July 2007
A kitchen garden is one of the most satisfying elements of the container garden. Being able to clip a sprig of parsley for garnish, a handful of basil for fresh pesto, a bunch of lavender for a visitor's pillow, that , is what having a garden is all about. Here is a list of those plants I believe to be key components to a herb garden:
Basil
Chive
Lavender
Oregano
Rosemary
Thyme
June 2007
The best time
to pick flowers
from your garden is in the early morning. For longer lasting
arrangements, use a clean container, change your water daily and cut
the tip off the stems every few days.
May 2007
Cats will walk on chicken wire, electric fencing is jumped over or
scooted underneath. Everything else is way too much money to spend on
keeping cats out of gardens. Easiest, cheapest, and least harmful is
apple cider vinegar sprayed where you do not want cats, dogs, or other
critters. I live in the country, have nice gardens all around the yard.
I spray apple cider vinegar mixed with water every where I do not want
animals to be. It works, it is cheap, and non toxic to animals, plants,
or self.
April 2007
Large mature plum trees and any over six years old need
little pruning - apart from cutting out diseased wood or crossing
branches. The new growth on younger trees should be cut back by about
half. Prune wall trained trees by cutting off any growths that are
growing away from the wall. When tying new growth to the wall, pull it
gently down into a more horizontal position. Horizontal branches tend
to fruit better than vertical ones, (also true of apples.)
March 2007
Place a heating mat under your seed trays and begin planting
your seeds indoors now. Keeping the soil warm will assist with faster
germination and plants will develop a stronger root system.
Start Hoeing or pulling weeds now to avoid a rush later. Pulling weeds
is easier while the ground is wet but be careful not to compact and
damage your soil. Place a board along the area in which you are working
to walk along while weeding.
January 2007
Place a heating mat under your seed trays and begin planting
your seeds indoors now. Keeping the soil warm will assist with faster
germination and plants will develop a stronger root system.
Start Hoeing or pulling weeds now to avoid a rush later. Pulling weeds
is easier while the ground is wet but be careful not to compact and
damage your soil. Place a board along the area in which you are working
to walk along while weeding.
December 2006
Keep your seasonal plants out of reach from children. Poinsettia, holly
and mistletoe berries aren't poisonous, but can cause stomach
irritation when ingested. One common plant that is VERY TOXIC is the
Jerusalem cherry. Both the fruit and leaves are extremely toxic and
should be kept well out of the reach of young hands.
November 2006
Begin forcing Amaryllis, Paper
whites and Calla Lily now for a quick cure for the winter blues. Within
the month you will be admiring these fragrant beauties.
If your bulbs begin to bloom to early place them in a cool room and
give them less water. Place them in a warmer area to encourage faster
blooming.
Octover 2006
By mid-October, or if frost is predicted, pick all tomatoes, whether they are ripe or not.
Refrigerate or freeze ripe tomatoes.
Wrap green tomatoes or hang the entire plants (with unpicked fruit)
upside down. Alternatively these can be stored in a brown paper bag in
a cool dark area.
September 2006
Shred leaves as they fall and add to compost bin.
Continue to destroy weeds before they go to seed.
Destroy all disease infected refuse from the garden.
Add compost to beds for spring and winter planting.
Prune vines and shrubs so that the air can flow through them freely in winter.
Keep new plantings well watered. Water your lawns, trees, shrubs and according to the weather.
Set out a dish of beer for your slugs now. Remove dead slugs daily.
August 2006
Your lawn mower has been working overtime since early spring; perhaps it's time to do a little routine check-up.
A few helpful hints to keep things running smoothly: let's always play
it safe - turn off the mower and disconnect the spark plug. First, make
sure the undercarriage of the mower is clean. Tilt the mower on its
side and wash with a steady stream of water. This removes any clumps of
grass that can build up. Is the blade sharp? Dull mower blades tear the
grass blades resulting in a lawn that has a brownish cast to it. (I
know a man that sharpens his blades after every third mowing session!
Does he need a life or what?!) How's the oil? Check it and add/change
if necessary.
