Dormant plants respond well to winter pruning, which is less stressful in the absence of heat or drought.
RS Landscaping
It’s still cold outside, but if visions of spring already have you itching to get started in the garden, now is the time to clean off the pruning shears and head out to shape things up.

“Pruning deciduous trees and shrubs is ideal during the winter because it’s easier to see the form of the tree and branching structure without leaves,” according to a garden tip sheet sent by RS Landscaping in Midland Park. “The plants also respond well to being pruned at this time of year because they are not actively growing, and are less stressed due to heat or drought.”

I’m told by the experts at RS Landscaping that there are a few good weeks of dormancy left before there’s danger of making unhappy cuts that would trouble the trees and shrubs, but this weekend is not too early to begin. And if you didn’t prepare your pruning tools before storing them away last fall, be sure the blades are clean and sharp enough to cut without scaring any limbs.

RS Landscaping offers the following tips for a successful pre-spring garden shape-up. Following them will prepare deciduous plantings for spring, while helping the gardener get an early start.

* First, use hand pruners to prune dead or damaged branches to prevent infection. Pruning cuts should be made with hand pruners outside of the bark collar. This is the flared base where a branch meets the trunk. Next year, you might consider pruning throughout the the winter, depending on the amount of snow and ice damage to your plantings. Removing heavy snow from trees and shrubs is a good way to prevent damage in the first place.

* Next, look for crossing or tangled branches to remove. Crossing or touching branches can rub the bark away causing wounds that risk infections. To determine which branch should stay and which should go, look at the direction of the branches and decide which is more dominant. When pruning small branches up to the size of a pencil, it’s important to always use clean, sharp hand pruners. Cut as close to the next bud as possible and be sure the cut is angled.

Cuts should be angled to let water run off instead of sitting on a flat, open surface, says Jon Feldman, a project manage for RS Landscaping. When the pruning cut is not angled, water sits on the open wound, creeps in through the wood, causing rot and allowing fungus and insects to take residence. This can ultimately kill the tree, he says.
“The ultimate goals for pruning are to leave a tree healthier and more attractive.”

* Use hand pruners to remove weak, fast-growing branches called suckers and water sprouts. Suckers are whip-like branches that grow straight up from the truck of a tree, robbing it of nutrients. Pruning these before spring will ensure that the plant gets what it needs for optimum health.

* In addition to removing dead and tangled branches, you can also trim length from branches to clear walkways and paths, and reduce the chance of damage from snow load or ice. Remember to always cut back to the next branch. Leaving stubs is unsightly and unhealthy for the plant.

TOOL TALK

The two main types of pruners available are anvil or by-pass pruners. Anvil pruners cut by pushing a sharp blade against an “anvil” — a broad flat surface. By-pass pruners work more like scissors, slicing the stem between two sharp blades.

By-pass shears and by-pass loppers are recommended by pruning experts over the anvil type. They tend to make a cleaner cut, which promotes faster healing. Anvil pruners crush the stem, leave a ragged cut that will be slow to heal. However, they are useful for cutting back dead plant material, as when you’re cleaning up your perennials at the end of the season.

For more than 25 years, RS Landscaping has offered environmentally responsible, high-end service to residential, public and commercial properties in the areas of design/build, grounds maintenance, irrigation, lighting and plant health care.

Dormant plants respond well to winter pruning, which is less stressful in the absence of heat or drought.
RS Landscaping
It’s still cold outside, but if visions of spring already have you itching to get started in the garden, now is the time to clean off the pruning shears and head out to shape things up.

“Pruning deciduous trees and shrubs is ideal during the winter because it’s easier to see the form of the tree and branching structure without leaves,” according to a garden tip sheet sent by RS Landscaping in Midland Park. “The plants also respond well to being pruned at this time of year because they are not actively growing, and are less stressed due to heat or drought.”

I’m told by the experts at RS Landscaping that there are a few good weeks of dormancy left before there’s danger of making unhappy cuts that would trouble the trees and shrubs, but this weekend is not too early to begin. And if you didn’t prepare your pruning tools before storing them away last fall, be sure the blades are clean and sharp enough to cut without scaring any limbs.

RS Landscaping offers the following tips for a successful pre-spring garden shape-up. Following them will prepare deciduous plantings for spring, while helping the gardener get an early start.

* First, use hand pruners to prune dead or damaged branches to prevent infection. Pruning cuts should be made with hand pruners outside of the bark collar. This is the flared base where a branch meets the trunk. Next year, you might consider pruning throughout the the winter, depending on the amount of snow and ice damage to your plantings. Removing heavy snow from trees and shrubs is a good way to prevent damage in the first place.

