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Sharpen Up: Pruning Season is HereFebruary and March are great months for pruning summer-flowering shrubs and vines –February 24 Choose the Right Pruning ToolsBuy the best pruning tools you can afford; They will stay sharp for most of the year –March 3 Pruning Crape Myrtle: Part 1For plentiful flowers and attractive stems, crape myrtle demands good pruning –March 10 Pruning Crape Myrtle: Part 2Eliminate weak twiggy stems to prevent small clusters of small flowers –March 17 Pruning Buddleia, The Butterfly BushIf you want your butterfly bush to attract hundreds of butterflies, you need to prune it before the first of April –March 24 Pruning Fruit TreesA yearly trim minimizes flowers, forcing better quality fruit –March 31 Pruning Old, Over-Grown YewsUnruly shrubs grow back after heavy shearing –April 7 Pruning RosesSpring-flowering roses should be pruned after they have flowered, while summer flowering roses should be pruned in mid to late March –April 14 Pruning HydrangeasFour different species of hydrangeas grow in the Bay area, and each demands different pruning –April 21 Lush Lawns Love LimestoneBay soil is better suited for growing cranberries and blueberries than for grass –April 28 Cut It Tall and Let It FallWeeds don’t grow in a well-maintained lawn –May 5 On Bay Lawns, Weed Killers a No-NoThe truth about weed-and-feed fertilizers –May 12 Oh! What a Bay We Live OnLonger, cooler spring, delayed autumn frost give us longer growing season than our inland neighbors –May 19 Too Mulch of a Good ThingOver-mulching is a national disease: Part 1 –May 26 Too Mulch of a Good ThingPart 2: Death by asphyxiation –June 2 Too Mulch of a Good ThingPart 3: Death by competition –June 9 Too Mulch of a Good ThingPart 4: Beneath a pretty face –June 16 Too Mulch of a Good ThingPart 5: Plant death by drought from too much mulch –June 23 Doing in Bermuda GrassBurrowing rhizomes can travel underground at 12 to 18 inches per week in warm weather –June 30 Too Mulch of a Good ThingPart 6: What makes a good mulch –July 7 Bagworms Are FeastingCatch these buggers now before they demand drastic measures –July 14 Discourage Deer from Dining on Your LawnSmall bars of scented soap keep deer away from trees and shrubs –July 21 Bunnies in the GardenA little fencing goes far in keeping out these long-jumpers –July 28 Raccoons in the CornOnce these bandits have had a taste, there’s little to deter them –August 4 Now’s the Time to Transplant Azaleas and RhododendronsSuccessful transplanting is highly dependent on soil pH –August 11 Salvation for Root-Bound PlantsEnd-of-season plants may be bargains but need help if they’re to survive –August 18 Sow a Fall GardenSugar podded peas for Thanksgiving anyone? –August 25 Give Cool-Season Crops a Cold StartShare your AC now for peas at Thanksgiving –September 1 Sow a New Spring Lawn NowBut it’s a job to make it grow –September 8 Renovate Your Lawn with CompostFor a lush lawn next spring, now is the time to take action –September 15 Beat Back Weeds by Cutting Your Lawn TallTake it easy on lawn, mower and you –September 22 Cattails Bring Autumn into Your HomeBut you must preserve them properly lest they fill the house with great globs of fluff –September 29 Make Your Own CompostPart 1: What can be composted and how –October 6 The Science of CompostingMicroorganisms beneath our feet return to the soil what came from the soil –October 13 The Right Mix for CompostKeep at it now and your compost will be ready next spring –October 20 Don’t Let Your Garden Go NakedAge-old thinking that cultivated soils need to rest open and undisturbed is just not true –October 27 Cover Your Garden with Rye or MulchNatural cover crops not only aid your garden plants; they could cut your fertilizer bill by 25 percent –November 3 Repot Your HouseplantsThe dirt on potting soil and soil-less plant media –November 10 Grow Herbs Indoors Over WinterWith a south-facing window sill, you can have year-round fresh rosemary, thyme and more –November 17 Pick a Fire-Safe Christmas TreeA few simple steps help ensure your tree is fresh and green –November 23 Decorate for Christmas with GreensNative plants are attractive and retain foliage and color through holidays –December 1 The Ideal Christmas PlantDon’t let poison myths scare you from celebrating the holidays with poinsettia –December 8 T’Was the Gardener’s Night Before Christmas–December 15 Managing the Greens that Deck Your HallsEvergreen leaves and berries bring hope for spring’s arrival –December 22 Ask Dr. Gouin your questions at [email protected]. All questions will appear in Bay Weekly. Please include your name and address. |
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© COPYRIGHT 2004 by New Bay Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
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