Van Dyke Gardens: Garden Chores

What to do in March

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It’s March already, and many things are upon us. Daylight Savings, St. Patrick’s Day, and yes–more gardening chores. Here are some helpful hints of what should be done in your garden.

1. Time to start cutting back on the ornamental grasses and remnant’s of last year’s perennials. Houseplants should also being replanted into pots that are 1 to 2 inches larger, you can even give them a little bit of organic fertilizer like seaweed!

2. By the second week of the month, it is necessary to start the seeds of annuals indoors. You can also plant cool-season crops like lettuce and spinach outdoors.

3. It’s the third week of March, Happy St. Patrick’s Day! To celebrate you can buy a potted Oxalis regnellii Shamrock Plant. Or you can sow broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower indoors. In the vegetable garden, if the soil isn’t too moist you can incorporate lime and compost into the soil, then cover with plastic mulch to warm the soil.

4. Now is the time to remove broken stems from lilacs and rhododendrons, but DO NOT prune intact ones with buds on them. You can also start the seeds of peppers, tomatoes and eggplants indoors.

5. In the last few days of March, you should rake your beds and clear out any debris. No matter how well you did this in autumn, there is likely more to do now.

Keep in mind, that Daylight Saving’s begins March 8th, and it is illegal in Suffolk and Nassau County to fertilize your lawn before April 1st. Also, Spring officially begins at 6:45 PM on March 20th, rejoice for the warm weather!

What to do in February

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February has rolled around again, time for Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day. But also an important time to perform certain task’s in your garden. Here is a list of helpful tips to follow.

1. In the first week of the month, you should check on stored tubers and bulbs, mist those that re drying out and get rid of the rotten ones. Lavender should also be started along with thyme indoors on a sunny windowsill. It may not seem like it but the compost pile should be turned, it is still cooking out there!

2. In the second week you should prune summer blooming trees and shrubs to tame size and shape. Also remove dead branches and those that crisscross. Orchids should be replanted that are outgrowing their pots.

3. It’s the third week, if you haven’t properly cleaned seed-starting supplies yet, wash the one part bleach to 10 parts water and rinse well. Bring an early spring indoors by force-blooming flowering shrubs like crab-apple, forsythia and quince. Cut branches and place into vases of water indoors.

4. The last week of February is just as important as the beginning of the month. Start pruning deciduous trees (those that lose leaves in the fall) except “bleeders” like maple, beech, dogwood, elm, and sycamore. Wait until those leaf out. When house plants begin to show signs of active growth, give them a boost with a shot of water-soluble fertilizer. Finally, you should start celery, leeks, onions, beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower indoors; it is way too early for anything else.

Just a helpful hint about roses. If you are planning on buying them for Valentine’s Day, remember the colors! Red signifies  romance, Pink means affection, Yellow is for friendship, and White is for purity.

 

What to do in January

What to do in January

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With January, comes the new year, new weather and new things to do in your garden.

1. In the first week of January, wrap recently planted evergreens with burlap to avoid wind and snow damage. Also, don’t forget to rotate houseplants and keep away from heat sources!

2. Once you take down your Christmas tree, don’t throw it all away! Trim branches and use as mulch over your precious garden beds! But don’t forget, avoid walking on frozen turf outside or you will shatter grass blades causing noticeable damage in the spring.

3. Once the temperature is above 40 degrees, spray your broad leaf evergreens with an anti-desiccant to protect from the harsh winter damage.

4. By the fourth week of January you should start parsley, onions, and leeks indoors in a dark location. Once they begin to sprout, move them into a bright spot! Also begin to prune dormant fruit trees but make sure to complete the task before the end of March.

5. In the last week of January, there is a bit of maintenance that should be done. Firstly, you should cut branches of forsythia, dogwood, honeysuckle, lilac, quince, and redbud, and place them in vases to force early blooming indoors. Secondly, you should begin the slow grow of annuals like ageratum, nicotiana, snapdragons, and verbena indoors. Thirdly, African violets and other flowering houseplants should be deadheaded. And last but not least, hold a steaming pot of water over frozen ponds to melt an opening in the surface that will release trapped gases that can poison fish (also those fish need to get some air too!)

Just a tip, avoid using salt to melt snow, its toxic to most plants. Instead you should try using sawdust, sand, cat litter, or even good old fashioned elbow grease!