Tweet
<b>April Gardening Tips</b>
1. When planing you flower beds, make sure to plant some varieties which can be dried for winter arrangements.
2. When purchasing plants, opt for ones that aren't yet in bloom. Many plants without blossoms will actually bloom sooner when planted than those already in bloom and often will grow better.
3. For your flower bed borders, consider scattering poppy seeds. The seeds don't need to be covered and will grow quite rapidly which will give a colorful border in no time.
4. When planting trees, be sure not to add organic matter to the soil. Organic matter won't help with the trees growth or to establish it and can make it so the tree roots don't spread in the ground properly. When you dig a hole, make sure to keep the soil removed so that you can fill in the tree with it.
<script type="text/javascript">google_ad_client = "pub-8949118578199171";google_ad_width = 728;google_ad_height = 90;google_ad_format = "728x90_as";google_ad_channel ="";google_color_border = "EAEAEA";google_color_bg = "EAEAEA";google_color_link = "4271B5";google_color_url = "99CC66";google_color_text = "000000";</script>
<center><script type="text/javascript"src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></center>
5. Spend time walking over your lawn to remove debris such as rocks, sticks and other items that pose danger when mowing the lawn.
6. Do a check of your lawnmower and other lawncare equiptment to make sure they are all in good running order. Make any repairs that may be needed.
7. If your lawn is not large and you are in need of a new lawnmower, consider purchasing a non motorized push mower. Not only are the cost of the push mowers less than the mororized mowers, but you will also save money since you won't need to use any gas when mowing your lawn.
8. Make sure that you have a number of birdhouses in the yard to help attract birds to control insects as they become active.
9. Place a rainfall guage near your garden to measure the amount of rain that falls each week. This will help you determine the correct amount to water depending on how much rain has fallen. A general rule of thumb is that a garden needs approximately an inch of rain per week from April to September.
10. Last, but not least, don't forget that the last Friday in April is National Arbor Day. Take the time to plant a tree for this holiday or help support an organization which does plant trees.
<b>March Gardening Tips</b>
1. Take care if weeks begin to appear in bulb beds. You'll want to remove these by hand so that the bulbs and roots will not be disturbed or damaged.
2. Consider purchasing some new perennials for your flower border. Spring is the perfect time to renew and add variety to your yard and garden.
3. When you plow your garden beds, make sure not to do so when the soil is wet. Doing so will form dirt clods which will become difficult to break up and can cause problems with cultivation of your garden when summer comes.
4. Plan your vegetable garden this year focusing on vegetables that you know you'll use in salads and other dishes this year. Take the time to plan the garden on paper to get the most out of the space you have and get the most out of the garden.
<script type="text/javascript">google_ad_client = "pub-8949118578199171";google_ad_width = 728;google_ad_height = 90;google_ad_format = "728x90_as";google_ad_channel ="";google_color_border = "EAEAEA";google_color_bg = "EAEAEA";google_color_link = "4271B5";google_color_url = "99CC66";google_color_text = "000000";</script>
<center><script type="text/javascript"src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></center>
5. Keep a notebook / journal with all your garden information in it. Include all the vegetables that you will be planting, where you purchased the seeds, the names and varieties. By keeping detailed notes this year, you will learn which varieties grow the best in your garden to get the most out of it in later years.
6. Dedicate an area of your garden for herbs. These can be used to spice up your meals and many will continue to come up year after year once they have been planted.
7. With planting just around the corner, do a final check on your stored tools to make sure they are in tip top shape. Do any final repairs and make sure all are clean and ready for the work ahead.
8. Turn your compost pile.
9. Do a birdhouse check. If you have left them out all winter, take a look and make any repairs they may need. If you made some during the winter, make sure to place them outside since birds will begin looking for their nesting sites.
<b>February Gardening Tips</b>
1. February is a month that many gardeners suffer through with impatience as they want to get outdoors and begin their spring gardens. Be patient since even with a few warm days, cold and frost is still likely to come back before Spring. This will keep you from planting to early and having all your seedlings die.
