• 

(PRWEB UK) 26 April 2013

The competition, focused around sharing top growing tips with Virginia Hayward, invites customers and Facebook fans to share their top vegetable growing tip. The competition will be independently judged and the lucky winner will receive a ‘Treats from the Garden’ Gift which is a collection of delicious garden-themed treats beautifully presented in a Gooseberry-coloured garden trug.

As Virginia Hayward works to source its quality products which include jams, sauces, biscuits and juices from local suppliers, it was a simple decision to create a competition based on growing beautiful and fresh foods whilst giving something back to gardening enthusiasts across the UK. Justin Walmsley discusses the competition: “We’re passionate about sourcing the best quality products for our customers. It made sense to us to combine our love of the best products with our desire to encourage our customers to share their unique hints, tips and advice with us and fellow spring-inspired gardeners.”

Justin continued, “As a company, we’re focussed on giving our customers the best service we can. However, it’s also very important for us to create a channel in which garden lovers can connect, engage and share passions and information alike. The entries so far provide a hot-bed of gardening and growing tips – some of which we have never heard of or seen before. The competition is also inspiring our Virginia Hayward customer community to turn their attention to their own gardens and encouraged them to try new vegetable growing techniques.”

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/virginiahaywardhampers for more information on the competition which is open until midnight on 28th April, 2013.

Delicious Prize

The prize for the competition is a ‘Treats from the Garden’ Gift, which includes Claire’s Piccalilli and Raspberry Jam, Frank’s Shortbread, Owlet Apple Elderflower Juice, and James’ Chocolate Frogs. The products are presented in an oval garden trug to reflect the garden theme of the competition. The winner will be chosen by an independent judge based on the most unusual and innovative vegetable growing tip.

Justin said: “We’re excited to have launched this competition during National Gardening Week. As we are nestled in the heart of the beautiful Dorset countryside we are naturally passionate about the environment and keen to encourage and inspire people to care for their own garden.”

Taking Inspiration from National Gardening Week

National Gardening Week occurs annually, and this year ran from the 15th to the 21st of April. The event was established by the Royal Horticultural Society to promote gardening to a wide audience, including young people and those who are not familiar with the skills involved in cultivating a healthy, varied garden.

As a luxury business in a niche industry, Virginia Hayward is demonstrating that by connecting with customers and fans on a more personal level, the reach they have can be broadened. Furthermore, asking people to participate and share knowledge is an effective way of creating a dialogue with customers.

Company Information

Virginia Hayward Ltd. was established by the Hayward family in 1984 and is still a family-run business today. Based in the beautiful Dorset countryside, the company creates hampers for gift-givers looking for pre-packed occasion-themed hampers, as well as bespoke and personalised hampers and gifts for corporate clients. They also provide speciality diet hampers for diabetics, vegans and coeliacs.

For more information visit Virginia Hayward online at http://www.virginiahayward.com. The competition is currently running on the official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/virginiahaywardhampers.

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From Mother Nature Network’s Ramon Gonzalez:

So you want to have a garden and a dog, but think both of your passions can’t coexist within the confines of your backyard? With a bit of planning and dog whispering, you can grow a dog-friendly garden — and a garden-friendly dog.

Get on all fours in the yard you want to convert into a garden and ask yourself, “What do I, as a dog, want from this space?” The breed, personality and age of your dog may dictate just how much you can convert to garden, and what kind of garden you can grow.

“Yes, breed can matter. Sighthounds, as long as they are given space to run, are really couch potatoes in between their spurts of activity. They generally love to sun bathe,” says Cheryl S. Smith, dog behavior expert and author of “Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs“. “Some of the small breeds specifically meant to be companions, such as Tibetan spaniels or Maltese, can have low or no impact on the gardens. On the other hand, terriers are quite literally ‘earth dogs,’ and inclined to dig and chase vermin. Dachshunds go right along with them.”

In 15 handy online tools for gardeners, I recommended a couple of DIY garden design tools you can use to layout a garden. Look at your property and make note of the paths the dog has already created to survey its domain. Plan your garden around these well-worn paths and convert them into garden paths by laying stepping stones or mulch.

If a dog run happens to cut through the ideal location for your new vegetable garden, you’ll have to protect it. The American Kennel Club recommends creating boundaries for Fido out of a low picket fence and using vocal commands and treats to teach your pooch where it can and cannot go.

