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Gardening Tips: Consider heirlooms for your garden

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Posted: Friday, February 14, 2014 11:41 am

Gardening Tips: Consider heirlooms for your garden


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With snow on the ground yet again, not many of us have our mind on the garden, but I find a cold winter day to be a great time to take a look at a seed catalog. There’s always something encouraging and hopeful about flipping through the pages and thinking about what I might plant in the garden in the spring. I’ll find some old favorite varieties I bring back year after year, and some new ones that catch my eye for the first time. When browsing the catalog, my attention usually goes first to the heirloom tomatoes.

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Friday, February 14, 2014 11:41 am.

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Jane Griffiths Shares Seven Top Tips for the Perfect Gardening Kit

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Jane Griffiths Shares Seven Top Tips for the Perfect Gardening Kit

Jane's Delicious HerbsJane's Delicious Gardening Calendar 2014Jane Griffiths, author of Jane’s Delicious Herbs, has shared her seven top gardening essentials.

Griffiths has been involved in gardening for over 15 years, and believes that knowledge is a gardener’s “most essential tool”. Her tips range from the practical – sharpen your tools and wear a hat – to the creative.

1. Sharpen your tools – From small hand secateurs to large clippers with extendable handles, don’t underestimate the power of an excellent set of gardening tools. Add a hand hoe to your list – this is one of the most useful tools that I own.

2. Smaller is better! – Spades that are smaller are more energy efficient and reach into little spaces better.

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Cats: Green, Lifestyle, Nature, Non-fiction, South Africa
Tags: All4Women, English, Gardening, Gardening Tips, Green, Jane Griffiths, Jane’s Delicious Gardening Calendar 2014, Jane’s Delicious Herbs, Lifestyle, Nature, Non-fiction, South Africa, Sunbird, Sunbird Publishers
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Warren’s gardening tips

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Warren’s gardening tips

14/02/2014 , 5:06 PM by ABC NENW

Warren Sheather’s in the garden this weekend, and as you know his passion is Australian natives.

G orange-marmaladeDespite the hot and dry conditions we’ve had he’s had some success with Callistemon comboynensis, the Cliff Bottlebrush (L)  Grevillea Orange Marmalade (R) which is an unusual hybrid.

Callistemon comboynensis

 

 

 

His tip this week:  

Remember the Birds: Keep birdbaths full. We have about 8 birdbaths that are kept filled. Not only birds but kangaroos, wallabies even lizards avail themselves of the water.

 

Spare a Thought for Nurseries:Like everyone else dependant on rain they are doing it tough. We are still planting. We build up mulch around the plant so it sits in a saucer-shaped depression. Filled with water regularly.

 

Our Non-commercial Web Site: www.yallaroo.com.au Now over ten years old. Over 600 plant descriptions images. Weekly Garden Diary and wildlife section.

 

Weeding with Glyphosate: When weeds are growing spot spray with herbicide. Digging out weeds disturbs the soil triggers weed seed germination. Herbicide used sparingly is effective time saving.

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This week’s gardening tips: cool-season color edition – The Times

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Need cool-season color in a partly shaded area? The best choices are
cyclamen, primroses, pansy, viola, nicotiana, lobelia, foxglove and
forget-me-not.

  • If needed, apply lawn weed killers now to control cool-season weeds before they have more time to grow. There is no advantage in delaying. Make sure the product you use is labeled safe on the type of grass you have. Follow label directions carefully and spray on a mild day with a high of 60 degrees or above. Do not use weed-and-feed products. It’s too early to fertilize.
  • Harvest parsley regularly by breaking off the lower, older leaves. There is still time to plant parsley transplants now for harvest through early summer.
  • Finish harvesting any fruit still remaining on citrus trees. The fruit will store well on the tree, but ultimately the quality will begin to decline. Leaving old fruit on the tree beyond mid-February may interfere with this spring’s flowers and fruit set.
  • Spring is beginning, but there is still some chance of freezes. Don’t let mild weather fool you into planting tender vegetables and bedding plants unless you are willing to protect them if necessary — especially north of the lake.
Filed Under: gardening tips

A new home often means a new garden: tips for getting acquainted with it

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But there is more to moving day than unpacking boxes; there’s also learning to care for that garden inherited with the new home.