2. If you have your Spring garden planned, make your seed orders early this month. Many seed companies offer early season discounts and bonus seeds to those who order their seeds early.
3. If you have saved seeds, consider exchanging or trading at your next garden club to get a new variety at no cost.
4. Consider planting a new vegetable that you've never grown in your garden before to add variety and cut back on what you have to purchase at the grocery store.
5. Continue to keep plenty of seed out for the birds and other garden animals. If you have enjoyed feeding the birds, consider ordering trees or shrubs which provide fruits such as crabapple and hawthorn. If planted in your yard on the opposite side of your garden, these will help lure the hungry birds from the fruit in your planted garden meaning that you'll get more bounty out of it.
6. Take a few minutes to check any stored bulbs, tubers or vegetables. Dispose of any that show signs of shriveling or rotting since this will save others from falling to the same.
7. Do a quick once over on your winter plant protection. Don't remove mulch from perennials too early since this can damage the plants.
8. On one of the clear February days, prune and trim back trees and bushes. Look for dead or storm damaged branches and remove. Also remove crossed branches and any sprouts growing at or near the base of the tree trunk.
9. If you want melt the snow on your garden beds, don't use salt to do so. Salt is toxic to most plants. In place of salt, sawdust, sand or cat litter can be used to melt the snow and are much less toxic to the plants.
10. With Spring fast approaching, repairing and painting needed areas can be done on clear days. Strip and repaint any window boxes or lawn furniture that needs a fresh coat. This will make them last longer so they do not need to be replaced.
11. Keep a close eye on indoor plants placed on southern windowsills. The low winter sun angles may cause scorching and damage these plants.
12. When deciding where to place plants around the house, in general plants with thick leaves can take lower light levels while plants with thin leaves will need more light.
13. As you check all your indoor plants, make sure that all five growth factors that are necessary for good plant health are present: humidity, light, moisture, nutrients and temperature.
14. When doing your monthly check of indoor plant leaves for insects, don't be tempted to use leaf shine products to clean them. These can reduce the amount of light reaching the interior of the leaves by reflecting the light making it impossible for the leaves to absorbing it. This can result in unhealthy plants, especially for those resting in low light areas.
15. If fertilizing indoor plants, remember not to fertilize them in dry soil. Fertilizing with dry soil could result in burn roots. Before fertilizing, water plants a couple of hours ahead of time.
<b>January Gardening Tips</b>
1. Save some of the branches from your Christmas tree. If you get a couple of warm days and some of the bulbs in your garden get fooled into thinking that Spring has arrived earlier than expected, the branches will come in quite handy. If this happens, add a bit of compost and a thick layer of the Christmas tree branches to protect the new growth.
2. If you build a few cozy fires this season, don't toss the ashes into the trash. Save the ashes to use a fertilizer for your Iris and other alkaline soil plants in your garden.
3. If the soil in your garden is in workable condition - neither frozen or overly wet - take a day to turn the soil. Turning the soil now will expose insect eggs to the effects of winter and hungry birds which will benefit your plants come Spring.
4. As a thank you to the birds for eating the insect eggs, also consider putting out some bird feed for them during this time when food is scarce for them. There is no need to buy an expensive feeder. A square piece of used carpet or cardboard will work fine to create a feeding area with birdseed spread on top.
5. Make sure to clear snow and ice from shrubs and evergreens. If snow becomes wet and frozen, it can easily break branches damaging these plants.
6. Take the time to clean houseplants. Take a damp cloth and wipe dust off of leaves. Run them under water a bit. This will keep them healthy and lively. Also check under leaves to make sure they are insect free.
7. During chilly winter nights, make sure that curtains and blinds are closed to give some insulation to the house plants nearby and prevent them from getting frost damage.
8. Take the time to prepare your garden tools for Spring. Sharpen and oil gardening tools such as cutters, shears, and shovels. Make sure that all the tools are still stored properly to prevent damage. Keeping tools in top condition will extend their life and save you money.
9. You may want to begin to lay out your plans for your Spring garden. By having a basic plan, you'll know what plants and seeds to order from gardening catalogs when they arrive in the next month or so and keep you from over buying.