Remember to recycle the grass clippings back on the turf. No bag needed!
July 2006
Add mulch to your garden now and save time later. Mulching
will help to keep out weeds and pests, will preserve moisture so that
you don't have to water as often, will improve your soil and your
garden's overall appearance.
June 2006
The best time to pick flowers from your garden is in the early
morning. For longer lasting arrangements, use a clean container, change
your water daily and cut the tip off the stems every few days.
Deadhead and lightly prune roses regularly throughout the summer. Prune
a small amount off the stem after each flower has finished to encourage
more blooms. When pruning, always remember to cut above a stem with
five leaves.
May 2006
Making Bulbs Bloom - Mark your
spring bulbs that didn't bloom this year. Stones make good markers, and
if they are clean and dry you can decorate them with paint. Once the
foliage dies back, dig up your reluctant bulbs and amend the soil with
compost, then replant. If your bulbs are in a shaded area, move them to
a sunny spot.
April 2006
Garden Centers are filled with more perennials in April than
any other month of the year. Be sure to get the plants you want by
going now
March 2006
It's time to hang up your hummingbird feeders. Feed
hummingbirds a solution of one cup of sugar to 3 or 4 cups of water.
Make sure to boil the water first so the suger disolves.
Now is a great time to transplant houseplants to a new pot. If your
plants have been in the same pot for several years it's a good idea to
give them fresh soil and a clean home.
Did you know that spring officially begins on March 20th this year. The
seasons are defined by precise positions of the earth and sun..
February 2006
Pussywillow Branches - Cut
pussywillow branches just as the catkins are beginning to emerge, and
display them in a vase with or without water. If you add water, the
branches will take root and grow.
January 2006
Order Gardening Catalogs -
Gardening catalogs are a wonderful resource for planning your garden.
Any good catalog will give you basic information such as height, soil
and sun requirements and planting times for a wide range of plants. One
of my personal favorites is Stokes Seed Catalog, which reads like a
plant encyclopedia. Order your catalogs now to have them on hand for
browsing after the holidays.
December 2005
Get Ready for Pansies
Prepare planting beds for pansies as soon as they are
available at garden centers, and once the night temperatures begin to
cool. Pansies need well-drained soil and at least a half day of sun. It
is best to use transplants because seed is difficult to handle. Water
the new plants in well with a soluble fertilizer solution to get them
off to a good start.
November 2005
Relocating Roses If
you have a rose bush that did not grow well due to lack of sunlight,
you can transplant it now. Tie branches up with cord or twine to make
handling easier. Dig the bush, taking care not to knock all the soil
off the roots. Slide a tarp under the root ball and use the tarp to
move it to its new location. Reset the bush at the same growing depth,
and water it in well. By moving it now it will have plenty of time to
re-establish before next summer arrives.
Brighten Winter Days With Potted Bulbs Start
bulbs for indoor forcing. Paper whites and amaryllis are among the
easiest and are readily available this time of year. A shallow dish
with bulbs started for forcing makes a great gift for friends and
neighbors. Keep them in a bright location for best results.
Reduce Fertilizer On Indoor Plants The
low light and cooler temperatures of winter mean your houseplants will
need fewer nutrients to do well. Unless plants are in a very well
lighted atrium or very bright window, you can probably cut back
fertilizing by half. Also watch soil moisture, as it is easy to
overwater during the winter months.
October 2005
Clean up the planting areas as you harvest fruit, flowers,
vegetables. Rake up fallen leaves and fruit. Compost all disease- free
organic refuse. Destroy all disease infected refuse.
Protect container plants for winter. Mulch tender plants that can't be moved.
Continue watering lawns, trees, shrubs, vines and all new plantings
until the rains come. Don't forget to water plants in sheltered areas.
Well-watered plants survive freezing temperatures better than dry ones.
September 2005
Tomato Reruns By the end of summer,
our tomato patch is usually pretty ragged-looking due to the ravages of
insects, mites, and diseases. It's also stopped setting fruit due to
the heat of summer. However, fall is coming and with it comes a fresh
new start on the vegetable garden. New tomato transplants are often
difficult to find in July and August but there's no need to go out
shopping for new ones. You can revive your old patch for fall tomato
rerun. There are two basic ways to do this.
