BREATHE! It is something we all have been doing since the doctor gave us that first slap on the behind the day we were born. It is something we do 24 hours a day every day of our lives, even while we sleep. We do it without thinking about it. Maybe that is part of our problem. The first thing I do each morning after I shut off the alarm clock is to take 5 long, slow, deep breaths and think about each one. It really clears the cobwebs out. As the day progresses and things happen that begin to build the stress level, I repeat my morning ritual, and the problems almost solve themselves. What does this have to do with your landscape? What better place to think about and practice breathing then out in your garden. Notice the clean fresh air following a spring thunderstorm, or the fragrance of all of the flowers in your landscape. Enjoy relaxing deep breaths after you have finished mowing your lawn. The next time you feel the stress starting to build, somebody just cut you off on your drive to work, the kids are yelling and arguing, or the weeds seem to be the only thing growing in your landscape, just breathe. Try it! I’ll bet you keep doing it!
Now pay attention to the birds singing early in the mornings and their increased activity, which leads way to courting, nesting and soon to be, new fledglings. Therefore, I encourage you to continue feeding our feathered friends during this important time and enjoy the antics that lie ahead. I would also like to remind you that these little birds do eat many insects, which is a great benefit for your yard and garden. You should already have your purple martin houses up and filled, and it is time to hang up the hummingbird feeders. You can make your own nectar using four parts sugar to 1 part water. Boil together the mixture to dissolve, fill your feeders and enjoy. Change out the liquid frequently as hummingbirds are very fragile and our summer heat can quickly ferment the sugar mixture. Clean the feeder in between each filling.
The lengthening of daylight also seems to brighten peoples’ spirits and relieve some stress as we can now move outdoors and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. So, I invite you to go outside and “dig in.” Here are tips to help you get started:
· Remove winter mulch now from your rose bushes. Trim out dead and diseased canes. Cut all other green wood to about 18” above the ground on Floribunda and tea rose varieties. A 24-30” height is good on shrub roses (such as the Knock Out rose bush).
· Fertilize your roses with a slow release fertilizer and begin fungicide treatments to control black spot disease.
· When Crabapples are in bloom, hardy annuals can be planted.
· Transplant trees, shrubs, and perennials early in the month for best results. This means moving plants you already have established in your yard that need to be moved to a new location.
· Spots and bare patches in the lawn can still be over seeded if you did not apply a Crabgrass Preventer. During spring there are more issues to be aware of when seeding a lawn rather than in the fall. Talk to a professional about seed choices and proper procedures.
· Easter lilies can be planted after they finish blooming. Set the bulbs 2-3” deeper then they are in the pot. They are generally hardy here and can take full sun.
· Liquid weed control should be applied early this month to control dandelions, henbit, and other broadleaf weeds. New grass in recently seeded areas MUST have grown enough to be mowed three times before it is strong enough to be treated with weed chemicals.
· Prune spring flowering shrubs after they finish blooming.
· Asparagus and rhubarb harvests begin. Keep your hoe sharp!
· Start cucumber, squash, cantaloupe and watermelon seeds indoors this month for late May/early June planting outside.
· Shrubs such as Crepe Myrtle, Butterfly Bush, and Hardy Hibiscus can be pruned back to green wood this month. REMINDER - these plants leaf out very late (early May) and should not be considered dead, or be replaced until after Mother’s Day.
· Termites begin swarming. Termites can be distinguished from ants by their thick waists and straight antennae. Ants have slender waists and elbowed antennae.
· Apply Bayer Advance Insect Control this month to control borers in shade trees and shrubs.
· Remove old tree wraps from trees planted last fall so they do not create a place for insects to harbor.
· Mole young are born in chambers deep underground.
· Protect bees and other pollinating insects. Do not spray insecticides on fruit trees that are in bloom. Bees are in danger and it is very important to be careful around them. In fact, check out nature friendly products readily available in garden centers when needing to do insect treatments.
· Ornamental Pear trees need to be sprayed with Streptemycin “during” the flowering stage to prevent “Fire Blight” disease.
· Water gardens may be cleaned out and the water changed. Do not scrub the walls since this will remove accumulated beneficial bacteria. Begin adding additional bacteria and barley bales now to begin the natural cycle of pond clean-up. Have questions, call a professional for assistance.
