Give Your Landcaped a Facelift
By Ken Lain, The Garden Guy

First off, I need to vent. I’ve had it with desert gardeners coming into the garden center and preaching that planting season in our mountains doesn’t start until May! True, our summer planting season starts after the last frost date of May 9th, but what about spring gardening? I have been planting for a month and my yard is happy, beautiful, and a source of joy to me. I even had fresh broccoli, parsley, and chives from my gardens this week.

Spring gardening in the mountains is only for those plants that like our spring weather of warm days and cool nights. These are all the leafy vegetables including rhubarb and artichokes, as well as summer-blooming bulbs. I already have finished planting all my favorite bulbs: dahlias, lilies, and gladiolus. Also, most of my geraniums, petunias, and niembergia are in the gardens; they love this spring weather and are looking great. If I think night temperatures will be going down to the low 20’s, which is rare in spring, I throw a sheet over my new babies. The plants have no problem with nippy temperatures, but this light protection ensures that their blooms continue.

If you’ve been wanting to start gardening I say, “Go ahead; I am.” If you are not sure which plants are for spring planting and which had better wait ‘til summer, just ask; your garden center will give you the straight scoop. Just stop listening to those desert flatlanders who only know how to garden in one season. We do not live in a desert! This truly is a four-season gardening climate. There, I feel better.
This Saturday’s garden class is about all things herbal; and yes, herbs are planted in the spring. Learn which herbs grow best, how to increase flowers, edible production, and the best planting techniques for these fragrant beauties. As always, this free class is held at the garden center from 9:30 to about 10:45am. Seating is limited to the first 50 people.

Picture this: You're driving through the neighborhood admiring beautifully manicured lawns with daffodils blooming when suddenly your scenic drive is jarred by an overgrown, unkempt front yard. You immediately cringe in disgust, but your revulsion is not just at the sight of the yard. You're most appalled because this eyesore is yours!

So what's a busy homeowner supposed to do? Simple. Just keep the herbs, flowers, and grass neatly edged. Especially watch the native sages, manzanita, lavender, junipers, and other low-growing shrubs. Keep them cut back to maintain a defined border, walk, or driveway. Clipping back unwanted growth improves any plant’s appearance, and removing diseased, pest-ridden, or damaged branches ensures it will receive adequate sunlight. Be sure to fertilize immediately after pruning to encourage fresh new growth. It’s amazing how dramatically this easy bit of maintenance will improve a yard's appearance.

If you’re inspired to add new flowers and shrubs be sure to clean out all areas designated for planting. Remove all dead leaves, sticks, pinecones, or any other dead growth. Next, pull out any weeds or unwanted grasses. Then add a two-inch layer of composted mulch. Top dress with an all-natural plant food and turn the soil to one shovel’s depth. Slightly moisten the prepared area and it’s ready to receive its new plants.

If you’re creating or reviving an actual flowerbed, it’s helpful to place new plants in the area while still in their containers. This allows an opportunity to move the “newbie’s” about until the most desirable design is created. Dig each hole about twice as wide, but no deeper than, the plant’s root ball, making sure the soil is loose. Knock the plant out of the pot by turning it upside down and slightly tapping on the bottom of the container. If you notice the roots of the plant are thick, matted, or growing around the pot, loosen them carefully before planting. Finally, set the plant in the hole so the top is even with the soil's surface and fill in with soil.

There are several benefits to top-dressing plants with mulch: it controls weeds, keeps soil moist, regulates ground temperature, but most importantly it leaves an attractive finishing touch to your creation. There are several varieties of mulch available which allow for creative expression. I really like the look and lasting qualities of a shredded cedar bark. There’s an added benefit to cedar in that it keeps spiders and bugs out of the bed.

There you have it. In one weekend that over-grown and weedy yard can look manicured, fresh, and vibrant. It only takes a little cleanup, perhaps some fresh new plants, and the enhancement of a top dressing. Even your grateful neighbors will be saying “wow”.
Thank you for all the kind words about the new radio show format. If you missed this week’s show, you can podcast it from my web site at wattersonline.com. ‘The Mountain Gardener’ airs every Saturday from 11a.m. to noon at KQNA 1130AM or 99.9FM.

Until next week, I’ll see you in the garden center.

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