* Next, look for crossing or tangled branches to remove. Crossing or touching branches can rub the bark away causing wounds that risk infections. To determine which branch should stay and which should go, look at the direction of the branches and decide which is more dominant. When pruning small branches up to the size of a pencil, it’s important to always use clean, sharp hand pruners. Cut as close to the next bud as possible and be sure the cut is angled.

Cuts should be angled to let water run off instead of sitting on a flat, open surface, says Jon Feldman, a project manage for RS Landscaping. When the pruning cut is not angled, water sits on the open wound, creeps in through the wood, causing rot and allowing fungus and insects to take residence. This can ultimately kill the tree, he says.
“The ultimate goals for pruning are to leave a tree healthier and more attractive.”

* Use hand pruners to remove weak, fast-growing branches called suckers and water sprouts. Suckers are whip-like branches that grow straight up from the truck of a tree, robbing it of nutrients. Pruning these before spring will ensure that the plant gets what it needs for optimum health.

* In addition to removing dead and tangled branches, you can also trim length from branches to clear walkways and paths, and reduce the chance of damage from snow load or ice. Remember to always cut back to the next branch. Leaving stubs is unsightly and unhealthy for the plant.

TOOL TALK

The two main types of pruners available are anvil or by-pass pruners. Anvil pruners cut by pushing a sharp blade against an “anvil” — a broad flat surface. By-pass pruners work more like scissors, slicing the stem between two sharp blades.

By-pass shears and by-pass loppers are recommended by pruning experts over the anvil type. They tend to make a cleaner cut, which promotes faster healing. Anvil pruners crush the stem, leave a ragged cut that will be slow to heal. However, they are useful for cutting back dead plant material, as when you’re cleaning up your perennials at the end of the season.

For more than 25 years, RS Landscaping has offered environmentally responsible, high-end service to residential, public and commercial properties in the areas of design/build, grounds maintenance, irrigation, lighting and plant health care.

Things may be a bit “off track” for the spring season. Keep an eye on the local weather before doing any major pruning and renovating. There is still potential for a late frost or freeze.

GENERAL GARDENING

March is the beginning of the spring gardening season in Flagler County, the time to get out, clean up all old and dead materials, mulch, and plant. Azaleas, pansies, petunias, dianthus, snapdragons and many other plants will be blooming.

If no rain, water once every seven to 10 days, putting down 1/2- to 3/4-inch of water each time. This is a good time to check the irrigation system for leaks, broken heads, settings and to make sure rain shut-off devices are working.

LAWN CARE

In mid-March apply fertilizer (16-4-8, 15-0-15, 10-4-10 or 8-2-12) with approximately 30 to 50 percent of the nitrogen in slow release form. Give it a light ( 1/4-inch) watering after application.

If you cut your own lawn, service your lawn mower. Change the oil, sharpen the blades and make sure to set the cutting height properly for the type grass that you have.

March is the last month that you can apply most herbicides for weeds safely. When the daily temperatures rise above 85 degrees, most of the available post-emergent herbicides can cause the grass to yellow and die. Read and follow label recommendations for proper application rates and frequency. Check the product carefully for any restrictions such as “Do not use on Floratam St. Augustinegrass,” etc.

FOOD GARDEN

Most gardens will produce better by amending soils with compost (organic matter). Do a soil pH test to determine acid/alkaline level.

Warm season vegetables can be planted: snap beans, pole beans, cantaloupe, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, green (bunching) onions, peppers, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and watermelons. Plant any seedlings started indoors in January and February. For more information on growing a vegetable garden go to: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021 to download a copy of the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide.

FRUIT TREES

Many citrus trees bloomed early this year. Blossoms may have gotten frost damage from the freezes in February, causing them to drop prior to pollination. They may bloom again. Do not spray anything on the trees until the blossoms drop and fruit begins to form.

If your citrus trees had scab (bumps on fruit and leaves) or melanose (a black speck on the foliage and streaking on fruit) in the past year, treat the entire tree (and any surrounding citrus trees) with basic copper sulfate solution two to three weeks after blossom drop and again after an additional two weeks. Follow label instructions for proper application rates.

Citrus Greening has spread through Flagler County since 2010. It is a disease vectored by an insect called the Asian Citrus Psyllid. Once the tree is inoculated with the bacteria, over time the foliage becomes discolored and blotchy, sections of the canopy start dying, fruit becomes small, bitter tasting and misshapen and seeds are aborted in the fruit. At this point, there is nothing you can treat it with to stop the tree from declining. It is recommended to remove the tree. To obtain additional information on what to do about Citrus Greening go to: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/hot_topics/agriculture/citrus_greening.html or contact your local Extension Office and request a copy of HS1131 Dooryard Citrus Production: Citrus Greening Disease.