Rejuvenating Tired Tomatoes
The first method is to cut back the old plants to force them to
resprout and thus regrow a new set of vines for fall. This can be a bit
tricky, and I've killed vines by cutting them back too far in the
blazing heat. The plants need to be well watered and not too stressed,
and you'll want to allow some green growth to remain after cutting them
back.
My preferred method of reviving an old tomato patch is by tip layering
the old plants. Take a long section of vine that can reach all the way
to the ground. Remove the leaves from the last foot or so except for a
half dozen leaves on the very end of the vine. Use a shovel to scoop
out a little hole in the ground where you want the new vine to grow,
usually in between two older plants. It doesn't have to be very deep,
just a few inches is enough.
Lay the end of the vine in the hole, leaving the tip with leaves to
stick up out of the hole. Then fill the hole with soil and water it in
well. Continue to water as needed to keep that spot moist. Tomatoes
love to root along the vine and within a couple of weeks you'll see
roots starting to grow into the ground. After about three weeks this
new daughter plant will be ready to take off on its own.
At that point you just cut its connection to the mother plant, and your
new star will be ready to go for fall. Then remove the mother plant
along with all its mites and diseased leaves. Be aware that there will
be plenty of mites and other pests ready to focus their hungry
attention on the small, new tomato plants, so take care to protect them
with sprays of insecticidal soap or a blast of water directed upward
from beneath the foliage.
August 2005
Don't forget to moisten your
compost regularly to prevent flies from breeding in it. Water plants in
the early morning to prevent mildew. Water according to the weather.
Pay close attention to raised beds and container plants.
July 2005
Deadhead and lightly prune roses
regularly throughout the summer. Prune a small amount off the stem
after each flower has finished to encourage more blooms. When pruning,
always remember to cut above a stem with five leaves
June 2005
Tomato Hornworms -
These distinctive creatures are masters of camouflage. The four-inch
larvae are stem green with seven or eight diagonal white stripes down
their sides. Each stripe is shadowed by a row of black dots, and
punctuated with a huge false eyespot and black tail. They feed in the
daytime, nibbling at fruit and consuming tremendous quantities of
leaves. Little souvenirs similar in appearance to rabbit pellets are
sometimes left behind. Target plants include tomatoes, peppers,
potatoes, eggplant and dill. Adult hornworms are huge grayish brown
moths with wingspans of up to five inches. They are also known as hawk
or hummingbird moths, and they are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds
as they hover in front of flowers feeding on the nectar at dusk. Wings
are ornamented with a wavy line pattern and the body is marked with
orange spots. Pupae hibernate underground in hard, two-inch cases
shaped like spindles. Fall tilling helps to destroy the pupae. Controls
Deterrent plants include borage, opal basil and marigolds. Dill makes
an excellent trap crop. The huge worms are easy to spot on dill plants,
and can then be handpicked. Handpicking is the preferred method of
control. Although they are huge, they usually aren't numerous. A blast
of cold water from the hose will cause them to thrash about and make
handpicking easier.
May 2005
Purchase annuals without flowers so that you can enjoy the
blooms longer. Choose shorter bushy plants because the larger ones are
more established already and may not transplant as well. A dark green
color is generally a good indicator of a strong healthy plant. (Make
sure that they are not light colored or yellowing. Nor should they have
brown patches) When planting your annuals if you loosen up the roots a
bit before planting it will stimulate stronger growth.
April 2005
To keep your Easter lilies blooming longer; place them in indirect sunlight in a cool room. When the flowers open up, pinch off the yellow anthers.
Once your blooms have faded and all danger of frost has passed, remove
the lily from its pot and plant it in a sunny spot in the garden.
Easter Lilies like lots of water and good drainage. Be sure to mulch
the roots of the plants over winter and remove the mulch again in
spring. You'll enjoy your Easter Lilies for years to come.
