Friday's...in The Garden
Hello, and welcome to my new series inspired by her and her. Every Friday, I will share the good, the bad, and the ugly from my garden...any maybe others. I live in zone 6, and my garden is just starting to wake up.
Today, I am working on a spring clean-up in the garden. I do my own spring clean-up because my gardener does such an excellent fall cleaning...it isn't overwhelming. My property is just over 1 acre, and there is always something to do. Through the years, I have been trying to incorporate more perennials and ground covers to help decrease the need for excessive mulching. Let's get started.
Here is how I protect my manicure
Black plastic gloves that I get from the beauty supply store (the kind used for hair color). Then, I wear these
Gloves purchased at Home Depot...they come in packs of 5 (I think) and they are washable when they get totally filthy. Next, I use a pair of pruners
This is how I prepare my hostas, grasses, hardy geraniums, and any other perennial that does not grow on old stock. This example is a hardy geranium
Cut the dead stems and leaves off at the base
This will help the new growth get light and breathe
Next, my groundcover roses
This is a good time to examine plants for dead branches
A quick cut back to the healthy part
Here is the plant ready for some natural fertilizer (in the next few weeks)
This is my favorite ground-cover, Lambs Ear. However, not all Lambs Ear are created equal....I only like this kind. It never flowers...just beautiful, soft silvery-gray leaves. This will spread, so you will need to trim it back from time to time. It is also super easy to transplant...which I will be doing this season. This is what it looks like when it is waking up from winter
Gently remove the obviously dead leaves
Now it is ready to spread out
Soon, it will look like this
This is onion-grass...it is a weed, and needs to be removed from the bulb
Make sure to dig down deep, and scoop it up to the surface
It is not a success, unless you see this
That's it for this week. Do you garden? Have any tips to share?
Today, I am working on a spring clean-up in the garden. I do my own spring clean-up because my gardener does such an excellent fall cleaning...it isn't overwhelming. My property is just over 1 acre, and there is always something to do. Through the years, I have been trying to incorporate more perennials and ground covers to help decrease the need for excessive mulching. Let's get started.
Here is how I protect my manicure
Black plastic gloves that I get from the beauty supply store (the kind used for hair color). Then, I wear these
Gloves purchased at Home Depot...they come in packs of 5 (I think) and they are washable when they get totally filthy. Next, I use a pair of pruners
This is how I prepare my hostas, grasses, hardy geraniums, and any other perennial that does not grow on old stock. This example is a hardy geranium
Cut the dead stems and leaves off at the base
This will help the new growth get light and breathe
Next, my groundcover roses
The leaves that acted like a blanket in the winter, now need to be removed
This is a good time to examine plants for dead branches
A quick cut back to the healthy part
Here is the plant ready for some natural fertilizer (in the next few weeks)
This is my favorite ground-cover, Lambs Ear. However, not all Lambs Ear are created equal....I only like this kind. It never flowers...just beautiful, soft silvery-gray leaves. This will spread, so you will need to trim it back from time to time. It is also super easy to transplant...which I will be doing this season. This is what it looks like when it is waking up from winter
Gently remove the obviously dead leaves
Now it is ready to spread out
Soon, it will look like this
This is also the perfect time to start weeding. If you are going to mulch, here is a great way to do both. This weed is a big troublemaker. Those white flowers will soon dry out, and when you brush up against it...dozens of weed seeds will fly out.
Make sure to get the roots...otherwise, it will be back.
This is onion-grass...it is a weed, and needs to be removed from the bulb
Make sure to dig down deep, and scoop it up to the surface
It is not a success, unless you see this
That's it for this week. Do you garden? Have any tips to share?
Mulching & Recycling... the easy way!
I love the look of fresh mulch. So crisp and clean. In fact, I do all my own mulching. The workout is great and I am very particular on how it gets done. Not to mention the fact that I have a tremendous amount of WEEDS!
It would be extremely labor intensive if I had to pay someone to weed all of this before putting down mulch. So, many years back, I read an article about recycling newspaper in the garden. Combine that with mulching, and you have a winning combination.
First, lay down a heavy layer of newspaper (4-5 sheets thick). I use all of the paper, glossy section as well.
Next, don't skip this step, wet the newspaper. This keeps it from blowing away when you dump the mulch on top.
Finally, bring on the mulch!
Admire, and then on to the next part of the garden.
It would be extremely labor intensive if I had to pay someone to weed all of this before putting down mulch. So, many years back, I read an article about recycling newspaper in the garden. Combine that with mulching, and you have a winning combination.
First, lay down a heavy layer of newspaper (4-5 sheets thick). I use all of the paper, glossy section as well.
Next, don't skip this step, wet the newspaper. This keeps it from blowing away when you dump the mulch on top.
Finally, bring on the mulch!
Admire, and then on to the next part of the garden.
My Public "TTD" List
Yesterday, we had two arrivals; Spring, and this
25 yards of mulch!
It is time to prioritize. Let me start by saying how much I hate prioritizing. I want all of it done, yesterday. Here is my top 10 Public "Things To Do" List (in no particular order) that I would like to complete by June 15th. There, I said it, let the check list begin...
1. Put down 25 yards of mulch.
2. Finish 2 chairs for the Tween room.
3. Customize "ready-made" drapery panels.
4. Clean & put "liming wax" finish on front porch furniture.
5. Sew new white cushions for front porch furniture.
6. Plant window boxes & containers.
7. Restore the old raised beds in the vegetable garden.
8. Put down a new layer of pea gravel in the vegetable garden.
9. Plant the vegetable garden.
10. Plant Boxwood or Holly bushes to hide the ugly chain link fence.
I'm tired just thinking about all of this, but it feel good to set a goal. What are your goals for this Spring? C'mon, share your TTD List!