial bacteria in the soil, one of which is Mycobacterian vaccae. Maybe he knew about that intuitively.

But strong muscles and bones, dexterity, improved mental health and well-being were not the only benefits of gardening for those senior citizens. There was also the benefit of saving money, which they thought so much about. They saved string! In these uncertain times, all of these benefits might come in real handy.

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February Garden Tasks?

 

  

Just when you think of sitting down and resting until spring, February rolls around. The month of February might be one of the busiest months for gardeners. Before you get too comfortable, let's review some of February's garden tasks.

To make it easier, we're organizing them by region.

Northeast States: Prune dormant deciduous trees, shrubs, vines. Avoid removing spring flower buds. Inspect those indoor plants around you for disease and insects. Refill your bird feeders. Shop plant and seed catalogs. Don't forget those 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. Clean and oil garden tools.

Mid-Atlantic States: Prune dormant deciduous trees, shrubs, vines; but avoid removing spring flower buds.  Inspect your houseplants for disease or insect problems. Feed the birds. Browse seed catalogs in print and online. Order onion sets, strawberries, rhubarb, asparagus and spring flowering bulbs, if you haven’t already. Do you have bulbs and perennial roots in cool storage? Inspect them and throw out rotten ones. Add mulch to planting beds, if needed. Begin planting bare-root trees and shrubs. Sow warm-season annual and vegetable seeds in cold frames. Clean and oil garden tools. Take soil samples to your local Cooperative Extension Service for analysis. Adjust pH, if necessary.

Mid-South States: Continue pruning dormant deciduous trees, shrubs, vines.  Avoid removing spring-blooming flower buds. Prune and fertilize rose bushes. 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. Plant perennial vegetables such as asparagus and rhubarb. Clean and oil garden tools.

Lower South and Gulf States: Cultivate garden soil. Sow root crops directly in your garden. 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 broad leaf and evergreen trees and shrubs, perennials and ground covers. Begin irrigating shrubs and trees as long as weather is above freezing. Fertilize trees and shrubs when dormant, if you haven't done it yet. 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.

Pacific Southwest and Desert States: Follow regimen for Lower South and Gulf States. Sow root crops directly in your garden.

Pacific Northwest States: Follow the same regimen as for Mid-Atlantic States.

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What is this strange thing?

 

I asked that question about 40 years ago of a retired County Agent. "I dunno", he said. Then he commenced to cut it up into tiny pieces with his secateurs.

Sad.

This is a pair of Praying Mantis egg cases. You might find them hidden in your shrubs, small tree branches or vines. Some folks find them in their Christmas trees. They don't present a danger to yourself or your family. They are dangerous to other insects, and that can be a good thing.

The name, Praying Mantis, is derived from their prayer-like posture. While they are considered beneficial insects by humans because they hunt and eat insect pests, they are an unholy terror to little creatures. Not only will they eat other insects, they will even eat small lizards, tiny birds and other beasts small enough to be grasped in their strong forelegs. 

Here are some more interesting facts about Praying Mantis:

They are solitary, stealthy, lightening fast hunters. When waiting for prey, they either remain motionless or slowly stalk until the target is within reach. Then, like a flash, they seize it with their strong forelegs and eat it alive!

They can rotate their heads 180 degrees.

They are cannibalistic. Females will eat males during or after intercourse. Not surprising, then, that the females live longer than males. As you can see below, females are larger than males.

 

Poor unsuspecting fella.

 Photo Credit: I, Zwentibold, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

They have one ear on their stomachs, and they can hear ultrasound.

They assume a threatening pose before approaching danger by rearing up on their hind legs, spreading their wings and displaying their forelegs.

They are distantly related to roaches.

They are not native to the United States, but were introduced in the Northeast over a century ago for agricultural pest control.

Some Chinese martial arts strategies are based upon praying mantis hunting techniques.

Some folks keep Praying Mantis as pets.

What should you do if you find egg cases? That depends. If you find them outdoors, leave them alone. Know that the the hatchlings will come to your aid when the weather warms and reduce the excess pest population. If you find them on plants brought indoors - like your Christmas tree - snip off the branch where they are deposited and place them outdoors somewhere out of the way. If left to hatch indoors, you might find dozens of little hunters around the house. It's okay to pick them up. They won't hurt YOU.

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It’s December. Is it too late in the year to plant bare root perennials and ground cover vines?

 

Bare root daylilies

It depends on whether you’re covered up with snow or the soil is frozen. If that’s the case, then you’ve missed the boat. You’ll have to wait until the snow melts and you can get a shovel into the ground.

However, if those considerations don’t apply, then it’s not too late to plant. If a plant is known to be cold-hardy in your area, it should survive inclement weather until spring.

