North Country Maturing Gardener

GARDENING CHORES FOR FEBRUARY

2012-02-02T17:13:00.001-05:00

FEBRUARY

Bring home some wonderful blooming flowers to enjoy around the house!

Look around the garden (if it isn't covered by snow) and be sure none of your perennials have been heaved out of the ground by frost. If they have, press them back down.

Remove any heavy snow from the evergreens.

This is the time to get out and take a good look at your trees to see if they could stand somepruning. It is easy to see whether there are broken or diseased branches now that there are no leaves.

Are you ordering from those catalogs? This is the time to plan on making your dreams come true! At least in the garden.

As you look around the neighborhood, make note of plants that have "winter interest". Find out what they are and plan to add them to your garden when the weather is better!

Trees are easy to identify in the winter because all the leaves are gone. However, you have no leaves to use to help you either...so go to the book store and buy a Winter Tree Identification Guide. It's kind of fun identifying trees by their shapes, and the kids love doing it as well.

If you haven't done it already, sharpen those tools-and while you're at it, organize them as well.

Before you know it, it will be time to roll out the lawn mower. Has it been serviced? Get it to the shop before everyone else beats you to it.

If you have grapes, prune the vines now. If you wait until it begins to warm up, they will "bleed".

If you start vegetable seeds this month or next, try using clear topped take-home trays that you get leftovers in, from restaurants. They work really well!

Force some of your spring blooming twigs for indoor color. Try fruit trees, forsythia, dogwood, pussy willow and quince. Just bring them inside and allow them to sit in a large vase with water.

Keep those bird feeders full.

Be sure to keep the leaves of indoor plants "dusted". It helps to wipe them with a damp cloth to keep the pores open.

GARDENING CHORES FOR JANUARY

2012-01-01T17:13:00.001-05:00

JANUARY

Start looking for those wonderful gardening catalogues!
Start a gardening journal. You can use a notebook, a calendar or even a real gardening journal you buy at the book store!
This is a good time to check old seeds for viability. While you're there, paste a label on the envelope indicating when they should be planted, and whether they need soaking first. Then sort them according to that timetable!
Your indoor plants get pretty dry at this time of year. Try misting them. (Don't mist African Violets, however!) All plants should be watered sparingly during the winter. Standing them in a tray of wet gravel is a wonderful treat for any indoor plants in the winter.
Turn indoor plants every week or so in order to keep their growth even.

Check those indoor plants for insects and give them a soapy bath if you find any!
Remove any heavy snow from evergreens. Be careful! If it is icy, wait until it melts.
Try stamping a circle around the trunks of fruit trees that might be vulnerable to rodent damage.
Put your Christmas tree outside to provide shelter for the birds.
You can also smear the branches with peanut butter mixed with corn meal.
The birds will love it!
Another use for that tree would be to cut some boughs off and lay them on top of your flower beds to add extra protection.
Keep those bird feeders full.

POINSETTIA CARE AT HOME

2011-12-11T13:56:00.005-05:00

My husband recently had a hip replacement. Today at church he received a poinsettia from the Women's Fellowship. When I got it home, I realized that a lot of folks are either receiving gift poinsettias, as we did, or are buying them. It would be good to know how to treat them once they enter your home.

Here is another link that I think would be very helpful in caring for your new plant properly. It is from the Ohio State University. The other link also has helpful information. Enjoy them both!

GARDENING CHORES FOR DECEMBER

2011-12-04T22:08:00.000-05:00

DECEMBER

If you can, dig a hole to put your live holiday tree in. Store the soil you dig out in the garage, or other non-frozen place so you can just dump it into the hole after the tree is planted!

Have you made "tee-pee's" to cover your smaller shrubs, protecting them from snow loads? Be sure they are out in the garden, doing their job! You can also wrap the plants, or shrubs in burlap.

Plant your pre-cooled bulbs in pots for some wonderful indoor color. Put them first in a cool and dark spot to begin growing roots. Water them, so they don't dry out.

Remove decorative foil from gift plants. Set the plants into waterproof containers, after placing a layer of gravel in the bottom (of the outside pot) so the plant doesn't sit in water. Plants are far more harmed by too MUCH water, than too little!

Poinsettias should be in moist, NOT wet soil.

Fertilize houseplants.

If you haven't done it yet, put stakes around your gardens bordering driveways and roads where plowed snow might harm them. The stakes will guide the plow elsewhere!

Save hardwood ashes to amend the soil in the spring. If your compost pile is not covered, the ashes can go right in there.

Think about gardening tools, equipment and books as Christmas gifts.

Go to a gardening seminar.

Take a gardening break!

CAN I STILL PLANT SPRING BULBS?

2011-11-09T09:26:00.003-05:00

Sure, you can still plant bulbs! As long as the ground is not frozen yet.

I'm seeing lots of sales around for bulbs. Take advantage of them. You're planting the bulbs pretty much below the frost level. They will work on building roots and a larger bulb all winter and reward you in the spring.

So, go ahead and splurge! Get some wonderful bulbs. You'll be glad you did come spring.

GARDENING CHORES FOR NOVEMBER

2011-10-31T16:58:00.000-04:00

NOVEMBER

Now's the time to plant paperweight narcissus, hyacinths and amaryllis (indoors) for beautiful color and aroma on New Year's Day!

If you've had enough freezing days to render the ground hard,
begin to mulch roses and other shrubs, etc.

Putting wire guards on the bases of tree trunks will prevent mouse
damage.

Wrap plants in burlap for winter protection. Do NOT use plastic!
They can't breathe any better inside plastic than you can.

If you haven't fertilized your lawn or garden yet, now's the time!

Use anti-desiccant to prevent loss of water during the long winter if you haven't already.

It's a good idea to be sure your power equipment works properly. Now is the best time to take them to the shop for repairs and upkeep.

Wrap the trunks of smaller trees with plastic wrap, or wire mesh to protect them from rodents.

Add leaves and the last bits of cut grass to the compost.

Cover your compost heap or bin with plastic to keep the nutrients from being leached out from winter rain and snow.

Water your trees and shrubs until the ground freezes.

As you do that, check them for diseased foliage and remove it. Remember anything diseased should go into the garbage, NOT the compost.

If you have any left over bulbs, for goodness sake PLANT THEM NOW!!! (Assuming you live where the ground is still soft enough to plant!)

Are you going to have a live Christmas Tree? Dig the hole now, then cover the hole and the dirt you removed, so you can easily plant it when the time comes.

GARDENING CHORES FOR OCTOBER

2011-10-01T21:33:00.005-04:00

OCTOBER

You can still plant spring bulbs.

Scatter a slow-release fertilizer (formulated especially for bulbs) on top of the soil after planting the bulbs. Remember to scatter this fertilizer over other beds of bulbs as well.

If you have gladiolus, this is the time to dig the corms up.

This is a wonderful time to fertilize both lawn and garden

Plant cool and warm-season lawns

Move worm bins to basement or garage to maintain at least 40* through the winter months

Divide a clump of chives and bring indoors

If you haven't lifted your dahlias yet, this would be the time!

Bring any plants that are growing in containers inside for the
winter. If they are hardy enough to remain outside all winter, tip the pots on their sides so any accumulated water will drain out. Although they should be able to stand the temperatures, ice can definitely be a problem!

Be sure to bring clay pots inside so they don't freeze causing cracking.

Reduce feeding houseplants(do not feed dormant houseplants)

Start a dish of paperwhites, and if you want a winterlong indoor display, plant a few more every other week.

Give your compost pile a final turning.

Try to keep the fallen leaves raked off the lawn. Put them in
the compost, shredding them first if possible, or mix them really well as they tend to compact.

Be sure that you have removed any foliage from your Iris plants. This foliage, if not discarded, can harbor Iris Borers over the winter. You surely don't want to see them in the spring!

You can plant garlic now for next years harvest. It's the perfect time to order and plant them so they have time to begin growing roots before winter sets in.

Mark any perennials you want to separate so you can find them
next spring.

Clean and oil your tools so they won't rust over the winter.