If you were thinking ahead, you asked for an inventory of the plants and accessories that came with the house.

“There’s no problem with asking owners for a list of landscape items and for an explanation about the plantings,” said Shirley French, an agent with the Woodstock, Va., office of Funkhouser Real Estate Group. “Usually, the owners are more than happy to give you a list. In fact, if they know the purchasers are interested, that will make for good feelings on both sides.”

Gardening priorities are determined mostly by the seasons. You won’t be mowing the lawn in February, although you might be combing the seed catalogues.

But where to start with a newly purchased property?

Michael Becker, president of Estate Gardeners Inc. in Omaha, Neb., suggests that putting safety first.

“Check out the dangers,” said Becker, a spokesman for Planet, the Professional Landcare Network that certifies green industry professionals. “Are the retaining walls stable? Are any trees leaning or diseased with dead branches?

“Assess the hardscape,” Becker said. “Is anything heaving, creating tripping hazards? Examine the drainage around the house. More often than not, it isn’t correct and may be damaging the structure. Bring in some professionals to help sort things out.”

As for plantings, be patient with the perennials.

“Go through the seasonal changes,” Becker said. “Learn what things look like in your yard. Determine if it’s esthetically what you want, or if it’s so high-maintenance you won’t have the time to care for it. Most perennials need pruning and deadheading.”

Other things to consider when dealing with an unfamiliar landscape:

— Make note of the average frost dates. Do soil tests. Map the yard for sun and shade. “If you live in the city and all you have is a porch or a patio to work with, where is all that water going to go that you’ll be putting on plants?” asked Josh Kane, president and head designer at Kane Landscapes Inc. in Sterling, Va. “Also, where do you get the water? You’ll have to figure out how to care for everything.”

— Water fixtures. “Look for care instructions when dealing with special features,” Kane said. “A lot of people get put off or are scared of things like koi ponds, pools and fountains that require startups, maintenance and attention during the seasons.”

— Don’t try to do everything the first year. Mulching will keep the weeds down. Composting will improve the soil. Bringing in some annuals for window boxes, hanging baskets or containers will provide instant colour. “Nothing gives you as much impact in a garden as planting annuals,” Kane said.

— Anticipate. Avoid planting trees or shrubs near sewer or water lines, to prevent root damage. Study the plat map for restrictions that could prevent expansions or additions. “A lot of people might want to build a big outdoor room or pool and find they can’t do it because of an easement on the property,” Kane said.

Filed Under: gardening tips

New home? Tips for getting to know the garden

by Leave a Comment

Americans are a restless bunch. They change locations with a frequency that would tire a migrating songbird.

But there is more to moving day than unpacking boxes; there’s also learning to care for that garden inherited with the new home.

If you were thinking ahead, you asked for an inventory of the plants and accessories that came with the house.

“There’s no problem with asking owners for a list of landscape items and for an explanation about the plantings,” said Shirley French, an agent with the Woodstock, Va., office of Funkhouser Real Estate Group. “Usually, the owners are more than happy to give you a list. In fact, if they know the purchasers are interested, that will make for good feelings on both sides.”

Gardening priorities are determined mostly by the seasons. You won’t be mowing the lawn in February, although you might be combing the seed catalogs.

But where to start with a newly purchased property?

Michael Becker, president of Estate Gardeners Inc. in Omaha, Neb., suggests that putting safety first.

“Check out the dangers,” said Becker, a spokesman for Planet, the Professional Landcare Network that certifies green industry professionals. “Are the retaining walls stable? Are any trees leaning or diseased with dead branches?

“Assess the hardscape,” Becker said. “Is anything heaving, creating tripping hazards? Examine the drainage around the house. More often than not, it isn’t correct and may be damaging the structure. Bring in some professionals to help sort things out.”

As for plantings, be patient with the perennials.

