Harnessing the power of the weed

Its garden walk time in Western New York, where its hot, but not too hot to snoop around in other peoples backyards. We have three or four different garden walks in various neighborhoods/suburbs every weekend, culminating in the big Buffalo one at the end of this month.

Yesterday, I covered part of the Lockport walk, which takes place in a small city about half an hour north of me. The yards are generally much bigger than one would see in Buffalos urban center, many with huge, beautiful trees. One property in particular was fascinating, not only because of the well-managed plantings of various perennials (rudbeckia maxima at top) and the healthy vegetable plots. This is a truly brave gardener. She knows how to use her aggressive plants/weeds wisely.

First I noticed the houttuynia (chameleon plant) weaving through the back border of shade plants. Then I saw the variegated aegopodium podagraria (bishops weed) adding another color accent in the same area. Then I saw a huge stand of commelina communis (Asian dayflower) under a little sculpture.

So I asked the owner of this attractive and otherwise well-tended garden. Why use so many plants that send most of us into a frenzy of whacking, hoeing and hand-pulling? As she explained, the texture and foliage of these plants provide variety throughout the entire season, no matter what may or may not be in bloom. She controls them as best she can, keeping them just on the verge of unruliness. She didnt plant all of them on purpose, but theyre working.

I was particularly interested in the commelina, which I eradicated from my garden very soon after moving in. But now Im kind of sorry. Supposedly it blooms all summer and the blue flowers are pretty. There are places where the name of this plant is described, but heres my favorite, from a Missouri plant site: the genus name is in commemoration of two Dutch botanists, Jan and Kaspar Commelin, who had a brother who died at an early age and contributed nothing to botany. The three petals of the flower represent these three brothers.

And last year I did stick some chameleon plant in the hellstrip, hoping it would successfully invade this most inhospitable area, but no luck so far.

Via: Harnessing the power of the weed

Read More

Thinning Apple and Asian Pear Trees

Apples before thinning

Apples after thinning

At this time of year you are likely experiencing June Drop. Dont worry! There is nothing wrong. The fruit trees are naturally losing any unpollinated fruit. We have to continue this action by thinning even more fruit from the tree and that is a job I really have a hard time doing. More is better, yes? No! I have learned this the hard way.

Why thin fruit from the trees?

• The more fruit on a spur, the smaller the fruits are at harvest.
• The closer together the fruit are, the less air circulation and the higher likelihood of disease and insect problems like codling moth.
• The heavier the total amount of fruit on a branch, the more likely the branch will become weighted down and break.
• Thinning the fruit encourages the tree to produce fruit every year.

The best method for a home gardener is to pick the fruit off the spur with a twisting snap motion. Pulling them off might break the full spur and you would lose that grouping of fruit. You could also choose to use small clippers.

Look at each cluster and remove all but the largest and healthiest apple. Then visualize the size your apple grows. Any other tiny fruits near it which would interfere with its growth should also be removed. Basically, leave one fruit every 4 6 inches.

Asian Pear before thinning

Asian Pear after thinning

With Asian pears, it is slightly different. It is preferable to keep the middle fruit on a spur. That means, if there are 5 fruits, remove the bottom two and the top two, leaving the middle one.

Now is a good time to do this while the fruits are tiny and the tree has already started the drop. It will have the rest of the season to put energy in to producing fruit of a good size and quality.

As an aside, dont thin your cherries. Enjoy every single last one of them!

Tags: edible gardening, fruit trees, What to do in the garden

Via: Thinning Apple and Asian Pear Trees

Read More

Whats to Become of Single-Plant Societies and Shows?

I recently covered the DC-area Daylily Club Show at a garden center I write for, and did some poking around about how this and other shows and the societies that sponsor them are doing locally and nationally. I learned that nationally, membership in the American Hemerocallis Society is now about 7,500, down from over 12,000 just a few years ago. The local DC chapters membership has dropped from over 300 to its current roster of 138 members. The number of entrants in their annual shows has also declined over the last decade or two.

So, why is that? One local member believes that the growing deer population in our area is reducing the popularity of daylilies, known to be deer candy on the level of hostas. Another complained about the increasing seen warnings that daylilies are invasive, which is often true of the common orange ditch lily but not at all of the 70,000+ named varieties the only ones on the market. And sure, edibles are all the rage these days, and while daylilies ARE, theyre not generally grown for that purpose. Theyre strictly ornamental to most of us.

But besides the deer problem and the invasiveness-scare problem, it seems to me daylilies should be as popular as ever, if not more so, for their sustainability, specifically their super-drought-tolerance and generally pest-free nature. No-maintenance plants? Check. Theyre even easy to ship, and will survive the worst treatment imaginable, something I learned by leaving a shipment of them on my back porch for 6 weeks until I remembered to plant them. They daylilies shrugged and bloomed on schedule.