Plant container and balled-and-burlapped trees, fruit trees, shrubs and vines.

Put some rodent protection around the trunks of new trees. This can be in the form of hardware cloth or other substances you can get in the garden center or hardware store. This will protect the trunks from damage over the winter from hungry little critters.

Other trees can also be planted now.

Keep watering the shrubs and evergreens.

Plant container roses and prune your hybrid tea roses. Start preparing your roses for winter. They should be mulched when the ground begins to freeze.

If your roses had signs of black spot or other foliage diseases you should remove the the leaves so it doesn't recur again next year. Once a hard freeze has beaten down your garden, remove the leaves from the affected roses, as well as any mulch that might have remnants of those infected leaves, and throw it into the garbage (NOT the compost-you do not want to spread it throughout the garden next year). Bite the bullet and add new winter mulch.

Cut back your perennials and put the foliage in the compost as long is it's not diseased. If there is green at the base, leave about 4-5 inches of leaves.

Try to leave about 4 inches of stem on the lilies you cut back. In the spring, they appear rather late. By leaving some of the stem, you'll know where they are hiding in the garden!

Leave the ornamental grasses. They look quite attractive in the winter garden.

Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials

Try using evergreen boughs over your shrubs to provide winter
protection. They can be forced into the ground before the ground freezes, draping their branches over the shrubs.

You can of course, also protect evergreens with burlap barriers. Do NOT use plastic!

Pull out your annuals and put them in the compost

It's time to store your hoses inside. Remember to drain them first
so they don't freeze and split!

Bring in any annual geraniums! Potted, in a sunny spot they will bloom all winter. Or hang them upside down (with the dirt removed) in a cool spot like the garage, or basement.

Get those bird feeders up! Be sure you have cleaned them first!

GYPSY MOTH CONTROL/VIRUS

2011-09-12T08:38:00.004-04:00

I can remember many years ago when we lived in Connecticut, there was a huge Gypsy Moth outbreak. It was awful. It rained Gypsy moth caterpillars! We put sticky collars on the trees to capture them. The marks from the sticky collars remained for MANY years afterwards. Gypsy Moths were the scourge of the season that year.

This morning I read about a virus that is now being used VERY EFFECTIVELY against Gypsy Moths. Here is the link. I think you will find it to be a very interesting article!

GARDENING CHORES FOR SEPTEMBER

2011-09-07T10:46:00.005-04:00

SEPTEMBER

Seed or over seed new lawns before the leaves begin to fall.

Fertilize your perennials and shrubs... it will help them make
it through the winter.

To keep your bulbs in top-notch condition while giving you lots of flowers, scatter a 5-10-20 fertilizer on top of the ground above them.

Japanese Beetles lay eggs at about this time, so treat your lawn with beneficial nematodes that will control the grubs.

Stop pruning shrubs. This will encourage new growth, which should be avoided. Any new stuff will be nipped by frost which is NOT good for the plant!

If you haven't divided your herbaceous perennials, such as daylilies, irises, hostas and peonies, get it done soon. Remember the soil is still nice and warm even if the temperature drops at night. It allows the roots time to settle in and establish themselves before winter sets in! This is what makes fall such a good time to plant!

Plant some fall mums!

Allowing hips to form on your roses tells the plant to harden off for winter. So, you should probably stop picking the blooms for the table!

Water your peonies and shrubs very heavily. It will have to last
until spring.

This is the time to divide peonies.

Put all your non-diseased plant debris in the compost bin,
adding a bit of soil as well, to help get the chemistry moving!

If you haven't done a soil test... now is the time. Call your
local Extension Office for information.

Dig up your gladiola, dahlia and tuberous begonia corms.

Lily bulbs become dormant this time of year, so it's time to move or divide them right now. The bulbs are "fleshy" so treat them gently. Replant them at the same depth as they were before and remember they like well drained, soft soil. If there are little bulbs present, separate them and plant them at about 3 times their height.

Poinesttias should now be put in their dark corner for at least 16 hours each day in order to set up their bracts to be colorful by Christmas time.

I would suggest that you begin removing blossoms from your tomato plants. This will tell the plant it's time to ripen up the tomatoes left on the vine, and stop putting out more. (Unless you want green tomatoes, that is!)

Watch for migrating Monarch Butterflies that are beginning to head south to spend the winter in Mexico.

Also, look for Broad-Winged Hawks that are migrating about now.

Start preparing your indoor plants to come back inside, being sure they are in before frost. You need to be sure they don't have insects hiding anywhere. You also want to clean off the pots, especially if they were sunken into the soil for their summer sojourn!

Your amaryllis can come inside and go into a dark, cool corner.

Take down your Hummingbird feeders at the end of the month, if you haven't already.

BULBS! PLANT THEM! And by the way, try this link for ALL kinds of information about what, when, and HOW to plant the bulbs in your area!

A SKUNK COMES TO VISIT!

2011-08-23T08:47:00.003-04:00

Fortunately our skunk was not in a spraying mood. He was looking for something to eat. Whether he found it or not is in question. The lawn is a shambles!

We saw him the other night as we were driving out to a meeting at about dusk. He is beautiful. He is also rather serene and self assured. Obviously, he fears no one, or animal!

Here is a website that does a pretty good job of describing skunks and their habits. It helps you understand how to deal with them.

At any rate, he's not a real hazard at this point. He's not "stinking" up our environment. He hasn't settled in any place close by, to my knowledge. But he sure is destroying the lawn!

At Vacant Homes, Foraging for Fruit - NYTimes.com

2011-08-15T08:12:00.002-04:00

I saw this in the NY TImes. It's an interesting point. What do YOU think???

At Vacant Homes, Foraging for Fruit - NYTimes.com

GARDENING CHORES FOR AUGUST

2011-08-04T10:35:00.001-04:00

AUGUST

Make some notes on what you need to add to next years garden while
you can see what's blooming!

Dig potatoes after the tops have died down.

Prune off those strawberry runners to keep your strawberry bed orderly.

Buy fall mums.

Water any newly planted shrubs and trees.

Stop pruning shrubs.

Don't fertilize anymore until the leaves begin to change color. If you fertilize late in the summer, it causes a flush of growth which will probably be "nipped" by frost. So, hold off a bit.

Water evergreens thoroughly during dry weather.

Sow forget-me-not seed. The make an attractive carpet planting
for tulip beds

This is also a good time to sow poppy seeds! August sown seed gives richer-colored flowers, so give that a try.

Cut off foliage of bleeding heart, which has probably become unsightly.

Apply fertilizer around peonies and scratch it into the soil. If you want to transplant or divide them, this would be the time.

Treat for Powdery Mildew. Try this recipe: 1 1/2 tablespoon baking soda, 1 gallon of water and 2-3 tablespoons of horticultural oil. Spray it on all the susceptible plants every other week or so.

Plant colchicum's and fall crocuses.

Order your bulbs if you haven't already!

Cuttings from English Ivy now will produce good house plants for
winter.

Are you remembering the lawn mower should be set at 2 1/2 to 3 inches to help the grass stay hydrated? Cutting the grass lower will be very stressful!

Reseed any bare spots in the lawn with some mixed grass seed varieties. Be sure to pick a mixture that is best for your conditions.

If you have an amaryllis outside, now would be the time to think about
bringing it inside.

Still time to sow lettuces and greens, carrots, beets and turnips (don't worry about how big they get...they ALL taste wonderful while still immature!) Then of course, there areradishes. Be sure to keep all of these well watered, also, a bit of mulch will keep the tender roots cool. As far as avoiding early frosts, a row cover will help there!

Get some netting over the blueberries! Remember the birds and small animals are great at crawling UNDER and THROUGH the netting. Try staking it so they can't reach the berries from the outside. If they get in, you'll live to regret it. Talk about a mess!!!

Have you got Hosta's? Are there slugs chewing them? Try this solution, if you haven't already.
Combine 9 parts water to 1 part common household ammonia and spray it on the hosta just before dark. When the slugs hit this, they will dissolve!