· The last week of April is a good time to try an early sowing of warm season crops such as green beans, sweet corn, etc. Transplants of tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and sweet potatoes can also begin to be planted outdoors now.
· Container gardening is a good choice for flower and vegetable gardening if space is in short supply. It can be done by anyone, anywhere, check it out!!
· “Natural Gardening” is a wave of the future… keep your family safe and check out what organic options are available to you when gardening this year. There are many.
Well, time is running short…see you in the garden
Sandi Hillermann McDonald
3/19/08
March Tips for the Garden 2008
March is the month for spring!! What a wonderful feeling to be able to spend more time outside to enjoy what Mother Nature is unfolding before our eyes. The lengthening of days is a welcome site and the warming sun on our faces is a very great feeling. We “spring forward” with Daylight Savings Time on Sun., March 9 this year. That in itself is exciting.
March is what I call the foundation month in your landscape. Just as a house is only as good as the foundation it is sitting on, the success, or failures you experience in your landscape this year can be traced back to the tasks you complete this month. The first thing you need to do this month is go for a walk. Walk around your yard and make notes about the things you see. Did the winter storms do any damage to your trees or shrubs? Did the winds blow all of your neighbors’ leaves onto your property, leaving them packed in and around your shrubs of in some corner of your planting beds? Did you get all of your perennials cut back last fall, or are the tops still lying around cluttering your beds? If you said yes to any or all of the above questions, then the first thing you need to do this month is take care of these items.
Here is a list of other interests for the month of March:
· Once you have your landscape beds cleaned up and all of the early pruning and cutting back completed, it is time to spread a little fertilizer around your trees and shrubs. A general purpose plant food with a 14-14-14 formulation would be greatly appreciated by any and all of your plants. Don’t forget your perennials. Just because you can’t see them right now does not mean they would not benefit greatly from a feeding.
· Begin your weed prevention program this month by applying a pre-emergent weed control product such as Preen to your landscape beds. Now is also the time to apply Fertilome crabgrass prevention on the lawn. You will need to water these applications in or apply them just prior to a gentle spring rain.
· Mowing time is right around the corner. Mow lawns now to remove old growth and the last of winter’s leaves before new growth begins. Thin spots in the lawn can be over seeded now. If you intend to treat for crabgrass at this same time, check with a professional before starting the process to get the right products to ensure success.
· The new crop of seeds for the 2008 season are now in garden centers, along with all of the supplies needed to start those seed indoors. Early-spring, cool weather vegetables can only be grown during cool weather, so they are planted very early in the year so that they can be harvested in early spring. These plants include peas, lettuce, radish, kohlrabi, collards, turnips, potatoes, spinach, onion sets, beets, carrots, [parsley, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage and Chinese cabbage. This month is also great for setting out strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes and fruit trees. Grow your own just like Grandma and Grandpa used to do!
· Start seeds indoors this month for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Check with your professional to get a vegetable garden schedule and easy “how-to tips.”
· Houseplants can still be replanted in an attempt to get them ready for spring, moving them to containers 2 inches larger in diameter than their current pot. Continue to check houseplants for over wintering insect populations.
· Nesting boxes for Bluebirds can be set up as well as Purple Martin houses. Purple Martins return to our zone 5 region between St Pat’s Day and the end of the month. Bluebirds however, are here year round, but now is the time for nesting. So clean out those houses and be prepared for the show!
· Ornamental grasses and liriope should be cut back the first part of March to the height of 2-3 inches.
· Apply dormant oil sprays now to all fruit bearing plants, fruit trees, roses and all plants that appear to be disease susceptible. This will prevent problems in season and should be applied when the nighttime temperatures will remain above 40 degrees over night after spraying.
Enjoy the new birth of spring this month and I will see you in the garden!
Sandi Hillermann McDonald
March is what I call the foundation month in your landscape. Just as a house is only as good as the foundation it is sitting on, the success, or failures you experience in your landscape this year can be traced back to the tasks you complete this month. The first thing you need to do this month is go for a walk. Walk around your yard and make notes about the things you see. Did the winter storms do any damage to your trees or shrubs? Did the winds blow all of your neighbors’ leaves onto your property, leaving them packed in and around your shrubs of in some corner of your planting beds? Did you get all of your perennials cut back last fall, or are the tops still lying around cluttering your beds? If you said yes to any or all of the above questions, then the first thing you need to do this month is take care of these items.