Similarly, densely planted areas, raised beds and mounds can reroute a dog through a space. If you’ve ever planted a new bed with seedlings and small starts, you know that people will try to gingerly step between the plants and cut through the bed, rather than moving two feet and walking around it. Don’t expect your dog to do much better. Protect newly planted areas with fencing until plants are established, or start with larger plants in three-gallon containers or larger that can bounce back from some abuse.

Smith advises dog owners to build a raised bed filled with sand in which the dog can be trained to dig and play by using verbal commands and praise. “Bury a toy or some treats, run to the pit with your dog, dig something up and play with the dog with it,” she says. “Any time you see the dog dig anywhere else, encourage the dog to accompany you to the digging pit, and praise. It’s all good.”

Leave a sunny patch of the yard undisturbed so your pooch has somewhere to bask in the sun. Designate an area away from the garden where your dog can play, dig, eat and drink. A tree stump, large piece of driftwood, or large boulder can serve as a lookout perch and marking area.

Dog-friendly garden tips from the Oregon Garden

The Oregon Garden maintains a beautiful demonstration garden that teaches visitors about how a garden can co-exist with dogs. Among some of their helpful advice is a suggestion to plant edibles like apples that you and your dog can enjoy together.

When we garden for wildlife, we create areas where fauna can hide and seek shelter. Think about a protected area, like a doghouse, where your dog can escape the scary sounds of your battery-powered trimmer, the rotating blades of your push mower, and just generally feel safe.

As a responsible dog owner, you want to ensure that your garden is safe for your four-legged friends.

The ASPCA maintains a list and photo gallery of plants that may be poisonous to pets. The group includes common garden plants like azaleas, lily of the valley, oleander, and foxglove among others. Over the years I’ve gardened with dogs and cats without a problem, but it would be prudent to garden on the side of caution.

Fertilize and compost responsibly. Avoid using insecticides at all, but if you have to use them, make sure you follow the directions on the packaging. Build a storage shed for anything you need to apply in your garden, and keep tools like rakes, tillers, and hoes that could cause trauma and pose a tetanus risk away from your dogs.

No matter how well you plan and train your dog to stay out of the garden, remember to keep things in perspective.

“Training can also keep the dog from interfering with the garden, but training takes time and patience, and sometimes both of these are in short supply,” says the author. “Understanding that the dog is just doing what dogs do — not a demon out to destroy your beautification efforts — helps.”

Related on HuffPost:

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• 1. Energy Savings For Your Home

  The average home spends almost 20 percent of its utility bill on cooling. These cooling bills can be lowered by simply changing out incandescent light bulbs with EPA’s Energy Star qualified lighting, which use less energy and produce approximately 75 percent less heat. Raising your thermostat by only two degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent too.

• 2. Increase Your Gas Mileage

  Obey the speed limit; go easy on the brakes and avoid hard accelerations; reduce your time idling; and unload unnecessary items in your trunk to reduce weight. If you’re not using your removable roof rack take it off to improve your fuel economy.

• 3. Prevent Skin Cancer And Be SunWise

  Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. and is the most common cancer among 20 to 30-year-olds. Remember to practice safe sun habits.

• 4. Heading To The Beach? Check The Water.

  Americans take almost two billion trips to the beach every year. Beaches are a place to play, watch wildlife, fish, and swim. Learn more on how to plan a safe trip to the beach and check out state specific beach advisory and closing notifications.

• 5. Take EPA’s Apps With You On Your Smartphone

  The AirNow app gives location-specific current air quality information to use to protect your health when planning daily activities and the Ultraviolet (UV) Index app provides daily and hourly forecast of the UV radiation levels from the sun so you can better prevent overexposure to the sun.

• 6. Enjoy The Outdoors And Capture The State Of The Environment

  Almost 40 years ago, EPA’s Documerica project captured thousands of images across the nation as EPA’s work was just beginning. Now it’s your chance to mark the progress and submit environmental photos to EPA’s State of the Environment photo project.

• 7. Protect Yourself With Insect Repellents

  Mosquitoes and ticks can carry diseases but you can protect yourself by choosing the right repellent and using it correctly. Read the product label before using; apply just enough to cover exposed skin and clothing; and look for the protection time that meets your needs. Children can use the same repellents as adults unless there is a restriction on the label.

