‘horticultural how-to and woo-woo’
the source for organic gardening inspiration
margaret roach, head gardener
DO WE GARDENERS REALLY THINK THE PLANTS believe us when we say, “This won’t hurt a bit” or, “It’s for your own good”? If deadheading were really for their benefit, wouldn’t they do it themselves? This is not the first time our Andre Jordan has doodled on the subject–though the last was more a stealth mission, under cover of darkness, remember? Let me remind you:
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
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1May 1, 2012seeds and seed potatoesTUBERS AND SLIPS TIME: Are the white potatoes in the ground? They could have gone in in April, but if not, there’s still time. Don’t miss out! CONTINUE SOWING CARROTS, beets, radishes, salad greens, dill. Sow kale, chard. With salad, select heat-resistant varieties as they’ll bump into warmer weather at harvest time. A primer on when to start what seeds. | 2 | 3 | 4May 4, 2012deadhead faded spring bulbsDEADHEAD SPRING BULBS as blooms fade, but leave foliage intact to wither and ripen the bulbs naturally. I mow my daffodil drifts around July 4th, for example. Deadhead spring-flowering perennials unless they have showy seedheads, or you want to collect seed later (non-hybrids only). | 5 | 6 | |
7May 7, 2012a clean edge on bedsEDGE BEDS to make a clean line and define them. A clean edge makes a real difference, along with an inch and a half or two of good, fine- to medium-textured organic mulch. No baked-potato-sized chips, please, and no orange-dyed mulch. Here’s my point of view on mulch. | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12May 12, 2012beans, beans and more beansDIRECT-SOW BEANS mid-month and beyond (a short row every two weeks), and sow pole beans for a later crop. This year I’m trying to grow heirloom beans for drying, too. Wait till month’s end, when the weather is settled, to sow summer and winter squash, cucumbers, melons, or start indoors at the first of month and set out at end. My 20 top seed-starting FAQs. | 13May 13, 2012shop for stocky seedlingsWHEN SHOPPING FOR SEEDLINGS of tomatoes (or really anything), pick stocky young plants about 4 inches high and wide—bigger isn’t better. WITH FLOWER SEEDLINGS in 6-packs, don’t worry about “buying green,” as in you don’t need to buy annuals that are flowering madly in tiny cells. Younger, fresher plants are best. They will catch up. Shop for overall plant health and vigor, not number of blooms. |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18May 18, 2012how’s the heap cooking?DON’T LET THE HEAP DRY out completely, or it will not “cook.” If it wasn’t turned to aerate earlier this season, do so now to hasten decomposition. Pre-shredding with your mower can also speed things along. Use finished, screened material to topdress beds. | 19 | 20May 20, 2012mow regularly, but don’t feed too muchIF LAWN GREENED UP well, no fertilizer is needed; I skip it (and spare myself the extra mowing, while helping the environment with less fuel wasted). If growth or greening was sluggish, consider applying an all-natural organic fertilizer in fall, when lawn grasses take best advantage of fertilizing to grow strong root systems. DON’T BAG OR RAKE clippings when you mow; let them lie on the lawn to return Nitrogen to the soil.
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21May 21, 2012fresh air for houseplantsHOUSEPLANTS can spend the summer outdoors starting late this month (or whenever frost danger is past or at least minimized). Set them in a sheltered location with filtered bright light (not direct sun). Pinch back and repot those that need it as you transition them, and begin regular feeding if you didn’t already in earlier spring. | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25May 25, 2012tomato time!HEAT-LOVERS LIKE tomatoes go out after frost danger is past, but many people make a ritual of it on Memorial Day weekend (technically a tad early here). Use these tomato tips and tricks for best results (or browse my whole archive of tomato topics). Eggplants and peppers can go out, too. Harden off vegetable seedlings before transplanting, bringing them in and out for a few days before setting free for good. | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||
Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the Earth are never alone or
weary of life.
‘never stop wanting more plants, my garden mentor instilled in me 20-plus years ago, regularly reminding me of another gardener, past 90, who still lusts for every new thing he can get a cutting of. I promise not, until I myself am back in the soil.’
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That second image just slays me. I like it so much.
And, husbands beware! It’s good to keep them on their toes.
hahaha!… in all seriousness, though… I keep wondering if browsing animals would do some of the deadheading in the wild, some of the pruning. Although I realize that part of the reason to deadhead is to keep the plant from pouring all its energy into making seeds.
Good point, why don’t they do it themselves? Now I feel a little cruel!
What they don’t know, of course, is deadheading actually causes them a lot more work. They have to put on a whole new set of flowers in order to produce seeds and reproduce.
But, we work awfully hard to keep them alive as well. Perhaps it is fair that they work for a living.
Anytime I deadhead, I giggle and am reminded of the story out of San Francisco — An ad was put out asking for volunteer deadheaders to work some public garden spaces, and to meet up with clippers. The gardeners were joined by an army of tie-dyed young hippies, clippers in hand, not really sure why they were called. But evidently all had a great time! here’s the article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/20/BAT519NKC0.DTL&feed=rss.homeandgarden
Jenn, too funny!!
Hi, Jodi. Glad to provide some smiles! Hope to see you again soon.
these are great. i felt kinda guilty for deadheading after seeing that first illustration. i have a tendency to speak to my plants as if they can communicate back. now i am really going to be ultra sensitive!
Welcome, Bianca. Andre always makes me smile, and I suspect the plants are OK with the deadheading! :) Hope to see you again soon.
plants love me – i think it’s because i always share my tea with them in the afternoons.
deadheading is absolute therapy. I love doing it. I crave it at times….
Wow, these are great!
I remember my mom used to dead head and it seemed like the right thing to do, now I am torn.
Deadheading is one of those tedious tasks I hate — I’ve been known to do it with the weed eater to speed things along… Now I think I’ll just give it up in honor of Andre and plant love…
Welcome, Deepersoil. Don’t worry; I’m still deadheading here. Andre just always takes the “other” point of view and gives voices to the plants/animals/all of it to make me laugh (and think).
FUNNY ! …. THANKS FOR THE DOODLES !
I do selective “deadheading”, mostly on my annuals. Enjoyed the cartoons by Andre. So good to keep our sense of humor and yes, I do think the plants know we love them and just want to enjoy their beauty longer!
Welcome, Carolyn. Agree! And I am selective, too — some things look good with their seedheads on, I think, and also I want some things to sow around for next year. Hope to see you soon again.
I left allium stalks up…and dried in the fall, were rather beautiful.
Louise