Your plants in hanging baskets and containers have been roaring through the nutrients in their soil. It's time to give them a trim and a good feeding to help them continue to flourish.

It's a good time to plant perennials, shrubs and trees. This will allow them to establish some good roots before the ground freezes.

GARDENING CHORES FOR JULY

2011-07-01T22:04:00.000-04:00

JULY

Order spring bulbs now for the best selection

Fertilize plants growing in containers

Direct seed kale seed for fall harvest

Sow a fall crop of peas

Pinch basil plants to promote bushiness

Side dress vegetables with nitrogen

If your vegetables are not yielding as much as you'd like, plant some high nectar flowers in the vegetable garden to attract more bees and other pollinators.

Pict the zucchini while it's young and tender.

Put nets over blueberries to protect them from birds. While you're there, give them a little fertilizer as well.

Remove fruiting raspberry canes after you've harvested the berries.

Control the growth of strawberry runners. If you don't trim them back to where you want them, they will be all leaves and no berries!

Dead-head (prune off) all your spent blossoms

It's a good time to sow seed of biennials and perennials

Cut back delphiniums when they are finished flowering. A complete
fertilizer at this time may encourage a second blooming.

Chrysanthemums will give a better fall display if fertilized a
bit now. You can continue pinching them back until mid-July for more blooms.

Try planting a clump of moisture loving Japanese iris where it can catch the water dripping from your air conditioner!

Madonna lilies should be divided as soon as the flowering period
is over.

Oriental poppies may be moved. Summer is the only time of the
year they can be divided successfully. Dig up the roots and cut them into 2 inch pieces and replant them in their new location.

Dahlias require little artificial watering in a normal season,
but should be soaked once a week during drought

Water your roses at least once a week

Floribunda roses will flower all summer if the old flower clusters
are snipped off regularly

This is the time for transplanting iris. Trim back foliage and only replant healthy, firm rhizomes. Set them quite close to the surface!

In fact, this is the best time to divide spring blooming perennials.

Start cuttings of coleus, geraniums, begonias and other plants
you want inside for the winter.

The snow-in-summer should be pruned hard as it makes such rapid
growth at this time

When you trim deciduous hedges(ie,privot)be sure the sides slope out toward the bottom to be sure that sunlight reaches the base of the plants.

Wisteria's may be pruned now

Be sure that you dead-head all your daylilies. They will attempt do make seeds if you don't do this. You want them to build stronger roots. Daylilies will bloom more profusely next time if you remove spent blooms. Dead heading will also give you the possibility of a "re-bloom"!

This is a good time to attack Poison Ivy! Using discardable plastic gloves, cut the stems and paint the open wound with an herbicide on a HOT, SUNNY day!

When you weed, grab the flowering ones first so they don't go to seed and spread! Then go after the tallest ones that are just taking over your other plants. Pick on the little guys last.

Watch for tomato hornworm and hand pick them.

POISON IVY!

2011-06-16T19:09:00.010-04:00

What could possibly be more maddening than Poison Ivy? It itches enough to drive you right out of your skin. It looks awful. It oozes. It spreads. It's almost impossible to live comfortably when it afflicts you. But, WHAT is it? WHERE do we get it? And HOW do we avoid it? After we've gotten it, HOW do we get rid of it, or at least make ourselves comfortable.

I have a good friend who has managed to "catch" it. I feel badly for her and any others of you who are unfortunate enough to get it. So, let's talk about it.

What is it? Let's look at this website on POISON IVY and get a lesson in the basics.

Here's another link that explains some of the allergic reactions to Poison Ivy, Sumac or Oak as well as ways to treat it, or at least make yourself more comfortable. Remember to wash your skin thoroughly as SOON as possible after contact.

There is another way we can be exposed to these outrageous plants, and that's through our pets. They walk or run through it and pick up the wax on their fur. At that point they come in and smother us with affection, passing that lovely stuff onto OUR skin. If you know they've had contact with it, it might be time for a doggie bath. Just be sure to wear plastic gloves!!!

Here are some more pictures of the offending plants with additional information from the Virginia Extension Service.

The final question will be how to get rid of it. This article has some good information to help you in this most difficult of projects!

The problem here is that in order to work with the plant, you must really protect yourself VERY thoroughly. Be ready to throw the clothing, that might even touch it, into the trash! If you are serious about doing something, here is a pretty good technique, that I have used with great success. The problem is that you STILL will have to get rid of the plant. Be prepared to put it CAREFULLY into a large black trash bag. (Have pity on the trash man, PLEASE!)

Get a pair of pruners, on a VERY hot sunny day. Cut the main stem of the offending plant totally. PAINT a liquid, systemic, plant killer on the root side of the cut stem. The plant will be thirsty on this hot, dry day and will suck up that systemic herbicide...right down to the roots! Be sure to be generous. Try to get the upper, separated plant into that black plastic bag and dispose of it in the trash. Hopefully, the part of the plant still left in the ground will falter and get really SICK. You may have to do this a few times, in fact, maybe for a few years. But, it will definitely be worth it!

I hope these web-sites will be helpful. They tell the story so much better than I can. Good luck!

GARDENING BOOKS WITH REVIEWS

2011-06-02T12:20:00.007-04:00

I'm going to try something I have not done before. I'm going to review GARDENING BOOKS, and then give you the link to Amazon so you can get it if it piques your curiosity.

I'll start today by reviewing books I have and USE every day in my gardening. I use them to answer questions I get on-line. I use them for my own edification. AND I thought enough of them to actually BUY and use them in the first place.

The first review is one on a book I received as a gift many, many years ago when I built my very first garden. It was given to me by my mother, who was a wonderful gardener. She felt it was the best book she knew, and it sure was that for me. I have used that gift, and then updated editions for over 50 years!!! I have given it as gifts to my own children who also use it all the time with their own gardening.

The book is "The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening". Here is a link that will get you right to it at Amazon. Check it out!

What I love about this book is that everything is alphabetized, so it's EASY to find the information you need. If you know it by a different name, it will help you get where you want to go. The directions are clear and easy to follow. Like the encyclopedia it is, there is no index to confuse you. It's a book that will serve you well from Veggies to the most sophisticated espalier; from fertilizers to topdressing! Whatever you want to find out about? It's here... in ONE place! ENJOY!

TURTLE RESCUE

2011-06-01T16:14:00.006-04:00

Well, today I had my first turtle rescue of the year.

Before the summer is over, I will probably have helped 4 or 5 of them to the other side of the road. This is the time of year they leave their usual digs, and head for a place to lay their eggs. They will often have to cross a road to get there. It is very important that you keep them heading in the direction you find them going, or they'll just turn around and cross the road again. They know where they are going. It's not up to us to decide for them!

Here is a link you can visit to read some more about this and how important it is to help these little guys!

And, while you're at it, if you'd like to identify the turtle you help, here's a link from Rhode Island with pictures and descriptions.

GARDEN CHORES FOR JUNE

2011-05-31T07:21:00.001-04:00

JUNE

Plant your window boxes

Prune spring flowering shrubs when they have finished blooming

Thin seedlings

Use balanced, organic fertilizers around flowers

Be sure to fertilize your annuals with liquid fertilizer. They'll thank you for it by blooming continuously!

Stake tall perennials and tomatoes

Use a pine needle mulch for blueberries

Be sure your lawn mower is set to cut the grass HIGH

After the iris are done blooming they can be divided

Gladiolus corms can be planted

Dead-head (prune off) spent flowers from plants and shrubs

Remove rhubarb seed stalks as they form.

Cutting back perennials such as dianthus, veronica and other similar shrubby varieties, will possibly produce a second blooming. How great would that be? They'll also look better!

You can make softwood cuttings of shrubs this month through July.

You may still plant container grown shrubs

Plant broccoli seed for fall harvest.

If you have a water garden, there's still time to plant water
lilies.

House plants can soon be moved outside to a shady, protected spot.

These same houseplants can be lightly fed with half strength
fertilizer.

Mulch perennials and roses to keep down weeds and conserve moisture.

