When you are up to your elbows in spring gardening and lawn maintenance, don’t forget that now is also a great time to do a little pruning of your trees and shrubs.
Pruning means removing plant parts – typically fronds, shoots, branches and flowers – to boost health, control growth and improve blooming. You can also prune the roots if they are close to the trunk. It’s a routine part of maintenance, and it shouldn’t be put off until the trees are overgrown.
Overgrown plants are tall and leggy with very little foliage near the ground, making it harder to prune to a desired size without severely damaging the plants. That’s why if you’re at that point, prune overgrown trees and shrubs in stages over several years.
Over time, trees and shrubs can outgrow the space allotted to them. If so, pruning is critical to keep plants in bounds. It’s easy to maintain a uniform size and shape of trees and hedges if you stick to a regular schedule.
Most trees and shrubs benefit from being pruned back each year. Pruning helps your trees keep their shape, gets rid of dead and diseased limbs – and helps new growth to flourish.
The more flowers or fruit are on a plant, the smaller each fruit or flower is. Pruning reduces the amount of wood and diverts energy to produce larger, healthier (but fewer) flowers or fruit. Most flowering shrubs bloom either on one-year-old growth – or on new growth. Pruning helps you increase wood production that will bear flowers or fruit.
To maintain plant health, 
get rid of any dead, dying or diseased wood you see. Any dying branch is the perfect entry point for insects and disease to quickly spread. When trimming dead branches, use a sharp sterile blade and remove the dying growth all the way back to the healthy wood.
Here are a few quick reminders on pruning shrubs.
There are two main techniques, and it’s key you do them both in moderation: Thinning and “heading back.” Thinning means removing the entire branch back to the main branch or stem. Heading back just means shortening the branch’s length.
Problems can arise if you do either of these techniques to the exclusion of the other. Do a combination of each to keep your plants at the size, shape and density you want.
Thinning regularly helps you prevent disease and maintain good form in all your plants. Even evergreen shrubs benefit from an occasional thinning of their foliage. Thinning allows light and air to penetrate throughout the plant, so you get even better overall growth.
Here are some tips for successfully pruning trees.
- Twigs and small branches. Always cut back to a vigorous bud or an intersecting branch. When cutting back to a bud, choose a bud that points in the direction you want for the new growth. Be sure not to cut too close to the bud.
- Thick, heavy branches.
Remove large branches so they are flush with the “collar” at the branch’s base. The collar is a larger area of tissue at the base and it contains a protective zone to prevent decay. If you accidentally cut too low to the branch base, the protection is removed and you are at risk of a serious trunk wound. - Forget the old “paint” technique when you have cut the branch flush to the trunk. For years, folks have done the flush-cut-and-paint routine. Simply put, don’t. Flush-cutting increases the risk of tree injury – and the paint can trap moisture and add to disease problems.
When it comes to pruning, a simple rule of thumb is this. Don’t overdo it but do it regularly. Generally once a year will keep you in good shape. And use the sharpest shears possible, so you get clean cuts with no frayed edges.
Happy pruning!
There are some wonderful alternatives to fighting dandelions with chemicals.
Dandelion wine is one of the better-known ways to enjoy dandelions’ benefits. You can also make dandelion coffee, tea and lemonade. Naturally caffeine-free, dandelion coffee is produced from roots harvested in the fall, dried, lightly roasted and ground. Tea can be made from any part of the plant resulting in a variety of flavors. Dandelion blossom tea is easily made by pulling the yellow petals from the flower, piling them in a coffee filter, closing the filter with a twist-tie and steeping in steaming hot water for a couple minutes. In summer, dandelion sun tea is easy to create with a quart of water and a few cups of blossoms. It is said this tea can help relieve pain from headaches, cramps, backaches, stomach aches and even depression. For dandelion lemonade, gather about two quarts of flowers, place in a gallon of room-temperature water, add fresh lemon juice, honey and chill. Strain, or leave in the flowers for an aesthetically-pleasing glass. You can also add the leaves to a raw/green smoothie mix for enhanced detoxification.
used like other greens. They are great served fresh with other greens in a salad topped with vinaigrette dressing, on a sandwich, or used in place of other herbs. Or, try them sautéed in oil with garlic, or with bacon, onion, brown sugar and vinegar. They are also great in soup. You can also reduce bitterness by steaming them separately for a couple minutes first.
