Earthly Garden

Hi everyone,
Hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a very happy and healthy 2008. With the holidays behind us it’s time to look ahead to spring! Now’s the time to start planning this year’s garden. Start going through that stack of plant and seed catalogs(if you haven’t already!) and make your orders! This is especially important if you’re ordering live plants because most nurseries take orders well in advance and ship at the optimum planting time for your region. This means popular varieties often sell out long before planting season arrives.
To start planning, use a notebook to draw a rough sketch of the area you want to plant in and let your imagination run wild until you settle on a design that pleases you. Make sure to take note of the amount of sunshine the area you’re planning to plant in gets-and don’t forget the trees! Once spring arrives they’ll be full and leafy again, so that spot that seems perfect because it gets direct sun all day may only get it for a few hours once the trees around it are in full leaf!
Tomorrow we’ll start talking about seed starting and what to do to make sure your plants get the best start possible!

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November is here and the holidays aren’t far behind. Here are some gardening tips for this month.

If you have a cold frame, now’s the time to check it over and get it ready for next season. Give it a good inspection and cleaning and repair any damage you find.

Last month we talked about growng herbs indoors. Plant now if you haven’t already to brighten a drab windowsill and add fresh picked flavor to your favorite dishes.

The days are getting shorter and tomorrow’s time change will make them even shorter. Your houseplants will start slowing down now, so stop fertilizing and move them to brighter spots if necessary.

Remove fallen leaves from flowerbeds and mulch well. If the leaves are allowed to stay, they’ll provide winter shelter to pests and can promote fungal diseases. If you have a compost pile, you can add fallen leaves to it. Remember to stir your pile every 2 weeks and hose it occasionally if you are in a dry area.

The arrival of cool weather means you can cut back on watering. You’ll want to give rose bushes and shrubs one more good soaking before the first freeze.

If you’ve been trimming trees, check with your local authorities before placing the debris out for collection. Some areas have been hit with the Asian Long Horn Beetle and tree waste in those areas has to be disposed of under strict rules.

Clean out your flowerpots and planters and store them in a protected area. Extreme temps can cause them to crack and weaken. Clean in a mixture of warm soapy water and bleach, 1 teaspoon per gallon.

Most of all, enjoy the beautiful fall weather!

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