Look for Jap. beetles either early or late in the day and shake them into a bucket of soapy water. The reason you don't do it mid-day is because they'll out run you!

Any annuals can be safely set out now.

If you have an amaryllis, now would be the time to move it outside.

Pinch the leading stems of your chrysanthemum's to encourage them to
be bushier and have more blossoms. Continue doing this every 6 inches
or so, as they grow.

If you have apple trees, hang red sticky-ball traps to control apple maggot flies. Small trees can get by with 2 balls. Larger trees should probably have 4-6 balls.

Stop cutting asparagus when the new spears get pinkie-finger thin. Let them grow into ferns instead. It will feed the roots.

Side-Dress Veggies to give them a little boost

Are you remembering to turn the compost every once in a while? You should also wet it down if the hose is close by. Doing this will help it decompose quicker although it will eventually happen anyway!

Mow down any daffodil drifts as they die down.

Order your bulbs so they arrive in time to plant in the autumn.

GARDEN CHORES FOR MAY

2011-05-02T20:14:00.000-04:00

MAY

Tulips should be dead-headed (remove spent flower)

The grass can be mowed when it reaches 3-4 inches (sorry, but
it IS that time again!) When you do cut it, set the mower to 2 1/2 to 3 inches.

Hold off mulching until the soil is warm, or you'll just keep
the cold in!

You can now plant lettuce, beans, corn and carrots right in the
soil.

Tomatoes can be planted when the lilacs bloom. You might sprinkle
a teaspoon of Epsom salts into the hole where they go to provide magnesium.

Marigolds, zinnias and even nasturtiums are good to plant in and around
your vegetables as well as the flower beds. They repel insects!

You can begin to plant gladiolas at 2 week intervals.

This is a good time to weed dandelions, before they flower and set seed!

You can fertilize any bulbs that are up.

Stake your peonies before they get too big. This applies to other tall growing plants. Get the stakes in the ground before they get too tall. (Remember to try rebar.)

Cut back your tall perennials like bee balm and phlox to control their height.

Harvest rhubarb by grabbing it at the base of the stalk and pulling firmly away from the crown, twisting just a bit. Be sure to throw the leaves into the compost as they are poisonous!

You can prune your spring blooming shrubs just as soon as the flowers have faded.

Dead head your lilacs.

Check your lilies for red lily leaf beetles. CRUSH them!

Don't forget to dead head your bulbs as well. Leave the foliage, but take out the spent flower heads.

Have you got Hosta's? Are there slugs chewing them? Try this solution, if you haven't already.
Combine 9 parts water to common household ammonia and spray it on the hosta just before dark. When the slugs hit this, they will dissolve!

Check the apple, cherry, and other fruit trees for nests of tent caterpillars. As soon as the tender, new leaves emerge, so will the caterpillars. Their destruction is just awful! Bt will work if you can get it up there. I also understand that the Praying Mantis is a big time enemy of tent caterpillars. Perhaps you should order some of those! They should be released into the affected tree at the same time the caterpillars emerge. If you place them before their dinner appears, they will find another yard to in which to chow down.

If you have to spray insecticide, do it AFTER bloom is finished to protect the bees!

Plant Annuals no sooner than May 30th!

WINTER'S WRATH SHOWS UP NOW!

2011-04-14T10:49:00.003-04:00

Oh, my! The snow is just about all gone, but what appears now is just not nice!

This was a hard winter. We had a number of storms that brought down trees and branches. Those storms blew debris around in places it shouldn't be, and just in general, left a mess.

So, it's time to prioritize my EARLY spring jobs.

The first order of business is to check for color wherever it might be. There should be crocus buds around the rock gardens. Little pearl hyacinths should be popping up next to the walk. Daffodil shoots should be pushing up in the driveway circle. I'll don my boots and head for the hinterlands of the garden.

Then it's "pick up sticks" time. I'll bring a big purple bucket along to toss all that debris into for dumping in my newest brush-pile.

After I've accomplished that, I think it will be time to find the grass/leaf rake and begin to pass it over the garden beds. It's good to do this before too many shoots come up. Most shoots will not be bothered by a leaf rake jostling it, but obviously, the earlier the better where that's concerned. I'll try to leave as much mulch as possible. It's always good to be prepared for a late season frost, so better to leave the covers on the beds as long as possible. When I'm done there, all that stuff will go into my poor, old, broken down compost bin. Actually, I lied. I'll put it NEXT to the bin. I need to let the compost thaw out so I can utilize it before dumping new compostables on top of it!!! Some things just need to go in the proper order.

When I'm done with those chores, I'll think about what to do next. (Probably nagging my husband, son and grandson about creating firewood out of the 4 trees that fell.)

RAIN!

2011-04-11T14:29:00.003-04:00

This morning it came! The skies blackened and even the birds got quiet. Something was surely "up".

The rumbling began and the "belly-whompers" followed. The rain slashed through our world and we can all realize that SPRING has indeed arrived! Or at least, MUD SEASON!

Our little brook has overflowed and flooded our meadow. The local river, the Wild Ammonosuc, looks like something from the far west. There's definitely "white water" there, although it is a muddy brown from all the debris it has picked up. The water is HIGH, and with snow still left all around, I know it will get higher if we get another rain storm like that one.

At any rate, it won't be long before the mud dries up and we can all get out in the garden

Remember DO NOT dig in your garden until the soil is dry enough to crumble when you make a mud-pie! If it hangs together like that pie you formed? It's too soon to work the soil. Be patient! That's another meaning for the word, "GARDENER"!

IS SPRING REALLY COMING?

2011-04-09T08:23:00.004-04:00

I guess it's getting close to the time I can begin looking for clues that spring might actually be coming????

We've been watching the piles of snow begin to diminish. This photo was taken two days ago. There is a thick snow pancake on the roof and I think it will take a rainfall to dislodge it. I'm getting pretty impatient.

At the front of the house, at the top of the rock garden, there's a spot without snow. I keep thinking there will be something popping up that's colorful, but the most colorful thing there is a bedraggled clump of hens and chicks. They are barely greenish.

HELP!

GARDENING CHORES FOR APRIL

2011-04-03T08:24:00.001-04:00

APRIL

This is a good time to get that soil tested. Then there will be time to amend it before the season gets into full swing!

Edge your flower beds to rid yourself of invading lawn rhizomes. Toss the edgings from this into the compost.

Rebar, the steel bars used to reinforce concrete and masonry, make great garden stakes. They're inexpensive, strong and durable and they come in a variety of sizes. You can find them in any building supply store.

Start up your lawn mower so you know it doesn't need a trip to the repair shop before grass cutting time. Also be sure the blades are SHARP.

Sharpen your other tools while you are at it!

The lawn would appreciate a good fertilizing at this time.

Avoid working in the garden unless the soil breaks up in your
hand if you squeeze a lump of it.

Instead, turn your compost (assuming it is no longer frozen!)

Hummingbirds begin to appear this month in some places. Clean
the feeders and hang them for the "early birds"

Sow peas in the ground as soon as the frost is gone

Continue with the tree pruning. Get rid of dead and diseased limbs

As soon as your shrubs are done blooming, prune them as well.

You can prune your berry bushes-check a reference or
ask me

This is a good time to pull out weed trees and old bramble branches. They tend to yank out easily because the soil is still soft and moist.

Remove mulch from strawberries

Put your trellis systems and peony supports into place.

Pansies and other cold weather annuals can now be planted outside

It is the time to divide and plant perennials as well as cutting any of last years remaining growth away. It's known as good housekeeping in the garden!

If you have any bare root plants going into the garden, soak them overnight before planting. Also be sure to trim off any super long or broken roots.

If you winter mulch your garden beds, begin to remove mulch when forsythia and daffodils bloom.

Try planting scented flowers near walks!

It's probably a good time to remove bird-feeders to discourage those bears!

MY OLD COMPOST BIN

2011-03-23T21:10:00.004-04:00

I'm so sad. As I look out in the yard, as the snow begins to melt, my old compost bin is peeking up out of the snow.

