It’s Pruning Time!

Posted on by AdminAD

Is everybody cozy?

To some, spending hours outside in below freezing temps may sound unappealing, but this is when I get excited!  Every tree I see, I can’t help but imagine which limbs I would remove, how that will cause the tree to respond, and what I can get the tree to do for the greater good.  That said, I apologize to people behind me at stoplights.

Here are some good reasons to prune now:

When plants are dormant, they don’t feel the stress of it like they do when they are pumping juices and making food.  Also, you are not removing food producing leaves with every cut.

Pruning now prevents infestations of many insects and diseases that take advantage of open wounds during the growing season.

Seeing branch structure is easier with no leaves on the trees, and it’s easier to clean up.  And because you’re all covered up, even sticky evergreens are fun to play with.

Here are some objectives to be achieved that you may not have thought of:

For a tight hedge that has become leggy, this is the best time to carefully prune to encourage fast regrowth of inside, and fluffy lower foliage.

Correction of unfortunate pruning mistakes made by well-meaning folks which cause the plant to misbehave, resulting in more maintenance and a plant that doesn’t live up to it’s full aesthetic potential, (in other words, is ugly)

Before
Before

Now, here is a 25 plus year old Japanese maple allowed to grow with little pruning,  The owners loved the tree, but were afraid of making a wrong move.  Her attachment to the tree (they had planted as a tiny investment  when they bought the house)  spurred her to call me.

After!
After!

 

 

Once the dead branches and limbs that were growing mischievously were removed, the majestic structure that is a Japanese maple, was allowed to fulfill its destiny.

Disclaimer alert!  There are some trees and occasions that prefer summer pruning.  Please be advised.

Gift Ideas For Gardeners (My favorite tools!)

Posted on by lovemyyardcolumbus

First, let me say that I am not getting any kickbacks for promoting these items!  I simply want to share things that make my life easier.
I can’t list them in order of importance, because they are essential as far as I’m concerned.

A good tool belt.
IMG_2669 It holds so many of my favorite things.  When I was a manager at Oakland Nursery, I ordered this brand for employees from Kaddy Products in Utah.  Great folks, it’s a small family business that makes a durable product. http://www.kaddyproducts.com/   There are many color choices and all kinds of things geared to gardeners. No more walking back to the garage to fetch a tool, or worse, improvising with what you have in your hand, it’s all right there with you.  When you are done in the garden, you hang it up, and it’s all ready for you the next time.

Tool belt contents:IMG_2673
Quality pruners: When they are sharp and feel good in your hand, you search for things to prune!  This is one time to splurge.  They will last a lifetime, and may become an heirloom.
A small folding saw: Nice because the moment you see a branch too big for pruners that needs to come off, you can spontaneously take care of it without going after your loppers.
A soil knife: Talk about multi-purpose!  It plants annuals, digs weeds, cuts open a bag of mulch, cuts an edge along a sidewalk, and so many things that will fun figuring out yourself!
Plastic stretch tie tape: So many times I didn’t think I was going to need to tie something up, like tomatoes, a stray branch on a vine, etc. but because this is always with me, I am always ready.  I like the stretchy plastic because you can tear it with your hands.
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This is the coolest bud vase ever!  A flower frog in the bottom of a beautiful piece of art supports something as small as single pansy, to sunflowers.  IMG_2782 And this glass float has a hook for a weight to be attached so it will stay put in your pond where you want it.  With a light weight, or no weight, your fish will have fun moving it around.  Get them one for Christmas!  The hook can also be used to hang the glass sphere from a tree or where ever else you want to add shiny color to cheer up the winter.
Contact the artist, Robert Coleman at ipunty@yahoo.com, or 740-393-4336.
Perfect, but cheap gloves: Gardeners tend to be frugal, not fancy. For less than $10, your gardener will be thankful for gloves that feel good, protect fingers from thorns, and still are flexible enough to let you feel and find the weeds that needs to be pulled fingers!  Many brands and colors available, even tie-dye.
Gift cards gardeners will actually use and love you for:
Sharpening On Site- mobile sharpening service www.sharpeningonsite.com
Garden Stores- You can usually purchase online and have them shipped to you or your givee.

I’ll keep adding to this post, so come back!

If you could smell the color blue, what would it smell like?

Posted on by lovemyyardcolumbus

The blue I’m talking about is cobalt blue, but brighter, just a little lighter. And then, what if you could taste it?

IMG_2640Last Spring, I saw Blue Spice Basil for the first time, (at Oakland Nursery). I read the name on the tag, then when I crushed a leaf, I could not get over the unusual, berry-basil fragrance. To me, it smells like the color blue. It does not smell like blueberries, just the color blue. Not to be confused with African Blue Basil, which is darker and spicier, this basil smells clear and round.

It tastes like its fragrance, the leaves in a salad lend and pleasant unexpected lift every few bites. I would love this stuff, even if I was only allowed to breath it in.
Tonight as I harvest the last of my basils because the nights are getting cool, I’m thinking about mixing it with some sweet basil, rose water and walnuts to make a pesto. I’m looking forward to trying it in an Indian dish. Would love to throw this ingredient in a cooking show to see what they pair it with!

Just wanted to give you something to look forward to:)

Easiest Cure for End of Winter Blues, Plant Bulbs!

Posted on by lovemyyardcolumbus

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Remember back to last spring when we so longed for the feeling, for the smell, of something living. We’ll, I was at Oakland Nursery this week and fall bulbs are arriving now. IMG_1779These daffodils and tulips really hit the spot for me! If you think you have a reason not to plant bulbs, let’s stretch our imaginations a little.

First, they are not around all summer, so they can be planted with perennials that will grow and cover the bulb foliage later.
If you don’t think you have enough sun, most bulbs will do well under a shade tree, making enough energy before the tree leafs out to bloom again next year.
If you are not a fan of daffodils or tulips, you owe it to yourself to go look at the variety of flowers you never realized are in this category, like Camassia, Lycoris, Scilla, wood hyacinth, fritillaria, and so many allium that range from giant to tiny, and many more. Plant something you’ve never seen before!
Plant crocus and chionadoxa in your turf. Plant a progressive mix in a pot on your front step (protect it from freezing) so you’ll have crocus, then daffs and hyacinth, then tulips, a succession that will excite you for many weeks.

Here is my challenge: spend one hour picking out and planting 12 bulbs. That’s it, inexpensive and easy.  Forget about them all winter, and they will love you better than a puppy and without, well… all that goes with having a puppy!