“Go through the seasonal changes,” Becker said. “Learn what things look like in your yard. Determine if it’s aesthetically what you want, or if it’s so high-maintenance you won’t have the time to care for it. Most perennials need pruning and deadheading.”

Other things to consider when dealing with an unfamiliar landscape:

— Make note of the average frost dates. Do soil tests. Map the yard for sun and shade. “If you live in the city and all you have is a porch or a patio to work with, where is all that water going to go that you’ll be putting on plants?” asked Josh Kane, president and head designer at Kane Landscapes Inc. in Sterling, Va. “Also, where do you get the water? You’ll have to figure out how to care for everything.”

— Water fixtures. “Look for care instructions when dealing with special features,” Kane said. “A lot of people get put off or are scared of things like koi ponds, pools and fountains that require startups, maintenance and attention during the seasons.”

— Don’t try to do everything the first year. Mulching will keep the weeds down. Composting will improve the soil. Bringing in some annuals for window boxes, hanging baskets or containers will provide instant color. “Nothing gives you as much impact in a garden as planting annuals,” Kane said.

— Anticipate. Avoid planting trees or shrubs near sewer or water lines, to prevent root damage. Study the plat map for restrictions that could prevent expansions or additions. “A lot of people might want to build a big outdoor room or pool and find they can’t do it because of an easement on the property,” Kane said.

___

You can contact Dean Fosdick at deanfosdick@netscape.net

Filed Under: gardening tips

Gardening Tips: Controlling crabgrass

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Posted: Friday, February 7, 2014 1:04 pm

Gardening Tips: Controlling crabgrass

By Matt Stevens

The Daily Herald, Roanoke Rapids, NC

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Q: When is the best time to put down a pre-emergent herbicide for crabgrass control?

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Friday, February 7, 2014 1:04 pm.

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Weekend Gardening: February Tips

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February 2, 2014

Here are gardening tips for the month of February from the Santa Rosa Extension Service:

Flowers

  • Re-fertilize cool season flowerbeds, using a liquid or granular form of fertilizer. Be careful not to apply excessive amounts and keep granules away from the base of stems.
  • Prepare flowerbeds for spring planting by adding and incorporating soil amendments like mushroom compost, manure or homemade compost. Till or spade the bed to incorporate the amendments with the existing soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Allow the prepared bed to lie undisturbed for 3 to 4 weeks before planting. This provides time for some important biological activity to take place, and new plants are less likely to suffer from stem and root rots as a result. Have a soil test done. Sometimes lime is needed. However, a lime application should be made only if the need is revealed by the test.
  • Replenish mulch in flowerbeds.
  • Prune rose bushes.

Trees and Shrubs

  • February is possible the best month for rejuvenation of old, overgrown shrubs. When pruned now, plants have an entire growing season to recover.
  • Prune summer flowering deciduous shrubs such as Althea and Hibiscus. Since they flower on current season’s growth, flowering can actually be enhanced by proper pruning
  • Do NOT prune the spring flowering shrubs yet. Azaleas, Spiraeas and Forsythia flower during early spring because buds were formed last summer and fall. Pruning in February would therefore remove most of the flower buds.
  • Cold damaged trees and shrubs should NOT be pruned until new growth appears. You want to preserve as much healthy plant material as possible.
  • Replenish mulch in shrub beds
  • Finish planting ornamental and fruit trees.

Fruits and Nuts

  • Fertilize established pecan trees. Use a “special pecan fertilizer” that contains zinc. Use 2 lbs. for every year of age of the tree up to a maximum of 55 lbs. Broadcast the fertilizer evenly beneath the tree.
  • Fertilize established peach, plum, pear, persimmon, apple and fig. Apply about 1 ½ lbs of a 10-10-10 (or similar) fertilizer for each year of age of the tree until a maximum of 10 to 15 lbs. per tree is reached.
  • Blueberries are very sensitive to nitrogen and can be killed easily, particularly when they are young. Fertilize only if your goal is to increase yield or berry size. An annual application of 2 ounces of a special “azalea/camellia” or “special blueberry” type fertilizer per plant in February is ample fertilizer on 2-year-old plants.
  • Prune muscadine grapes between mid-February to mid-March. A standard method is to allow 2 to 4 node spurs spaced every 6 inches of cordon. You may notice that pruning cuts bleed, but there is no evidence that this is injurious to the vine.
  • Grapes (bunch and muscadine) should be fertilized at the rate of 1 ½ lbs of 10-10-10 for each year of age with a maximum of 5 lbs per plant applied in late February.
  • Last call for planting fruit trees! Most fruit trees such as pecans, plums, persimmons, figs, peaches and nectarines are shipped bare roots and should be planted during the dormant season.
  • Apply a spray containing horticultural oils emulsion to dormant fruit trees and ornamental shrubs. Follow label directions carefully.

