For my final column, I decided it was time to write about organic gardening. The term “organic gardening” at its simplest is avoiding using synthetically produced fertilizers and pesticides. Taken to the next level by many gardeners who are organic only, more “rules” are applicable. Rules include feeding the soil and not the plant, placing the right plant in the right place, scout your garden constantly for insects and disease presence, and avoid planting too many of the same plant instead having plant diversity. Let me say this early on, these are good gardening principles and not organic principles. I…
Browsing: Life’s a Garden
My last column was about knowing your plant’s diet. I focused on macronutrients then and this time I will focus on micronutrients. As I indicated previously, all nutrients are important, each has its specific purpose, and having the soil tested is critical for successful gardening. Micronutrients, in order of need by most plants include iron, chlorine, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, and molybdenum. The nutrient cobalt is also needed, but the amount is not known. Research is being done on cobalt as well as the other nutrients. Micronutrients are critical in the photosynthesis process. Photosynthesis is where light from the sun,…
Lately, we have experienced hot, humid, and dry days with an occasional evening thunderstorm, or as some call it, the dog days of summer. Consistent moisture is critical for ornamental and edible plants as they bloom and produce the attractive flower or fruit desired. Besides water, the plants’ nutritional needs are also critical at bloom time. Because most of us do not have six inches of organic, rich topsoil, we have to supplement the soil through fertilization to meet the plants’ nutrient needs. This weekend was fertilization time for my annuals and some perennials and it made me think….do most…
Weed (noun): a wild plant that grows where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants. Garden (noun): a piece of ground, often near a house, used for growing flowers, fruit, or vegetables. Gardener (noun): a sometimes-frustrated individual often seen pulling, digging, spraying, and saying unkind words about weeds. Yes, weeds are a constant source of aggravation, whether you are an ornamental or edible gardener. Weeds are also more than just a nuisance. They compete with your desirable plants for nutrients, water, and light. Weeds will grow faster than cultivated plants, and they are fast reproducers. Weeds can…
How often do you read or hear about how what was old is new again? Many gardeners research new plants or techniques to try on their property. That research can reveal something completely new or something that has reappeared after a generation or two. My recent web searches on new garden ideas found some interesting results. After you read each idea, see whether you think of yourself as trendsetter or you have been ahead of the curve for quite some time. • Bright and bold colors. A very popular color for walls and floors inside the home is gray. Gray…
How often do gardeners ask other gardeners “what did you plant over the weekend?” This past one certainly was warm, and I suspect many of you planted both ornamentals and vegetables. I spent part of this past warm weekend writing nutrient management plans for Chesterfield County Cooperative Extension’s Grass Roots program clients. Grass Roots is one of several programs and services offered by the Cooperative Extension Service. Many of you may not be familiar with the CES and its purpose for the citizens of Virginia. It is often said that knowledge is power. The purpose of the CES is to…
Traveling around central VA the last two weeks has reminded me just how beautiful spring is. Trees and shrubs are bursting with color, lawns are greening up, and birds serenade us at sunrise. One tree in particular has been especially brilliant this year. The flowering dogwood, or Cornus florida for those who prefer the scientific name, is the state tree and the state flower of Virginia. The four white “flowers” of the flowering dogwood are actually bracts that surround the true yellow flowers in the center of the cluster. The flowering dogwood is known as an understory tree, meaning it…
All gardeners, whether ornamental or vegetable, appreciate nature’s color palette in spring. For 84 years, The Garden Club of Virginia has celebrated the beauty of spring through its Historic Garden Week tours. The Garden Club of Virginia, located in Richmond. was founded in 1920 by eight garden clubs. The major purpose of the organization is to protect and conserve the natural beauty of Virginia, to preserve and restore historic gardens and landscapes in the state, and to provide opportunities for education. Visit their website at www.gcvirginia.org/ to learn more. This year’s Historic Garden Week tour is April 22-29. The 2017…
It’s time to brighten up your landscape, fellow garden enthusiasts. Central Virginia will likely have a few more cold days, and frost is possible until mid-April. So, there is plenty of time to exercise an important aspect of gardening, which is planning. Planning avoids the mistake that many gardeners, including me, make: impulse buying. All gardeners see that perfect specimen at the plant retailer. There it sits, lonely with no home. Then the voice from within says, “I need that.” All right, enough “do not do” stuff. Let’s focus on making the garden bright this year. Annuals are always good…
Spring will be here soon, and many people will be determined to have that luscious lawn. Others may not be focused on the grass but instead are curious as how to maintain and enhance a landscape. Congratulations to both because determination and curiosity are required to be a successful gardener. Here are two programs that the Chesterfield Cooperative Extension office offers that may be of interest if the above sentences are applicable. Grass Roots is a program designed for citizens to learn and remedy specific problems that are contributing to current lawn conditions. More than 5,000 county residents have participated…