Here is a list of other interests for the month of March:
· Once you have your landscape beds cleaned up and all of the early pruning and cutting back completed, it is time to spread a little fertilizer around your trees and shrubs. A general purpose plant food with a 14-14-14 formulation would be greatly appreciated by any and all of your plants. Don’t forget your perennials. Just because you can’t see them right now does not mean they would not benefit greatly from a feeding.
· Begin your weed prevention program this month by applying a pre-emergent weed control product such as Preen to your landscape beds. Now is also the time to apply Fertilome crabgrass prevention on the lawn. You will need to water these applications in or apply them just prior to a gentle spring rain.
· Mowing time is right around the corner. Mow lawns now to remove old growth and the last of winter’s leaves before new growth begins. Thin spots in the lawn can be over seeded now. If you intend to treat for crabgrass at this same time, check with a professional before starting the process to get the right products to ensure success.
· The new crop of seeds for the 2008 season are now in garden centers, along with all of the supplies needed to start those seed indoors. Early-spring, cool weather vegetables can only be grown during cool weather, so they are planted very early in the year so that they can be harvested in early spring. These plants include peas, lettuce, radish, kohlrabi, collards, turnips, potatoes, spinach, onion sets, beets, carrots, [parsley, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage and Chinese cabbage. This month is also great for setting out strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes and fruit trees. Grow your own just like Grandma and Grandpa used to do!
· Start seeds indoors this month for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Check with your professional to get a vegetable garden schedule and easy “how-to tips.”
· Houseplants can still be replanted in an attempt to get them ready for spring, moving them to containers 2 inches larger in diameter than their current pot. Continue to check houseplants for over wintering insect populations.
· Nesting boxes for Bluebirds can be set up as well as Purple Martin houses. Purple Martins return to our zone 5 region between St Pat’s Day and the end of the month. Bluebirds however, are here year round, but now is the time for nesting. So clean out those houses and be prepared for the show!
· Ornamental grasses and liriope should be cut back the first part of March to the height of 2-3 inches.
· Apply dormant oil sprays now to all fruit bearing plants, fruit trees, roses and all plants that appear to be disease susceptible. This will prevent problems in season and should be applied when the nighttime temperatures will remain above 40 degrees over night after spraying.
Enjoy the new birth of spring this month and I will see you in the garden!
Sandi Hillermann McDonald
February Tips for the Garden 2008
February is National Bird Feeding Month!!!
February is National Bird Feeding Month…so if you have not yet enjoyed this hobby, it is not too late to start. Choose the proper feed for the types of birds you would like to attract. Tube type feeders are great for all types of songbirds, including finches, nuthatches, pine siskens, and more. Platform type feeders, (feeders with a horizontal bar or platform) are best for attracting larger birds such as cardinals, bluebirds, blue jays, etc. To view the antics of these fluttering jewels is remarkable. Start today.
I cannot believe that it is the first of February already. January is normally one of the slowest months around a garden center, but this year it has flown by. It is time for that furry little rodent to come out and tell us what we already know; it is winter, and groundhogs know nothing about predicting the weather. It is also time for the Super Bowl and the associated parties. I really hope that the game is at least as good as the commercials normally are. With that said, on with this month’s tasks and ideas.
Now would be a good time to finish cleaning, sharpening, and oiling your yard tools. Check the handles of all of your yard tools to make sure they are not broken, splintering, or otherwise dangerous, and replace those that are. Also, make sure that your wheelbarrow is sturdy and your lawnmower, roto-tiller, and string trimmer are in good working condition and ready to start on the first pull this spring. Another cold weather job is cleaning up any containers or planters that you have stored away. While doing this, make a list of the flowers that you are going to need for these containers in the spring.
If the weather warms up enough to be able to go outside and work, look for winter damage as well as damage done to your plants by hungry critters. You can also begin some of the spring cleanup tasks at this time. Remove all those leaves that have blown in from your neighbor’s yard and accumulated around your shrubs. Cut back any perennials that you may not have gotten to last fall.