There is one distinct advantage of planting in fall or winter. Once planted, the roots will begin to establish in the soil. Though you likely won’t see any top growth, the roots will be busy advancing down there out of sight. When spring arrives, your perennials and vines will have a head start and will likely out-perform similar plants installed during warmer weather.

Other considerations still apply. For example, if the soil around plants such as Hedera species should dry between watering, delay planting until dryer weather to prevent root rot.

If you wish to protect your newly installed plants against possible winter damage, you could cover with a thin layer of mulch. Don't forget to remove it when spring arrives.

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Unmitigated Disasters: Why Celebrated Tree Planting Projects Fail

 

Image by Drukpa Publications Pvt. Ltd., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

 Fred Pearce wrote an excellent article published at the Yale School of the Environment pointing out "High-profile initiatives to plant millions of trees are being touted by governments around the world as major contributions to fighting climate change. But scientists say many of these projects are ill-conceived and poorly managed and often fail to grow any forests at all."

Two named examples - in the Philippines and India - demonstrated the disastrous results. Researchers found little evidence that government-led, taxpayer-funded projects "resulted in more tree cover, carbon uptake, or community benefits." In other words, they were wastes of money, productive time and energy.

Pearce quotes Lalisa Duguma of World Agroforestry, "an international research agency" in Africa and comments. "Every year, 'millions of dollars' are spent on reforesting landscape. Yet 'there are few success stories.' Typically only a minority of seedlings survive, he says, because the wrong trees are planted in the wrong places, and many are left untended, in part because ownership and management of trees is not handed over to local communities."

"Too often, argues Duguma, tree planting is 'greenwashing' aimed at grabbing headlines and promoting an image of governments or corporations as environmentally friendly. Tiina Vahanen, deputy director of forestry at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, noted recently that many projects end up being little more than 'promotional events, with no follow-up action.'"

Pearce also exposes the "carbon credit" scheme. Large corporations buy carbon credits purported to be offset by the "carbon capture" of forests, so the entities don't actually have to reduce their own carbon emissions.

Is there a better method of reforestation? Yes, there is. "Forest ecologists say creating space to allow nature to do its thing is usually a better approach to restoring forests than planting." Imagine that. Nature itself, if left alone, might do a better job.

It's a fascinating article. Read the whole thing HERE.

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Have you visited an All-America Selections Display Garden?

 

All-America Selections Display Gardens are wonderful resources for gardeners such as yourself. Whether you're a professional horticulturist, avid gardener or beginner, AAS Display Gardens present you with great ideas, gardening inspiration and pleasant visits. Even "brown thumbs" will be enthralled. 

The AAS website notes, "The network of nearly 200 dedicated AAS gardens includes 55 locations that have served for 25 years or longer. The earliest AAS Display Garden, Norseco, Inc. of Quebec Canada became an AAS garden in 1962."

There's probably one near you. Even if it's not the "growing season" in your area, locate one today and put it on your calendar to visit when the time is right for you. You can find one here.

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Yarrow – The Herb for Wounded Soldiers

WHILE tyrants sit enthron'd in state,

With trophies at their feet,

And fawning courtiers round them wait,

With adulation sweet!

Informing them in pompous strain,

Of feats achieved in war,

That will immortalize their reign,

And spread their fame afar.

Ah! little reckon they the woe

To many thousands wrought,

Who bleed and die, to crown their brow

With laurels dearly bought!

                       - Christian Milne (1773-1816)

When strolling through gardens or working in them, the sight and fragrance of particular herbs often bring to mind some associated musings. Yarrow conjures images in my mind of wounded warriors who suffer for the folly of others.

Because Yarrow was well known for its ability to staunch the flow of blood, Linnaeus named it Achillea, after Achilles the famous warrior, for it was he who famously used a common herb to treat the wounds of his soldier, Patroclus. But it’s not only for fighters.

The property that makes Yarrow so useful is its astringency. “Astringent” means “to bind fast.” Yarrow, when applied, causes tissue to draw tight and stops bleeding. Not surprisingly, Yarrow is sometimes called Staunchweed, Soldier's Woundwort or Herbe Militaris,

Yarrow grows wild worldwide, so it’s readily available in many locales. However, a patch of Yarrow in your own garden makes it much more accessible.

Purchase good quality plants in small containers.

Yarrow has deep roots, so they need a minimum of 8” of topsoil. If your landscape only has a thin layer, plant in raised beds or terracotta pots. Adjust pH to test between 6 and 8.

Cultivating deeply, removing all traces of weeds. Add enough soil to raise the bed at least 4" above the surrounding ground level. This will promote good drainage. Add compost or 5-10-15 fertilizer at the rate of 2 lbs. per 100 square feet into the top 4" to 6" of soil. Do not allow synthetic fertilizer to contact the plant.

