THE DIRT CHEAP GARDENER
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Monthly Gardening Tips
Monthly Gardening Tips
photo: Free Digital Photos.net
Fruit and Vegetable Gardens
MARCH GARDENING TIPS
FEBRUARY GARDENING TIPS
Spring
is finally about to spring upon us! Try to get out in your garden
during breaks between weather systems to look for any damage, get ahead
of those nasty weeds that are just beginning to surface (if your snow
has melted). Once a weed goes to seed, you can end up fighting its
seedlings for more than seven years. In early spring, while they are
young, they are easily pulled with their roots intact. After weeding,
now is the time to think about preventive pest-control by turning over
your soil and exposing insect eggs and larvae to hungry birds.
Evergreen shrubs should be pruned before new growth starts.
Fertilize deciduous trees, shrubs and roses.
Evergreen shrubs should be pruned before new growth starts.
Fertilize deciduous trees, shrubs and roses.
Don't forget to keep an eye on those pesky slugs and snails.
FEBRUARY GARDENING TIPS
Begin planting bare root vegetables, such as asparagus, artichoke and rhubarb. Bare root ornamentals such as roses and shade trees may also be planted. Summer annuals (such as petunias and marigolds) can be started indoors now. Be careful when handling seed packets. Pressing on the packet to determine the number of seeds inside can rupture the exterior of the seeds, reducing germination. Thin climbing roses to allow for new spring growth.
A good time to till the vegetable garden to expose weeds and seeds and aerate the soil.
JANUARY GARDENING TIPS
Deciduous trees and shrubs may be pruned now, including fruit trees, grape vines and roses.
If the ground is not frozen and you are able to work the soil, January is a good time to turn the soil; this will expose insect eggs which will not only help to eliminate garden pests, but can feed hungry birds, whose food supply is more limited in winter.
Save fireplace ashes to use as fertilizer.
Garden tools can be sharpened and oiled. Mowers and power equipment can be tuned up.
DECEMBER GARDENING TIPS
Christmas trees need to be watered judiciously. Live trees are a great alternative, they can add to your landscape year after year. Try not to keep live trees in the house for more than ten days to minimize their exposure to the dry heat of the house.
To extend the life of poinsettia plants, keep them moist, in full sunlight, away from drafts.
Coat your snowshovel with nonstick cooking spray, the snow will slide right off.
Try to avoid walking on frozen grass. It will crush the cells which become hard and brittle when frozen, and will damage the plant.
Bare root season begins in late December. Choices include rhubarb, asparagus, artichokes and peonies.
Apply horticultural oil to kill overwintering insects.
Continue to keep lawn and garden areas free of weeds, debris, snails and slugs.
To extend the life of poinsettia plants, keep them moist, in full sunlight, away from drafts.
Coat your snowshovel with nonstick cooking spray, the snow will slide right off.
Try to avoid walking on frozen grass. It will crush the cells which become hard and brittle when frozen, and will damage the plant.
Bare root season begins in late December. Choices include rhubarb, asparagus, artichokes and peonies.
Apply horticultural oil to kill overwintering insects.
Continue to keep lawn and garden areas free of weeds, debris, snails and slugs.
NOVEMBER GARDENING TIPS
Add leaves, spent vegetables and annuals, grass clippings and weeds to your compost pile.
Plant and Transplant evergreens.
Winterize mower and clean garden equipment.
Spray BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) to control chewing worms.
Get a jump on next years garden, order seed catalogs now.
Plant and Transplant evergreens.
Winterize mower and clean garden equipment.
Spray BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) to control chewing worms.
Get a jump on next years garden, order seed catalogs now.
OCTOBER GARDENING TIPS
- Plant spring flowering bulbs.
- Rake leaves to keep your lawn healthy. Shred the leaves and use them for mulch.
- Remove any plants from your garden that have any disease or insect infestation. If you leave them in your garden the problems may persist and infest the new plants you plant in the spring.
- Pumpkins and butternut squash will last longer if you cure them: Store them in temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees for three weeks--After this curing process, they may be stored in a dry place at 50 to 60 degrees F.
- Keep a journal of particular plants and varieties that grew well, versus those that had difficulties. This will help you in planning next year's garden.
SEPTEMBER GARDENING TIPS
- Prune dried and dead branches affected by summer heat. Fertilize lightly with a high nitrogen fertilizer.
- Prepare fall garden by tilling organic matter such as compost, peat moss, or aged manure into soil.
- Continue planting fall crops.
- Plant seedlings of brussells sprouts and swiss chard.
- Plant seeds of beets, radishes, turnips, and leaf lettuce, carrots, spinach, turnips, and green onions directly into the garden.
AUGUST GARDENING TIPS
Keep an eye on watering, August can be a hot, dry month. Best to water in the morning, so the soil has a chance to warm up and the plants have a chance to dry before evening. If you water deeply, you won't have to water as often.
Sow fall and winter vegetables. Popular choices include:
Beets
Fennel
Carrots
Cilantro
Lettuce
Spinach
Radishes
Green onions
Over-wintering cauliflower
Begin harvesting tomatoes, and possibly melons.
Continue deadheading herbs and other flowering plants.