• 8. Water Wisely

  A large percentage of water we use at home is used outdoors. As much as 30 percent of that outdoor water use can be wasted due to evaporation by watering in the middle of the day. Water in the morning when winds are calm and temperatures are cool. Look for the new WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation controller that uses local weather data to determine whether your sprinkler system should turn on.

• 9. Clean Greener

  If you’re going to wash the car, deck, boat, or RV- be sure to look for the Design for the Environment (DfE) label to quickly identify and choose cleaning products that are safer for families and also help protect the environment. Look for the DfE label on grill cleaners as well.

• 10. Improve Your Indoor Air

  About 90 percent of people’s time is spent indoors. While inside this summer, make sure to free your house of mold, test your home for radon, check your carbon monoxide detector and ask those who smoke to go outdoors.

• 11. Check Into An Energy Star Hotel

  On average, America’s 47,000 hotels spend more than $2,000 per available room each year on energy. Look for an Energy Star certified hotel–they perform in the top 25 percent of hotels nationwide, use an average of 35 percent less energy and emit an average of 35 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than peers.

• 12. Waste Less And Remember To Recycle

  Each year, Americans generate millions of tons of waste in homes and communities but it’s easy to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Recycled items such as glass can be used in roadway asphalt (glassphalt) and recovered plastic can be used in carpeting and park benches. Learn what you can do to waste less.

• 13. Season Firewood

  Summer is a great time to season firewood in preparation for fall and winter. Remember to split firewood to the proper size for your wood stove or fireplace, but no larger than 6 inches in diameter; stack firewood to allow air to circulate around it; cover the top of the stack to protect it from the rain; and store your firewood for at least 6 months before using it.

• 14. Looking For A Summer Project And Tired Of The Heat? Try Composting

  Composting can be a fun and educational summer project that saves landfill space, helps feed the soil and prevents methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

• 15. Let Summer Inspire You And Submit Six Words For The Planet

  Keep the creativity flowing beyond the school year and into the summer by submitting a meaningful story or idea in just six words.

• Also On Huffington Post…

  In this episode we teach you how to make your own high spf, water proof sunblock from organic and natural ingredients for pennies on the dollar compared to buying it off the shelf. Ingredients include- zinc oxide (sunblocking agent), coconut oil (soothes and conditions skin), bee’s wax (waterproofing agent), and tea tree oil (soothes and repairs skin and smells good too). Rub on and paddle out.

Now is a good time to start thinking about pest control for your home vegetable garden.

You can control pest problems, and perhaps prevent future difficulties, in your garden by doing some advance planning and following a few simple Integrated Pest Management practices. IPM promotes minimal pesticide use and emphasizes use of all available pest control methods including cultural, mechanical and biological practices to prevent pest problems.

Examples of the IPM approach include using plants with natural disease tolerance or resistance, using mulch to control weeds or row covers to prevent insect damage and using naturally occurring organisms such as lady beetles or praying mantis.

Sanitation is another good IPM practice. Keep your garden well-groomed during active growth. Once you spot diseased plant material, remove it immediately to keep diseases from spreading. Also, promptly remove vegetable plants when they cease to be productive. Although you should clear out unproductive vegetable plants from the garden area, you can add this plant material to a compost pile.

Before you buy seeds, plants or fertilizer, start your garden off right by answering these questions.

Have you taken a soil sample to determine if soil fertility and acidity/alkalinity will meet plants’ nutrient requirements?

Soil test results will let you know how much fertilizer is required to provide plants with needed nutrients, while preventing excessive use that contributes to groundwater, stream and lake pollution. Plants that are stressed or weak from insufficient nutrients or a pH that’s too low or too high are more susceptible to disease and can’t readily tolerate insect damage. To give your plants a healthy start, soil test and apply the fertilizer and other amendments according to the recommendations.

Do you plant your garden crops in the same spot year after year?

Crop rotation can help prevent insect and disease build-ups. For example, potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes and peppers are subject to the same insect and disease problems. Therefore, none of these crops should be planted in the same location more than every three consecutive years. After three years, switch to a different crop like beans or corn. If you have limited garden space, plant some vegetable plants in containers such as large pots or half whisky barrels as a form of crop rotation.

Make a diagram of your garden each year to avoid planting the same or closely related crops in exactly the same spot too frequently.

How do you select a vegetable plant variety?

