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March Checklist
Leave mulches on Spray fruit trees with dormant oil Prune trees and shrubs (except spring-blooming shrubs, evergreens, maples and birch) Rake lawn Start seeds indoors Plant sweet peas Sow cool-season vegetables Check tubers & corms that are in storage Turn compost pile Plan vegetable garden, flowerbeds, & landscape projects
New Plants for 2011
by Jan Cashman Another winter almost past, and even though there’s still more snow to come, many of us are dreaming of warm weather and gardening. Each year at this time, trade magazines and plant catalogs feature new plants that have been introduced by plant breeders at research stations such as the one in Morden,
10 Often Asked Questions about Pruning
Jerry’s father used to say the time to prune is when your pruners are sharp. That old nurseryman’s adage holds true for minor pruning, but now, in late winter when fruit and shade trees and shrubs are dormant, is the best time to prune. (However, do not prune maples and birch trees now; their spring
Learning about Gardening from the Grass Roots Up
Jan Cashman Increasing your knowledge of horticulture can help in your quest for a more beautiful, colorful yard and a more abundant vegetable garden. There are many ways to learn about gardening—from talking to your neighbor who has a green thumb, to taking classes, to studying books and magazines. Today, the internet is an unlimited
Five Outstanding Plants for Winter Interest
by Jan Cashman Our winter landscapes are naturally beautiful, with the snow laden branches of evergreens, long tree shadows on the snow on a sunny day, and hoarfrost glistening on branches on a frosty morning. Certain trees and shrubs are exceptional for their winter beauty and interest. Here are five of the best: Upright Evergreens
Winter Checklist
Protect plants from deer and rodents: Wrap trunks with hardware cloth Fence young trees Use spray repellents Put out Irish Spring soap Put out poison for voles Replenish mulch if needed, to tea roses, new perennial beds, etc. Spray anti desiccant on evergreens likely to winter burn, spray only on a warm day Plan landscape