1. When planing you flower beds, make sure to plant some varieties which can be dried for winter arrangements.
2. When purchasing plants, opt for ones that aren't yet in bloom. Many plants without blossoms will actually bloom sooner when planted than those already in bloom and often will grow better.
3. For your flower bed borders, consider scattering poppy seeds. The seeds don't need to be covered and will grow quite rapidly which will give a colorful border in no time.
4. When planting trees, be sure not to add organic matter to the soil. Organic matter won't help with the trees growth or to establish it and can make it so the tree roots don't spread in the ground properly. When you dig a hole, make sure to keep the soil removed so that you can fill in the tree with it.
<script type="text/javascript">google_ad_client = "pub-8949118578199171";google_ad_width = 728;google_ad_height = 90;google_ad_format = "728x90_as";google_ad_channel ="";google_color_border = "EAEAEA";google_color_bg = "EAEAEA";google_color_link = "4271B5";google_color_url = "99CC66";google_color_text = "000000";</script>
<center><script type="text/javascript"src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></center>
5. Spend time walking over your lawn to remove debris such as rocks, sticks and other items that pose danger when mowing the lawn.
6. Do a check of your lawnmower and other lawncare equiptment to make sure they are all in good running order. Make any repairs that may be needed.
7. If your lawn is not large and you are in need of a new lawnmower, consider purchasing a non motorized push mower. Not only are the cost of the push mowers less than the mororized mowers, but you will also save money since you won't need to use any gas when mowing your lawn.
8. Make sure that you have a number of birdhouses in the yard to help attract birds to control insects as they become active.
9. Place a rainfall guage near your garden to measure the amount of rain that falls each week. This will help you determine the correct amount to water depending on how much rain has fallen. A general rule of thumb is that a garden needs approximately an inch of rain per week from April to September.
10. Last, but not least, don't forget that the last Friday in April is National Arbor Day. Take the time to plant a tree for this holiday or help support an organization which does plant trees.
<b>March Gardening Tips</b>
1. Take care if weeks begin to appear in bulb beds. You'll want to remove these by hand so that the bulbs and roots will not be disturbed or damaged.
2. Consider purchasing some new perennials for your flower border. Spring is the perfect time to renew and add variety to your yard and garden.
3. When you plow your garden beds, make sure not to do so when the soil is wet. Doing so will form dirt clods which will become difficult to break up and can cause problems with cultivation of your garden when summer comes.
4. Plan your vegetable garden this year focusing on vegetables that you know you'll use in salads and other dishes this year. Take the time to plan the garden on paper to get the most out of the space you have and get the most out of the garden.
<script type="text/javascript">google_ad_client = "pub-8949118578199171";google_ad_width = 728;google_ad_height = 90;google_ad_format = "728x90_as";google_ad_channel ="";google_color_border = "EAEAEA";google_color_bg = "EAEAEA";google_color_link = "4271B5";google_color_url = "99CC66";google_color_text = "000000";</script>
<center><script type="text/javascript"src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></center>
5. Keep a notebook / journal with all your garden information in it. Include all the vegetables that you will be planting, where you purchased the seeds, the names and varieties. By keeping detailed notes this year, you will learn which varieties grow the best in your garden to get the most out of it in later years.
6. Dedicate an area of your garden for herbs. These can be used to spice up your meals and many will continue to come up year after year once they have been planted.
7. With planting just around the corner, do a final check on your stored tools to make sure they are in tip top shape. Do any final repairs and make sure all are clean and ready for the work ahead.
8. Turn your compost pile.
9. Do a birdhouse check. If you have left them out all winter, take a look and make any repairs they may need. If you made some during the winter, make sure to place them outside since birds will begin looking for their nesting sites.
<b>February Gardening Tips</b>
1. February is a month that many gardeners suffer through with impatience as they want to get outdoors and begin their spring gardens. Be patient since even with a few warm days, cold and frost is still likely to come back before Spring. This will keep you from planting to early and having all your seedlings die.
2. If you have your Spring garden planned, make your seed orders early this month. Many seed companies offer early season discounts and bonus seeds to those who order their seeds early.
