Emerald Necklace Garden Club (ENGC) will present an educational series program on Sunday, February 23, 2020, titled “Waking Up the Garden.” Presentations will include information on spring garden prep, plants deer won’t eat, including herbs; and new plant varieties for 2020 you can include in your garden.The program will be held at the Brecksville Library, 9089 Brecksville Road, Brecksville 44141 from 2:00-4:00 PM. It’s free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended. Call Jane at 440-526-4213 to register. (Photo: Consider your garden design now and plan what to add this spring.)
Gardening Sweet Spots
By Donna Hessel
The snow has receded and the leftover browned dregs of the fall garden look like they’re never going to recover and turn into anything green and growing in the next month or so. Mother Nature will come through as always, but she can use a little help. Here’s what you can do to make her job easier and expedite your gardening in the warm months ahead.
Prune Trees, Shrubs and Vines
In February, while trees and shrubs are still dormant, take advantage of a temperate day do some pruning. This is the best time to really see the structure of a shrub and which branches need to be trimmed because they are damaged or rubbing together. When removing heavy branches, avoid ripping the bark by shortening the branch to a stub before cutting it off at the branch collar. When pruning limbs on a shrub, select the bud you want to keep and cut just above it. A terminal bud grows at the tip of a shoot and causes the shoot to grow longer. Lateral buds grow along the sides of a shoot and give rise to the sideways growth that makes a plant bushy. Latent buds lie dormant beneath the bark. If you need to repair a damaged plant, look for a latent bud and cut above it. Delay pruning spring bloomers such as forsythia and lilacs until after they flower so you can enjoy the spring bloom. Ornamental grasses should be cut back this time of year before new growth emerges. Now is also the time to prune roses.
Soil Preparation
Remove surface debris such as leaves or mulch from vegetable beds to help warm the soil. To avoid compaction, wait until the soil has dried out sufficiently before tilling. To see if your soil is ready for tilling, ball up a small handful of soil and drop it on the pavement. If it retains its shape, it’s too wet. When soil crumbles when you try to make a ball, then it’s time to work the beds. Add amendments such as aged compost, manure and trace minerals before planting early crops of lettuce, radishes, kale, peas and onions. For perennial gardens, look at areas where spring-blooming bulbs are peeking out of the ground. Rake out surface debris and cut back perennials you may have left standing last fall before new growth appears. Top-dress soil with several inches of compost or well-seasoned manure, which will add slow-release nutrients, suppress weeds and conserve water during warm summer months.
Wake up a winter-weary lawn by raking areas that have yellowed to remove the dead grass and to prepare for reseeding. Aerating your lawn will allow its root system to receive sufficient air, water and nutrients from spring fertilizer. Add topsoil, lime (if needed) and grass seed to bare or worn spots; cover with straw and let Mother Nature take over. Grass in our location germinates best in cool weather and early spring rain. Even out grass height with the first cutting. Fill your lawnmower with fresh gas and oil. Check the carburetor and sharpen the blade if necessary; or have your mower serviced by a commercial company now, before the spring rush.
Consider the Design of Your Gardens
With the architecture of your garden exposed, you can easily see what’s out of balance and where you might want to add structure or visual texture, whether in the form of plants or hardscaping. Review garden photos you’ve taken throughout the year to see where plant compositions worked well or where adjustments are needed. Reconsider plant color palettes. Look through seed catalogs and garden design magazines to help you plan. Make a wish list of projects to tackle, such as building a pathway or wall, staining the deck, adding a new bed or installing a water feature. Set up a time schedule and set realistic goals so your projects will get accomplished.
Plant something colorful to jump-start Spring. Early-season annuals such as pansies, snapdragons or ranunculus provide a bright splash of color that will elevate your mood and bridge the days from winter into spring. Buy that pot of red tulips you’ve been admiring to dress up your dining room table. Spring will be here before you know it!