March 2005
Now is a great time to transplant houseplants to a new pot. If
your plants have been in the same pot for several years it's a good
idea to give them fresh soil and a clean home.
Did you know that spring officially begins on March 20th this year. The
seasons are defined by precise positions of the earth and sun.
Feb 2005
Feed Your Houseplants - Once your
houseplants begin to show new growth after their winter rest period,
it's time to start feeding them again. The best fertilizer for
houseplants is a time-release fertilizer such as Osmocote. Sprinkle the
pellets in the pot according to the instructions. When you water the
plants, fertilizer is slowly released. One application can last up to
six months.
January 2005
Don't throw out that ash if you're burning wood in the
fireplace this winter! Save it until next spring then spread it in your
gardens. Scatter it around your carrots, radishes and onions to keep
root maggots away. It will also improve the flavor of your potatoes.
Wood ash is high in potassium and will raise the pH of soil.
December 2004
Christmas tips on your tree. Preserving Holly, Recipe for Fireproofing your Tree, Christmas Potpourri, Tree Disposal
November 2004
Dig up gladiola bulbs after the foliage has turned yellow. Store them in a crate or bucket filled with sawdust.
If you've decided to store your bulbs indoors for the winter, try
storing them in a pail filled with sawdust after they have off dried
from being in the ground
October 2004
Winter Care for Water
Lilies - Hardy water lilies can remain in your pool or pond year round,
but tropical water lilies will need special care over the winter
months. After the foliage dies back, remove the tubers from the soil.
Wash them off and store them in a jar of moist sand at a cool (about 45
degrees F.) temperature.
September 2004
Prepare to Bring Plants Indoors -
Many plants in the flower border will make excellent houseplants this
winter. Some good candidates for bringing indoors are begonia, coleus,
geranium, and ivy. If you are planning to take some garden plants
indoors to provide for early fall color, use a sharp knife to root
prune them now to a size a little smaller than the pot. Remove all buds
and flowers, and cut back the top growth severely. Keep the plant well
watered until you are ready to bring it indoors. Locate plants where
they receive sunlight equivalent to what they received outdoors for
optimum bloom.
August 2004
Help your lawn resist heat and drought
- Cutting your lawn too short makes it difficult for the grass to stand
up to heat and drought. The best height for a healthy lawn is 2-3
inches. Watering lightly encourages shallow roots systems, so water
less frequently but deeply for deep, sturdy roots that will have a
better chance of withstanding dry periods.
July 2004
Pick up all leaves and faded flowers and add them to the compost. These are a favorite hiding spot for slugs and snails.
Turn and dampen your compost often. Flies will breed in the grass clippings if you do not turn it regularly.
June 2004
To help deter deer, place
some human hair in different sections around the enclosed fencing. I'm
sure the local barber (or beauty) shop would be more than happy to
contribute. I've also heard that those little bars of soap, like you
get in a motel works also."
May 2004
Fire Blight Disease - If the new shoots on your pear,
apple, pyrancantha, or hawthorn look like they are scorched, you may
have fire blight disease. Fire blight is a bacterial disease that can
eventually kill your trees. The best control is to prune off infected
areas a few inches below the damage. Dip your pruners in a 10% bleach
solution between cuts to keep from spreading the disease.
April 2004
Managing Mealybugs - These
oblong, waxy white, hairy-looking insects infest houseplants,
greenhouse plants, and outdoor plants in sheltered areas. They live in
colonies and stem joints and suck plant juices. Pale foliage, leaf drop
and stunted growth are common, and they carry fungus and disease. Here
are some control measures:
* Manual removal works well if there are just a few. You can slide a
fingernail under the insect to lift it off or touch a mealybug with a
Q-tip moistened with alcohol to kill it.
* Use a spray made by mixing 4-parts water to 3-parts rubbing alcohol, and spray at intervals of five to ten days.
* Insecticidal soaps kill mealybugs in a day or two. Spray at five to ten day intervals.
March 2004
Avoid Pampas Grass Unless
you have a vast space to fill, stay away from classic pampas grass.