Whether you are planting corn or tomatoes, check to see that the variety you are planting has some disease resistance or tolerance. For example, select tomato varieties labeled “VFN,” as they’re resistant to Verticillium Wilt, Fusarium and root-knot nematodes. Whereas, a tomato variety leveled “V” is only resistant to Verticillium Wilt.

Do you buy the cheapest transplants?

When it comes to transplants, the best buys are the healthy ones. A healthy transplant was seeded at the right time, grown at the proper temperature and received adequate light and moisture. It will have a compact growth structure with very small distances between leaves. The leaves will be dark green, large and upright with no tendency to droop. Stems will be pencil thick and rigid.

Avoid transplants that are beginning to produce flowers or fruit. It might seem that buying a plant with blooms or fruit will give you a head start in the garden. However, plants trying to produce fruit or flowers are slow to develop the good root systems needed to support later fruit production. Never buy plants that have insects present or are showing disease symptoms.

Do you plan to use mulch in your garden?

Mulch helps prevent weeds that will decrease your garden’s production by competing with the vegetable plants for water, nutrients and sunlight. In addition, some weeds harbor diseases and insects that attack vegetable plants. Mulch also helps conserve soil moisture.

Several types of commercial mulch are available, or you can use newspapers for the mulch. Start with five to eight layers, adding more layers as the newspapers decompose to prevent weed growth throughout the growing season. Be sure to use only newspapers printed with soy-based ink and avoid using the glossy inserts.

If you have other gardening questions contact the Harlan County Cooperative Extension Service at 573-4464..

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

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LAKE FOREST, Ill., April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — With April’s National Garden Month underway, your planting plans may be ready, but your body is likely unprepared for the bending, kneeling, and lifting that go along with it. Savvy gardeners have a secret weapon – Omron’s electroTHERAPY Pain Relief unit, which keeps your green thumb from tiring by eliminating gardening aches and pains with proven physical therapy technology.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130422/NY98242 )

Omron’s over-the-counter electroTHERAPY Pain Relief unit can relieve lower back pain, as well as muscle and joint pain that are all too familiar for gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Lower back pain is the number one reported pain symptom in the country. This 100 percent drug-free, non-prescription therapy is a smart option for tending to aches and pains inflamed by gardening.

“As an avid gardener with two knee replacements, I’m always in search of alternative tactics to combat joint pain,” said Melinda Myers , a professional horticulturist with an eye for innovative solutions. “Electrotherapy treatment lets me garden without needing to stop due to the joint pain that often comes with kneeling, reaching, and lifting.”

Smart Gardening
Myers doesn’t rely solely on electrotherapy to keep her gardening pain free. To reduce lower back and joint pain, she suggests following these simple pain-free gardening tips:

• Vertical Gardening – Garden up! Grow plants on a blank wall, fence, or post.  Height makes gardening easier and creates visual interest.
• Choose Your Tools Wisely – Look for ergonomic grips, long-handled tools, and ratcheted tools to keep your posture upright, give you more power and make the grip easier.
• Leverage Heavy Loads – Split up large loads into smaller increments.  Use everyday items like a wagon or winter sled to help you move supplies around the garden with ease. 
• Take Breaks – Work five minute breaks in your gardening schedule to lower your likelihood of injury. Try easy back stretches from the waist and do not garden for longer than 20-30 minutes straight. Stay attentive to weather temperatures and flexibility as well – do additional stretches or warm-ups if you feel stiff or cold. 
• Keep Tools Sharp – Get your local store to file trowels, shears, and even shovels. Dulled tools mean more strain – make sure your tools are well-kept to cut down on unnecessary added effort.

After Gardening
If you follow all of these tips and still wind up with back pain or you already have joint or low back pain we recommend a few tips to alleviate acute pain: 

• Heat and/or ice treatments
• Exercise, stretching techniques
• Over-the-counter therapies such as Omron’s drug-free electroTHERAPY Pain Relief unit. Begin managing pain in about 15 minutes.
• Always consult your healthcare provider (physical therapist, chiropractor, or physician) about your pain and therapy, especially if after four weeks your acute pain has not lessened.

Electrotherapy Treatment
Omron’s electroTHERAPY Pain Relief unit is the first product of its kind to be available nationally at major retail chains.  It is an over-the-counter product which uses Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) technology to deliver gentle, massage-like pulses for on-the-spot pain relief.   An effective drug-free pain relief method, electrotherapy is commonly used by physical therapists to treat muscle and joint pain.

