Welcome to Garden Spikes
Timely Garden Tips
Timely Garden Tips
If you have not been to a garden show yet, make plans to attend at least one every year. They usually run from February through June. Your local extension agent may have some information on a local show. If not a quick search on your computer will help.
Check the tender spring planted bulbs you stored over the winter and discard any bad ones.
The garden centers have a wide selection of bulbs and bare root plants. They are in the best condition and you should buy them now so that you can store them properly in a cool dark place. Some of the ones you will find there now are elephant ear, astilbe, begonia, caladium, canna, dahlia, gladiolus, hosta and rudbeckia/black-eyed Susan.
While you are there look over the seeds and seed starting supplies and pick up what you need.
In the warmer southern growing zones, the cool season vegetables and herbs will be showing up. Some of these are, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, chives, cabbage, cauliflower, Swiss chard, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley and spinach.
Frost tender plants such as tomatoes and peppers may also be for sale. Be prepared to bring inside or cover if a frost should occur.
In the cooler northern zones, you will have to wait a month or two.
On a nice warm day take a walk around your yard and garden. Clean up any branches that have blown down. Rake up any matted leaves left on your lawn over the winter. They block sunlight and can cause fungus, mold and disease to kill your grass. Over the winter grass tends to go dormant and not grow very actively, but if you see any green leaves, it is still receiving energy from the sun.
Do not be too quick to clean up around the edges of your lawn or flower beds and garden. Hidden away in the dead leaves and in or on the hollow stems of last year’s plants are the chrysalis or pupae of butterflies, bees and other overwintering pollinators. You will destroy them if you cleanup too soon. Wait until the temperatures are consistently above 50-degrees F to cleanup.
Service your lawn mower, change the oil and spark plug. Replace or sharpen the blade. The lawn will most likely need the first mowing this month in the southern states and next month in the northern states.
Timely Quote:
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” - Charles Dickens
Successful gardeners use the principle of working with nature to practice the easy, economical and environmental methods that can make gardening relaxing and rewarding.
Flowers that grow on spikes are a favorite among many gardeners. Coleus, foxglove, gladiolus, hyacinth, lavender, obedient plant, orchid and salvia are some common flowers that grow on spikes.
Are You a Gardener?
Many people do not think of themselves as gardeners. If you have a lawn, a few houseplants or grow some flowers and vegetables, you are a gardener.
It can range from beautifying your home to providing wholesome organic food for your family.
Gardening Can Be Easy and Relaxing
You might have just a few houseplants in containers on a window, patio or deck.
If you have more space it might be a small flower bed or a larger area to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and honey bees.
Some will concentrate on roses of every color and type. Others search for as many different varieties of flowers that they can find.
If you have a sunny location it could also be a few tomato plants in containers or a large area for vegetables and herbs that will feed the entire family with enough to preserve for the winter.
Keep It Simple
If you are new to gardening the secret is to keep it easy and start small. Each year you can expand your garden a little more. Your native soil may be very sandy or it may be heavy clay with a lot of rocks. For plants to grow properly you will need good garden soil by adding organic material to the native soil.
One year you may plant some flowers or shrubs along the front of your home. The next year add a flower bed along the driveway. And the year after that a flower bed around your mailbox or the tree in the front yard.
A vegetable garden works the same way. Plant what your family likes to eat. You may start with 100-square feet and plant half of it with tomatoes and the rest with lettuce, Swiss chard, parsley, dill and basil. These will supply you with fresh vegetables and herbs continuously during the summer.
Next year as you improve the soil you can expand your vegetable garden to include peas, beans, carrots, beets, zucchini, cucumbers, etc. By growing your own food you can be assured that your food is truly organic and free of pesticides.
It does not have to be a big project if you break it down into smaller easy to do steps. If you spend 10 or 15-minutes each day or every other day it never gets ahead of you.
Environment
Composting your yard and kitchen waste is also one small step. Composting is environmentally friendly and you will keep from adding to the landfills. Adding finished compost will also improve your soil and fertilize it at the same time. It is nature’s way of recycling.
Mulching around your plants with leaves collected in the fall will improve the soil and at the same time make your flower garden and vegetable garden almost entirely weed free.
Gardening Thought
“Earth is here so kind
That just tickle her
With a hoe and she
Laughs with a harvest”
- Douglas William Jerrold (1803-1857)
Garden Spikes newsletters give you timely information once or twice a month. Subscribe Free to the Garden Times newsletter below.
Your email address will only be used to send you a newsletter and will never be sold. You can unsubscribe at any time.