Are you thinking of using wood ashes in your garden? Be careful. A measured application can be beneficial to increase the soil pH and add potassium, but an over-application can increase the likelihood of soil related problems. Wood ashes should not come into contact with germinating seedlings or plant roots, since they may cause root damage. Ashes that settle on foliage can cause burning. Do not use ashes around plants that prefer acid soils such as blueberries, hollies and azaleas. Never use more than 20 pounds of wood ash per 1,000 square feet, as toxicity problems could result from excessive usage.
You can still safely prune most deciduous trees and shrubs now, but remember to stay away from any of the spring flowering trees and shrubs. If you trim them now, you will not have any flowers this spring.
Towards the end of the month, you can start cutting back any and all of the ornamental grasses in your landscape. You can also edge your planting beds and get them ready for mulching.
If the weather does not warm up enough for you to get any outside work done this month, do not despair, you can find help by contacting your local landscape provider. If at any time you feel overwhelmed with the tasks you have to complete in your landscape, call someone for help.
We are approaching March, what I call the foundation month. All the work that you do in March sets the foundation for a successful or unsuccessful year of gardening and enjoying your landscape. Remember, February is your chance to get a head start on March. Take advantage of any warm days we get at this time. Anything you can get done this month will be one less thing you have to do in March.
Therefore, there is a lot to embrace and enjoy in the garden… see you next time.
Sandi Hillermann McDonald
February is National Bird Feeding Month…so if you have not yet enjoyed this hobby, it is not too late to start. Choose the proper feed for the types of birds you would like to attract. Tube type feeders are great for all types of songbirds, including finches, nuthatches, pine siskens, and more. Platform type feeders, (feeders with a horizontal bar or platform) are best for attracting larger birds such as cardinals, bluebirds, blue jays, etc. To view the antics of these fluttering jewels is remarkable. Start today.
I cannot believe that it is the first of February already. January is normally one of the slowest months around a garden center, but this year it has flown by. It is time for that furry little rodent to come out and tell us what we already know; it is winter, and groundhogs know nothing about predicting the weather. It is also time for the Super Bowl and the associated parties. I really hope that the game is at least as good as the commercials normally are. With that said, on with this month’s tasks and ideas.
Now would be a good time to finish cleaning, sharpening, and oiling your yard tools. Check the handles of all of your yard tools to make sure they are not broken, splintering, or otherwise dangerous, and replace those that are. Also, make sure that your wheelbarrow is sturdy and your lawnmower, roto-tiller, and string trimmer are in good working condition and ready to start on the first pull this spring. Another cold weather job is cleaning up any containers or planters that you have stored away. While doing this, make a list of the flowers that you are going to need for these containers in the spring.
If the weather warms up enough to be able to go outside and work, look for winter damage as well as damage done to your plants by hungry critters. You can also begin some of the spring cleanup tasks at this time. Remove all those leaves that have blown in from your neighbor’s yard and accumulated around your shrubs. Cut back any perennials that you may not have gotten to last fall.
Are you thinking of using wood ashes in your garden? Be careful. A measured application can be beneficial to increase the soil pH and add potassium, but an over-application can increase the likelihood of soil related problems. Wood ashes should not come into contact with germinating seedlings or plant roots, since they may cause root damage. Ashes that settle on foliage can cause burning. Do not use ashes around plants that prefer acid soils such as blueberries, hollies and azaleas. Never use more than 20 pounds of wood ash per 1,000 square feet, as toxicity problems could result from excessive usage.
You can still safely prune most deciduous trees and shrubs now, but remember to stay away from any of the spring flowering trees and shrubs. If you trim them now, you will not have any flowers this spring.
Towards the end of the month, you can start cutting back any and all of the ornamental grasses in your landscape. You can also edge your planting beds and get them ready for mulching.
If the weather does not warm up enough for you to get any outside work done this month, do not despair, you can find help by contacting your local landscape provider. If at any time you feel overwhelmed with the tasks you have to complete in your landscape, call someone for help.
We are approaching March, what I call the foundation month. All the work that you do in March sets the foundation for a successful or unsuccessful year of gardening and enjoying your landscape. Remember, February is your chance to get a head start on March. Take advantage of any warm days we get at this time. Anything you can get done this month will be one less thing you have to do in March.
Therefore, there is a lot to embrace and enjoy in the garden… see you next time.
Sandi Hillermann McDonald
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