Start Your Engines -- Another February Reminder

Start your engines, rev-up your motors, check your fluids -- February is another perfect time to clean up, tune-up, inventory, organize and replace your broken or misplaced tools. Ideally, tools should be maintained after every use and storage, especially the last time you use them in the fall and store them for the winter. I don't always follow through with my good intentions or my words of wisdom, I often work harder, not smarter the next spring to get them ready for chores in the yard and garden. I bought this 21 inch Troy Built push mower (pictured above) three years ago. Troy Built products are good quality, dependable, and reasonably priced. Knock on wood but Herman (as I call him) has never failed to start.

Inventory your hand tools. Over the last several years, I've had to replace many of my older hoes, rakes, and shovels and you can quote me on this "maintenance is cheap, buying new tools is expensive." Keeping this in mind, I recently, went to the local dollar store, (Dollar General, Thomas Crossroads) shopping for other items and discovered they stock garden tools and supplies, as pictured below.

After looking over their inventory (and checking some prices against other local stores), I found the quality to be comparable and the prices to be less, unless on sale at the other major chains like Walmart, Home Depot and Lowe's. Certainly, I'm not the best shopper to give advice, but I do love to shop for yard and garden supplies and I try to buy the best quality tools and supplies at the cheapest price.
  

 

Pictured above is my Mantis Tiller, weighing less than 25 pounds, it's great for flower beds and removing weeds in the vegetable garden around established plants and rows. Bought in 1991, this little jewel has been a plus for me (her name is Sally). She is easy to maneuver and maintain, I don't recommend breaking ground covered with grass or foliage, nor packed or hard soil.      

Pictured above is Pebbles and Bam Bam, (Pebbles is the regular weed eater with string, Bam Bam is the weed eater with the blade). Both are Echo weed eaters and parts are still available at Lowe's and Home Depot. Over the years, (approximately 15) they have served my yard and garden needs well.

Another important tool I use is George. He's an air tank. Trust me, an air tank is very important when the tires on your wheel barrow, lawnmower, or even your car goes flat. If you connect with a good tire dealer you may get the air free, if not you may have to pay for it, around 75 cents at a local convience store like Flash or Quick-Trip. 

 

Although, it appears I make light of tools, I don't because there is nothing more frustrating for me than to execute a plan in the garden or yard in early spring, or anytime and discover the tools are either broken, missing or not working. I suggest that you find an individual or reputable business that you trust, (unless you have a mechanic in your family) that can start your engines, rev-up your motors, tune-up the parts and make sure it's a go for spring.

-- Posted by Wilma Smith

February the Perfect Time for "Spring Cleaning"

Pictured above is a Red Maple budding in my back yard, I can always tell when spring is approaching because it is the first tree to bud.

Some people think "Spring Cleaning" applies to household chores, washing windows and curtains, removing clutter from closets and and other dump sites accumulated over the last year, dusting cobwebs from room corners and moving furniture and giving the floor and baseboards a good vacuuming and/or mopping. But, for gardeners "Spring Cleaning" means getting down and dirty outside, as we consider these spaces our living area, too!

Fortunately, we live in the south and are blessed with early springs, milder winters (especially 2011-2012 temperatures above normal) giving southern gardeners longer growing seasons that makes February the perfect month for basic yard and garden "Spring Cleaning." The clean-up suggestions below are based on the foliage and debris in my yard. Depending on the size and needs of your outdoor space the following tips may not apply to your yard and garden. However, you may find some helpful and a reminder of chores to do in February, if these tasks are accomplished this month it will mean less work in the late spring, April and May, and less work in the summer, June, July and August.

Basic Spring Cleaning Tips

I start by picking up dead limbs, raking up debris, such as, sweet gum balls (I despise sweet gum balls), magnolia seed pods (I despise them almost as much as sweet gum balls) and picking up any trash blown into areas I usually mow with my lawnmower, as pictured below. I don't rake leaves but use the lawnmower on the highest cutting level and just cut the yard like it's summer. This mulches the lawn and adds good nutrients to the grass.

                                                            
I trim trees, bushes and shrubs and remove unwanted underbrush and vines, before I mow in case any make it difficult or inhibits mulching the leaves in the yard when I use the mower.  I should mention, I have a lot of grass and a lot of trees and shrubs and use a a riding mower in my yard. Presently, I don't have a truck to load limbs or any debris, but lay a tarp or heavy sheet of plastic in the yard, load it up and slide it to my burn pile (piece of cake).

