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Things to Do in January's Garden |
Southeast Gardening with L.A. Jackson |
Ireland is a land of such beauty that to not enjoy it is to leave your life incomplete. Ireland is just that nice. Having been over to the Emerald Isle several times, I know all too well the many memorable sights that bless this ancient, captivating land. And maybe it is time that you, too, succumb to the beauty of Ireland and think about making your own memories. I can help make that happen. If you are interested in a trip to Ireland, please feel free to contact me by email at: lajackson1@gmail.com to find out when the next "adventure" will be. If you are part of a group that wants to venture to the this grand land, contact me about special group rates and the dates your party (And I guarantee it will be a party!) would like to go. If you need more incentives for a trip, click here to see what awaits you. |
January, 2009 |
Greetings, Gardeners! Welcome to my garden world. As a Southeast garden editor, writer and lecturer for over 20 years, I have discovered that there is not only a lot to learn about plants in our region, but there is also certainly plenty of knowledge to share. So, in the true spirit of all that is green and growing, here is a Web site full of tips, information and updates that I hope will help make your garden just a little bit prettier, just a little bit more successful. If you have a particular question about gardening, I even have an "Ask L.A." page to help solve your problems. I update this site regularly, so don't forget to add it to your bookmarks! |
Designing a Container Garden Color, texture and flower form are the basic elements in designing a container garden. With color today, anything goes. Gone are the days when pink and scarlet clashed—today you can combine any colors you want in a pot or in a grouping. Texture is often best brought out by including foliage plants such as leather-leaved ferns, or asparagus sprengeri with its long lacy fronds. Let trailing plants spill over the edges of the containers to soften and de-formalize plantings. Some perennial ground covers offer interesting textures, and can be dug up and replanted in the garden in the fall when annuals have died back. Flower forms can be grouped into three basic shapes. Line forms like Salvia spendens or snapdragons are tall and spiky. Mass forms such as daisies, petunias or marigolds have many small or large flowers. Focus forms, such as African marigolds or a spectacular geranium plant, are characterized by large or distinctive flowers. One example of combining these forms would be a large container of red salvia (upright form and tall), pale blue petunias (round masses of flowers, medium height), and white alyssum (small, lacy flowers, low and trailing). Or use tall blue lavender for height, and white petunias and red creeping phlox for color. National Garden Bureau |
Did you receive an amaryllis for Christmas? Don't be temp- ted to "baby" the bulb by put- ting it in a large pot. Amaryllis blooms best in tight quarters, so use a pot that only provides about an inch of space from the bulb to the sides of the container. * If you are growing plants indoors under fluorescent lamps, keep the lights shining brightly by dusting the tubes once a month and replacing any lights that are over two years old. * Thinking about growing plants indoors under fluorescent lights? Consider a setup that uses 4-foot tubes-generally the cheapest fluorescents available at about a dollar a tube. Also, mix "cool" white tubes with "warm" white ones to provide a wider light spectrum for plants. * Have those soil tests been done yet? The more you know about your growing ground now, the better you will be able to tend to your plants' needs during the growing seasons. * Autumn is but a memory now, but still be vigilant about keeping fallen tree leaves off the lawn to prevent them from becoming matted down and suffocating the grass. * Warm days followed by bitterly cold nights could lead to a condition known as ground heaving, which can expose bulbs and plant roots. To help prevent this, apply a light, 2- to 3-inch winter mulch in the plant beds. * Still haven't planted all those bulbs you bought last fall? This has been a weird, warm end of the year, so go ahead and plant any leftover bulbs with confidence. * If you need to use guy wires to keep new trees straight, slip a piece of old hose onto the wire and place it where the wire comes into contact with the tree to prevent the wire from cutting into the plant. * Notice how ornamental grasses add structure and interest to the garden now and plan to plant more for the winter garden in the future. * Now is parsley planting time. The seeds need the winter's cold to properly germinate, but even then, they are notoriously slow at sprouting. Speed the process up a bit by soaking them overnight in water before planting them in the garden. * It is certainly not too late to be ordering plants and seeds from catalogs in time for the spring growing season! * When picking out vegetable and ornamental plants for this year's garden, consider not only disease- and insect-resistant cultivars but also drought-tolerant selections. * If you had trouble with aphids, scale, mealy bugs or mites last year on fruit trees or roses, now is a good time to cut down on the populations of next spring and summer. Apply a dormant oil to plants during a period when the temperature is forecast to be above 40°F (and below 85°F) for at least 48 hours. This oil will also smother insects on other plants, but read the label first before applying. * Yes, there can be a drought during the winter. That is why it is a good idea to maintain mulches through the cold months and water newly established plants regularly if the rains don't come. Also, evergreens will lose less water if an antitranspirant spray such as Wilt-Pruf is applied during the cold, dry times. * Pecan trees producing bumper crops every other year? They need fertilizer. Add nutrients now for a better crop of nuts later. A general recommendation is four pounds of 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the drip line of each tree. * Winter-blooming camellias (Camellia japonica) should really start to show off this month, but after the show, there is a job to do. Be sure to rake up and dispose of any spent flowers that have fallen underneath the bush to help discourage camellia petal blight. * Is your winter landscape looking too brown, too gray, too dull? Liven it up a bit by applying brightly colored spray paints to dried grass stems and empty seed pods. * Speaking of winter color, stop by your local garden center, botanical garden or arboretum to see how conifers are lighting up the landscape naturally with various shades of green, gold, burgundy, copper and bronze. ter in the birdbath at least once a week. |
Pesticide Safety Some pesticides are more dangerous than others. A clue to a pesticide's toxicity can be found on its label. If it is marked "Danger," it is a real potent punch. A "Warning" label, however, is not a s toxic to humans, but it still needs to be handled carefully. The safest pesticides are usually marked "Caution," but remember, they are still poisonous. Generally, a person would have to swallow an ounce to a quart of this type pesticide to be in serious trouble. (As compared to a slight taste of a "Danger" pesticide or one teaspoon to two tablespoons of a "Warning" pesticide.) Of course, swallowing smaller amounts of these chemicals will still cause problems, so keep the containers in a safe place when they are not in use. If you can't lock them up, place pesticides in a high, out-of-the-way place inaccessible to children. Also, if for some reason you don't put a pesticide back into its original bottle or bag, be sure to clearly mark the chemical's name on the outside of the new container. Before applying a pesticide that is unfamiliar to you, read the label thoroughly first. Not only will it tell you the proper way to apply the chemical, but it will normally tell you what to do in case a poisoning accidentally occurs. Some pesticides don't need to be swallowed to cause problems. Many can be harmful if they are splashed in the eyes or on the skin. Some are so dangerous that even the fumes will get you if you are not careful. So, the appropriate battle-gear to wear while using these chemicals is a long-sleeved shirt, long-legged pants, a hat and, for more dangerous pesticides, a respirator. Also, for both better concentration on your plants and safety's sake, don't spray or dust when it is windy. You could easily get more pesticide on you than on the problem you are trying to control. |