Dividing Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental Grasses have become more popular in recent years for landscaping. They range from size from the tiny Blue Fescue, to the huge Pampas Grass. Grasses can be divided in the Fall to produce more plants for re-planting. They can be difficult to dig up if they have been in the same spot for several years. The first step is to cut off the grass blades and plumes with a hedge trimmer. Not only is this something that heeds to be done each Fall after the plumes have dried, but the edges of the grass are serrated, and will cut skin quite easily. You must dig all around them, and wedge a heavy bar under them and use it as a lever to dislodge the plants from the soil.

After removal, we usually cut the root area into quarters with a bow saw to divide it. You can, of course, cut it into smaller sections if you don't mind the extra time that the plant will take to get larger again. We have used a chain saw before, but it doesn't work as well as you would think, as the blade is quickly dulled by cutting through the dirt and stones. Our soil is heavy clay, and stones, so a chain saw just doesn't do the job. If your soil is lighter, it may work.

Plant the sections in a new location, and you will be surprized at the vigorous growth during the next growing season. Use heavy gloves if you have the habit of patting the soil around the plant down during planting, as the new sprouts are very pointed and will definitely puncture your skin.

Native Plants

Perhaps inspired by the beauty of Fall colors, we are even now thinking of how we will change the landscape during the next year. We all love exotic and tropical plants, but in central Maryland, you need a heated greenhouse or a dedicated indoor space to grow them. The trouble is, we try to grow everything from bromeliads to cactus. We have tried and lost so many exotic plants, and will now travel the path of least resistance in our choices of plants for the yard. That is, we will research, select, and plant native plants.  At least come rain or drought, of owner neglect, native plants will endure and thrive as they are naturally most suited for this area.

The Benefit of Indian Summer

We have been enjoying the extended good weather lately which has given us ample opportunity to finish cleaning up the garden beds. We have finally finished cutting back the grasses, and will soon be finished planting flower bulbs. The arrival of Winter, just a month away will be a good time to make your plans for Spring planting.

Here Comes the First Frost of 2010

It looks like tonight will be the first frost in our area. Get those house plants inside, cover the tomatoes with plastic. Batten down the hatches, turn off the air conditioner, and turn on the heat.

First Frost Fall 2010

Well, here it is already October 25th, and the frost for central Maryland is now about ten days late! We are still watching the tomatoes turn red, but soon will bring them all in including the green ones. The green ones will turn red inside, but once they are removed from the vine will stop improving in flavor. You can prevent frost damage to your tomato plants by covering them with heavy plastic during the night, and removing it each morning. This will keep them alive a couple more weeks, depending on the temperatures.

Fall Landscaping Clean-up

Now is the time to plant those Mums, Asters, decorative cabbages and Pansies. Your local garden center should have plenty on hand, although we did have a hard time finding Asters this year. A bit of mulch to make the beds look clean after planting, and your beds should look good for another month or so.
Fall is also the best time to add shrubs and trees because the new plants still have time to get established before Winter arrives. Watch your local nursery for great sales in the next few weeks.

We also spent some time cutting away dried out foliage from spent plants, and planting hundreds of new Daffodils and Tulips. Keep in mind the sizes the bulb foliage will grow to, and of course, start with the tallest in the back of the bed and shorter plants in the front.

Don't be afraid to move plants around to new locations. Some plants such as Iris benefit from division and being re-planted. Sometimes you get tired of a plant that just doesn't do well where it is planted, so try a new location.

Read this article about planting Spring flowering bulbs

Fall Cleanup 2010

Well, the first frost date in our area is about 2 weeks away, and there is much to do in the gardens. We have cut back the herbs, and raspberry canes, and grapevines. Limit the grapevines to just a few main stems. This vine is attached to a wire every few feet to control it's growth. The wire is attached to the brick wall.

Remove any weeds that remain in the vegetable bed so they cannot reseed for next year. You can pile the trimmings in the vegetable garden and till them in in the Spring. We're even putting in pulled weeds from the flower beds this year. In order for the weed seeds to be destroyed, the compost pile must reach 150 degrees. So you can intermix them with fresh grass clippings to bring the temperature up, or burn the weeds to kill the seeds. do not add grass clippings to your compost if you use fertilizer or weed killers on your lawn.

Another trick is to cover the vegetable garden with clear plastic in late Winter. It will create greenhouse like conditions causing the seed seeds to germinate, then just till them into the soil in the spring.
Also now is the time to plant Winter Rye in your vegetable garden. It will grow through the Winter, and you can till it in in the Spring. Winter Rye provides an excellent source of nitrogen for the vegetables.

Here are some more tips on preparing the garden for Winter

The Lost Season of 2010

Gardening has been a disaster this year. Either I am getting too old to work outside, or it's just been too hot this year to maintain the gardens. We did manage to get a good start with the seedlings and tilled up the garden, but it has just gone downhill from there. The weeds have just about taken over. And to make the frustration complete, a storm with heavy winds took out the entire tomato support system just when they were getting ready to produce.
Oh well, gardening is not always a success story. We will get it all cleaned up, and perhaps do some Fall planting, and plan for a better year next year.

Plant Those Tomato Seeds

Yes, the time is now. Plant those tomato seeds. Claudia has started her "Better Boy" seeds. and today she will plant the "Romas". Better get to work, Spring will arrive, and the sooner we start preparing for it, the sooner we can get this hard Winter behind us.
There are plenty of different kinds of seed mixes available, but we like to make our own. It is important to sterilize any pots, and trays with a mild bleach solution, and just as important to use new planting mixes to avoid any soil borne problems.

Our mix is made from:
1 part Peat Moss
1 part Perlite
1 part shredded Sphagnum Moss

January is a Dull Month for Gardeners

At least the seed catalogs are starting to arrive, and we can dream of gardens yet to be. It will soon be time to begin planting tomato seeds indoors for Spring transplanting. Just a few more weeks to go.