Plant Yarrow 1' to 2' apart. The planting holes should be a little less deep than the depth of the container your plants came in. Tuck the plants into the holes and back-fill, watering as you go. The tops of the root balls should remain slightly exposed. Add mulch around the plants, not on top of them, about 1" deep.

Yarrow will soon be a valued addition to your outdoor “medicine cabinet.”

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A push toward wind energy threatens to kill more eagles.

 

A compelling article by Tate Watkins published in "Reason Magazine" takes note of the fact that wind turbines do more damage to birds than we imagine. "The Case for Tradeable Permits in Dead Birds" argues, "Many politicians and conservationists have high hopes of replacing fossil fuels with clean energy, but from a bird's eye view, wind turbine blades are deadly. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that wind turbines kill almost 328,000 birds each year." Imagine how dangerous it could be to fly through the chopping action of a wind turbine farm.

"Earlier this year, one of the largest renewable energy companies in the country was fined $8 million for unintentionally killing 150 bald and golden eagles at wind farms in eight states over recent years. But, if the company had held a permit from the service, it would not have been penalized. A smarter, market-based permitting approach could motivate wind developers to conserve eagles even as the sector expands."

Read more.

A Few Plants For Prepping Your Medicinal Herb Garden

 

You’ve probably noticed that the prices of many commodities have gone up and their availability has diminished. The problems didn’t just begin with COVID lockdowns and the war in Ukraine. Those factors have contributed, but our economic problems have been building up for a long time. We’re now beginning to feel the result of many years of government and central bank mismanagement. As a result, people like us are thinking about how we can prepare for more inflation, recession and supply chain shortages.

Among the necessities of life are food, fuel and medicine. Thankfully, we can supplement them to some extent ourselves. Consider medicine, for example. Many commonly grown garden plants are beneficial for good health and treating what ails us. Can we do without our pharmacies? Absolutely not. Should we try to self-medicate without a doctor’s supervision? Again, the answer is “NO.” Some medicinal plants such as Gelsemium can be dangerous if taken without professional guidance. But it’s good to know that we can cultivate some of them in our own gardens, if only for the pleasures of growing them, satisfying our curiosity and for their ornamental value. Beauty is therapeutic. Is it not?

Consider the following few examples, and please follow the links to other interesting and useful information.

Achillea millefolium – Yarrow, Staunch-Weed – has been used since ancient times to stop bleeding, to sedate and treat anxiety, cure liver and urinary problems, improve digestion and reduce high blood pressure.

Ajuga reptans – Bugleweed is a traditional remedy to stop bleeding and bruising, mend broken bones, soothe throat irritation and mouth ulcers.

Aloe vera is well known for its healing properties for soothing superficial cuts, burns, insect bites and abrasions. I recently mentioned this to a medical professional who was sunburned. He was skeptical. “There are no studies proving Aloe’s efficacy in treating sunburns,” he said. “That’s an argument from silence,” I replied. I’ve applied it myself to burns to prevent blistering and scarring, and I know of many more who swear by it.

Basil is delicious and nutritious, as we all know. But it also contains antioxidants such as lutein and beta-carotene. These help to fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals can come from the foods we eat. Though they don’t last long, they can lead to cell damage and contribute to other conditions such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes.

Campsis radicans - Trumpet Creeper is useful for promoting perspiration and for treating wounds.

Dandelions are seldom welcome in our lawns and gardens, but they deserve to live. The botanical name, Taraxacum officinale, points to its traditional medicinal use as an anti-inflammatory herb. It has long been used as a purifying tonic, but it’s claimed to be effective in treating skin conditions, diabetes, liver and digestive disorders, among other ailments. Instead of eradicating it, plant it on purpose. It’s easy to grow. The leaves can be added to salads and dried for tea. The roots can be dried, ground, and used as a coffee substitute. Don’t expect it to taste like coffee, though.

Echinacea purpurea – Coneflower – is a lovely perennial that’s native to North America. It was long used by indigenous tribes to support the immune system. It also contains antioxidants for treating infections of the skin, fevers, and a host of related health issues. In addition to its medicinal value, it is very ornamental. It attracts birds and pollinators. Echinacea is an absolute MUST-HAVE for your medicinal garden.

Gelsemium sempervirens – Carolina Jessamine. I mention this
one because it’s sometimes seen as an ingredient in homeopathic preparations, but it’s not to be prepared at home. Leave that to the Naturopaths. Naturalmedicinalherbs.net states,”The roots are analgesic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, mydriatic, nervine, sedative and vasodilator. A powerful depressant of the central nervous system, deadening pain and reducing spasms. It is said to suspend and hold in check muscular irritability and nervous excitement with more force and power than any known remedy. Whilst it relaxes the muscles, it also relieves all sense of pain. It is used internally in the treatment of neuralgia, migraine, sciatica, toothache, severe pain (especially in terminal illnesses or accidents) and meningitis. Externally it has been used as a folk remedy for cancer. The root is best harvested in the autumn and dried carefully for later use. Extreme care is advised with the use of this plant, it should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. Excessive doses cause respiratory depression, giddiness, double vision and death. It should not be prescribed for patients with heart disease, hypotension or myasthenia gravis. See also the notes above on toxicity. The fresh root is used to make a homeopathic remedy. It is used in the treatment of a variety of complaints, including fevers, flu and headaches.” Enough said. Grow it as an ornamental or for sake of curiosity, but don’t try self-medicating. You might not even live to regret it.