I made this compost bin myself the year I became a Master Gardener. That would have been 1988, so it's a few years old. At the time, we lived in Wethersfield, Connecticut, and I made the compost bin lovingly from cedar boards, using screws, rather than nails. I knew we'd be moving to NH, and I wanted to be able to take it along.

While in CT, it generated lots of good compost for me. Then when we did move north, I unscrewed it and re-screwed it back together again in North Haverhill.

It has generated SO much "Black Gold" in the time I've used it. I'd be willing to bet that EVERY plant I put in the ground either had that compost in with it's roots, or scratched into the surface of the soil around it.

So, it is with sadness I look at it now. The sides are leaning. The slats are finally rotting. The screws are slipping from their anchors. It looks a bit like I feel. I've reached that point in my gardening career when I need someone else to do the work, while I enjoy the plants that continue year after year.

About 5 or 6 years ago I made the decision to plant only perennials. That was a good decision. The perennials are doing pretty well. The compost which the bin generated, and I added to the plants over the years, has paid off.

So, goodbye compost bin. Thank you for all you did to help make an affordable and healthy garden. Thank you for accepting all the kitchen scraps that didn't need to be added to the trash. Thank you for looking (and being) rustic and utilitarian. Thank you for making me a true gardener. I will mourn your passing.

GARDENING CHORES FOR MARCH

2011-03-03T06:49:00.002-05:00

MARCH

Be sure to fertilize that poinsettia.

Check your stored bulbs to be sure they're not being eaten by
mice.

Also, remove forced bulbs from cold storage. Put them in a cool place until they begin to sprout, then bring them into the place you want to have them bloom.

This is a good time to buy summer blooming bulbs.

Start seeds inside.

Begonias can be started in peat moss.

If you haven't done so yet, start planning a new garden!

This is a good time to send in a soil sample for testing...if you can get to it!

If you have a lawn, this is a good time to send the mower in for
a tune-up.

Fruit trees should be pruned of dead and diseased branches. Check
a reference book and give them a general pruning as well.

It is time for Dormant Pruning. This is the process whereby you prune the trees while they are in a dormant (non-growing) state.

Keep your pruning shears away from spring blooming trees and shrubs, except to
snip a few for inside forcing! (Although you should certainly remove dead and diseased branches.) Some good forcing candidates are: cherry, apple, dogwood and forsythia. Just remember that whatever you cut off now will not be blooming in a few months!

Cut back woody perennials like artemesia, lavender and russian sage to about 6 inches from the ground.

Talk about pruning shears...sharpen them before using.

If any of your plants are frost-heaved, gently push them back into the ground.

PLEASE LET WINTER PASS FROM MY GARDEN!

2011-02-25T12:57:00.004-05:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm really tired of winter about now. At the moment, it's snowing. Not only is it snowing, it appears to be getting dumped by the bucketload from the sky. Stop!

The birds are of course, happy for the feeders. So are the squirrels. Usually, I only have red squirrels, but this year the gray ones are coming out of the woods to chomp on the wooden feeder that sits atop a pipe (with a squirrel baffle on it, by the way.)

The squirrels have dug little tunnels all over the yard under the snow. It is kind of fun to watch them disappear down one, only to reappear 20 feet away. I just worry about what plants those little tunnels go to. Little critters can do a lot of damage to shrubs and tender, smaller trees by chewing the trunks. When the tunnels lead them to the most tender, of the tender trees, look out for trouble later.

I guess we should be happy so far this year with a good heavy snow cover. It has not been a year of snow, followed by thaws and rains, and then snow again. This is healthy for the plants lying underneath. The plants are kept from heaving and freezing in waves. That should indicate a good year for our perennials waiting to burst forth, come warmer days. I'll bet they can't wait. Just like me.

BIRDS ARE HAPPY FOR THE FEEDERS!

2011-02-20T07:52:00.001-05:00

I'm glad the feeders are up. All this snow has covered up a lot of the usual feeding grounds, I guess. The birds are coming in flocks, and I love seeing them. I wonder when we will see the ground again?

If you can get to your young, vulnerable trees, you might want to tramp around the trunks so the little critters won't tunnel up to them and nibble the bark. They can wipe out a tree pretty quickly by chewing the bark all the way around.

STOP SNOWING ALREADY!

2011-02-08T12:47:00.004-05:00

It's snowing yet again. We have at least 4 feet of snow on the ground. We can hardly get the shoveled snow up over the piles. This is ridiculous!

NEW HAMPSHIRE SPRING GARDENING SYMPOSIUM

2011-02-03T12:04:00.004-05:00

I thought you might be interested, if you live close enough to attend!

Welcome Spring 2011

sponsored by UNHCE and NH Master Gardener Association

"Begin with the Basics, Finish with a Flourish!"

Grappone Conference Center,

70 Constitution Ave, Concord, NH
www.grapponeconferencecenter.com

Saturday, March 19, 8-4:00

Click here

for information and registration. This event is open to the public so spread the word with your garden clubs and gardening friends.

GARDENING CHORES FOR FEBRUARY

2011-01-31T07:44:00.002-05:00

FEBRUARY

Bring home some wonderful blooming flowers to enjoy around the house!

Look around the garden (if it isn't covered by snow) and be sure none of your perennials have been heaved out of the ground by frost. If they have, press them back down.

Remove any heavy snow from the evergreens.

This is the time to get out and take a good look at your trees to see if they could stand some pruning. It is easy to see whether there are broken or diseased branches now that there are no leaves.

Are you ordering from those catalogs? This is the time to plan on making your dreams come true! At least in the garden.

Keep those bird feeders full.

Be sure to keep the leaves of indoor plants "dusted". It helps to wipe them with a damp cloth to keep the pores open.

SNOW IN THE GARDEN

2011-01-13T15:40:00.003-05:00

We DO live in Northern New England! We should expect to see snow in the winter. I know, this time it is a bit more than we bargained for, but here we are.

How much did you get? The storm dumped about 18 inches on top of the 8 or so we already had here in North Haverhill. There's a LOT of snow out there!

What happens in the garden with all this snow? Is it good, or bad for our gardens? It could be both, so lets talk about that a bit. It's mostly good.

One of the bad things is that it could break weaker branches on shrubs and small trees. I often advise people to take a broom, or shovel HANDLE and gently bump the branch you want to clear. That will make the snow cascade off. If it doesn't, stop. You don't want to cause any more damage. Branches can break under a heavy snow load. If it ices up, you could be in trouble.

But, let's talk about the good things.

Snow definitely insulates and protects the plants. That's why eskimos live in snow houses. It's warm in there. It also protects the ground from the repeated freezing and thawing that can play havoc with roots, bulbs and even seeds.

When the snow melts, it usually melts slowly, releasing liquid gently into the ground. This is good for the plants that are doing without hydration all winter long.

When you shovel, you can put the excess snow on plants that are living in sheltered places (like under the eaves-as long as you don't get too close to the house with the snow. You don't want water to become an issue inside as it melts.)

If you have a spot in the garden that becomes a mud-puddle, or quagmire in the spring and summer, avoid putting excess snow there.

Often we think that a plant is failing, or dying because it is suffering from the cold. Most of the time that is not the case. What does happen is that the plant, just like us, breathes. It, however, breathes through it's leaves. As it does that, it is losing moisture. So if this moisture is allowed to leave the plant without it getting any rehydration, the plant dries out. A plant needs to be sheltered from wind because the wind can speed up that drying process. This is why the snow is good. It helps by hydrating the plant all winter. This wind is also why gardeners often shield their shrubs with burlap.

If you get a warm spell, it is always helpful to give a shrub a good long drink. I realize that's not always possible because the hose is put away, and who needs the possibility of an icy spot. But, it does show you that if there had been snow under that shrub, it would have melted during the thaw and given the plant a drink.

So, don't worry about snow in the garden. It's mostly a very good thing!

A NEW AMARYLLIS IN THE HOUSE!