Cut out all dead limbs, leaves and flowers on deciduous (drop their leaves in winter) woody bushes, shrubs and trees because all new shoots bud from last year's woody limbs. Above is a snowball bush. Other examples are crape myrtles, weigelas, hydrangeas, butterfly bushes, muscadine vines and pussy willows just to name more than a few. Now is the time to trim and shape them to fit your landscape.

Cut back ornamental grasses, such as pampas, approximately, three inches from the ground depending on the size. As you can see above this pampas plant is too big for me to trim down that small. It's thirty years old.

Now that I have uncluttered, vacuumed, dusted some cobwebs in my yard, so to speak -- done the basics. I'm ready for the real work, aerating, mulching, fertilizing, planting and most of all, enjoying!

Posted by Wilma Smith
February 4, 2012

Groundhog Day and seed buying

It's Groundhog Day and though Phil saw his shadow and went back into his burrow for another six weeks, I think it is time to prepare for our vegetable garden in earnest.

Were do you buy seed? Last year and the year before I found some great seed prices at discount stores. I do think this seed sale, pictured above, at WalMart was "unbeatable." It is hard to know if they are leftover seeds from the year before or not. Really, for twenty cents a pack what does it matter? There aren't very many seeds in these packages but since a normal pack of seeds runs anywhere from $1.99 to $2.49 each, you can buy ten to fifteen packs of seeds for one regular-priced seed pack and if they don't all come up, you don't have a large investment. If economics is your only concern, this is the best way to buy seeds, though you may find a limited variety of seeds on sale.

If you are a brand-conscious person, buying seeds by brand only is a good thing, especially if money is no object. In the long run you may be paying for guaranteed success, and that can't be bad.

Then there are heirloom seeds. Heirloom seeds can be saved from your harvest, so you don't have to buy seeds the next year (or as long as you continue to save them, year-after-year, from each year's harvest). This is a good idea for many types of seeds, but there are varieties of vegetables that cross-pollinate too easily and that makes saving seeds almost impossible.

One of those types of vegetables is squash. If you save squash seeds that were grown next to a different variety of seeds, you may come out with something very different than your original squash. That is because bees and other insects don't only pollinate one variety of squash when they are out collecting pollen, but all of them. They flit around from plant to plant, without a care for your cross-pollination woes! I have seen my father save seed from year to year with great success, especially his green beans and tomatoes. I have also seen big problems with his squash seeds. They were awful.

I have heard that heirloom tomatoes are very good from saved seeds because even if there is a little cross-pollination, your outcome is usually better than something like squash. You should track, or keep a record of your heirlooms to see if the fruit is as good as the year before. You can then judge for yourself if saving seeds is worth it.

I prefer organic seeds but there usually isn't as much to choose locally, so I am OK with using some non-organic seeds. I just grow all seeds like they are organic from planting to harvesting so that I can at least say they are grown without chemicals. I do think growing them organically from seeds is better than buying non-organic plants from the store. That is why planting my own seeds is very important to me.

Also, the starter peat trays go on sale about this time each year.  I like to use them because they are so easy.



If you can't find trays that have organic soil, you can reuse them from a previous season and buy organic soil, rather than peat pots to start seeds. First be sure to wash the tray with a mild bleach solution so that any leftover bacteria won't infect your new seeds. The bleach mixture should be one part bleach to 10 parts water. Then rinse well with water.



After that, they will need a good light source. It is too chilly outdoors to grow seeds right now so a good grow light would help to make sturdier plants to transplant in the garden. I will have more on that later, plus I am working on a seedling list for flowers and vegetables that I will publish soon.

Until then, I wish you success with your seed shopping, whether it is online at the local hardware, feed store, or at a discount store, seeds sales will be popping up everywhere. I hope we all find some great seed deals.

Time to test the soil

 Every garden book I have ever read starts out by saying the soil it the most important thing about gardening. They say if the soil it right, you will have a better garden. That is why it is time to do a soil test, now, while there there are not a dozen garden chores you need to do. It also is a good time because the testing facilities won't be so busy since most people procrastinate.

A soil test is easy to do and it doesn't take very much time. You dig up dirt from a number of areas in your garden (or lawn) and put it all in a bucket. Stir is up and put the amount required for the test in a bag or a plastic bag, fill out the information and send the soil in to the testing lab.