If you suspect a tree is suffering from Citrus Greening, bring in a sample (in a sealed plastic storage bag) to the extension office to have it examined or contact the Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Plant Industry Citrus Health Response Program 800-282-5153 for more information.

LANDSCAPE PLANTS

Bedding plants which can be planted: ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, balsam, begonia, browallia, celosia, cosmos, coreopsis, dusty miller, exacum, gaillardia, gazania, geranium, impatiens, Marguerite daisy, marigold, pentas, phlox, rudbeckia, salvia, sweet William, thunbergia, torenia, verbena, vinca, and zinnia.

Fertilize palm trees with a balanced palm fertilizer containing 4 percent magnesium. Magnesium as Epsom salts can be applied at the same time as fertilizer if you are using fertilizer with lower levels of magnesium. It is easier to get the right ratio by buying it already in the bag. Magnesium sulfate will benefit most plants and will result in deeper shades of green.

Fertilize hibiscus, azaleas, roses, and poinsettias with a fertilizer containing the minor elements with a ratio of 3:1:2 (i.e., 12-4-8 Nitrogen — Phosphorous — Potassium). Approximately 50 percent of the nitrogen should be slow release.

Prune back poinsettias once colored bracts begin to wilt to approximately 1/3-1/2 the total size of the plant. These may be planted outdoors in a well-drained, sunny area. They are sensitive to the cold, so plant them in a protected site with a southern exposure. Poinsettias are heavy feeders, so fertilize often or use a slow release fertilizer.

The chance for a freeze is generally over by mid-March. So you can finally prune back the plants that have freeze damage. It can be a little while until new growth starts on damaged plants. One quick way to determine if a stem or branch is alive is to cut the limb and see if green is present. If all the leaves have fallen off, the branch is probably alive. If the leaves have stayed on the branch, it is a sign that the branch is dead. Prune plants as needed. Limit what is pruned to one-third of the total plant canopy size. Prune all dead branches, water sprouts and crossing branches. Shape plants to give them a pleasing appearance. DON’T LEAVE STUBS. Prune branches back to an outward facing bud, cut on a 45-degree angle. For more details on proper pruning go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg087 on the University of Florida EDIS publications website.

Did you know the Flagler County Master Gardeners wrote and published a book on gardening just for you? It is called “Guide to Successful Gardening in Zone 9A.” This book was created and geared for anyone living in zone 9A who wants to have a healthy landscape and garden. The book covers all areas of gardening and landscaping including planning a landscape, trees and shrubs, bedding plants, roses, lawns, vegetables and herbs, wildlife habitat, coastal area gardening and so much more. Each plant section has a very helpful plant list specific to zone 9A. So you know what will grow here rather than trial and error or wrong plant wrong place.

For information on where to purchase a copy, contact Ocean Publishing, 200 S. Oceanshore Blvd., Flagler Beach, at 386-517-1600 or pick up a copy at the Flagler County Extension office 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell, the cost is $24.95.

Things may be a bit “off track” for the spring season. Keep an eye on the local weather before doing any major pruning and renovating. There is still potential for a late frost or freeze.

GENERAL GARDENING

March is the beginning of the spring gardening season in Flagler County, the time to get out, clean up all old and dead materials, mulch, and plant. Azaleas, pansies, petunias, dianthus, snapdragons and many other plants will be blooming.

If no rain, water once every seven to 10 days, putting down 1/2- to 3/4-inch of water each time. This is a good time to check the irrigation system for leaks, broken heads, settings and to make sure rain shut-off devices are working.

LAWN CARE

In mid-March apply fertilizer (16-4-8, 15-0-15, 10-4-10 or 8-2-12) with approximately 30 to 50 percent of the nitrogen in slow release form. Give it a light ( 1/4-inch) watering after application.

If you cut your own lawn, service your lawn mower. Change the oil, sharpen the blades and make sure to set the cutting height properly for the type grass that you have.

March is the last month that you can apply most herbicides for weeds safely. When the daily temperatures rise above 85 degrees, most of the available post-emergent herbicides can cause the grass to yellow and die. Read and follow label recommendations for proper application rates and frequency. Check the product carefully for any restrictions such as “Do not use on Floratam St. Augustinegrass,” etc.

FOOD GARDEN

Most gardens will produce better by amending soils with compost (organic matter). Do a soil pH test to determine acid/alkaline level.

Warm season vegetables can be planted: snap beans, pole beans, cantaloupe, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, green (bunching) onions, peppers, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and watermelons. Plant any seedlings started indoors in January and February. For more information on growing a vegetable garden go to: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021 to download a copy of the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide.

FRUIT TREES

Many citrus trees bloomed early this year. Blossoms may have gotten frost damage from the freezes in February, causing them to drop prior to pollination. They may bloom again. Do not spray anything on the trees until the blossoms drop and fruit begins to form.

