Harshness













 Hello All,

    So it's early/mid spring and it's starting to get into that busy period where there are simply not enough minutes in the day to get everything you want done, done.  To add to this, those of us with families want to spend quality time with our families outside are in quite the quandary.  Hence, one of my oft repeated maxims "garden as much as your time and your wallet allow"; granted, it's usually repeated to myself.  So, figured I'd run through a little of what I've been doing the last week or so.

1. Continued with my starters and seedlings. As I've posted previously on the various styles and types of containers you could use I shan't bore you with repeating.  But, I did want to mention a hack, of sorts, when it comes to starters.  If you keep them moist, which you should, sometimes you get mold growing, which is not good.  It will look, generally, white and fuzzy.  If you get this, an easy way to try and "fix" it is to sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on the mold. This generally kills the mold while allowing the seedling to continue growing.  If this doesn't work, just be harsh and get rid of the affected seedlings.  This stinks, as you've put time into them, but protecting the larger numbers versus a few seedlings is generally the way to go.

2. Ripped out some hideous bushes from the backyard.  I don't know why landscapers and people in general plant these hideous bushes, they are small and don't really add to anything.  The only thing they bring is foliage, and the fact that they are nigh on indestructible.  You add in the small thorny ones and you've hit my most hated plants.  I understand not everybody is an outdoor cat, not everyone is a gardener, but there are SO many other options that are low maintenance that actually bring color, food, habitat to the local fauna.  Plus, with those little thorny ones, then you don't get scrapped to shreds being near them.  I honestly think those thorny ones know my loathing for them so if I am within 3 feet they move and get me. So, they went bye-bye.

3. I am slowly clearing last years dead from the gardens.  Now several of the more environmentally minded gardeners out there will say "don't clear gardens until the temperatures are consistently in the 50s"; which is good advice, but at the same time, if you have the time and weather on your side you have to do it.  So, kind of a halfway tactic I try is to clear the dead and debris and leave it piled close to where it came out of.  This way, if there are any bugs and whatnot they have time to vacate, but it also gives those bugs that can't move yet time to mature.  Some may say it's unsightly to have piles of dead and debris in a few gardens, but I say that I'm not on television, and it's far better than making life even harder for our faunal friends.

4. I'm continuing the slow process of hacking out sod to put in and expand garden beds.  The slowness is more from the fact that it rains all the time and the dirt beneath the sod is sodden (hahahahaha) so I can't work it. Which is why I said above, if you have the time and the weather on your side, you have to do the work.

This actually brings me to my main point for today, which is harshness.  One of the main lessons I've learned from watching the gardening shows, and then experience, is that plants are generally much tougher than I had thought.  Sure, those delicate orchids are not the most resilient, but the vast majority of the plants we ordinary mortals will work with are pretty strong. The two examples I provide today are: the hydrangea bush and the fuchsia

So the hydrangea had taken a beating, it's of the perennial variety, from frost, the elements, and age and needed a lot of work.  Some would be tentative, but you have to cut it back hard. Get the dead and dying out so that the new can get the sun and the nutrients.  This can go for virtually any plant, shrub, or tree. It's always better to be a bit harsh with the pruning, but not extravagant.  Remember, you are trying to make room, not destroy the plant.  The second example would be my fuchsia.  I had this thing up to about 4 feet tall, but then it just started not doing great. So, I took Monty's advice and I cut back hard (after taking some cuttings of course).  Within weeks the plant is growing back vigorously and looks young and strong again.

So as you go out into your gardens in the coming weeks, be harsh, but not cruel.  There once was a saying "Spare the rod, spoil the child", take this in when you are pruning and cleaning out your gardens. And, please, whatever you do, please don't buy and plant any more hostas!

Happy gardening, until next time: Auf Geht's.

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