Although it's the best-known example of the ornamental grasses, pampas
grass (Cortaderia selloana) grows to a height of 15 feet, makes an
impenetrable clump as big as a small car, and can reseed readily.
If you have the space, though, a female pampas grass features huge,
fuzzy, off-white plumes in fall, and its saw-toothed leaves make a
great barrier. For smaller gardens, C. s. pumila offers a gray-leaved,
6-foot pampas that doesn't self-sow.
Feb 2004
Bare Root Plants - If the bare root plants you’ve ordered arrive
before you're ready to plant, keep them in a cool, sheltered area such
as a garage. Place the roots in slightly damp peat moss to keep them
from drying out, but too much moisture will cause the roots to rot. If
they are kept too warm, they may begin to bud before you can get them
in the ground.
Jan 2004
Water Your Evergreens
- Winter dry spells can be hard on evergreens, so water them if you
aren't getting enough rain. A 2-3 inch layer of mulch will help to
conserve moisture, and spraying with an anti-transpirant will help
prevent damage. Anti-transpirants add a waxy layer to the leaves,
protecting them from cold, drying winds. It’s best to spray on a
day when the temperature is above 40 degrees F.
December 2003
Live trees suffer a great
deal of stress when they are brought indoors and used as Christmas
trees. To increase the tree's chances of survival, keep it indoors for
only a few days to prevent it from breaking dormancy. While the tree is
indoors, keep it away from heat as much as possible and check the
moisture in the rootball daily. Dig the hole for your tree well in
advance, and store the dirt you remove from the hole in a place where
it won't freeze. When you plant the tree, water thoroughly and spray
with an antidesiccant.
November 2003
Cleaning up the Garden - Be sure to remove any dead
plants and debris from all your gardens as soon as the plants die back.
Leaving them over winter is inviting insects and disease that will take
up residence in your spring garden. In the perennial bed, cut back all
plants for neatness and disease control. Leave a few inches of stem to
hold snow for winter protection and cover tender perennials as soon as
the ground starts to freeze. Start preparing your beds for next year.
Now is a great time to build new raised beds.
October 2003
Fall Tilling - Fall is a
good time to till your garden soil, especially if there is sod to be
turned under. This will reduce erosion, expose heavy soils to frost,
kill exposed insects, aid the decay of organic matter, and enable
earlier planting. Work in any organic matter you have available when
you till. If you do this every fall you will find that your garden
takes less time and work to prepare every year. It's best to wait until
spring to fertilize, but the addition of granular (not pulverized) lime
in the fall will help condition the soil for spring planting.
Never work wet soil, especially clay. You may ruin the soil structure
for the entire season and end up with solid, sun-baked clods. How can
you tell if your soil is dry enough to till? If you pick up a handful
of soil and can squeeze water from it, it's obviously too wet. If the
soil compresses into a ball and stays that way, it needs more drying
time. If it is dry enough to crumble in your hand, it is "friable" and
is ready to be worked.
September 2003
Soil Tests - Laboratories
that run soil test are not as busy in the fall as they are in the
spring, so this might be a good time to have your soil tested. Most
state cooperative extension services will be able to run the test or
recommend a private laboratory. If you are interested in organic rather
than chemical solutions to your soil problems, make sure the laboratory
you use will make the appropriate suggestions.
July 2003
Turf benefits most from a good deep soaking
on an infrequent basis. This develops a deep, resilient root system. In
hot weather our lawns transpire large amounts of water. Just as our
bodies perspire to stay cool, a plant transpires water out of its
leaves. Transpiration releases heat and keeps the flow of water and
nutrients moving throughout its roots
June 2003
Is that watermelon ripe? - Ripe
melons show few external changes, but here are a few guidelines: * The
part of the melon that touches the ground will turn light straw or
yellow in color. * The surface of the melon begins to feel rough. * The
little piece of stem that attaches to the vine turns brown and dries
up. In some varieties this change occurs about a week before the melon
is ripe. * According to Mark Twain, a green melon says pink when
thumped, while a ripe one says punk.