If your citrus trees had scab (bumps on fruit and leaves) or melanose (a black speck on the foliage and streaking on fruit) in the past year, treat the entire tree (and any surrounding citrus trees) with basic copper sulfate solution two to three weeks after blossom drop and again after an additional two weeks. Follow label instructions for proper application rates.

Citrus Greening has spread through Flagler County since 2010. It is a disease vectored by an insect called the Asian Citrus Psyllid. Once the tree is inoculated with the bacteria, over time the foliage becomes discolored and blotchy, sections of the canopy start dying, fruit becomes small, bitter tasting and misshapen and seeds are aborted in the fruit. At this point, there is nothing you can treat it with to stop the tree from declining. It is recommended to remove the tree. To obtain additional information on what to do about Citrus Greening go to: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/hot_topics/agriculture/citrus_greening.html or contact your local Extension Office and request a copy of HS1131 Dooryard Citrus Production: Citrus Greening Disease.

If you suspect a tree is suffering from Citrus Greening, bring in a sample (in a sealed plastic storage bag) to the extension office to have it examined or contact the Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Plant Industry Citrus Health Response Program 800-282-5153 for more information.

LANDSCAPE PLANTS

Bedding plants which can be planted: ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, balsam, begonia, browallia, celosia, cosmos, coreopsis, dusty miller, exacum, gaillardia, gazania, geranium, impatiens, Marguerite daisy, marigold, pentas, phlox, rudbeckia, salvia, sweet William, thunbergia, torenia, verbena, vinca, and zinnia.

Fertilize palm trees with a balanced palm fertilizer containing 4 percent magnesium. Magnesium as Epsom salts can be applied at the same time as fertilizer if you are using fertilizer with lower levels of magnesium. It is easier to get the right ratio by buying it already in the bag. Magnesium sulfate will benefit most plants and will result in deeper shades of green.

Fertilize hibiscus, azaleas, roses, and poinsettias with a fertilizer containing the minor elements with a ratio of 3:1:2 (i.e., 12-4-8 Nitrogen — Phosphorous — Potassium). Approximately 50 percent of the nitrogen should be slow release.

Prune back poinsettias once colored bracts begin to wilt to approximately 1/3-1/2 the total size of the plant. These may be planted outdoors in a well-drained, sunny area. They are sensitive to the cold, so plant them in a protected site with a southern exposure. Poinsettias are heavy feeders, so fertilize often or use a slow release fertilizer.

The chance for a freeze is generally over by mid-March. So you can finally prune back the plants that have freeze damage. It can be a little while until new growth starts on damaged plants. One quick way to determine if a stem or branch is alive is to cut the limb and see if green is present. If all the leaves have fallen off, the branch is probably alive. If the leaves have stayed on the branch, it is a sign that the branch is dead. Prune plants as needed. Limit what is pruned to one-third of the total plant canopy size. Prune all dead branches, water sprouts and crossing branches. Shape plants to give them a pleasing appearance. DON’T LEAVE STUBS. Prune branches back to an outward facing bud, cut on a 45-degree angle. For more details on proper pruning go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg087 on the University of Florida EDIS publications website.

Did you know the Flagler County Master Gardeners wrote and published a book on gardening just for you? It is called “Guide to Successful Gardening in Zone 9A.” This book was created and geared for anyone living in zone 9A who wants to have a healthy landscape and garden. The book covers all areas of gardening and landscaping including planning a landscape, trees and shrubs, bedding plants, roses, lawns, vegetables and herbs, wildlife habitat, coastal area gardening and so much more. Each plant section has a very helpful plant list specific to zone 9A. So you know what will grow here rather than trial and error or wrong plant wrong place.

For information on where to purchase a copy, contact Ocean Publishing, 200 S. Oceanshore Blvd., Flagler Beach, at 386-517-1600 or pick up a copy at the Flagler County Extension office 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell, the cost is $24.95.

WINFIELD — Last week, Kim Clark painted in an unusual spot.

With palette in hand, Clark toiled inside a storage room owned by Absolute Landscape Turf Services in Winfield.

Clark created backdrops reminiscent of scenes from the Disney classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” She is part of a unique partnership between artist and business creating an elaborate landscaped garden.

With Clark’s help, Winfield-based Absolute Landscape Turf Services are entering one of 16 fully-landscaped gardens based on a movie during the Maryland Home Garden Show taking place the next two weekends at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

The Maryland Home Garden Show features more than 300 home improvement exhibitors offering tips on everything from storage solutions to garden preparations for the spring. It opens from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and is also open from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. March 3, 9 and 10 and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. March 9.