3. If you have saved seeds, consider exchanging or trading at your next garden club to get a new variety at no cost.
4. Consider planting a new vegetable that you've never grown in your garden before to add variety and cut back on what you have to purchase at the grocery store.
5. Continue to keep plenty of seed out for the birds and other garden animals. If you have enjoyed feeding the birds, consider ordering trees or shrubs which provide fruits such as crabapple and hawthorn. If planted in your yard on the opposite side of your garden, these will help lure the hungry birds from the fruit in your planted garden meaning that you'll get more bounty out of it.
6. Take a few minutes to check any stored bulbs, tubers or vegetables. Dispose of any that show signs of shriveling or rotting since this will save others from falling to the same.
7. Do a quick once over on your winter plant protection. Don't remove mulch from perennials too early since this can damage the plants.
8. On one of the clear February days, prune and trim back trees and bushes. Look for dead or storm damaged branches and remove. Also remove crossed branches and any sprouts growing at or near the base of the tree trunk.
9. If you want melt the snow on your garden beds, don't use salt to do so. Salt is toxic to most plants. In place of salt, sawdust, sand or cat litter can be used to melt the snow and are much less toxic to the plants.
10. With Spring fast approaching, repairing and painting needed areas can be done on clear days. Strip and repaint any window boxes or lawn furniture that needs a fresh coat. This will make them last longer so they do not need to be replaced.
11. Keep a close eye on indoor plants placed on southern windowsills. The low winter sun angles may cause scorching and damage these plants.
12. When deciding where to place plants around the house, in general plants with thick leaves can take lower light levels while plants with thin leaves will need more light.
13. As you check all your indoor plants, make sure that all five growth factors that are necessary for good plant health are present: humidity, light, moisture, nutrients and temperature.
14. When doing your monthly check of indoor plant leaves for insects, don't be tempted to use leaf shine products to clean them. These can reduce the amount of light reaching the interior of the leaves by reflecting the light making it impossible for the leaves to absorbing it. This can result in unhealthy plants, especially for those resting in low light areas.
15. If fertilizing indoor plants, remember not to fertilize them in dry soil. Fertilizing with dry soil could result in burn roots. Before fertilizing, water plants a couple of hours ahead of time.
<b>January Gardening Tips</b>
1. Save some of the branches from your Christmas tree. If you get a couple of warm days and some of the bulbs in your garden get fooled into thinking that Spring has arrived earlier than expected, the branches will come in quite handy. If this happens, add a bit of compost and a thick layer of the Christmas tree branches to protect the new growth.
2. If you build a few cozy fires this season, don't toss the ashes into the trash. Save the ashes to use a fertilizer for your Iris and other alkaline soil plants in your garden.
3. If the soil in your garden is in workable condition - neither frozen or overly wet - take a day to turn the soil. Turning the soil now will expose insect eggs to the effects of winter and hungry birds which will benefit your plants come Spring.
4. As a thank you to the birds for eating the insect eggs, also consider putting out some bird feed for them during this time when food is scarce for them. There is no need to buy an expensive feeder. A square piece of used carpet or cardboard will work fine to create a feeding area with birdseed spread on top.
5. Make sure to clear snow and ice from shrubs and evergreens. If snow becomes wet and frozen, it can easily break branches damaging these plants.
6. Take the time to clean houseplants. Take a damp cloth and wipe dust off of leaves. Run them under water a bit. This will keep them healthy and lively. Also check under leaves to make sure they are insect free.
7. During chilly winter nights, make sure that curtains and blinds are closed to give some insulation to the house plants nearby and prevent them from getting frost damage.
8. Take the time to prepare your garden tools for Spring. Sharpen and oil gardening tools such as cutters, shears, and shovels. Make sure that all the tools are still stored properly to prevent damage. Keeping tools in top condition will extend their life and save you money.
9. You may want to begin to lay out your plans for your Spring garden. By having a basic plan, you'll know what plants and seeds to order from gardening catalogs when they arrive in the next month or so and keep you from over buying.
Comment