May 2003
Watering Roses
- For healthy roses, give your plants plenty of water. Plan to water
them twice a week with an inch of water in mild weather, and two inches
in hot weather. Water early in the day, and avoid wetting the leaves as
much as possible.
April 2003
Darn those Dandelions Unless
you want to use an herbicide, there isn't much you can do to get rid of
the dandelions but dig them out of the lawn. A special dandelion tool
makes the job much easier, and doesn't leave a noticeable hole in the
lawn. One thing you can do to reduce your dandelion population over
time is to set you lawnmower blade a little higher. The lawn will be
fuller and thicker if it's not mowed quite so closely, and a thick lawn
will eventually choke out dandelions.
Unwrap Trees - If you used a tree wrap or guard around your fruit and deciduous trees over winter,
it's time to remove the protection. Leaving a tree wrapped until the
weather is warm gives insects a cozy hiding place. Choose a cloudy day
to prevent sunscald on the tender bark.
March 2003
Warm Season Vegetable - Start
vegetable plants such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant indoors about 6
weeks before you plan to set them outdoors. For a head start, try
pregerminating the seeds by soaking them in warm water for a few hours,
then placing them in a ziploc bag with a damp paper towel. Once you see
signs of germination, pot them up in individual paper or peat pots.
Febuary 2003
Working in Wet Soil - This time of year the soil in many
gardens is very wet, and walking and working in the garden can compact
and damage the soil. If you absolutely must work in the garden, protect
the soil by laying down a sheet of wood to walk on. You should never
till or dig wet soil.
January 2003
Winter Care for Ferns
- Ferns need a little special treatment in winter because of the dry
conditions indoors. Here are some suggestions to help keep your ferns
healthy and happy.
1. Give them plenty of humidity. Place them in a sunny bathroom where
they can get mist from a shower or place the pots on a tray filled with
pebbles and water. The pot bottoms should not touch the water.
2. Keep your plants away from drafty windows and doors.
3. Ferns only need to be fertilized 3 or 4 times a year.
4. Water only when the soil is dry.
December 2002
Buy your poinsettia early to get the best quality. Check the bracts for yellow pollen stains; if the plant has already shed its pollen it will soon begin to decline, so pass it up. Look for bright red bracts and dark green leaves. When they aren't on display, keep plants in an area with bright light and high humidity. Temperatures around 60 degrees are best.
Once you get your plant home, proper care will keep it looking good
through the season. Keep the plant in a brightly lit room, but it
should be kept away from direct sunlight.. Water your poinsettia only
when the soil is dry down to an inch below the surface about the depth
of your finger up to the first knuckle.
November 2002
Winter Care for Indoor Plants -
Now that your houseplants are indoors for the winter their needs have
changed. They won't need as much water as they did outdoors, so only
water when the soil is dry three inches under the surface. To prevent
plants from becoming leggy, limit fertilizer to one light feeding a
month.
October 2002
Protect Climbing Roses - If winter temperatures fall below 10F
in your area, your climbing roses will need substantial protection. One
way to provide the necessary protection is by burying the plant. Dig
under the roots on one side of the plant until it can be pulled to the
ground without breaking any roots. Cover the entire plant with four to
five inches of soil. Once the soil thaws and danger of freezing has
passed, remove the soil and set the plant back in place. If the
temperatures don't fall below 10F, you can simply wrap the plant in
burlap. A little straw between the plant and the burlap will provide
extra insulation.
Overwintering Bougainvillea -
You can bring your bougainvillea indoors to spend the winter in front
of a sunny window. The plant will need less water in winter, and if
kept too moist, the roots will rot. You can allow the plant to go
dormant over winter if sunny window space is at a premium at your
house. Cut the plant back and place it in a cold but protected area
such as a garage or basement. DonÕt water during the winter
months unless the soil is in danger of drying out completely because
the roots will rot easily while the plant is dormant.