The Maryland Orchid Society Show and Sale and the Bonsai Show and Sale take place during the second weekend of the Home Garden Show. More than 125 craftspeople will be on hand both weekends.

Landscape businesses were able to pick a movie to create themed gardens. Absolute Landscape chose the popular fairy tale “Snow White” and are creating a scene designed to be straight out of the Disney cartoon.

They have created the front of the cottage where the Dwarfs lived and also incorporated a fireplace, a small stream pond, stone walkways and murals painted by Clark.

The cottage is a massive undertaking, one that will need to be moved in parts from Winfield to Timonium. 

“There’s a lot more going into it than even what I expected initially,” Absolute Landscape’s Matt Sabine said. “For sure, a lot creativity is being put towards it.”

While the cottage is designed to look like a home for Snow White’s dwarfs, it’s designed with an entryway all visitors to the Home Garden show would be able to enter.

The Absolute Landscape designers wanted visitors to understand how their landscaping designs and products could apply outside their homes, Clark said.

Naturally, the landscapers will likely get competitive with their designs, hoping to outdo one another, Sabine said. 

“The Secret Garden,” “Mulan,” “Jurassic Park,” “Lord of the Rings” and “Under the Tuscan Sun” are among the movies picked out by participating landscape businesses.

“Last year we had a books theme,” Maryland Home Garden Show producer Jay Plummer said. “That went so well that we decided to go with movies. People really seemed to like that last year.”

So often in landscaping, businesses are given a specific blueprint by the customer that they must adhere to.

When creating the custom movie-inspired designs, landscapers were given a unique freedom to tap into their creativity. Setting up at home shows is nothing new for them, but the chance to focus on a specific them is unique, Sabine said.

“When you come into this arena, it’s completely different,” he said. “You’re following a theme, so you get to add onto that.”

WINFIELD — Last week, Kim Clark painted in an unusual spot.

With palette in hand, Clark toiled inside a storage room owned by Absolute Landscape Turf Services in Winfield.

Clark created backdrops reminiscent of scenes from the Disney classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” She is part of a unique partnership between artist and business creating an elaborate landscaped garden.

With Clark’s help, Winfield-based Absolute Landscape Turf Services are entering one of 16 fully-landscaped gardens based on a movie during the Maryland Home Garden Show taking place the next two weekends at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

The Maryland Home Garden Show features more than 300 home improvement exhibitors offering tips on everything from storage solutions to garden preparations for the spring. It opens from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and is also open from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. March 3, 9 and 10 and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. March 9.

The Maryland Orchid Society Show and Sale and the Bonsai Show and Sale take place during the second weekend of the Home Garden Show. More than 125 craftspeople will be on hand both weekends.

Landscape businesses were able to pick a movie to create themed gardens. Absolute Landscape chose the popular fairy tale “Snow White” and are creating a scene designed to be straight out of the Disney cartoon.

They have created the front of the cottage where the Dwarfs lived and also incorporated a fireplace, a small stream pond, stone walkways and murals painted by Clark.

The cottage is a massive undertaking, one that will need to be moved in parts from Winfield to Timonium. 

“There’s a lot more going into it than even what I expected initially,” Absolute Landscape’s Matt Sabine said. “For sure, a lot creativity is being put towards it.”

While the cottage is designed to look like a home for Snow White’s dwarfs, it’s designed with an entryway all visitors to the Home Garden show would be able to enter.

The Absolute Landscape designers wanted visitors to understand how their landscaping designs and products could apply outside their homes, Clark said.

Naturally, the landscapers will likely get competitive with their designs, hoping to outdo one another, Sabine said. 

“The Secret Garden,” “Mulan,” “Jurassic Park,” “Lord of the Rings” and “Under the Tuscan Sun” are among the movies picked out by participating landscape businesses.

“Last year we had a books theme,” Maryland Home Garden Show producer Jay Plummer said. “That went so well that we decided to go with movies. People really seemed to like that last year.”

So often in landscaping, businesses are given a specific blueprint by the customer that they must adhere to.

When creating the custom movie-inspired designs, landscapers were given a unique freedom to tap into their creativity. Setting up at home shows is nothing new for them, but the chance to focus on a specific them is unique, Sabine said.

“When you come into this arena, it’s completely different,” he said. “You’re following a theme, so you get to add onto that.”

Posted: Friday, February 22, 2013 3:00 pm

Spring Garden Day event planned at Extension Demonstration Gardens in Bear Creek

Submitted

Houston Community Newspapers

Jump start your garden by attending Spring Garden Day, March 16, featuring timely talks and how-to demonstrations at the Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service Office and Gardens, 3033 Bear Creek Dr., Houston.

Harris County Horticulture Extension Agents and Harris County Master Gardeners will give three informative lectures:

– “The Dirt on Great Garden Soil” will tell how to amend your garden soil and check nutrient levels to ensure great results.