Declines across Species?

Im betting that single-species societies and shows are losing membership across the board but havent done the research so Ill ask are readers noticing a trend like that? Me, I like to grow lots of different plants that look great together rather than collect a single species, but then collecting has never appealed to me, so I cant explain the change. Could it be tied to a demographic change, where today most wives also work and have less time for gardening as a serious hobby? Because this collecting and showing stuff is definitely gardening at the level of serious hobby. And though its not MY thing, I find it very cool that other people do it. Really, that people are genuinely passionate about any hobby strikes me a good thing; when its a plant-related hobby, especially so.

So readers, what are you seeing, and if youre seeing declines in societies, why do you think that is?

Some of the daylily design entrants

Via: Whats to Become of Single-Plant Societies and Shows?

Read More

Proper Planting and Watering is Essential

Occasionally gardeners bring in sick or dying plants and ask us to diagnose whats wrong. Most often its improper planting or watering. People tend to plant their plants too deeply which results in suffocation (roots need to breathe!) and trunk/stem rot. Once damaged the plant cant move nutrients up and down the trunk/stem. This is true for trees, shrubs and flowers with stems.

When preparing to plant, be sure to dig a hole twice as wide, but just as deep as the plant is in the pot. Once the plant is in place, cut away any twine or burlap that may be present. Next, backfill the hole with the existing soil that you dug out mixed with up to 50% compost or organic material. Again, make sure not to bury any of the trunk or stem that wasnt already below ground.

To aid watering, create a well around the plant at the edge of the root ball. Once that is done, you can mulch around the tree, but not up against the tree. Water well to let the soil settle and eliminate air pockets.

Remember that all plants planted from about April through the late summer will need to be watered. Many people think that the rain is enough to water a plant, but the rain only gets about an inch or two into the soil and the root ball is 6-12 inches deep.

Bring out a soaker hose or a regular hose to the newly planted plant. Put it on a very slow stream right at the trunk for 1-2 hours daily when hot and 2-3 times per week the rest of the time. The water needs to soak down not run off. Remember, the root ball needs to get wet to keep the plant alive.

Watch your new plant for clues too Are the tips of the foliage dry? Leaves curling up? Green stems limp and wilting? Look around at other plants in the area Are they thirsty? If those established plants need water, its likely your new planting does too.

Following the above advice should lead to many happy years with your new plants.

More information with a diagram can be found at

http://farmingtongardens.com/pdf/infostation/29_%20planting_guide_final2012_version.pdf

Via: Proper Planting and Watering is Essential

Read More

Willow Furniture Class

Back by popular demand.

Willow Station will again help you create your own unique piece of furniture on Tuesday, July 17th starting at 10am going through to 4pm. A free willow basket is included with enrollment.

What a marvelous way to spend the day. Not only are you learning a new trade, but you get to leave with a finished product made by YOU! For those of you who missed this workshop earlier in the year, this is an all-day workshop you choose the project youd like to make: garden bench; garden chair; fern stand; end table; garden plant trough; or garden trellis. Each of these pieces are functional for a garden, and would provide a one-of-a-kind focal point.

Brian and Samantha Phillips make a great team, working one-on-one with each class member to insure you create a beautiful product. They will bring all the tools and materials needed and you are guaranteed to proudly take home a finished project.

Keep in mind you will need a bag lunch and a vehicle large enough to transport your finished piece of furniture. Gloves, clippers, and knee pads are highly recommended.

A $10 registration fee will secure your spot. The materials and instruction fee of $125 is payable directly to The Willow Station on the day of the class. We charge by the project so two can attend the class to work on the same project if desired. Space is very limited for this one, so if youd like a spot, please call us to register.

Tags: will, Willow Furniture, Willow Station

Via: Willow Furniture Class

Read More

Rant on the Road: Iowa City, New Orleans, Corte Madera

All three of these are festivals or conferences of some sort; you either have to register or otherwise make plans to attend. But anyway, just in case youre coming, Ill see you at:

July 13 2012 Iowa City Book Festival, Iowa City, IA
Check website for a complete listing of events.

July 19 2012 Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference, Corte Madera, CA
A Natural Murder: Using Poisonous Plants and Venomous Bugs To Create the Perfect Crime

July 25 2012 Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans, LA
Presenting Drunken Botanist: A Preview!

Via: Rant on the Road: Iowa City, New Orleans, Corte Madera

Read More

Sunday Only 30% Off All Annuals

Come see us for the last two days of our Super Sale and save!

Via: Sunday Only 30% Off All Annuals

Read More