2011-01-07T14:57:00.006-05:00

Every few years someone blesses me with a new Amaryllis bulb with planter at Christmas. I'm always pleased because my amaryllis bulbs tend to slowly decline until I just leave them outside and they die of exposure! That's probably not something a gardener should admit, especially on the internet! But, indoor plants are not really my forte. We live in a rather dark, log cabin. We're in the woods as well, so what sun we get is usually to be found in the far reaches of our property. I have a Christmas/Easter Cactus that graces us with blooms each year, but not an overwhelming number. Just enough to let us know that they really DO bloom and they are SO beautiful.

Amaryllis bulbs are the same way. When they bloom, they take your breath away! At any rate, because of that I love it when I get one as a gift.

The last two times I've gotten them, they came with a small disk of dark brown "stuff". It's actually cocoa mulch and is it ever "cool". You put it in a few cups of water and within ten minutes, you've got a pot full of planting medium! It's clean, it's easy and it WORKS! No dirt, smell, grit or mess. Amazing.

(Check out this link for forcing your amaryllis bulb. You may learn something new.)

So, I followed the directions and planted my bulb in the dampened cocoa medium/mulch. It's now sitting on my dining room table growing before my eyes! It appears you can almost see it grow. Each morning we sit down for breakfast and my husband says, "That thing has grown another half inch overnight." And By George, it has! It is painless and joyful gardening. When it blooms, I will rejoice as I always do. Thank you God for Amaryllis bulbs!

WONDERFUL IDEAS FOR RECREATING DYING TOWNS

2010-11-19T08:53:00.003-05:00

I saw this article this morning in the NY Times.

Detroit has lost much of it's population over the last few decades. There is a ton of open space in the city. Here's what they are proposing to do with it. It sure makes sense to me!

Check it out!

Reimagining Detroit as Grow Town - NYTimes.com

BRINGING HERBS INSIDE

2010-11-08T08:43:00.002-05:00

I had a question about this and thought others of you might be interested in how to go about planting herbs inside for winter cooking.

After you dig up a few healthy looking sections of the herb, rinse off the leaves AND the roots to get rid of any unwanted critters that may be clinging to the plant.

Mix some potting soil (NOT from the garden) with some soil-less planting medium like vermiculite in a clean pot, and plant your newly cleansed herb in the pot. Keep the "soil" damp, but not soaked; put it in a sunny window and enjoy it throughout winter!

DEALING WITH SPRING BLOOMING BULBS

2010-11-03T18:34:00.005-04:00

There are those of you who are looking at a bag of bulbs and wondering what to do now. OR, you have a bed of bulbs that are so overcrowded they need to be divided. OR you just want to have a few more bulbs around the garden and you are unsure of how to take what you already have and plant some of it elsewhere.

Here is a link for Ohio State University Extension Service that gives you all the information you might need. Good luck!

GARDENING CHORES FOR NOVEMBER

2010-11-01T10:30:00.001-04:00

NOVEMBER

Now's the time to plant paperweight narcissus, hyacinths and amaryllis (indoors) for beautiful color and aroma on New Year's Day!

If you've had enough freezing days to render the ground hard,
begin to mulch roses and other shrubs, etc.

Putting wire guards on the bases of tree trunks will prevent mouse
damage.

Wrap plants in burlap for winter protection. Do NOT use plastic!
They can't breathe any better inside plastic than you can.

If you haven't fertilized your lawn or garden yet, now's the time!

Use anti-desiccant to prevent loss of water during the long winter, if you haven't already.

It's a good idea to be sure your power equipment works properly. Now is the best time to take them to the shop for repairs and upkeep.

Wrap the trunks of smaller trees with plastic wrap, or wire mesh to protect them from rodents.

Add leaves and the last bits of cut grass to the compost.

Cover your compost heap or bin with plastic to keep the nutrients from being leached out from winter rain and snow.

Water your trees and shrubs until the ground freezes.

As you do that, check them for diseased foliage and remove it. Remember anything diseased should go into the garbage, NOT the compost.

If you have any left over bulbs, for goodness sake PLANT THEM NOW!!! (Assuming you live where the ground is still soft enough to plant!)

Are you going to have a live Christmas Tree? Dig the hole now, then cover the hole and the dirt you removed, so you can easily plant it when the time comes.

STAY RAIN, STAY!

2010-10-29T08:08:00.003-04:00

All that rain is wonderful for your garden.

Remember, a few weeks back, I told you to water the shrubs and small trees so they have enough water to get them through the winter? This is "natures" way of dealing with that. We are mere helpers!

So, be glad that nature is dealing with this issue as well. I don't know about you, but my hose is already dry and hung up for the winter. I don't water my garden any longer... but the rains will!

So be happy for fall rain.

I'M PUTTING MY OUTDOOR FURNITURE AWAY!

2010-10-17T16:18:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year again. It's time to stack the furniture on the side of the deck, and wrap the cushions in big plastic bags so they can be put into storage for the winter.

As you do that, you may find that some of the furniture has had a rough summer and perhaps needs replacement. As you may know, I'm recommending a Patio Set company where you might go to check prices and designs of patio furniture that could fit your needs. Now might be a good time to check it out. Sometimes it's best to make decisions like this when you're not in at a place in time where you need to make the decision "RIGHT NOW"!

A MOTORIZED WHEELBARROW

2010-10-14T21:26:00.003-04:00

The question was: "If you could invent anything, what would it be?

My response: A MOTORIZED WHEELBARROW.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if, after you had gardened a few hours and were exhausted, thirsty, grungy and not having a whole lot of energy left, you could pile your tools and unplanted plant materials into the wheelbarrow, push a little button, and VROOM, all you have to do is STEER the blooming thing? Oh, bliss!

I don't know about what your weather is tonight, but we have a prediction for possible snow at the higher elevations. Oh, my. I'm really not ready for that! The only blessing is that it WILL melt quickly, and you can still plant bulbs, if you haven't done it yet.

NEWS ON THE BEE COLONY COLLAPSE SYNDROME

2010-10-07T09:24:00.003-04:00

It appears there has been a breakthrough on the Bee Colony Collapse cause!

There was a long article on it in the NY Times today. Here is the link for the article. It will be an interesting read I assure you!

OH, SO WASTEFUL!

2010-10-06T09:21:00.005-04:00

I was asked today, "What's the most wasteful thing you do each day?"

Right now, I must respond with much GUILT, "I'm NOT composting!"

My husband had a hip replacement a couple of weeks ago and I am the "main nurse". I have managed to strain my back! Because of that, I can't turn the compost when I add to it. That is HUGELY important where we live because we have bears and raccoons. If I turn the compost, I never have a problem. But, if I don't, I get visitors I don't want!

So, to skirt that problem, I just don't do it. I hope all of you are composting in your yards, religiously. That would make me feel SOOOO much better!

I have imbedded two composting sites in this article. Try to visit them both. They are FULL of facts about how to go about utilizing your organic waste. You will NOT regret this little exercise. It's the very best thing you can do for your garden.

Good luck and thank you for helping me step beyond my guilt for being so wasteful!

GARDENING CHORES FOR OCTOBER

2010-10-03T19:24:00.002-04:00

OCTOBER

You can still plant spring bulbs.

This is a wonderful time to fertilize both lawn and garden

Plant cool and warm-season lawns

Move worm bins to basement or garage to maintain at least 40* through the winter months

Divide a clump of chives and bring indoors

If you haven't lifted your dahlias yet, this would be the time!

Be sure to bring clay pots inside so they don't freeze causing cracking.

Reduce feeding houseplants(do not feed dormant houseplants)

Start a dish of paperwhites, and if you want a winterlong indoor display, plant a few more every other week.

Give your compost pile a final turning.

Try to keep the fallen leaves raked off the lawn. Put them in
the compost, shredding them first if possible, or mix them really well as they tend to compact.

Be sure that you have removed any foliage from your Iris plants. This foliage, if not discarded, can harbor Iris Borers over the winter. You surely don't want to see them in the spring!

You can plant garlic now for next years harvest. It's the perfect time to order and plant them so they have time to begin growing roots before winter sets in.

Mark any perennials you want to separate so you can find them
next spring.

Clean and oil your tools so they won't rust over the winter.