September 2002
A safe, effective way to control mosquitoes in your water garden
is to float Bt "doughnuts", also called mosquito dunks in the pool or
pond. These small briquettes contain Bacillus thuringiensis
israeliensis, a bacterial insecticide that kills mosquito larvae, but
won't harm people, plants, or animals. Each briquette treats 100 square
feet of water and lasts 30 days.
August 2002
Watering container-grown plants - Containers dry out quickly in hot weather,
especially concrete containers in full sun, so check them daily. When
you water, give them a thorough soaking. Immerse the container in water
every week or two if possible. This will help the water thoroughly
penetrate the root ball and force out any air pockets.
Harvest okra The pods begin to appear on okra plants about 50-60
days after planting. They become tough if allowed to mature, so harvest
them daily when they are about the size of a finger. Cut them off with
a knife or shears to prevent damage to the plant. If harvested
regularly, the plants will continue to produce until frost. If you plan
to let some pods mature for seed, choose one plant for the purpose to
allow the others to keep producing.
July 2002
Harvest okra The
pods begin to appear on okra plants about 50-60 days after planting.
They become tough if allowed to mature, so harvest them daily when they
are about the size of a finger. Cut them off with a knife or shears to
prevent damage to the plant. If harvested regularly, the plants will
continue to produce until frost. If you plan to let some pods mature
for seed, choose one plant for the purpose to allow the others to keep
producing.
June 2002
Harvest Lavender - Lavender
should be harvested just as the florets begin to open. Cut them in the
morning after the dew has dried and tie them by the stem into small
bundles. Hang the bundles upside down in an airy, dry, and dark
location to retain color and fragrance.
Easy Lavender Soap
* 10 tablespoons finely grated castille soap
* 8 tablespoons boiling water
* 2 tablespoons crushed dried lavender flowers
* 4 drops lavender oil
Melt the soap in the water in a bowl placed over a saucepan of hot
water, stirring frequently, until smooth. Crush the flowers to a powder
and take the bowl off the saucepan. Stir the flowers into the soap with
oil. Store in a glass or plastic bottle.
Make Hills Around Potatoes -
Mounding the soil around potato plants will prevent the green
discoloration that occurs when potatoes grow too close to the surface.
Avoid working the soil while the potato plants are blooming. This will
result in lush plants that yield a small crop of potatoes. Gardeners in
warm climates can plant a second crop of potatoes in June.
May 2002
Thinning Fruit Once your trees have set fruit, thin the overall number of fruit on each tree. You'll be rewarded with larger, sweeter fruit.
Spring-flowering Shrubs - Cut back your spring-flowering shrubs as
soon as the blooms have faded. Many spring-flowering shrubs will begin
forming the buds for next year’s blossoms this spring, and if you
wait to long to prune them you will end up clipping off next
year’s flowers.
April 2002
Darn Those Dandelions - Unless
you want to use an herbicide, there isn't much you can do to get rid of
the dandelions but dig them out of the lawn. A special dandelion tool
makes the job much easier, and doesn't leave a noticeable hole in the
lawn. One thing you can do to reduce your dandelion population over
time is to set your lawnmower blade a little higher. The lawn will be
fuller and thicker if it's not mowed quite so closely, and a thick lawn
will eventually choke out dandelions.
March 2002
Strawberries - Thinking about adding strawberries to your garden this year? Strawberries
are planted in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Plant on a
cool, cloudy day to reduce the stress on your plants. If you're
planting June-bearing strawberries, pick off all of the flowers so the
plants can put all of their energy into growth. Pick the flowers off of
ever-bearing strawberries until July.
Repot Houseplants - Spring is a
great time to repot your houseplants. Plants that haven't been repotted
in the past three years should be given a clean home and fresh soil
even if they haven't outgrown their pot. If you plan to reuse the pot,
clean it in a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, then scrub
well in soapy water and rinse thoroughly. This will kill any bacteria
or viruses lurking in the pot.
Feb 2002
Indoor Azaleas - If you had indoor azaleas
that were forced into bloom for the holidays, the blossoms have
probably faded now. Right after the blooms fade, the plants begin
working on buds for next year's flowers, and you can help them along by
periodically feeding them with MirAcid or a special Azalea fertilizer,
and keeping them well-watered. Azaleas don't like dry indoor
conditions, so place the pot in a tray of pebbles and water to increase
the humidity, and mist them from time to time.
