Weeds always seem to get an early jump on us. Before you know it, they have started growing in the lawn, flower beds and vegetable gardens. They rob plants of light, water and nutrients. But there are ways to keep weeds under control.

The safest and most effective method is to remove weeds by hand — pulling, hoeing and mulching. This works best in small areas or in areas where more than one type of plant is growing. A tiller, mower or other device can be used to remove weeds. Mowing is an effective method for removing top growth and preventing weeds from maturing.

Mulching helps suppress weeds by limiting the amount of sunlight, which is necessary for them to become established. Mulching also can help retain soil moisture, reduce soil temperature and improve the soil.

Herbicides should be your last choice for weed control. They are a short-term solution. Before using any herbicide, identify the weed you want to control. If the weed is not listed on the label, don’t use the herbicide. Different herbicides are needed to control different types of weeds.

There are two general herbicide types: Pre-emergence and post-emergence.

Pre-emergence herbicides prevent weeds from being established. These should be applied three to four weeks before the weeds normally germinate. They must be activated by rain or irrigation within a set number of days after application, depending on the herbicides. This information can be found on the label.

Post-emergence herbicides are applied after the weeds are established. Weeds must be actively growing when the herbicides are applied.

Herbicides normally work best when weeds are young.

Booker T. Leigh is extension director at the Tipton County Extension office. Email your gardening questions to bleigh1@utk.edu. Include your name and the area where you live. For more gardening information, call the Tipton County Extension office at 901-476-0231 or the Shelby County Extension office at 901-752-1207.

Green thumbs are invited to an evening of gardening tips and secrets as the Louisville Horticulture and Forestry Advisory Board puts on a presentation by horticulturist Ryan Schmitt, of Botanical Interests.

The presentation, at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Louisville Public Library, will cover topics such as how to start vegetables and flower seeds, how seeds work, how to get the best germination, and starting seeds indoors and outdoors.

Attendees will receive free seed packets.

The event is free, though a donation to benefit Friends of the Louisville Arboretum is requested. The library is located at 951 Spruce St.

Winter won’t be here much longer so it’s time to start thinking about spring and what to do around the yard says, Michael Clautice, owner of Paradise Landscaping and Hardscape.

The first thing to do is decide now what to plant. Mr. Clautice said planning now means there’s no last minute rush and worry about whether or not the lawn and garden supply can get the plants.

“You can place your order now for spring planting. The plants are not ready yet, but the store is usually glad to take an advance order with a little money down to guarantee the purchase will be completed,” said the Annapolis hardscaping expert. “By ordering early you also get to pick what you’d like and not have to accept what is on hand in the store.”

Beating back bugs begins in winter.

“Insects go into hiding in winter. Don’t give them a chance to come out in spring and start wrecking havoc,” he said. “If spraying is not your thing, look at insect-resistant plants. There are plenty which are attractive in a yard.”

Weeds are also like insects. They go into hiding in the winter, but when spring warms them, they come back with a vengeance.

“Weeds keep roots below the surface where they can survive the winter. The roots are enough to spread the weeds beyond where you saw them in the fall. Pre-emergent herbicides will take care of a lot of them without harming trees and shrubs,” said Clautice, one of the premier landscapers in Annapolis. “Again, if you don’t want to spray, then consider ground covers like plastic sheeting covered with straw or mulch.”

The same rules apply to gardening as well, said the Annapolis landscaping expert.

“Maybe last year you tried some varieties you really liked and some you didn’t. Look at something different this year. One really popular item for home gardens these days is heirloom tomatoes. These tomatoes have a very different taste than what people consider a tomato is supposed to taste like. Some are very sweet, some are more savory. Heirloom tomatoes also come in a variety of colors, which means your salads will be much brighter,” he said.

For more information visit http://paradisescapes.com or call 410.934.4401.

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Chabad marks Purim Japanese style

The congregation at Chabad Jewish Discovery Centre celebrated Purim on Sunday with — what else? — sushi and sake.

Posted: Friday, February 22, 2013 10:38 am

Gardening Tips: Picking native plants for your landscape

By Mattew Stevens

RR Daily Herald

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One of the great attributes of many native plants, in addition to flower color, is they offer great color provided through fall foliage or berries.

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Friday, February 22, 2013 10:38 am.

Hi, it’s Terri Higgins back at it again!

