I promise that Spring is coming with a relatively balmy week ahead. However, don’t you dare put away those ice scrapers or your snow blower and be the cause of more snow! We all know what to expect here in New England, but I am hoping for an early Spring, with the cold we have endured this Winter. I didn’t even have a chance to prune in my shorts in January or February, as I have the past few Winters, but I am going all in this week.
Even though it is too early to do much in the garden, following are some topics to consider as we see the light at the end of the Winter tunnel.
Pruning
Hopefully you did get some of your Winter work done. We still have March to get our late-Winter/early-Spring pruning done. Since we never know what the weather will do, which tells when the plants will break, we have important work to perform on ‘new wood’ flowering plants. See the pruning section below for the priorities. As many of you know, I work with five pruning windows through the year, and I create pruning calendars for many clients to help them know when and how to prune the plants in their own gardens.
Lawns
While the current thaw has started to expose our lawns it is a good time to think about how you will care for it this season. I know many of you want to or have removed lawns, and that is great, but lots of people like their lawns for kids, pets and other activities. This is fine too. However, there is so much you can do to have a beautiful lawn without the use of chemicals that kill insects and pollute. I am really disappointed in a recent ad that is everywhere showing an Ace Hardware delivery person bringing a box of lawn products with images of insects disappearing. I know you can’t wait for me to climb on my mulch soapbox in the Spring, but this practice of poisoning and killing everything with lawn products is fast becoming my second cause.
Most reputable lawn care companies offer hybrid and organic lawn programs that will give you a beautiful and healthy lawn. There are also several good DIY lawn programs available at your local garden centers. Jonathan Green has some great products for soil and lawn that are organic and safe. I am more than happy to work with you to help make these improvements and help you understand how to best care for your lawn.
Soil Testing
This week is a perfect time to get some soil samples and test the soil in your garden beds or lawn. The turnaround time at UMass Soil Lab is very quick early in the season. The snow is gone, for now, and you should be able to dig deep enough to get a good sample. This is the cheapest and best way to become a better gardner and minimize problems in your garden through disease and plant death. If you grow any food, I guarantee you better results if you test and follow their recommendations. The test will also reveal lead and Aluminum levels in soil which can be dangerous for consumption.
For $25 a test (basic and organic matter) you will be given recommendations to provide the best environment for your plants to thrive. The recommendations are based upon what you tell them you are growing. I am getting more and more clients to do this testing and helping them learn to be more successful in the garden. Are you tired of watching plants suffer or die and not knowing why? Let’s do some soil testing!
Seed Starting
I am very excited that March is here, because that means it is time to start sowing seeds for the Spring. Over the Winter, I grow new plants from cuttings taken from plants in the fall. Come early Spring, I start more plants from seeds that I have gathered from different client’s gardens. Following is what I will be growing from seed this Spring.
- Butterfly Weed – Asclepius tuberosa
- Cardinal Flower – Lobelia cardinalis
- Great Blue Lobelia – Lobelia siphilitica
- Anise Hyssop – Agastache foeniculum
- Jack in the Pulpit – Arisaema triphyllum
For a minimal investment in lighting and some other materials, anyone can grow their own plants. While some plants are challenging, I often get people started on herbs or plants they are already growing in their gardens. I encourage you to consider this, and then you will really feel like a serious gardener.
All these plants that I grow are part of a giveaway I do every Spring, so, if you are local to Winchester, keep your eyes peeled for the date in May.
It is too early to be out in the garden right now, with the exception of selective pruning, but these are some tasks that you can do to get ready for Spring. Also, it is a great time to put together your plan for making improvements. Within a month we will all be digging and starting another season.
If you want to subscribe for free to my more detailed newsletter, please go to the following link: The Barker, a newsletter for gardeners in New England.
Barking Dog Gardens - Gardening in New England 