– “Grow Your Own Groceries” will provide tips on what vegetables to plant in our area and techniques to grow them to an optimal harvest.

– “Good Bugs and Great Flowers” will give a glimpse at some of the beneficial insects in local gardens and what plants will help to attract them.

Running concurrently with the talks will be demonstrations in the gardens surrounding the office.

Trained Master Gardeners in the vegetable gardens will discuss soil preparation in raised beds, proper seed planting, setting out transplants and managing pests.

Others in the flower gardens will show how to divide perennials, plant woody ornamentals, prepare in-ground soil and properly mulch beds.

More Master Gardeners will be demonstrating composting techniques and container gardening methods. There will also be an Ask-A-Master Gardener Booth to answer attendees’ questions on other horticulture and landscaping topics.

The educational event begins at 8 a.m. with refreshments and registration. Lectures and demonstrations begin at 8:30 a.m. and run through noon. Cost is $15.

Harris County Master Gardeners are volunteers trained to share research-based horticulture knowledge with residents of the county in support of the Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service.

For details of this and other upcoming events, call (281)855-5600 or like Harris Count Master Gardeners Association on Facebook.

Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids, services or accommodations in order to participate in Extension programs are encouraged to call (281)855-5600 to discuss specific needs. Harris County Master Gardeners is a program of the Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service. Educational programs of the Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.

ranchernews@hcnonline.com

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Friday, February 22, 2013 3:00 pm.

STRATFORD – 

A winter-weary traveller stumbles through piles of drifting snow, only to stop abruptly and catch the magical sight of Hebe, the goddess of youth, standing by her reflecting pond under an open gazebo.

What might have been a seasonal mirage is actually one of many fascinating moments at the 13th Stratford Garden Festival (Feb. 28-March 3) at the Stratford Rotary Complex — set to unleash countless artistic images symbolizing the event’s theme this year of Reflections.

This particular garden is the imaginative work of Steve Coxon, owner of the Sebringville Garden Centre, who clearly likes to dabble in the worlds of fantasy, whimsy and magic, delighted at the prospect of catching “a glimpse of the magical wee folk at play.”

“This is our lucky 13th,” says Lung Association area manager and festival spokesperson Deedee Herman.

“We are up to 10 display gardens this year, with three new entrants and a couple who have participated from the very beginning. It’s exciting to contemplate how these talented folk will interpret our theme.

“Some of the gardens will enchant visitors with their unique vision, while others will clearly illustrate practical ideas for people to apply to their own gardens. It could be just about anything — from a quiet green oasis to an ultra-modern setting.”

Coxon, who admits his creations are theatrical and “quite packed, loud and colourful,” says he relishes exhibiting his work before local spectators and visitors, bringing them a reminder that spring is just around a corner in a show that rivals Toronto-based events.

“With our garden, you will see Hebe standing in the centre, behind her six-foot mirror,” he explains. “People looking at her will also see themselves at the same time. The mirror is mounted in the water so she will reflect down as well.

“Around the ponds there will be a huge log structure with posts coming out of the ground like tree stumps, anchoring the garden. You can sit on benches and be part of it. A huge stump will be converted to a fairy house. We also want to draw people to the meditation gardens behind the greenhouses.”

Since Day 1, the event has been sponsored by Orr Insurance and since then more than $700,000 has been raised to support the Lung Association in its medical research commitments and lung health initiatives, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Herman says.

It’s also been a centre for creativity and artistic experimentation that has lured spectators from Southwestern Ontario and beyond to marvel at gardens that stretch the boundaries of the imagination.

About to exhibit for the fourth time, Helena Luyten, owner of Helena’s Gardening just north of Sebringville. plans to reflect on the past with a garden exhibit that will be “very old and rural, including a vegetable garden, old tools and a plow.

“I went for the rural setting for several reasons, one of them being the fact that the International Plowing Match is being held this year in nearby Mitchell,” she says. “My setting will feature lots of vegetables, cedar rails, flower beds and a wonderful old plow.

“There will be benches where you can just sit, enjoy the scenery and reflect on the way we used to garden and have fun. This is such a great event because everything really becomes part of the whole community. During the winter, which is a slow time for us, it gives us the chance to be really creative.”

Although he contributed a small container at last year’s show, Hilko van Til, owner of Copper Beech Custom Landscape Construction in Stratford, will offer his first garden for the festival next week — an ultra-modern garden studio.

“I utilized reclaimed barn boards as well as new material,” he says. “This will be a place where you can escape your busy life and have time to reflect. I wanted to create something new, to give people a demonstration of my creativity, and maybe inspire others to do something different themselves.