Plant container and balled-and-burlapped trees, fruit trees, shrubs and vines.

Other trees can also be planted now.

Keep watering the shrubs and evergreens. (If you live in New England, I think you've had enough rain this year to keep those plants satisfied as far as water is concerned!)

Plant container roses and prune your hybrid tea roses. Start preparing your roses for winter. They should be mulched when the ground begins to freeze.

Cut back your perennials and put the foliage in the compost as long is it's not diseased. If there is green at the base, leave about 4-5 inches of leaves.

Try to leave about 4 inches of stem on the lilies you cut back. In the spring, they appear rather late. By leaving some of the stem, you'll know where they are hiding in the garden!

Leave the ornamental grasses. They look quite attractive in the winter garden.

Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials

Try using evergreen boughs over your shrubs to provide winter
protection. They can be forced into the ground before the ground freezes, draping their branches over the shrubs.

You can of course, also protect evergreens with burlap barriers. Do NOT use plastic!

Pull out your annuals and put them in the compost

It's time to store your hoses inside. Remember to drain them first
so they don't freeze and split!

Bring in any annual geraniums! Potted, in a sunny spot they will bloom all winter. Or hang them upside down (with the dirt removed) in a cool spot like the garage, or basement.

Get those bird feeders up! Be sure you have cleaned them first!

BRINGING IN THE CHRISTMAS/EASTER CACTUS

2010-09-17T11:41:00.003-04:00

I decided to bring the Christmas/Easter Cactus in today. I heard on the radio this morning, that we can expect a frost tonight. I call my plant Christmas/Easter Cactus, because both plants reside in the pot. Here is my cactus right after bringing it inside. It absolutely LOVES being outside during the summer, but it doesn't take kindly to frost. If you'd like to learn a little more about this cactus, visit the Christmas Cactus Organization page. It should answer any questions you have.

PREPARATION FOR WINTER-ALREADY!

2010-09-16T14:29:00.003-04:00

The nights are getting cooler and I'm wearing my fleece vest outside in the mornings. It appears that the seasons are moving right along. Climate waits for NO ONE!

So, what are one or two things you could be doing right now?

Lay the hose by your broad leaved evergreens (rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurels, etc.) and turn the water on VERY slowly. It should just seep into the ground. Put that hose by each shrub you can reach and let it gently soak into the ground for about 45 minutes per shrub. The more water those roots get in the autumn, the easier it will be for the plant to make it through the winter. You could do this every week until either a hard frost comes, or the ground begins to puddle. No need to drown the shrub either!!!

Next, turn your compost every week until again, it freezes or you just get too tired to do it any more! Be sure it's also gotten a fair share of water, as water is definitely part of the compost equation! During the winter, you can dump your fireplace ashes on the compost. It will be great for the garden in the spring. Of course there IS a limit. The compost shouldn't be ALL ashes, but working some in will be a great addition.

If you can't turn the compost during the winter (I can't... it's frozen) just be sure you put it by the side of the compost so you can add it next summer. It's really great stuff!

That's enough for a start. I'll post my October chores soon and that will include some more autumn jobs.

BUTTERFLIES

2010-09-07T07:20:00.005-04:00

This morning, while I was browsing through the internet, I came across a link for children to find out more (LOTS more) about butterflies. It has all kinds of information and pictures. It's a perfect site for kids who are interested in butterflies, to visit. It has coloring pages for little ones, and tons of information for older kids who might like to do a report on Butterflies. It's called Children's Butterfly Site and definitely worth a visit!

IS SUMMER GONE???

2010-09-06T07:50:00.003-04:00

Summer may just about be done. I have to admit it, even though I'd prefer not to. It is 50 degrees as I write this. The leaves are tumbling to the ground, and trees are beginning to show some color. I have written a blog on this phenomenon including an article that explains it thoroughly. If you'd like to know the reason the leaves change color in the autumn... visit this link!

I've got to get outside and turn the compost a few more times, actually quite a few more times, until it freezes. As usual, the animals have never visited it. I'm not quite sure why. Most folks have trouble up here in Northern New Hampshire with bears and raccoons, etc. visiting the compost. Maybe it's because I keep it relatively "turned" and covered with fresh soil every time I add anything to it. I also pour any water in my water catching tub over it every time it has rained. Whatever the reason, I'm happy.

GARDENING CHORES FOR SEPTEMBER

2010-09-01T09:14:00.006-04:00

SEPTEMBER

Seed or over seed new lawns before the leaves begin to fall.

Fertilize your perennials and shrubs... it will help them make
it through the winter.

To keep your bulbs in top-notch condition while giving you lots of flowers, scatter a 5-10-20 fertilizer on top of the ground above them.

Japanese Beetles lay eggs at about this time, so treat your lawn with beneficial nematodes that will control the grubs.

Stop pruning shrubs. This will encourage new growth, which should be avoided. Any new stuff will be nipped by frost which is NOT good for the plant!

Plant some fall mums!

Allowing hips to form on your roses tells the plant to harden off for winter. So, you should probably stop picking the blooms for the table!

Water your peonies and shrubs very heavily. It will have to last
until spring.

This is the time to divide peonies.

Put all your non-diseased plant debris in the compost bin,
adding a bit of soil as well, to help get the chemistry moving!

If you haven't done a soil test... now is the time. Call your
local Extension Office for information.

Dig up your gladiola, dahlia and tuberous begonia corms.

Also, look for Broad-Winged Hawks that are migrating about now.

Your amaryllis can come inside and go into a dark, cool corner.

Take down your Hummingbird feeders at the end of the month, if you haven't already.

BULBS! PLANT THEM! And by the way, try this website for ALL kinds of information about what, when, and HOW to plant the bulbs in our zone!

PATIO FURNITURE NEEDED?

2010-08-28T10:40:00.003-04:00

Well, it's getting close to that time of year when the patio furniture gets brought in. As you look at your outdoor furniture, you might deem it time to upgrade, or replace some of it. If you're serious about doing this, try going to Patioset.com. They are in the process of offering furniture for sale. You might just find exactly what you need!

BLACKBERRIES

2010-08-24T13:18:00.004-04:00

I just came inside from a circumnavigation of our gardens. That is where I find the wild Blackberries and Raspberries. All of the raspberries are gone by, but the blackberries are "in" or "coming in"! What a joy to be able to just go and pick the natural harvest of the woodlands around our home!

Blackberries are pretty vicious. Their thorns GRAB your skin, clothing and hats with unrequited joy it seems! But, they are worth the scratches and shrieks. There are tons of them that are still not ready, so assuming I can beat the local black bear, I should be able to have blackberries, fresh with our cereal or yogurt for awhile!

There are a few tricks to telling raspberries from blackberries. The blackberries have MUCH more viscous thorns. They just LOOK scary! Then of course, the fruit is very different. The raspberries are smaller. They are also red (the wild ones, anyway) and quite soft, so be careful when you pick them. The blackberries on the other hand just DARE you to go after them. But, as I said before, it's worth the trip! They will leave the stem readily when they are black and ready to be picked. Also, I have found that they are usually found on stems with a bit of "die-back". Brambles (raspberries and blackberries) fruit on year old branches which will die off after fruiting, so it makes sense that the branches are already beginning to fade. Anyway, that little clue will help you find the branches with fruit.

I put a link in the second sentence of this post. If you go there, you'll find all you need to know about growing raspberries and blackberries. Living where I do, I don't need to follow those directions, as I have more wild berries than I need. They are free, and don't take up any garden space. What more could I want???

TIME TO BUY DISCOUNTED PLANTS?

2010-08-19T07:51:00.003-04:00

Sure! Why not?

Many plant nurseries are tired of caring for those plants. They have struggled to keep them healthy through a long, hot, dry summer! Now it's time to make room for the chrysanthemums and other autumn flowers. What should they do with the old plants? Put them on sale!

Aim for the perennials that can spend the autumn and winter establishing themselves, and come up all beautiful in YOUR garden in the spring!

