Inhaltsverzeichnis für January/February 2023 in Garden Gate

Botanical Names Agave Agave americana Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Japanese maple Acer spp. and hybrids Lawson’s false cypress Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Juniper Juniperus rigida subsp. conferta Spanish dagger Yucca gloriosa Weeping Serbian spruce Picea omorika Front Yard Views Camille and Dirk Paulsen bought their Washington home 12 years ago and transformed a yard with basic landscaping into a garden filled with color, texture and lots of views—along with plenty of seating areas to enjoy them from! One of the things that attracted the Paulsens to this property was all of the mature conifers and Japanese maples. Camille loves the stately trees and found that they were a big help as she started adding borders—things didn’t look quite so new and bare with a mature tree or two as part of the…

Manure is one of the best things you can add to your soil. But before you dump a load of that magical stuff on your veggie garden or perennial borders and start digging it in, check out a few misconceptions about manure and some helpful tips so you can apply it safely and get the most benefit in your garden. 1 MANURE IS A GREAT FERTILIZER Yes and no. Fresh manure right from the animal often contains a lot of high-nitrogen urine, which can burn plants. So it’s a good idea to compost manure before using it, though you will lose some nutrients in the process. Composted manures are fairly low in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K), the key nutrients gardeners look for in a fertilizer, and you won’t know…

Though I have always favored a rainbow of colorful blooms in my garden, I’ve recently discovered how exciting a white flower can be. And I owe this revelation to ‘Backlight’ garden phlox. This perennial’s striking white flowers stand out in a flower bed, drawing attention as it reblooms all summer. GORGEOUS FLOWERS From midsummer until fall, ‘Backlight’ delivers lovely clusters of pure white flowers that just glow in early morning and late afternoon light. It easily sheds spent flowers, but I find a bit of deadheading as the clusters wane will encourage more blooms on its sturdy stems. And like most garden phlox, this beauty’s strong scent invites you to bury your nose into the flowers and inhale the heady, sweet fragrance of summer, bringing to mind memories of Grandma’s…

WEEKEND GARDENING Out of space on the windowsill because you have too many little jars of plant cuttings? For some of us, it’s a problem! Here’s an idea to get those cuttings off the sill or kitchen counter and looking cute while they root. KEEP GLASS CLEAN A vase or jar used to start cuttings can get dirty with bacteria and mineral deposits. Here’s a florist trick to clean your glassware: 1. Fill the vase with hot water. 2. Drop in a denture cleaning tablet (or two, depending on the size of the glass) and let it fizz. 3. When it is done fizzing, dump the water and use a bottle brush to wipe out remaining residue. 4. Rinse thoroughly and dry. From mops to props You may already have…

BEFORE & AFTER When Micole Van Walbeek moved in, this large colonial-style house sat emptily atop an expansive, sloping front lawn. She hurried to install a curving concrete patio that spans the length of the home to create a welcoming space to greet guests. And shortly after that, the Garden Gate crew arrived on the scene with shovels and plants in hand to add a flower-filled, texture-heavy garden that nestles her home into the property and freshens up the curb appeal. To our benefit, the Garden Gate team uses this space as a test garden, where we shoot photos and videos, trial projects, test out maintenance tips and play with garden design. Barely three years from conception, and we can already tell: We’re well on our way to acing this…

When it comes to insects in the garden, it’s ecologically best to let them be. But when populations explode and they begin to damage the garden more than you can tolerate, it may be time to use a pesticide. Many gardeners prefer one that is organic because it seems safer. Organic pesticides are derived from natural sources, not synthetic ingredients, and usually break down quicker with less residue. Many are labeled for use on edible crops because they are nontoxic to humans. These are all good reasons to choose an organic pesticide. But just because it is organic doesn’t mean it can’t be harmful to humans or nontarget creatures, such as bees or fish, especially in a concentrated amount or if used incorrectly. Some pesticides are nonspecific, meaning they kill…

An entry garden is especially important in making people feel welcome because it’s the first thing visitors see. It doesn’t have to be packed full of plants: Even minimalist plantings can be inviting. But if you design an entryway with multiseason appeal, you’ll give visitors something to enjoy no matter when they arrive. Evergreen arbovitae and boxwood look good all year and anchor the garden by providing lasting structure, even in the winter months. Peony and geum flowers start blooming in spring, and by summer, veronica, Shasta daisy, spirea and daylilies are showing off. Many of these rebloom and will keep the color going until frost, especially with deadheading. Sweet alyssum’s pink-white flowers will flower from the time they’re planted in early spring until late fall, when they finally die…

Q As the snow melted I found these shallow snakelike trails in my turf. What are they? Mark Anderson, OH A Voles, sometimes called field mice, make these surface runways as they feast on grass stems and roots. They’re especially active during mild winters with plenty of snow cover, which hides them from predators. These tiny omnivores eat almost anything, including bark, bulbs and foliage. Voles produce 5 to 10 litters of three to five young each year, so control can be tough. Set mouse traps baited with peanut butter out in the afternoon and evening near the damage, when voles are most active. To protect kids and pets, set a large pot over the trap with a lip slightly raised on one side. Thankfully, voles are a popular food…

Even though my first tomato plant only yielded four tomatoes, I was hooked and determined to do better the next year. Since then, I’ve had a lot more successful harvests, but also made plenty of mistakes over the years. If you’ve ever been disappointed in your vegetable garden crops, fixing a few simple techniques could make all the difference! Here are some of the things I wish I’d known sooner. 1. TILLING EVERY YEAR Did you know that when you till the garden every year, you disrupt beneficial micro-ecosystems that help keep your garden healthy and free of diseases and pests? It also damages soil structure, which can lead to compacted soil that makes it harder for roots to absorb oxygen and water. GIVE NO-TILL PRACTICES A TRY When you’re…

These plants don’t need much care to look their best and they all appreciate the same sun, soil and water requirements. But even with tough plants like these, an inch or two of organic mulch helps conserve soil moisture and keeps weeding chores to a minimum. Reapply mulch every year or two as it deteriorates and bare spots emerge. Maintaining the evergreen shrubs is simple: You can trim the arborvitae and boxwood anytime you see a stray branch, but they shouldn’t need regular pruning to maintain their shape or size. To get the garden bed off to a great start every year, in late winter or early spring, cut the spirea stems by at least a third (or even back to 6 inches from the ground) to help it maintain…

Lee College Horticulture Program Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice What does this organization do? The Lee College Horticulture program teaches inmates at the Texas Correctional Facility horticultural skills that benefit them beyond the prison walls. Students take classes and work together on projects, including growing herbs for use in the prison system and designing themed landscape projects that are photographed to compete nationally against other college horticulture programs. While maintaining their own gardens, students are challenged to be independent and responsible and learn techniques of a trade with the goal of reducing recidivism. How can you help? The program welcomes donations of any horticulture-related supplies or funds to purchase them. If you’d like to help, contact James “Scooter” Langley at jlangley@Lee.edu for more information. To learn more about the program,…

in the weeds January is often the coldest month of the year where I live in the Midwest. The raised garden beds in my backyard that overflow with lush plants, flowers and vegetables during the warm summer months are bare, brown and often covered with a few inches of snow. It’s hard not to feel a little blue with springtime still months away. I keep those blues at bay by grabbing a third cup of coffee (don’t judge me), looking out my window and daydreaming about spring flowers and garden plans. I also get a smile remembering how my Grandma Jo transformed her vegetable garden one winter in the 1980s. CORE MEMORY My Grandma Jo lived in the country with a giant sloped hill that was a perfect sledding destination…