Innehållsförteckning för March/April 2020 från Garden Gate

Simplify scooping Louisa Fordyce, PA If you’ve ever dug up your corms, bulbs or tubers in fall and saved them in a box of peat moss over winter, you might know the frustration of digging through the box to find them again in spring. Louisa found this process to be messy, so when she spotted an unused cat litter scoop, she decided to try it out. She found it was easier than just using her hands to sift through the peat moss to find buried gladiolus corms. When she couldn’t find any more large corms with the scoop, she dumped the remaining peat moss into a kitchen colander to sift for the smallest corms. She recommends doing this process outside to avoid having to clean up messes indoors. Sprinkle sand…

Want to try growing some vines this year? You don’t need to build a big, expensive structure for them. There are plenty of good reasons to go low-tech and temporary with your trellising: For example, vining veggies are easier to harvest and produce a better crop if they can grow up a support structure, but a permanent one makes it hard to rotate your crops every year. And pulling annual vines off of a trellis each fall or spring is tedious work. Let them climb biodegradable twine and you can simply cut the twine, pull up the vine and toss the whole thing on the compost pile. What could be easier than that? Here are several easy—and completely flexible—ways to grow vines anywhere you want to. PRE-EXISTING CONDITION Take a…

Imagine rounding the bend of a garden path to the shocking sight of shrubs billowing with blooms, luminescent as clouds—did you just drift off into dream land? This exhilarating shrub doesn’t fit the typical fair-and-dainty-spring-bloom mold. No—azaleas burst forth in spring like they deserve a red carpet or a triple crown trophy. In fact, some people build their entire garden around this single shrub. And they should, because not only is there no rival to their innumerable flowers (often more flowers than foliage, like ‘Boudoir’ at right), but azaleas shine in the shade. They look great in other seasons, too. They can be evergreen, maintaining their broad green leaves until spring (when new ones emerge), or deciduous. And some deciduous varieties don’t drop their leaves without one final hurrah of…

An ice storm can be devastating to a garden. Here’s how to prepare if one is headed your way: BEFORE Wrap evergreen shrubs like columnar arborvitaes and junipers from bottom to top with twine to hold the branches together. The weight of the ice could pull branches down and split the shrub, so tying it up solidifies the bush. Maples and willows are easily damaged by ice because of their soft wood. If you live where ice storms are common, plant hardwood trees instead. IMMEDIATELY AFTER Let the ice melt on its own. Don’t shake the plant or branches may break off. Even if the whole tree is bent to the ground as some birches will do, leave it alone so you don’t crack the brittle, frozen trunk. Don’t spray…

1 | Food Cycler It is unbelievable, but this small machine turns most food scraps into compost in just 3 hours. The end result is a dried, crumbly product that can be added to the garden to improve soil drainage and nutrients. Scrape your scraps into the bucket, close the lid and push a button; the process is even odorless. The removable bucket needs to be cleaned every six or seven uses. ggmagextra.com/essentials($299.00) 2| Gardening for Geeks It’s no news to the gardener that plants are fascinating. But how much do you really know about the science behind them? If you’re an avid veggie gardener or want to know more about the ins and outs of organic gardening, pick up Gardening for Geeks: All the Science You Need for Successful…

Plant a sanctuary for butterflies and birds What are the reasons you love to garden? Relaxation and meditation are probably high on the list. After all, does anything else melt away stress like stepping out into the yard for a few hours? Whether you’re deadheading and watering or just sitting back on the patio, spending time outdoors is even more enjoyable when there are visitors around. On these pages, you’ll find out about the benefits of gardening for butterflies and birds—some of your garden’s most important guests. A BEAUTIFUL HABITAT Inviting, feeding and sheltering butterflies and birds naturally creates a space filled with diversity, bright colors and a mix of interesting flower shapes for youto enjoy, as well. WARM WELCOME Fill a sunny area with plants that do best in…

To be honest, I’m the kind of guy who is always trying to convince people to eat their daylilies. Really. And redbud blossoms and sweet violets and nasturtiums. Even as a kid: My brothers and I used to suck on purple clover blossoms, snack on the dainty yellow wood sorrel flowers (which taste like dill pickles), and pluck honeysuckle blossoms off their stems, pinch the bottom of each blossom, pull out the stamen and lick the sweet drops of nectar that comes with it. PEAK FRESHNESS My enthusiasm for edible flowers only increased when I became friends with edible flower maven Cathy Wilkinson Barash, author of Edible Flowers: From Garden to Plate. Over the years she has shared many of her favorite recipes featuring edible flowers, dishes like lilac tea…