You have two options, one is to send the sample into the the state testing lab and the other is to send it to a private lab.

Over the year we have done both. The cost of a simple test in Georgia where we live is $8. Last year we had a more comprehensive test done and the cost was $25. Though the $8 cost was very appealing, and it does let you know what kind of basic soil amendments we needed, the $25 test gave us information on how our soil micro nutrients that were very helpful.

It's easy to get the information, just check with your local extension agency. In Georgia, the web address is http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/soiltest123/Georgia.htm. You will get all the information plus a nice video explaining the process, and where to take your sample by giving your zip code.

For other states it is easy, too. I did a search for soil testing, then the state. For instance, when I did this for Alabama, the web address is, http://www.aces.edu/anr/soillab, for Colorado -- http://www.soiltestinglab.colostate.edu and for Vermont -- http://pss.uvm.edu/ag_testing/?Page=soils.html.

When we did the test by a private lab, we took ours to Country Garden Farms. I think this is helping because our soil gets better every year.

Friends Make Gardening Fun

As you have heard, my sister has been a great gardening partner for the last several years. Working in the vegetable and herb gardens with Deberah, my sister and Jerry, my brother-in-law, has made my experience and hard work enjoyable, regardless of the weather, rain or shine, hot or cold and regardless of any project or job, digging, hoeing, planting or weeding.

But I want to introduce two other friends, Tia and Todd, as pictured above, both make gardening and yard work fun when Deberah and Jerry are busy working and I have projects to complete outside in the yard by myself.

Tia's proper name is "Tiasoadora" because as a puppy she was "my cup of tea" and she was "so adorable." She is a pure bred Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the first dog I acquired to keep indoors. Prior to deciding which breed I wanted to live in the house, I researched on line many breeds considering their size, temperament, exercise and grooming needs, plus inbred health problems but mainly, I wanted to know what breed would make the best companion to match my lifestyle.

After, a lot of research, I chose this breed because of their love of family, loyalty, intelligence, and also they make an alert watchdog, only barking when needed. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi originated in Pembrokshire,Wales around 1107 AD when it is believed the Vikings sailed to Wales with the Corgi linage on board. Bred for herding geese, ducks, sheep, goats, horses and cattle these agile little powerhouses are also known for sleeping on the fireplaces in their masters homes. Maybe that's why Queen Elizabeth II and British Royalty have raised them in their castle for seventy years and that's probably why I bought her as a pup through an online breeder, traveled to Tennessee, picked her up and brought her home in 2002. She was eight weeks old.

On the other hand, I adopted Todd, pictured at top left and below, from Paws Rescue, Inc. in February, 2010, at the Pet Smart in Newnan. He was eight months old. I questioned the volunteers and learned he was a Chiweenie, often nicknamed "Mexican Hotdog," a designer hybrid, half chihuahua and half dachshund. Designer dogs such as, Labradoodles or Chiweenies are not pure bred but crossbreeds of two or more recognized breeds. Chiweenies are sweet, loving family dogs that have characteristics from both breeds, energetic and intelligent, they are often known as "social butterflys," because like the chihuahua, may bond to only one person in the family. They are also known as lap dogs that like to cuddle with you under the covers.

Naturally, Tia and Todd love to be outside, unless they are chasing squirrels or birds, they are always interested in what I am doing. Their company is a plus and makes any chore fun.

Two points I am making on this post -- first just like any endeavor, going to the movies, going on a diet or shopping for something special, yard and gardening chores are always more fun when you have good company who enjoy the same goals and objectives. And secondly, if you and your family intend to buy or adopt a pet, do some research and make sure the choice works well with your household.

P.S. Keep the mouse handy to view another blog post this week, a list of garden and yard chores for February. Hope to hear from you then!

-- Posted by Wilma Smith

An American Favorite

I have always loved African Violets. Probably because they remind me of my grandmother's house and the numerous violets she kept on her window sills in her living room.The picture above is one of two that I keep on my kitchen window sill and I have enjoyed their blooms all year.

The botanical or generic name for the African Violet is Saintpaullia and was discovered in the hills of Tanzania, East Africa by Walter Von Saint Paulliare who lived between 1860 and 1910. After introduction, North America took this tropical beauty to heart and as Americans do so well, soon adapted the African Violet into an indoor favorite. Also within several years the original deep violet flowered, hairy succulent-leafed plant was bred into a variety of hybrid plants sold in colors such as, white, red, blue, mauve and bi-color to include single or double blooms, and smooth or frilly leaves.

