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Friday, April 29, 2011

MAY GARDEN MAINTENANCE

I've found in my over 40 years of gardening that the following tips help me get through spring with a minimum of weeding and a maximum of enjoyment! Happy Spring!

·         Weeds! Those pesky plants that you don’t want where they pop up in your garden. Many may be perennials that we already have enough of, so that we can either share or compost them. Others are just plain invasive and might even crowd out or destroy our favored plants. (In the post below, you'll learn about my battle with lesser celandine.) So be sure to continue getting the weeds out as soon as you see them. There is no such thing as a weed that is too small to not bother removing. They will only grow larger, with more tenacious roots.
·         Continue dividing and spreading perennials for maximum color “punch.” As the weather gets warmer, be sure to keep the transplants watered until they “take.”
·         If you want to move your early spring bulbs, you may safely do it now. Three springs ago, I moved some tulips and daffodils while they were in bloom and put them among the daylilies. This year, they came up right on schedule with the added bonus that their leaves will be hidden by the iris and then daylilies, when the tulips fade. 
·         If you find that some of your perennials are invading others and you prefer to keep them in distinct clumps, now is a good time to separate them, before they get too intertwined. It’s best to do this task as soon as you notice a problem.
·         The question still comes up about those unsightly, yellowing daffodil leaves! My suggestion is that once the flower has shriveled up; remove its stalk to the base of the plant to prevent fruit formation. By removing it before it produces seeds, energy is not wasted, but instead food made by the leaves goes to bulb for next year’s flowers. In my experience, when they start to flop over, it is okay to cut off the top half of the leaves. That way, the remaining part of the leaves can continue photosynthesizing, sending food to the bulb (a storage stem) and, as a bonus, they spring back up. Eventually, when they are yellow, you can cut them to the base of the plant.
·         Pack them in. I’ve found that one of the best ways to cut down on weeds, besides a dense evergreen ground cover that allows perennials, etc. to grow through it, is to plant a succession of plants closely together.

12 comments:

  1. Beautiful spring flowers---I miss tulips, iris and such in Florida. It is just too hot here for those. Weeds, however, are very plentiful! Nice post!

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  2. Hi Barbara!
    Your garden shots are beautiful...I can see where you get your inspiration for your painting! I've popped over from on Sutton Place and become a new follower!

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  3. I've visited your Etsy shop....OH MY...all your pieces are lovely but my favorite is the hydrangea....BEAUTIFUL!

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  4. Now I've been to your website! WoW...how often do you paint...such a large selection and all so beautiful! Some people just have all the talent!! I so hope I win this awesome giveaway!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Barbara,
    Your blog is so pretty and your work is outstanding...if I need to pick a fav...I guess it's the blue hydrangea. I'm a new follower and happy that I found it.

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  6. Hey I'm visiting from "On Sutton Place" your art is gorgeous,hope I win!!
    New follower,come follow back!
    ~JO
    LazyonLoblolly

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  7. ..SO glad you were featured on.."the gardening club" today...will be back here often..beautiful everything...i too have my tulips planted so hosta hides the fading of the plant...happy gardening to everyone.!!

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  8. My oh my! What talent you have! I love the 'Blue Hydrangea' water color the best, but they are all spectacular I'm your newest follower, come visit my blog and follow back.

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  9. Wow..super gorgeous..such beautiful colorful blooms and wonderful advice!
    Happy Gardening
    Victoria

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  10. Some good tips and beautiful photo's
    Shadow

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  11. Thanks for the helpful hints! I have a lot of iris to divide up so will get to that this week

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  12. Love your garden photos and your paintings are lovely. Thank you for the Daffodil info. I was never sure what to do with them once the flower died off. I enjoy gardening, painting and photographing flowers too. Although my seascapes are better than my flower paintings! Glad I found your blog!

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