“Electrotherapy has proven effective in physical therapy for more than 30 years,” said Dr. Jeffrey Mannheimer , a physical therapist on the forefront of electrotherapy research. “The effect of such therapy is immediate, repeatable, and drug-free, making it an alternative choice for chronic and acute pain relief.” 

The Omron electroTHERAPY unit is sold across major drug retailers such as CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and other retailers in the pain products area as well as online retailers such as Amazon.com, Drugstore.com, Walgreens.com and store.omronhealthcare.com.

The Great Garden Makeover Sweepstakes
Omron is focused on helping people reach their lifestyle goals, which is why they have partnered with gardening expert and author Melinda Myers to host Omron’s Great Garden Makeover Sweepstakes. Visit www.omronpainrelief.com/sweeps before June 22 and enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win $5,000 towards your dream garden, plus a one-hour free garden consultation with Melinda.  Additional prize packs will be given away weekly which include Omron’s electroTHERAPY Pain Relief unit, replacement pads and Melinda’s Garden Moments DVD. 

For additional tips on gardening and managing lower back and joint pain, visit www.omronpainrelief.com.

About Omron Healthcare, Inc.
Omron Healthcare, Inc., is a leading manufacturer and distributor of personal wellness products. Omron’s market-leading products include home blood pressure monitors, fitness solutions, such as pedometers and heart rate monitors, and electrotherapy devices. In our connected and digital world, consumers want to accurately monitor and track certain aspects of their day-to-day health on- and offline. Omron products provide accurate health information that support positive lifestyle changes and can be shared with friends, family and health professionals. For more information, visit www.omronhealthcare.com.

Media Contact:

SOURCE Omron Healthcare, Inc.

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SALISBURY — Imagine stepping out onto your patio and finding all you need to make a fresh green salad for your dinner: tender mesclun, luscious grape tomatoes, crisp sweet carrots, a little fresh dill and some peppery nasturtium blossoms for a bright garnish.

All of these plants can be grown successfully in containers, so even apartment dwellers can enjoy growing their own produce. Even if you have plenty of space, you may not have enough time to take care of a large garden, or perhaps you find the hard clay in your yard too difficult to work. Container gardening can be the perfect solution for the frustrated gardener.

A great place to start your gardening venture is at Rowan Public Library, where you can find books to instruct and inspire you. A personal favorite is “The Bountiful Container” by Rose Marie Nichols McGee and Maggie Stuckey.

This practical guide will help you create container gardens of vegetables, herbs, fruits and edible flowers. Care is given to ensure that these gardens are attractive as well as productive. With a down-to-earth style and plenty of practical advice, the authors will take you from seed to harvest in no time.

You may want to try one of the creative “Theme Gardens,” such as “The Lemonade Party” which includes Meyer lemons, lemon verbena and Mabel Gray scented geranium with its lemon-scented leaves. The authors also include recipes, including “Rose Geranium Tea Cake,” “Herbed Baked Apples” and “Mardi Gras Salad.”

Perhaps you aren’t interested in growing produce; you just want some pretty blooms to brighten up your patio or deck. One large container planted with a variety of ornamentals can really make a statement, and it gives you the opportunity to be creative and design your own miniature landscape.

For design ideas that will look like those expensive containers you see at the garden centers, check out “P. Allen Smith’s Container Gardens.” He offers design ideas for each season; using annuals, perennials, bulbs, vines, ornamental grasses and even shrubs. Beautiful full-page photographs highlight the color schemes and textures of his designs.

The accompanying detailed instructions, plant lists and diagrams allow you to replicate these ideas at home, and will inspire you to create custom containers tailored to your home and personal preferences.

If you’re tired of the standard geraniums and petunias, and want to grow something really unusual in your containers, take some time to peruse “Logee’s Greenhouses Spectacular Container Plants: How to Grow Dramatic Flowers for Your Patio, Sunroom, Windowsill, and Outdoor Spaces.”

Written by Byron and Laurelyn Martin, third-generation owners of the renowned Logee’s Greenhouses, this beautiful book will introduce you to such exotic tropicals as Cantua, the “Sacred Flower of the Incas,” with its flaring red flowers; Dalechampia, also known as Winged Beauty; and Punica, the Dwarf Pomegranate. The authors take the mystery out of caring for these unusual plants, and, guided by their expertise, you can successfully grow beautiful, healthy plants.