If you see perennials in some big box stores, check them carefully before buying. AND be sure they are plants that will flourish in your zone. Then give them a try. The prices are usually good at those stores anyway. I usually don't encourage buying plants there, but at half price or even less, why not give them a try? If they make it, you're ahead of the game. If they don't, well, I guess that's the way it goes.

AN ORGANIC GOLF COURSE AT MARTHA'S VINEYARD

2010-08-17T08:25:00.003-04:00

I LOVE IT!

I read this article in the New York Times this morning. We used to vacation on Nantucket, right across the water a piece, from Martha's Vineyard. They are beautiful places, and this surely fit's right into our "GREEN" outlook!

Try to go to this website and read the article. I think you'll like it!

BUCKET COMPOSTING

2010-08-06T08:23:00.002-04:00

I forgot to mention that some holes will need to be made in the bottoms of those buckets that I talked about yesterday. I think I'll go back and fix that right on the page! If there aren't holes, I'm sure the buckets would flood at the first rain!!!! Also, when shifting from one bucket to the next, it would probably be good to toss the stuff, bucket to bucket, to get it good and mixed.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF COMPOSTING!

2010-08-05T15:12:00.004-04:00

Well, this was different! I read about this technique on-line somewhere. I can't even remember where! (Sorry...)

Anyway, what you do is get 5 buckets. Line them up... numbered 1 through 5, in your minds eye anyway. Punch a few holes in the bottom of each bucket to allow water to drain.

When you have something to compost, throw it into bucket #1. Throw a little of #5 in there if there is any, just to cover anything that might attract critters. If #5 is empty, try a bit of #4.

The next time you have compost go to the bins. Toss #4 into #5; toss #3 into #4; toss #2 into #3; toss #1 into #2. Then there is an empty bucket ready to start the process over. Be sure when you do this to toss the compost, bucket to bucket, in order to mix it well. If some of the buckets are almost empty, wait for the next "dumping" to pass them on to the next bucket.

The idea is that by time "stuff" gets to bucket #5, it should be compost. Hmmm...

It sounds a bit simplistic. I'm not going to have 5 buckets standing in my yard. But, if you have a hidden space and abhor turning your compost, perhaps this is a way to do it.

Let me know what you think. Whether you try it or NOT! :-)

GARDEN CHORES FOR AUGUST

2010-08-01T07:06:00.002-04:00

AUGUST

Make some notes on what you need to add to next years garden while
you can see what's blooming!

Dig potatoes after the tops have died down.

Prune off those strawberry runners to keep your strawberry bed orderly.

Buy fall mums.

Water any newly planted shrubs and trees.

Stop pruning shrubs.

Don't fertilize anymore until the leaves begin to change color. If you fertilize late in the summer, it causes a flush of growth which will probably be "nipped" by frost. So, hold off a bit.

Water evergreens thoroughly during dry weather.

Sow forget-me-not seed. They make an attractive carpet planting
for tulip beds

This is also a good time to sow poppy seeds! August sown seed gives richer-colored flowers, so give that a try.

Cut off foliage of bleeding heart, which has probably become unsightly.

Apply fertilizer around peonies and scratch it into the soil. If you want to transplant or divide them, this would be the time.

Treat for Powdery Mildew. Try this recipe: 1 1/2 tablespoon baking soda, 1 gallon of water and 2-3 tablespoons of horticultural oil. Spray it on all the susceptible plants every other week or so.

Plant colchicum's and fall crocuses.

Order your bulbs if you haven't already!

Cuttings from English Ivy now will produce good house plants for
winter.

Are you remembering the lawn mower should be set at 2 1/2 to 3 inches to help the grass stay hydrated? Cutting the grass lower will be very stressful!

Reseed any bare spots in the lawn with some mixed grass seed varieties. Be sure to pick a mixture that is best for your conditions.

If you have an amaryllis outside, now would be the time to think about
bringing it inside.

Still time to sow lettuces and greens, carrots, beets and turnips (don't worry about how big they get...they ALL taste wonderful while still immature!) Then of course, there are radishes. Be sure to keep all of these well watered, also, a bit of mulch will keep the tender roots cool. As far as avoiding early frosts, a row cover will help there!

Your plants in hanging baskets and containers have been roaring through the nutrients in their soil. It's time to give them a trim and a good feeding to help them continue to flourish.

It's a good time to plant perennials, shrubs and trees. This will allow them to establish some good roots before the ground freezes.

SHOULD I CHANGE MY "THEME" TO GREEN GARDENING?

2010-07-27T08:37:00.006-04:00

I have been writing an article about "Green Gardening" that has me thinking that I should change my focus to "Green Gardening" rather than "Perennial Gardening". What do you, my followers think?

This morning there was an article in the NY Times about this very subject. Go to this link about Botanical Gardens and read what they have to say. It is rather interesting.

I never have been a "Garden Club Lady". I once joined a Garden Club and was not happy with the whole experience. I love gardening, but not necessarily the "tea and crumpets" portion of it, so when the opportunity to become a Master Gardener came up, I jumped at it and have NEVER regretted it!

I have generally dealt with perennials and flowers rather than the vegetables. I'm still not that inclined to get into veggies too wholeheartedly. BUT, I am VERY interested in Green Gardening. This is the ability to work real sustainability into your garden. It's about using less water and fewer chemicals; using native species; incorporating trees into the overall plan in order to cut down on wind in the winter and sun in the summer. It's about using the garden to HELP us in so many other ways than just looking pretty!

So, at this point look for a bit of a change in focus. I'll still be doing my normal "Master Gardener" things, but I'll try to focus more on the Green Gardening aspect. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment or two!

LATE BLIGHT

2010-07-21T15:33:00.006-04:00

I just received this note from our local NH Extension Educator. I thought all of my readers might just like to know about it. Keep your eyes open for symptoms. Check the website that is provided below for more information.

Two new cases of late blight were discovered this week. One in Waldoboro, ME and the other in Hadley, MA. So knock on wood, none in NH yet, but this does mean we need to be on the lookout. If you see any suspicious symptoms on your potatoes or tomatoes you can bring a sample to my office (please put it in a ziplock bag) or send me a digital photo. Samples can also be sent to our lab in Durham.

For the latest information including photos, please visit this website. http://extension.unh.edu/news/2010/06/late_blight_alert.html

*****************************************************************************************************************************
Heather Bryant
Extension Educator, Agricultural Resources
UNH Cooperative Extension
3855 Dartmouth College Highway (DCH), Box 5
No. Haverhill, NH 03774-4909

Tel. 603-787-6944

Fax. 603-787-2009

http://extension.unh.edu/Counties/Grafton/Grafton.htm

SUMMER IN THE GARDEN

2010-07-20T09:10:00.004-04:00

Joel is out in the garden this morning doing some relatively heavy gardening. We have a high-school boy helping with some of the gardening chores. He had cut the lawn (which is more of a field than a lawn!) Joel has been raking up some of the clippings and dumping them into the compost bin.

We all need to remember that when you put grass into the compost, it will settle into an impenetrable layer of felt-like substance. No air or water will penetrate it! At any rate, we need to remember to TURN that compost when a pile of grass goes into it. It needs to be mixed with soil and other compost-y matter. If you don't do that, aside from the layer of "felt", you will also have an anaerobic pile and it will SMELL! NOT A GOOD THING! (Check the link I provided.)

The other chore he has been tending to, is cutting some limbs off some low hanging branches. Trees GROW in case you hadn't noticed! When they begin to block sunlight and interfere with the growth of the plants below, it's time to trim them. So this morning, they were trimmed. What to do with the limbs? Fortunately, we live in a pretty woodsy area so it's rather easy to dispose of them. We have a number of "brush piles" around the property. Those brush piles create homes for little critters, birds and various reptiles. They are happy for the shelter, and it gives us something to do with the brush!

Advertising Post for Patio Sets

2010-07-14T17:05:00.003-04:00

You know, on these hot evenings sitting out on that deck or patio is a pure joy!

If you haven't gotten yourselves a patio set yet, here's a place to visit for a "look see", and perhaps a purchase! It's called patioset.com. Check it out!