Jan 2002
During the winter months, indoor air is very dry, and houseplants
can suffer in this environment. Misting the plants regularly will help,
but this is only a temporary solution. Place your houseplants in a tray
filled with water and pebbles to increase the humidity. The water
should not touch the bottoms of the pots. Alternatively, you can run a
humidifier near your plants.
African violets are wonder winter
houseplants because they are free blooming if given enough light. To
start a new plant, clip off a leaf, dip the cut end in rooting hormone,
and stick it in a pot of moist sand or vermiculite. Cover the pot with
a plastic bag (don't let the sides of the bag touch your leaf!) and in
a few weeks your leaves will be rooted.
December 2001
Christmas cacti don't like as
much sun as desert cacti, and should be kept in indirect sunlight. They
also like more water than their desert relatives. When blooming, water
as soon as the soil appears dry on top, and use a weak liquid
fertilizer every 2-4 weeks. After the flowers fall off, allow the top
half-inch of the soil to dry before watering and withhold the
fertilizer.
November 2001
Visit The Gardening Launch Pad's own Bulb Mall for the finest Bulbs. Now is bulb planting season.
Too Late to Plant Bulbs? -
IF THE GROUND IS ALREADY FREEZING AT NIGHT IN YOUR AREA, It's probably
too late to plant spring-flowering bulbs. If you have leftover bulbs,
you can do one of two things.
1. Plant them anyway! It's too late for bulbs to put out feeder roots
that provide them with nourishment next year, but the bulb will produce
foliage and blooms from its stored reserve of energy. Be aware that
this will weaken the bulb, and it won't be at it's best the following
year. If you decide to plant the bulbs now, apply a mulch to provide
the bulbs with as many freeze-free nights as possible.
2· Plant the bulbs next spring. Spring-flowering bulbs planted
in early spring will probably only produce foliage the first year
because they haven't had the chilling time they need. You can try
chilling them yourself at a temperature of around 32 degrees for 8 to
12 weeks as you would when forcing bulbs. If you decide to plant your
bulbs in the spring, store them in a cool, dry location for best
survival rate.
IF YOU GARDEN IN A WARMER CLIMATE there is still time to plant bulbs.
Try to get them in the ground at least four weeks before the ground
freezes solid. You can find some exceptional bargains on bulbs right
now, and late season purchases are a great way to get lots of spring
color at very little cost.
October 2001
Bulbs in the Lawn - There are a some bulbs that can be planted
right in the lawn for spectacular displays in late winter and early
spring. The bulbs will fade before the grass grows enough to require
mowing. It takes a lot bulbs to make a good show, but luckily, these
early spring bulbs are relatively inexpensive. Here are some bulbs that
work well with this technique:
* squill
* snowdrop
* snowflake
* chionodoxa
* spring crocus
Large quantities of bulbs look great planted in groups of like colors
(drifts) or a playful mix of colors and textures for a tapestry effect.
If you're looking for a more formal display, draw out your design on
the lawn with horticultural lime as a planting guide. It's best to use
a single species rather than a mix of bulb types for a formal design.
August 2001
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December 99
November 99
Good time to make that dormant oil spray to control scale and other hard to control overwinting insects pest. Consider using a living Christmas tree that can be planted in the landscape or used as a tubed specimen. Afgan pine is excellent for this purpose. Here at the Parra house I use a 10ft Ficus Tree. Continue to practice good garden sanitation. Keep leaves raked up and place on compost pile. Wet thoroughly as you build up the compost pile to hasten decomposition. Turn contents with shovel or spading fork periodically. Force spring flowering bulbs for indoor flowering. Finish planting all spring flowering bulbs except tulips. Annual rye grass will make a good ground cover for a new lawn to hold top soil in place and prevent tracking soil into the house. Sow seed at rate 8-10 pounds/1000 square feet.October 99
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