As the Calgary Home + Garden Show’s Group Manager, I love meeting people who have experienced rich and unique careers within the home and design sector.

Meet Jeff de Jong. He has had an exceptionally diverse gardening career, with his passion leading to exciting opportunities. From lending his teaching skills to gardening classes in college or local gardening clubs to hosting the only two hour gardening radio program in the West; Gardening 101, he definitely knows his way around the garden. Currently, he is a professional, award-winning horticulturist, instructor and Site Manager at the renowned TLC Land Conservancy Abkhazi Garden.

Jeff will be hitting the Garden Stage at this year’s Home + Garden Show to share his advice on the benefits of perennials: work horses of the garden!. He’ll show you thirty plants with exquisite beautiful flowers and several other attributes to warrant the title of being the best of all perennials.

In the meantime, check out Jeff’s tips for those of us whose thumbs aren’t quite as green:

1. How did you get started in Landscape Design?

I started by learning more about plant material such as trees, shrubs and perennials.

2. What inspires me when creating a Landscape Design?

The homeowner has to be my main source of inspiration.

3. What’s the best advice that you’ve ever been given?

Don’t plant the landscape as a botanical zoo, meaning one or two of every plant variety, instead of capitalizing on specific plants that work!

A front garden design by Jeff de Jong

4. What are your design pet peeves?

I have a few pet peeves! I don’t like it when homeowners are afraid of bold shapes and color. I also can’t stand walks that are too narrow, stepping stones, staking plants, weedy gardens and boring plants, such as cotoneaster or spruce.

5. How would you describe your landscape style?

Each landscape is unique to the homeowner, so my design style is not cookie cutter; I mold my style depending on what they’re looking for.

6. What is your favourite landscape you’ve worked on?

A favourite design was one I did for a front and back garden. The design had a naturalistic back garden but the front was more formal with a fountain and stained glass in the fence.

7. What is a key tip for the “brown thumb?”

To learn where certain plants grows in their native place and then duplicate everything.

Jeff’s Calgary garden

Jeff de Jong will be one of the experts presenting on the Garden Stage at the Calgary Home + Garden Show, which takes place from February 28 – March 3, 2013. Click here for the show’s stage schedule.

I’ll be interviewing many more design experts, so keep checking back for insider advice and visit the Calgary Home + Garden Show website for any additional information: www.calgaryhomeshow.com.

Follow Terri Higgins on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/@HomeShowsAB

• If you struggle to cut your hedge it’s better to cut it by hand in stages.
It’s rather traditional and romantic to cut by hand and if you have the time
and the eye you get a much better cut. If it’s a big, tall hedge, then maybe
you need a powered hedge trimmer with an articulated head. Or use a Henchman
platform, which let you work at a higher level . It’s the thing I get
asked about most when I am out in the garden.

Gardening Tips, Vacancies And Arion Vulgaris Slug Warning From Bell Plantation

“One of Ashley Warren’s  new arrivals”

In his weekly chatter and blog with AboutMyArea/NN12 Ashley Warren owner of Towcester’s Bell Plantation Garden Centre on the A43/A5 roundabout said, “Saturday morning, fog lifting, sunny blue sky above, hey could this be the start of a spell of dry weather or even a great spring? It will take a few drying days before any major soil turning, depends a bit on how free draining your soil is? It’s easier digging if a bit drier.

“I am pleased to say the Garden centre is getting busy, so busy that we have 6 vacancies in our team now we are moving into our really busy period. We are looking for 2 cooks, 1 café front of house, 1 poultry centre assistant, 1 plant area expert and some full time help in the garden centre.

“If you know anyone who is looking for some full time or part time work drop us a line, we would love to hear from you. Come and join our happy team.

“I spent three hours yesterday on pot wash as the Café was so busy. Unemployment in South Northants is about 2.4% great for the local community, not so easy to recruit.

“Our contact details are all on the website: http://www.bellplantation.co.uk/about/

“With the sun on the soil it will be warming up the hungry slugs. Protect your veg. There is a monster slug appearing in the UK imported on leaves and plant roots, Arion Vulgaris it can grow up to 15cm long. It has been reported that it eats dead animals and even its own kind. Lock your doors at night. It also eats plants not usually eaten by other slugs i.e. onion tops, runner bean pods and even oil seed rape.”

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

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