Hemerocallis fulva – Common daylily. I wrote in another blog article about eating daylilies. They saying, “Let food by thy medicine” is attributed to Hippocrates. Well, here you go. Daylily is also used in medicine to increase urine flow, as a laxative, to reduce fever, stop vomiting, reduce muscle spasms, reduce pain and sedate. Daylily tubers are said to be antimicrobial and able to kill some internal parasites.

Heuchera micrantha – Alum Root, Coral Bells. The root is antiseptic, astringent, reduces inflammation and fever, and has been used to treat eye infections. A tea has been used to treat liver problems and sore throats. Chewing a piece of root, cleaned and peeled, soothes sore gums.

Hypericum spp – St. John’s Wort. Naturalmedicinalherbs.net states, “

St. John's wort has a long history of herbal use. It fell out of favour in the nineteenth century but recent research has brought it back to prominence as an extremely valuable remedy for nervous problems. In clinical trials about 67% of patients with mild to moderate depression improved when taking this plant. The flowers and leaves are analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, astringent, cholagogue, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, nervine, resolvent, sedative, stimulant, vermifuge and vulnerary. The herb is used in treating a wide range of disorders, including pulmonary complaints, bladder problems, diarrhoea and nervous depression. It is also very effectual in treating overnight incontinence of urine in children. Externally, it is used in poultices to dispel herd tumours, caked breasts, bruising etc. The flowering shoots are harvested in early summer and dried for later use. Use the plant with caution and do not prescribe it for patients with chronic depression. The plant was used to procure an abortion by some native North Americans, so it is best not used by pregnant women. See also the notes above on toxicity. A tea or tincture of the fresh flowers is a popular treatment for external ulcers, burns, wounds (especially those with severed nerve tissue), sores, bruises, cramps etc. An infusion of the flowers in olive oil is applied externally to wounds, sores, ulcers, swellings, rheumatism etc. It is also valued in the treatment of sunburn and as a cosmetic preparation to the skin. The plant contains many biologically active compounds including rutin, pectin, choline, sitosterol, hypericin and pseudohypericin. These last two compounds have been shown to have potent anti-retroviral activity without serious side effects and they are being researched in the treatment of AIDS. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh whole flowering plant. It is used in the treatment of injuries, bites, stings etc and is said to be the first remedy to consider when nerve-rich areas such as the spine, eyes, fingers etc are injured.”

Whether other species are as beneficial, I don’t know.

Lamiastrum galeobdolon – Yellow Archangel suppresses muscle spasms, tightens tissues, promotes urine production, helps to discharge mucus, and expectorant, stops bleeding and tightens blood vessels.

Lavandula angustifolia – Lavender. Lavender is best known for its soothing aroma. But it is also a useful medicinal herb. It soothes the nerves, can be applied to the skin to help heal wounds, burns, and prevents scar tissue. It’s antiseptic, sweetens the breath, and improves kidney function. Rubbing lavender oil on the temples is said to cure headaches.

Liriope spp. – Liriope aka Lilyturf root has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent, an aphrodisiac, a treatment for allergies, and as a stimulant. Sometimes the roots have been candied and eaten as a snack.

Lysimachia nummularia – Creeping Jenny, Moneywort has been used to treat scurvy, diarrhea and internal bleeding. It increases urine production and is astringent.

Nepeta spp. – Catmint, Catnip. Everyone knows what it does to most cats, but it also has many medicinal uses. Tea from the leaves is useful for treating digestive disorders, reducing fevers, soothing colds and flu. It calms muscle spasms and coughs, relieves gas and increases perspiration.

Ophiopogon japonicus – Snakebeard, Mondo is a cough suppressant and expectorant, sedative, fever reducer and treatment for dry mouth. It has also been used as an aphrodisiac and cure for anxiety. (I guess if you think it works something amazing happens.) 

Black-Eye Susan - Rudbeckia hirta has been used to treat earaches, sores, colds, and even dropsy.

Thymus spp. – Thyme. In addition to culinary uses, thyme can be used in deodorant. It is also antiseptic and disinfectant.

This is by no means an exhaustive review of medicinal plants, but should give you something as you begin prepping. The next thing to research will be about how to use them.

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