Buying Tips:
Regardless of the variety, size or color insure the plant you choose has no brown spots or mold. There should be plenty of buds and evidence of new leaf growth.

Maintenance Tips:
African Violets love bright light but not direct sunlight. Keep in a constant temperature year long between 68 and 77 degrees. Plant in soil of peat, sand and compost or buy mixtures sold specifically for African Violets. Never put water over the blooms or leaves but in the saucer or hold the leaves up to water in the pot under the leaves. Keep the soil moist. A good watering once a week will do well depending on the plant's location in your house. Pinch or cut off all dead or wilted leaves and flowers. Just like most plants violets love company, the more the merrier (however this is not a must). Some plant manuals and growers recommend fertilizing every 10 to 14 days during blooming periods throughout the year, however I have found two to three times a year will suffice. The easiest propagation is with leaf cuttings (propagation of seeds is difficult). Plant a healthy leaf and stem any time of year in the same type of soil you used for the parent plant. Cover the stem approximately halfway and keep it moist and around 72 degrees until the plant emerges from the rooted stem. Transplant the new plant into it's own pot when the plant reaches a diameter of around 4 inches.

Your Plant Doctor Says:
All in all, African Violets are healthy plants that are easy to maintain but can suffer from neglect without just a little loving care. Brown, shriveled leaves may mean too much direct sunlight or water spilled on leaves or blooms You can easily spot crown rot fungus because the main core will turn brown, then the blooms and leaves will shrivel. If this happens, discard the plant and disinfect if you have plants growing nearby. Two other problems which affect this American favorite can be mildew and thrips or cyclamen mites. If both are severe, discard the plant as not to infect other violets. Both will appear basically the same way with shriveled brown leaves and no evidence of new growth.

Maybe my reason for loving this American favorite is a little nostalgic but there is no doubt (as I show you a photo of the second violet on my kitchen window sill), America has a place in it's heart for the African Violet.


-- Posted by Wilma Smith

Find Your Spring Seeds Online

Even winter can be time to plan for spring gardening and part of that planning is finding the seeds you want to plant when the weather changes. I am not quite ready to plant tons of seeds since we still have quite a bit of winter left, even here in the south, but I think it is time to start a few seeds indoors so that they will be ready for spring.

Last year I ordered Evergreen Bunching Onions, American Flag Leeks, Genovese Basil and Oregon Sugar Pod II Pea Seeds. I have ordered a couple of times from Sustainable Seed Company and I have been happy with their seeds -- plus, I am pretty cheap and their seeds were about the cheapest I could find, $1.99 per pack. I like the fact that they also tell you which areas of the country the seeds will do well in because of the recommendations of state extension services. This makes me feel better about my choices.

I really like the Baker Seed Company. They have tons of rare and heirloom seeds -- maybe more than any company around. I received their beautiful catalog and I have seen one of their lovely magazines, new this year. I would love to just order every unusual vegetable or flower they have but I just can't because I don't have the money or the room. I sure do love their company. They have set their company apart from the rest with their exceptional marketing skills. One day I will try them but the price was not right for their seeds this time.

I like Territorial Seed Company. They have so many seeds and I believe they have many of the popular heirloom seeds, too. They are a little higher in price but I believe, a good company.

Gurney's has so many sales and good offers. I would love to try them because they have so many varieties.

I have tried many of the Landreth Seed Company's seeds because they always have a booth at the Atlanta Flower Show. I always stand in line to buy seeds from them. I have found out from buying their seed, for instance, that I like the Italian version of Zucchini. I think I still have a few packs of unusual seeds that I haven't tried yet, but I will dig them out around planting time. I can't get seeds from the Atlanta Flower Show this year because it has been cancelled. What a disappointment!

I have ordered a couple of things from the Whatcom Seed Company. They have really rare plants and seeds. I ordered Tea Plant seeds or camellia sinensis and they never sprouted.

That has also been a problem with the basil and onion seeds I have ordered in the past but this year I am planning to change all that by researching and finding better ways to start seed for spring.

It is easy to find a seed company online, just do a google search and find the company you like. If you have a favorite, I can assure you, some of these companies will have seeds for you!

-- Posted by Deberah