Temperatures are rising, the days are getting longer and there’s the unmistakable smell of fresh earth on a rainy day. That can mean only one thing—spring is here! There’s nothing quite like working outdoors at this time of year. And what’s every gardener’s favorite spring activity? Planting! We’ve been dreaming of new projects all winter and are ready to dig in. But before you load up your car at the garden center and grab a shovel, be sure to check out these tips. They’ll ensure your plants get the best start so they’re looking fabulous later this summer and for many years to come. DIG THE BEST HOLE POTTED PLANTS A Dig the hole the depth of the pot and at least twice as wide as it is deep. Loose…

Sounds like you may have arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). If you need to prune, do so immediately after viburnums flower in spring. But most viburnums do not need regular pruning. I have several viburnums with small white flowers. I’m not sure if I should prune them in the spring or not. Larry Bitts, KS Q An oak tree (Quercus spp. and hybrids) fell across my wildflower garden and perennial border. Lots of sawdust was left in my beds after the clean-up. Will this harm my plants? Virginia Calhoun, IL A Not necessarily. It’s true that fresh sawdust can rob nitrogen from the soil as it decomposes, but a layer of sawdust only an inch or two deep will actually increase the soil’s organic matter and improve the texture. If it…

This is one unusual columbine. Green columbine is a sweet-scented heirloom introduced in 1902 with curious nodding, chocolate-purple petals and bright chartreuse anthers held within yellow-green sepals that look like skirts. It’s a dwarf plant that reaches just a foot tall with attractive green-blue fernlike foliage. But this hard-to-find spring-bloomer is not easy to find and only available to grow from seed, making it something of a collector’s item in the garden. Green columbine is often referred to as the cultivar ‘Chocolate Soldier, but it’s actually the same plant. WHERE TO GROW Green columbine’s compact size makes it an excellent choice for small-space gardens, and a grouping of plants is a great-looking way to fill any empty spots in the shade garden. It pairs well with other diminutive shade-lovers like…

WHAT I’VE LEARNED... Growing ‘Gladiator’ alliums is a great way to make friends. When someone walking by admires the huge blooms, I ask if they want some. These multiplying bulbs are so easy to dig and carry home! Before you design a spot for a bench, stand in that spot and look around. Make sure there are no dumpsters (or other not-so-great features) in view. I learned this the hard way. Chickens are handy for eating bugs (and mice), but they also really mess up your mulch! I’ve stopped buying bagged mulch for my beds. Now I mulch with chopped leaves, which improve the soil faster, and because they’re free, I don’t worry about raking them up during spring cleanup.…

Tulips don’t deserve to be put in solitary confinement. These beloved bloomers merit the company of others, neighborly companions in contrasting colors and shapes that accentuate the bold forms and colors of tulips. Just be sure to select plants that thrive in sun to part sun and well-draining soil, the same growing conditions tulips need. Tulips look great with other spring-blooming bulbs, but different flowering times can make this a little tricky. Make sure to plant bulbs that will bloom at the same time. If exact timing doesn’t matter so much, mix tulips with emerging perennials. Perennials in spring have a freshness all their own that pairs nicely with tulips whenever they decide to strut their stuff. Even before the buds open, new growth from lower-growing plants will create a…

1. KNOW BEFORE EATING Eat flowers only when you are certain they are edible. If you’re not sure, consult a reliable reference book. Avoid using nonedible flowers as a garnish because many people believe that anything they find on their plate can be eaten. 2. CHEMICAL-FREE Eat only flowers that have been grown organically. If pesticides are necessary, use only those products labeled for use on edible crops. Do not eat flowers from florists, nurseries or garden centers. In many cases these flowers have been treated with chemicals not intended for food crops. 3. AVOID POLLUTION Do not eat flowers picked from the side of the road. Once again, possible herbicide use and contamination from car emissions eliminates these flowers as a possible choice for culinary use. 4. START SLOWLY…

Are you ready to start planting? Whether you’re looking to save time and work in the garden, want a timeless, elegant look or a special basket that’s as showy as the plants, this group of hanging baskets has you covered. 1 | Save some work You won’t have to water as much with this 14-inch self-watering hanging basket. It has a basket weave pattern and comes in three colors: white, brown and pale blue. The reservoir below holds three cups of water. gardeners.com ($29.95) 2 | Go classic The Old Fashioned hanging basket from Kinsman Company is a classic. It’s made from heavy gauge steel wire and coated with plastic to last for decades. The horizontal rings between the vertical supports help keep the liner in good shape. Baskets range from…

Smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum What it looks like About 75 species of smartweed, also often called “knotweed,” occur in North America, but this is the most common. (Low-growing prostrate smartweed — Polygonum aviculare — is also common.) This semivining plant reaches 1 to 4 feet in height and has swollen, slightly reddish joints — almost like knees — clasped in lance-shaped leaves. Individually, the flowers are small, each a tiny round knot about the size of a grain of millet, but they are clustered together along the last couple of inches of each stem like tiny pearled droplets. Where to find it This summer annual is generally found on hard compacted soils or other disturbed areas. Smartweed is often seen growing through cracks in sidewalks and parking lots and is usually…