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

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

January Tips for the Garden 2008

JANUARY IS FOR THE BIRDS!!! SO ENJOY THEM!!!

It is hard to say who benefits more from backyard bird feeders - the birds or the people who feed them. Some of life’s more enjoyable moments include the songs and antics of the birds outside our windows. Watching them is so captivating that it can alter an entire day’s plans, turning a twenty-minute breakfast into a three-hour brunch. Activity at your feeders probably can hold your attention all day with its ever-changing pattern of form and color, from fluffed-up chickadees to sleek cardinals.

Often the brightest spot on the winter landscape, with the most activity, is the bird feeder in the backyard. No matter what size yard or garden you have, you can create your own bird haven. All you need are food, water, and shelter. Shrubs and evergreens are good, not only to offer cover during harsh northern winters, but also to protect birds from their natural enemies. They also provide safe nesting sites in the spring.

Whether you are just beginning or greatly expanding your bird-feeding program, give careful consideration to making it easy and fun for the whole family. If the feeders are hard to reach, the bags too heavy for the kids to maneuver, or the birdbath too far from the hose, pretty soon someone will lose patience and object to being involved.

Hang different types of feeders at different heights and near enough to your house so you can watch the birds at relatively close range. You can use empty coffee cans and homemade funnels (cut the bottom off a large soft drink bottle) for feeder-filling convenience. Don’t be discouraged if you have just put up a new feeder and the birds don’t flock to it immediately. Because birds recognize food by sight, it can take a while for them to locate a new source. Try putting aluminum foil on the ground underneath the feeder to reflect the sunlight. If you already have other feeders, put the new one nearby until the birds discover it. Bird feeding activity attracts other species, so when you add a specialty feeder (such as a thistle feeder for finches) to your feeding station, it probably will not take long for new birds to find it.

Open water in freezing weather will attract as many, or more birds, as a well-stocked feeder! Birds use it to help keep them warmer in winter! By cleaning their feathers and then grooming them with natural oils, our feathered friends are able to help insulate their bodies from cold. You can keep water thawed with a submersible heater placed directly in the water; it is economical and safe as long as you use a high quality, outdoor extension cord to plug the heater into an electrical source. As a firm believer in providing water year round, there are many options on the market to suit the need.

Remember that, for the sake of the bird’s health, it is always important to keep the feeders and the ground beneath them cleaned up of old seed that can harbor disease. So fill your feeders and enjoy the show!

See you in the garden…
Sandi Hillermann McDonald

December Tips for the Garden 2007

“The month of December brings the holiday season and warm thoughts of family, friends and community. I would like to say “Thank You,” and I wish you and yours a “Blessed Holiday Season” with all the best in the New Year!” Furthermore, fall will turn into winter this month. With the addition of fire pits in our outdoor living rooms, evenings outdoors can still be enjoyable sampling hot chocolate or cider with friends around the blaze of a comfortable warm fire. You can even gather the kids for the making of s’mores! Enjoy the crisp cool weather.

Plants get “chapped lips” too! Cold, dry winter winds and bright winter sun make our skin chapped and unhealthy. Those winds have a devastatingly similar effect on your plants, which are out in the winds all winter. No wonder your evergreens don’t look so great come spring. This drying effect is called desiccation and is often the most devastating aspect of winter damage on plants in our Midwest region. To fight desiccation, first choose the right plants for windy, dry areas. Especially try to avoid placing broadleaf evergreens, such as azaleas, in places shady in summer but sunny and windy in winter. Second, make sure to water your evergreens well through early December, before the ground freezes and plants cannot “drink” from the soil. Third, mulch your plants for winter to retain soil moisture as well as soil temperature. Fourth, use an anti-desiccant. These products coat leaves and needles to slow down the loss of moisture. One of the best products to use is Wilt Stop by Bonide. This product is a natural polymer that covers plants with a FLEXIBLE coating to lock moisture in the plant tissue. The flexible coating is important to keep the coating on plants as they bend and sway in the wind. Wilt Stop lasts 45-60 days so apply the first treatment in early December and again in early February.

Here are a few tips on winter houseplant care. When the heat goes on and the daylight becomes shorter, houseplants sometimes begin to yellow and drop their leaves. It may be necessary to move the plants to a different place in the home and to give them different treatment from that given during the summer. Flowering plants need at least half a day of direct sunlight to develop flower buds. Cacti and many succulents require a sunny location, and coleus and crotons need direct sun to maintain the decorative color. Foliage plants, such as ivy, philodendron, and dieffenbachia plants, do well in indirect light rather than direct sunlight. The ideal temperatures for foliage plants are 68-70 degrees during the day and slightly lower at night. Flowering plants retain blossoms longer at lower temperatures. Remember, windowsill locations are much colder during the winter and plants may need to be moved to prevent getting chilled. The amount of water the houseplants need declines during winter, so increase the amount of time between watering. Reduce fertilizing as well; flowering plants should be fertilized half as often and foliage plants should only be fertilized if needed.