Look for these books and more container gardening resources at Rowan Public Library.

Children’s Storytime: Weekly through April 26. For more information, call 704-216-8234.

Headquarters — Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Toddler Time (18- to 35-month-olds); Wednesday, 11 a.m., Baby Time (6- to 23-month-olds); Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Preschool Time (3- to 5-year-olds); Thursday, 4 p.m., Noodlehead (4- to 8-years-olds.)

South — Monday, 4 p.m., Noodlehead; Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Baby Time; 1:30 p.m., Preschool Time; Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Toddler Time.

East — Monday, 10 a.m., Baby Time; Monday, 11 a.m., Toddler Time; Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Preschool Time.

Children’s art in the afternoon: Headquarters, Thursdays, 4:30 p.m., grades kindergarten-five. Join Miss Jennifer to learn basic art techniques such as printing, sculpting and painting using various art mediums. Call 704-216-8234 for more information.

Get Money Smart at the Library: Headquarters. April 20-27 is Money Smart Week at libraries all over the country. Our library is planning the following events to help you save money. For more information call 704-216-8229.

• April 22 — 6:30 p.m., Grow Green, Save Green; learn how to garden smarter.

• April 23 — 2 p.m., Building Wealth Seminar; learn how to set money goals and understand credit scores and reports.

Teen poetry slam: Headquarters, Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m. N.C. Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti will be the special master of ceremonies for the evening. Each teen will be able to perform three original poems in three rounds. Winners will receive cash prizes; registration is required. For a list of rules and to register, visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call 704-216-8234.

PAC Club: Headquarters, April 27, 1 p.m. Do you like mysteries? If so come to the library to discuss “A to Z Mysteries” and enjoy related activities and craft. Call 704-216-8234 for more information.

Book Bites Club: South (only), April 30, 6:30 p.m., “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls. Book discussion groups for adults and children meet the last Tuesday of each month. The group is open to the public and anyone is free to join at any time. There is a discussion of the book, as well as light refreshments at each meeting. For more information, please call 704-216-8229.

Displays for April: headquarters, Doll Society; South, student art from Carson High; East, gems and artifacts by Sonia Neville.

Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.

Garden Tip

Tips for caring for tomatoes

Time to buy and plant tomatoes!

There are many varieties to choose from, including heirloom tomatoes. Choose disease-resistant plants marked with the symbols V, F, N and T. You don’t want Verticulum wilt, Fusarium fungus, Nematode worms or Tobacco mosaic virus, do you?

Tomatoes need six to eight hours of sun each day. Be sure to set the seedling deep in the soil — above the first set of leaves. Water regularly and add mulch to keep the soil from drying out between waterings. You may want to cover the tomatoes with floating row covers to protect them on cold nights.

— Katie Martin, UC Marin Master Gardener

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April 19, 2013 12:59 PM
By JESSICA DAMIANO
jessica.damiano@newsday.com

Photo credit: AP | It’s always best to water seedlings from the bottom.

Jessica Damiano

Jessica Damiano

Jessica Damiano is a master gardener and journalist with more

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DEAR JESSICA: I am starting zinnia seeds indoors in seed-starter medium in clear plastic egg cartons. There is a hole in each compartment for drainage. My question: Should the container be covered with clear plastic or left uncovered? These egg cartons can be covered with a second egg carton, so the cover leaves room to grow for a while, but the material is thicker than Saran Wrap. Also, how much…

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Who are Master Gardeners?

Hamilton County Master Gardeners is an educational program that trains volunteers in gardening and horticulture. The training is shared with the public through voluntary community service.

Master Gardeners receive 40 hours of in-depth training by UT Extension specialists and local horticulture experts. Those who pass the training, meet attendance requirements and complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service are awarded the title of Certified Tennessee Master Gardener Volunteer. The certification, valid for one year, is maintained by meeting annual volunteer service hours and continuing education requirements.

Classes are held at the Hamilton County Agriculture Center, 6183 Adamson Circle off Bonny Oaks Drive in the Industrial Park. The registration fee for classes is $160, which includes course materials and first-year membership dues. The fee is $260 for couples who share materials. A limited number of scholarships are available.

