February 6, 2009
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Clean-Up & Catch-Up Time
It's still winter, and whether you're a full-time garden enthusiast or a side-line wanna-be gardener, you still can do a few things to get ready for nice weather and a very nice garden.
Although I'm certainly no expert, I look out into my front and back yards and know there is something I can do to better position myself for the next growing season. With the few breaks we've had of some very pleasant weather, why not get outside and do some tasks that will not only give you those additional Vitamin D rays and some satisfaction that you're being a little proactive in making your home a beautiful thing.
Following are a few things you can do - even though it's still winter:
Empty Your Pots: Are your flower and veggie pots full of dead plants? Take advantage of season and dump out those pots in the compost pile so it will be ready to provide excellent soil at planting time. Be sure to chop up those stems and roots for faster decomposition.
Finish this first task by thoroughly cleaning those newly-emptied pots with one part water, vinegar and bleach.
Get Out and Prune: Clean up and prune your deciduous trees and roses, and remove dead or damaged bushes.
Plan Your Garden: Begin thinking about what you would like to plant this spring. Now is the time to begin looking through catalogs and order things that you wished you could add, but by the time you thought about a particular plant, planting season had passed by the time you would receive your purchase.
Indoor Starts: You can also start seedlings right now so they will be ready to be transferred outside once the threat of frost passes.
Take a Look at the Lawn: Is the moss taking over again? Ask your local garden store for help on products to apply to get a handle on the moss. If moss isn't your primary problem, think about taking samples from your soil and getting a nutrient analysis done to determine what should be added to your soil to make it healthy. Experts recommend an analysis should be done every two-three years.
Take a Tool Inventory: Check your garden and lawn tools. Take the time to repair or do some needed maintenance on your favorite tools and replace what needs replacing. If you want to wait until the tool inventory is fully stocked at your favorite garden store, you can begin that list right now.
What Else? What else do you do to care for your lawn and gardens in the winter? We look forward to hearing your tips.
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These plants have seen better times. Empty them into the compost pile and clean those pots so they will be ready for spring planting.