December also brings the preparation time for the Holidays. Poinsettias are an all time favorite to add a festive look to any décor. Follow these simple poinsettia basics for success. They should have sun for at least ½ the day and keep them away from drafts, registers and radiators. The soil should dry only slightly between thorough waterings. Be sure to punch holes in decorative foil wraps to prevent soggy soil conditions. Are you looking for that unusual color? Poinsettias can be painted to match any décor you desire. Here is another idea, try one painted to match colors for your sports team of choice. The possibilities are endless. In addition, you need not worry about the myth of poinsettias being poisonous; there is extensive scientific research that gives the poinsettia a clean bill of health. Enjoy one this year yourself.

Christmas trees are usually the focal point of home holiday decorations. Living Christmas trees are gaining in popularity. These simple basics can help you succeed with this tradition. Dig the planting hole outside before the ground freezes. Mulch and cover the backfill soil and the planting hole to keep them dry and unfrozen. Store the tree outdoors in a cool, shady, windless area until you are ready to move it indoors. Do not allow the trees roots to become dry. (Once the tree is in the house, you can water it with ice cubes on the root ball daily.) Spray the tree with Wilt Stop to reduce needle moisture loss. Do NOT keep the tree indoors for more than 5-6 days. Then plant the tree promptly when you take it outside.

Along with these Holiday tips, here are a few other ideas for the month:
• Hollies may be trimmed now and the trimmings can be used in holiday decorations.
• Use caution when spreading salt or calcium on ice or snow packed walks and driveways. Salt can damage lawns and plantings, calcium is much safer to use. Be sure to designate areas to for piling snow from plowing in advance to prevent damage to trees, shrubs and lawns.
• Clean and oil all garden hand tools before storing for the winter.
• Winterize all power equipment before storage. Change the oil and lubricate moving parts.
• Either drain fuel systems or mix gas-stabilizing additive into the tank.
• You can continue planting bulbs until frost in the ground prevents you from digging.
• Perennial beds and roses should have been put to rest for winter by now. If not, cut back, clean up and mulch. Roses should be mulched 10-12” deep.
• Continue to feed our fine feathered friends and place heated birdbaths with fresh water out for them.

Again, I wish you and your family a very Blessed Christmas season. Let’s get to work on planning those beautiful garden scenes for next year!!!

See you in the Garden…

Sandi Hillermann McDonald

November Tips for the Garden 2007

An extra week of daylight savings time will be a welcome gift this year. Turn your clocks back this first weekend in November. There are many things to do in the yard and garden before the season ends. So, dig in to the tasks at hand listed below and enjoy the outdoors before it is too late!


• Keep leaves raked up and off the lawn to prevent injury to turf grasses.
• Continue mowing lawn grasses as long as they keep growing, 2-3” high is good.
• Apply Winterizer fertilizer to lawns to strengthen plant stems and roots for winter growth and early spring green up.
• Plant tulips and other spring bulbs now through December.
• Start paperwhite, narcissus, and amaryllis bulbs indoors now thru December.
• Because of our dry summer and fall, continue to water perennial beds, shrubs, and trees.
• Toward the end of the month, be sure to shut off and drain any outdoor water pipes or irrigation systems that may freeze during cold weather.
• Roll up and store garden hoses on a warm, sunny day.
• Covering garden ponds with bird or pond netting will prevent leaves from fouling the water. Oxygen depletion from rotting organic matter can cause a winterkill of pond fish.
• Take steps to prevent garden ponds from freezing solid in winter. Floating a water garden heater in the pond will lessen the chance of ice damage.
• Now is a good time to collect soil samples to test the pH and nutritional levels. Lime will raise the pH level if it is low. Sulfur will lower the pH level if it is high. The product labels and the staff at your local Garden Center can help you determine the rate to use for your situation.
• Fall tilling of the vegetable garden exposes many insect pests to winter cold, reducing their numbers in next year’s garden.
• Mulch strawberries with straw for winter. This should be done after several nights of 20 F, but before temperatures drop into the teens. Apply straw loosely, but thick enough to hide plants from view.
• Set up bird feeders. Birds also appreciate a source of unfrozen drinking water during the winter. Use one of the many styles of birdbath heaters or heated birdbaths available at garden centers.
• When feeding the birds, set up a variety of feeder types to get the best assortment of birds to come to your yard. Tube feeders are good for songbirds, platform feeders are good for cardinals and larger birds, and suet is a great source of fat and energy for woodpeckers and all bird types.
• Winter houseplant basics: reduce or eliminate fertilizer until spring, shorter days mean slower growth, slower growth means less frequent watering. Plants in plastic pots need less water than those in clay pots. Plants in cooler rooms need less water and will have slower growth than those in warm rooms. Creating additional humidity is always beneficial.
• After the first hard freeze, mulch rose bushes heavily to a depth of 12” to cover the plant graph area properly using bark, compost, or straw with rose collars. Prune back longer canes to 24-36” to prevent whipping from wind in the winter. Hold off on heavy pruning until April of next year.

The fall season is ending, but outdoor enjoyment can continue especially with the new outdoor living trends of today. Can you believe that it is November 1 already? Wow, that means only 22 more days until Thanksgiving, 52 days until the first day of winter, 55 more days until Christmas and 62 more days until January 1, 2008! And you know how fast the next 61 days are going to fly by! So fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the outdoors as you prepare for winter….Enjoy your yard and garden in every season!

Time to go….See you in the Garden....
Sandi Hillermann McDonald