I DON’T RECALL A STRETCH of weather as erratic as the last year: nonstop 2011 rain; violent storms; nearly 2 feet of October snow but no winter precipitation; a dry-hot-extra-early spring, and now, the final blow–multiple freeze warnings, the first last night. My way-advanced garden, and the way-advanced natural landscape around it–all those tender leaves that are out too early for their own good–now what? Most is beyond my control, but I decided to try to protect some big-leaved perennials–hostas, and Astilboides tabularis and such–figuring even a few victories would feel better than doing nothing. A timely review of what to do, and a little slideshow of my latest madcap garden decor. [read more…]
garden prep
A healthy garden starts with healthy soil. Tactics for cleaning up, preparing and maintaining the garden are covered here.
more frost and freezes: minimizing damage
April 28, 2012 at 4:24 pm
{ 31 Comments }
growing under cover: tips from paul gallione
April 4, 2012 at 1:05 pm
I PLAN TO GROW Crucifers and Cucurbits under cover this year, and the rampaging local woodchuck is the least of the reason why. But I wanted to get the details right from the sometimes-overwhelming catalog choices—the appropriate weight of fabric, and the gear to support the row cover and hold it in place, among other tips—so I called Paul Gallione of Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Maine for some advice. [read more…]
my fall vegetable-garden plans, plus podcast
July 13, 2011 at 8:45 am
IORDERED SEEDS LAST WEEKEND. Yes, I am fully aware it’s not mid-winter or early spring; even with my nonstop mowing duties, I haven’t gone all dizzy yet. The vegetable garden is freeing up some prime real estate this month, and I plan to capitalize. From arugula to turnips, I worked my way alphabetically through the late-season possibilities for my Northern location, and found I was short a few key seeds. In print or podcast—your choice—are you ready for some fall vegetable-garden tuneup possibilities? [read more…]
my mulch primer, in print or a new podcast
May 17, 2011 at 9:46 am
JUST AFTER SPRING’S OWN SNOW OF APPLE BLOSSOMS, crabapples and lilacs falls, I set to mulching the beds beneath them, timing my work to spare the fresh, dark coat of mulch any sullying. Flower-free beds got topped up first, with carefully chosen mulch that improves my soil, conserves moisture and suppresses weeds. Questions? My mulch FAQ page is at the ready, if you’re wondering what makes a good mulch (and doesn’t), or when and how much to apply, among other tactics and tips. Rather listen to the topic? My latest Robin Hood Radio weekly podcast tackled mulch; stream it now or subscribe free on iTunes.
vegetable-garden tuneup: make room for more
June 6, 2010 at 9:09 am
IT’S NOT JUST THE BEDS OF FADED SPRING PERENNIALS and gone-by flowering shrubs that need a tuneup around here (and maybe in your yard, too?). The vegetable garden is screaming for attention, as cool-season darlings—the spinach and broccoli raab and various other once-succulent things—stretch up in protest, saying “No more!” How to achieve a continuing harvest with some simple succession-sowing tactics, in words and a captioned slideshow: [read more…]
gardening on uneven ground: leveling raised beds
April 18, 2010 at 1:56 pm
IS YOUR GARDEN ON THE LEVEL? THE SUBJECT OF RAISED BEDS keeps coming up in the Urgent Garden Question Forum, and now the topic has turned to the ever-so-tricky aspect of how to build them on uneven ground. Been there, done that. I thought it might best be answered in pictures: [read more…]
remember how to wake up tender bulbs?
April 9, 2010 at 8:08 am
I HAULED THE GARBAGE BAGS OF CANNAS and other tender bulb-like things from the cellar yesterday, where they’d slept quietly for months, to clean them up for action. Do you remember how to sound the wake-up call for cannas, callas, dahlias and other such tender things? This slideshow is a good step-by-step reminder. Remember how the process started last fall, at storage time, at the other end of the tender-bulb care cycle? That was all about storage; now I’m on to the “restorage” phase. Wake up, babies!
my april 2010 garden chores
March 31, 2010 at 6:58 pm
APRIL IS THE MONTH NORTHERN GARDENERS WAIT FOR, and then we freak out when it arrives. Cleanup! Seed-sowing! Division! Transplanting! Fertilizing! Chaos! However frazzled we feel, remember to feel this: grateful to be here to see it, and even to be here to do it all (or as much as we can get done, because the list is worrisome, isn’t it?). Progress, not perfection, as they say in the 12 Steps. Onward, together, into A Way to Garden, Season 3. [read more…]
what a mess! the realities of spring garden cleanup
March 22, 2010 at 5:31 pm
IT’S NOT A PRETTY SIGHT, EVEN IN A PRETTY NICE GARDEN. Spring cleanup is a messy affair with more crouching (ouch!) and toting and dragging of debris than my post-winter body is ready for. But what’s the choice? And so we gardeners collectively face the music, and actually even smile about it, so happy are we to finally be outside. A look at my first tasks, in a slideshow capturing the reality of garden prep. [read more…]