“This will be a little teaser of what I can offer, thinking outside of the box. Inspiration is the foundation for creativity, but sometimes we need a space to be inspired. We think this modern garden studio may just be what is needed to inspire your creativity.”

Meanwhile, Johan Bossers and his designers from A Touch of Dutch Landscaping Garden Services have created a fantasy area that takes green to the ultimate. The walkway is intertwined with grass and plants with the quirky nature of the garden destined to “infuse the senses of those who love gardening.”

The kitchen counter and stove overflow with plants; light fixtures with flowers hang from above; furniture created from wire mesh and stone present an earthy feel to the patio while the soothing sound of the water feature is the backdrop for relaxation and reflection.

“Raising funds for the Lung Association is great,” says Bossers, who has participated since Day 1. “But it is also unique because this is about gardens, not home and gardens. There are no sales of lawnmowers, homes and windows. This is about gardens.

“This is a great time for such an event and to get together with other garden designers and the general public. This is the kick-start for our creative season and, in the end, everyone from the gardeners, the public to the Lung Association comes out a winner.”

Herman says the speaker series is one of the festival’s most popular attractions. The subjects are varied and the speakers are some of the top people in gardening.

“We’ve got Frank Ferragine, or as most people know him Frankie Flowers of Breakfast Television,” she says. “His presentation is the Weird and Wacky World of Gardening. Sean James will be talking about xeriscaping, which is designing your garden to reduce the need for supplemental water or irrigation.

“There are other presenters and we have our seniors’ tea, the opening garden party and family fun night. No question about it, there is something for everyone, from the novice to the expert gardener. Besides, everybody walks away with the feeling that spring is just around the corner.”

If the gardens and the special events aren’t enough enticement, Wayne and Nancy Stuart, owners of W. Stuart Farm in Troy, just outside of Brantford, have another idea to chase away the winter blues — hot and spicy jams and jellies.

“We’ve got 10 pepper jellies from mild to hot enough?” says Nancy. “Raspberry Zing, which is one of Deedee’s favourites, is great on brie. Golden Glow is a wonderful mix of yellow hot peppers, yellow sweet peppers and yellow raspberries. It will drag your palettes out of winter and into spring in a hurry.

“This year we’re really excited about our new Saskatoon rhubarb jam. The berry from the west province is quite difficult to get but we have bushes here. Apparently birds also like it. We introduced it in the fall and it was a hit, so we’re looking forward to the reaction at the show.”

Wayne says though they are farmers, they are also gardeners, so the event gives them the opportunity every year to meet gardening enthusiasts.

“We talk about gardens, what kind of fertilizers and the weather.

“We just have fun.”

— — —

If YOU GO

What: 13th annual Stratford Garden Festival

When: Thursday, noon-5 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., March 2, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and March 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Stratford Rotary Complex, 353 McCarthy Rd., Stratford. Directions can be found at www.stratfordgardenfestival.com.

Why: Presented by the Lung Association and sponsored by Orr Insurance. Funds are raised to support the association in its medical research commitments and lung health initiatives, focusing on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Tickets: $9 at the door. Children 12 and under free. Pre-arranged groups of 15 ormore $7 per person

Theme: Reflections

Website: www.stratfordgardenfestival.com

Contact: Deedee Herman, Lung Association area manager

Phone: 519-271-7500

E-mail: dherman@on.lung.ca

With snow in the forecast, it’s hard to remember that spring is just a few weeks away. The Flower and Garden Show this weekend at the Connecticut Convention Center is a chance for many outdoor businesses to stir warm thoughts of yardwork and gardening.

The Garden Barn, a Vernon nursery and landscaping firm, doesn’t sell plants at the show and the booth is more busy giving out $5 coupons than selling garden tchotchkes.

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Still, it would be wrong to conclude that the cost of the booth rental is more than what they get out of the show. “We get to be seen by people that are farther away,” says manager Kim Gliha.

Selling products this weekend isn’t really the goal for the Garden Barn. Last year, a third of the coupons were redeemed, which Gliha thought was good.

Last year’s attendance over the four days was 40,000. Gliha said she thought there was more traffic on opening day this year than on a typical garden show Thursday.

Over the last several years, the Garden Barn has had stable sales, Gliha said, which, compared to the national industry trends, “is pretty good.”

In 2008, Americans spent $36 billion on lawns and gardens. In 2009 that figure fell to $30 billion, and by 2011 it was down to $29 billion. Average spending per household fell from $444 to $351 over that time.

Given those trends, and the fact that the majority of shopping has shifted to big box stores rather than local nurseries and hardware stores, reminding customers that you’re around is worth a booth at the show.

Thoughts Of Spring

Carol Sauerhoff of Bethel visited the show for the first time because a friend invited her.