For more information, contact Tom Stebbins at 855-6113.

Source: UT Extension Office

If You Go

* What: Master Your Garden Expo.

* When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Today and Sunday.

* Where: Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge.

* Admission: $5 ticket good both days, children age 10 and under free.

* Information: www.mghc.com.

EXPO LECTURES

TODAY

10 a.m. Rain Barrels

11 a.m. Lawn Care

Noon Butterflies in the Garden

1 p.m. Heirloom Plants

2 p.m. Tree Pruning/Care

3 p.m. Native Plants

4 p.m. Edible Landscapes

SUNDAY

10 a.m. Encouraging Wildlife in the Garden

11 a.m. Vegetable Gardening

Noon Bonsai

1 p.m. Bugs in the Garden

2 p.m. Perennials

3 p.m. Herbs

4 p.m. Rose Care

Source: Master Gardeners of Hamilton County

For avid gardeners, this weekend’s Master Your Garden expo “will be like a candy store.”

That’s the take of Patsy Boles, vendor chairwoman for the expo, set today and Sunday at Camp Jordan. The lawn and garden show returns after several years away, brought by Master Gardeners of Hamilton County in a grassroots project they’ve been planning since September.

“This is a huge effort by the Master Gardeners to have a show of just garden ideas,” says UT Extension Agent Tom Stebbins. “It hasn’t been done for about five years.”

The former show, The Down To Earth Lawn and Garden Show, was a popular fundraiser of the Downtown Sertoma Club from 2002 through 2008. Sue Henley, Master Your Garden chairwoman, was the Master Gardener liaison to those shows, in which the Master Gardeners always led question-and-answer seminars.

“Most good-sized cities in Tennessee have some kind of garden show, and we felt it was time to bring one back to our area,” Henley says. “There will be displays, seminars and demos for the seasoned gardener as well as someone newly interested in gardening.”

For this year’s event, Boles has gathered 35 vendors who will lead how-to demonstrations, sell yard art and garden-themed gifts and display and discuss the latest in horticultural techniques.

In the Children’s Corner, budding gardeners can make bird feeders, watering pitchers and plant seeds.

“We have the Catoosa Performance Learning Center in North Georgia coming, who make yard art in their welding class,” says Boles. “We will have a beekeeping exhibit, miniature garden from Bryant’s Garden Center in Cleveland, and I think gardeners will be interested in the display from Morton’s Greenhouses in McMinnville.”

Vendors are coming from four states, including Colonial Wagon and Wheel from Lancaster, Ohio, which will sell metal art for the garden, she says. Some vendors new to town, such as Home Flavors and Stockdales, are using the expo to introduce themselves to local gardeners.

Of special interest, Henley says, is the inclusion of the Notable Trees exhibit.

“This is a traveling exhibit presented by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council. It is a pictorial history of trees across Tennessee that are 100 years or older,” she says.

All proceeds from the expo will help fund scholarships for local residents interested in Master Gardener classes, but who might not be able to afford the tuition. Henley says money raised will also pay for required continuing education classes for Master Gardeners to keep them abreast of the latest gardening practices.

Contact staff writer Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6284.

Spring is in the air … or is it? It may be a little late this year but flowers are already blooming at area greenhouses and the temperatures will be warm enough soon to get outside and start spring planting and post winter clean up.

Master Gardener Mary O’Connor of Aztalan Fields Garden Center, located just east of Lake Mills on County Highway B, said the most important thing to consider whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting out, is to know your lighting. It is also important to use slow release fertilizer when planting and throughout the season, according to O’Connor. She said if you follow those two rules you will have a successful garden with a little work.

When asked what the most resilient flower for someone who may not have as much dedication or time to spend in their garden O’Connor said petunias are the best. If you keep them trimmed they will grow all season long. Petunias are a great plant for full sunshine.

For the shade New Guinea impatiens are a great option but O’Connor warned not to over water them.

One of the hardest things for gardeners this time of year is waiting until the last frost is past to start planting. O’Connor said mid-May is usually a good time to start planting, but some who are too impatient can try to start seeds indoors or in a greenhouse just for fun.

According to O’Connor, seeds that are started inside usually do not grow as well as plants that grow outside or in a greenhouse. The only reason to start earlier is to get products earlier. If one waits a little bit longer O’Connor said they may get a better product.

