In March we can’t be sure if it’s going to snow or rain but there are garden tasks to do. Snow has buried any sprouts peeking up from the ground but the good news is that the snow means more water availability come spring. As the days get longer there are indoor and outdoor garden preparations we can be doing now, including planting, pruning, and feeding! If you haven’t yet pruned your fruit trees (apples, pears, cherries, etc.) use a…
February is too early to start most seeds indoors but not too early to get organized and ready for planting in March-April. Our growing season is too short for many plants (tomatoes, peppers, and many flowers) to sow their seeds outdoors in the spring but we can get a jump start by starting them indoors and effectively extend the season. If we provide the right conditions of soil, light, and temperature our favorite plants will be ready to transplant in…
Despite the winter season there’s plenty to keep a gardener occupied. If you haven’t ordered your garden seeds yet, start by listing seeds leftover from last year. Look at the short list of local seed companies that I list in the full article (or any others that you like). Browse online catalogs from the comfort of home. Don’t delay, the best varieties sell out early. In this article I suggest a few winter tips and easy-to-do ideas that will make…
Good news, you do not have to rake leaves! Leave the leaves. It’s better for your garden soil, plants, shrubs, lawns, and trees if you do not remove the leaves. Leaves are filled with nutrients and beneficial microbes to replenish and fertilize the soil. Why would anybody want to get rid of something so beneficial? My recommendation is simple… shred them in place with your mower or just leave the leaves. It might take a couple extra passes to chop…
The dry, warm weather of September has helped gardens continue to grow and produce nicely as long as you were able to supply needed water. Weeds, of course, are happily growing and making seeds for next year so they need to be removed and used to make fertilizer. Speaking of next year, there is a new online program to help you plan for a more sustainable landscape called Plan It Wild that I’d like to introduce below. Also, let’s remember…
Gardens are now heading into the season finale with harvests of almost everything. Dry weather has been hard on many veggies and flowers but extra mulching and watering can keep plants healthy. This is a good time of year to apply foliar compost tea and your own homemade biofertilizers (see July article). It’s also a good time to get a soil test so you know what is needed for next year. Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and cabbage will do well if…
This is the time of peak flowers and rapidly growing fresh veggies, weeds and pesty bugs. It’s the best of gardening and time to enjoy all your work coming into fruition. There is also work to do. Mulching and fertilizing, regular weeding, watching for pests (bugs & critters) but also early harvests have begun, and succession plantings can start. In this article I’ll cover some ideas about converting weeds to fertilizer, mulching, planting, and hilling potatoes. Weeds are simply taking…
After the cool, wet days of May we can now get seriously planting and cultivating our gardens. While there are many plants that can be seeded outdoors now but don’t be tempted to start working your soil if it is still too wet. If you insist on tilling your garden it is very important to wait until the soil has drained and dried enough to be crumbly, not sticky. I do not till my garden soil at all because tilling…
Finally it’s the time of year when we can plant some things in the ground. Some seeds can go in now, most other seeds & plants need to wait for warmer days. How do we know what to plant when? In April and early May most soil is still too wet to dig unless you have raised beds. Let’s look at several ways to determine when it’s OK to plant seeds or put out transplants. Also, a few words about…