“I thought it sounded like fun on a wintry day,” she said. She hadn’t expected all the succulents on display by amateur gardeners, or the non-garden items, like fancy tote bags.

Sauerhoff no longer has a garden, but she fills her little deck with potted plants. “It brightens your day,” she said.

There were plenty of scenes in the convention center to distract visitors from the exhaust-blackened snow banks that make Hartford less than a winter wonderland.

Pondering Creations had an elaborate burbling pond and landscaped garden.

Perennial Harmony created a landscape that included a Hobbit Hole playhouse, tucked under a hill of sod. The playhouse, made by a Maine company, is available through the Waterford landscaper.

Bright colors of blooming azaleas, daffodils and live butterflies, and the smell of mulch, were all there offering thoughts of spring.

There were even booths for items that can be enjoyed on bright wintry days. Four Season Sunrooms had a booth with pictures of sunrooms, including elegant Victorian-style conservatories, that could be added to your house.

A fellow vendor was drawn in, shooting pictures with his phone of the display. “I’d be the hero in my house if I got one of these sunrooms,” he said.

Next to the sunroom display, Coca-Cola was running a raffle, giving away rain barrels made from the plastic barrels that bottling plants receive syrup ingredients in. The East Hartford plant goes through 50 barrels a week, and they’re all repurposed in some way, either for rain barrels, recycling receptacles at large events or sent to another company. The rain barrels, which have a spigot handle on them, cost the company about $15 to make. They will give away 32 during the four-day weekend garden show.

Beth and Bob Yoon of Deerfield, Mass., had never come to the show before, but decided that attending on a day off from work “would make it feel like spring.”

Talk about it

The University of Minnesota Extension Douglas County Master Gardeners invite you to their annual “Let’s Get Growing” workshop on Saturday, March 23 at Alexandria Technical College, Office and Information Technology Center. Register between 8 and 8:30 a.m. and also visit vendors and enjoy refreshments before the keynote speaker begins at 8:45 a.m.

Don Engebretson is this year’s keynote speaker on “The Renegade Gardener.” Engebretson wants to help gardeners severely limit the “staggering failure” part of the equation, and does so in his presentation, “Top 10 Gardening and Landscaping Blunders and How to Avoid Them.” Engebretson says, “Gardening is America’s number one leisure time activity.”

To make Engebretson’s list, three important criteria apply: 1.) must be a common mistake; as common as crabgrass 2.) the blunder must impart a truly gruesome effect on one’s landscape and 3.) it must be a blunder that Don has made, at least twice, during his 20-plus years as a gardener.

Engebretson is a nationally recognized authority on landscaping and garden design. He has spoken frequently at industry events and many other consumer, university and trade symposiums across the U.S. He has published five books on gardening and landscaping, and is field editor and garden scout for Better Homes and Gardens. His articles have appeared in many local, regional and national magazines and newspapers. He is a six-time winner of the Garden Writers Association Garden Globe Award for Excellence in garden writing. He is the owner of Renegade Gardener Landscaping, a Hennepin County master gardener and belongs to other organizations important to the field of gardening.

Participants customize their day, choosing four sessions of interest in addition to the keynote from the many breakout sessions including: 12 Must Have Vegetables; 2013 New Perennials; Adding Season-Long Color to Your Landscape; All American Vegetable Winners; Annual and Perennial Open Chat; Apples and Other Fruit for Zone 3; Container Gardening Through the Seasons, Part I and II; Ferns, Part I and II; Flower Disease: A Public/Plant Health Perspective; Gardening with Native Plants; Ground Covers: Cooling Your Soils and No Mowing; Grow Nutritious Food Year Round: Microgreens and Sprouts; Growing Herbs in Minnesota; Healthy Lawns; Heirloom Plants from Seed to Harvest; How Plants Get their Names; Lakeshore Landscaping: Using Wildflowers and Shrubs; New Shrubs; Power and Permanence: Using Natural Stone in the Landscape; Summer Bulbs; and The Essential Gardener’s Bookshelf.

This workshop has sessions to please all levels of gardeners and exciting vendors to visit and see all the latest and newest in the gardening world. Numerous door prizes will also be given.

Early-bird registration is $30 if received by March 13. Anyone interested in registering after March 13 should do so the day of the event at the door for a $35 cost. Registration includes refreshments, lunch and sessions. To register or to receive more information, contact the University of Minnesota Extension, Douglas County office by phone at (320) 762-3890 or e-mail mnext-douglas@umn.edu. For a full brochure with registration material, visit the website www.extension.umn.edu/county/douglas and look under hot topics on the homepage. The Extension office is located in the Douglas County Service Center Building (same building as the Douglas County Library and License Bureau) located at 720 Fillmore Street in Alexandria to register in person.

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