She commented gardeners never know what is going to grow well from one year to the next. In her raised gardens last year O’Connor had success with many vegetables that she grew, but she had an herb garden last year in an old pallet that did not work out. She said some years the weather is too hot or too cold and some things just do not grow as they should.

“You learn something new every year and every time you try to grow something,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor also gave some tips for container gardening. She said there are three things to remember, “the thriller, the filler and the spiller.” It is important to have a plant that really draws the eye in, the thriller, a plant that fills in the empty spaces, the filler and a plant that will spill over the sides of the container, the spiller.

Popular this year in gardening are succulents, plants that do not need much water. Succulents look like desert plants. Some other trends are the focus of workshops being offered at the garden center including making a living wreath on Monday, building a terrarium on April 28, fairy garden workshop for children and adults on May 5 and planting in outdoor containers on May 13.

Aztalan Fields opened for the season Thursday.

It is also time to be thinking about lawn care. Greg Ninmann, owner of Mr. Green Jeans Lawn Care LLC of Neosho, said the most important thing people can do to keep their lawn healthy is to not cut it too often. Ninmann said the ideal length for grass is three to 3 1/2 inches.

“Grass is made to grow. The shorter you mow it the faster it grows. The more you mow it the more weeds grow,” he said.

Ninmann said if homeowners have a weedy lawn the first thing that needs to be done is to get rid of the weeds by spraying a herbicide.

“Weeds take away moisture from the lawn. You want to spray whatever herbicide for weed control you would like and then you need to fertilize, which will help the root system of the grass expand and shoot up new grass,” he said.

Ninmann said people with bare lawns should do some reseeding and aerate. “Aeration creates pockets in the soil so the root system of the grass can breath and grow,” he said.

Ninmann said slow release fertilizer is a key to your lawn growing well all year long.

Weeding a garden is more than just pulling weeds!

With the help of Columbus, Ohio area landscaping experts Jim and Mary fromOld World Garden Farms, we are bring you five tips for eliminating weeds in your garden. With consistent maintenance (only 10 minutes per day!) and some smarts, your garden can be weed free. You can enjoy higher produce yields and less back-stressing labor by following these tips for removing and preventing weeds in your garden.

1. Mulch, mulch, mulch: According to Jim and Mary from Old World Garden Farms, bare soil is an invitation for weeds to seed and take root. By covering the soil with mulch, you can prevent future weeds from growing. Jim and Mary use straw and shredded leaf mulch in their walking rows, and compost around the plants. Organic materials like straw and leaves are the best mulch for your vegetable garden. They decompose to enrich the soil with nitrogen. Be sure that you are getting straw and not hay. Hay contains grass seeds that can blow around and sprout all over your yard. Straw is just the hollow stems of wheat plants.

2. Aerate your soil by hoeing: Jim and Mary recommend that you hoe around the base of your plants once a week, to a depth of only three to five inches. If you loosen any weeds when hoeing, collect them in a bucket and let the sun cook them to death (if you have chickens, you can feed the weeds to the chickens, who love to eat them). Avoid over-hoeing your soil, as it can plant above-ground weeds into your soil. Tilling plants even more weeds than hoeing, so mulch and plant cover crops instead of tilling.

3. Spend 10 minutes a day weeding: Most home improvement experts will tell you that slow and steady wins the race. You won’t need to spend hours weeding on the weekends if you go out into the garden and weed for 10 minutes every day. Weeding every day prevents the roots of weeds from having time to grow big. When you are out in your garden, you can also weed as you go. It’s a good way to make the most of limited gardening time.

4. Keep walking-rows weed free: The weeds in those walking rows will transplant themselves into your garden beds, so it’s extra important to keep walking rows free of weeds. You can cover walking rows with black plastic, with stones or gravel, or with straw. Just make sure that your ten minutes of weeding time per day includes walking rows.

5. Plant cover crops: Jim and Mary say that planting cover crops in the fall prevents spring and summer weeds. Why? As I said, bare soil is an invitation for weeds to take root. Cover crops sharply reduce the amount of bare soil in your garden. They also form a buffer between the garden bed and any weed seeds that might fall on it. Cover crops do double duty as fertilizers for the garden, and also can act as an ecologically-friendly alternative to grass lawns.

What are your weeding secrets? Please share with the community in the comments.

Chaya Kurtz writes for Networx.com.

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