Vegetable Garden

  • Several winter vegetables can still be successfully grown by starting them this month. Plant beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collards, endive/escarole, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, parsley, English peas, radish and turnips.
  • Plant Irish potatoes. Purchase certified seed potatoes rather than using the grocery store kinds. Use 2-ounce seed pieces with eyes and plant them 3 to 4 inches deep.
  • Prepare spring vegetable and herb beds for planting by adding and incorporating soil amendments like mushroom compost, manure or homemade compost. Wait 3 to 4 weeks before planting.

Lawns

  • Hold off on fertilizing the lawn. It is still too early for an application of nitrogen containing product. Cold temperatures and lack of plant response would likely result in wasted fertilizer. However, your winter weeds would benefit greatly.

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Top 6 Gardening Tips For Sowing New Seeds

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Gardening is the most common and relaxing hobby that can earn joy and in some cases money. No matter whether you are planning to set up a flower garden or a vegetable garden, knowing the proper methods and techniques of gardening is crucial. Knowing some tips for sowing seeds is one among them.

Flower gardens and lawns are very popular choices of people who want to make their house and yard look beautiful. Indoor gardens and lawns are also becoming trendy. Now days, people are much health conscious and they prefer home grown vegetables and fruits. This also increased the need for knowing some tips for sowing seeds in a perfect way to get a good result.

Sowing a seed and watching it growing is one of the exciting experiences that any garden lover can have. You can make gardening an exciting experience if you follow some tips for sowing seeds. Here are some effective and useful gardening tips for sowing seeds that may help you to a great extend in this context.

6 Gardening Tips For Sowing New Seeds

Select the season: Selecting the best season for sowing your seeds has great importance. Different seeds grow well at different temperature and climate. So, find out the best season that provides maximum growth support for your seeds.

Dig the soil: It will be always better if you can keep the soil loosened before sowing the seeds. This will help in better rate of germination and growth of the seeds. Loosened soil will give a perfect rooting that will help support the further growth of your plant.

Add fertilisers: You can also add some manure to the soil after making it loosened, so that you will get maximum germinated seeds out of the sowed ones. Decide the type of fertiliser based on the type of plant and its growth requirements. This remains as one of the important tips for sowing seeds.

Perfect sowing technique: Throwing down your seeds simply to the soil is not the perfect way to sow it. You have to consider the type of plant that will come out of the seed. Arrange the number of seeds in a pit and the distance between the pits based to this consideration.

Watering: Watering at proper interval remains as one of the gardening tips for sowing seeds that determine the growth of your seeds. Understand the nature of seeds that you are sowing because while some seeds need more water, some prefer medium watering.

Protect the seedbed: Once you finished sowing seeds successfully, your task will be completed only with providing enough protection to the seedbed. Maintain a wet seedbed that is kept secluded from any sources that can destroy it.

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Gardening Tips: How plants cope with cold and snow

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Posted: Friday, January 31, 2014 11:20 am

Gardening Tips: How plants cope with cold and snow

By Matthew Stevens

The Daily Herald, Roanoke Rapids, NC

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0 comments

With a couple snow events in the past two weeks, we find ourselves in a bit of an unusual situation here in the Roanoke Valley. Many gardeners are wondering how the snow and cold weather might be impacting plant life.

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Friday, January 31, 2014 11:20 am.

Filed Under: gardening tips
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