Children see the beauty of dandelions more than any of us and inspire creativity. They are often the only flowers kids can pick for a bouquet without getting in trouble. Pressing dandelions and other wildflowers between wax paper in a thick book and then creating art with them is also a creative way to use dandelions. My children love to make dandelion jewelry. To weave a beautiful dandelion crown, pick a couple dozen flowers and leave the stems long. About 2” below the bloom cut a small slit with your fingernail or a knife. Loop another stem through the hole until the flower heads touch. Continue until the chain is long enough to go around your child’s head. At the end, twist the last stem around the first. Make a matching bracelet and ring, too. Or, craft a long, loose chain to hang as decoration for an outdoor party!
First off, water. The idea of being reminded to water may seem a bit strange since this is the rainiest time of year on average. But it’s key. If you’re not getting rain two or three times a week, it’s time to monitor closely. If it is hot and five days have passed with no water, break out the hose and give your lawn a good soaking.
sure you are cutting the grass with your blades set high. Set the mower blade at least 3½ inches. Tall grass is healthy grass, so cut about 1/3 off the top of the blade of grass when you mow. It helps the soil stay cool and moist longer, promotes deeper roots, keeps down weed growth, and encourages healthy soil microbes. Microbes convert soil nutrients into a form that plants love. It also fosters growth to spread and help you get rid of those unwanted bare spots.
A great idea is to mow in different directions each time. This promotes healthier grass by reducing wear and tear, helps the grass grow upright and gives you that “striping” look popular on baseball diamonds and golf courses.
earlier, fall is the ideal time to fertilize. When the air is colder, grass growth slows, but the soil stays plenty warm for continued root growth. Building up those roots in the fall helps them support a healthy, green lawn next spring and summer.
We all garden for different reasons. Why not try this unique approach and incorporate a little something for each of your five senses? And then be sure to include a beautiful bench or a pea pebble path, and, make time to take a walk or sit and enjoy your garden with your eyes, ears, fingers, mouth and nose!
beautiful visual art and using some ideas from the art world can really enhance yours, especially if selecting color overwhelms you. One great tool is the color wheel. You can purchase an inexpensive one at any craft store. To create a bold, dramatic effect, try planting in complementary colors. These are any colors opposite each other on the wheel. Take the color wheel with you when you go to choose your plants. For example, when choosing annuals, select a flower color you like then locate the opposite color on the wheel and find other florae in that hue. Or try an analogous color scheme (a cluster of 3 adjacent colors on the wheel).
Sound
“petting zoo for plants” and ask yourself if the texture of the plant is interesting and durable. One of the most delightful plants to feel is Lambs’ Ear. Its large leaves are densely covered in silky, white hairs and feel like velvet. Snapdragons are another playful flower that is amazing to touch. They come in a variety of vivid, bright colors and their blooms open and close when pinched at the “jaw.” Kids love both of these plants.
Taste
surprise of encountering a beautiful scent as you walk through a garden. It’s fun to try to identify where it’s coming from. Honeysuckle and lilac are two of nature’s most permeating scents. Honeysuckle has wonderful sweet smell, and it flourishes in sunny areas with a rock wall, trellis or fence to grow on. It also attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees so vital to all botanical life. Lilac is also a pleasant smell, and comes in many varieties. The Korean Dwarf Lilac is an easy-to-maintain tree-like bush in the shape of a popsicle. The skinny trunk is topped by a puff of greenery with clusters of powerfully-smelling lavender blooms in the spring. To maintain the circular shape and thickness, be sure to trim monthly.
Chefs around the world know there’s one “not-so-secret” to healthy, flavorful meals: Fresh ingredients.
drainage – perhaps the most important single factor in growing herbs. The simple fact is herbs won’t grow in wet soils. To improve drainage, remove the soil to a depth of 15 inches or so. At the bottom, place a three-inch layer of pea gravel covered with compost or peat moss, then add the original soil back on top. Refill the beds higher than the original level to allow the soil to settle.
Get biennials directly into the ground in late spring. Work the soil to a fine texture and wet it slightly. Sow the seeds in very shallow rows and firm the soil over them. Do not plant them too deeply. Fine seeds, such as marjoram, savory, or thyme, will spread more evenly if you mix them with sand. Some larger seeds can be covered by up to 1/8-inch of soil. With fine seeds, cover the bed with wet burlap or paper to keep the soil moist. Water with a fine spray to keep your soil from washing away.
flourishing, it’s time to start harvesting your bounty! This is the fun part. Seek out recipes that ask for the herbs in your garden and put them to work! It’s amazing the difference that fresh-picked herbs will add to your meals. You can pick fresh leaves as soon as the plant has enough foliage to maintain growth.
To ensure proper oil content and the best flavor, pick leaves after the morning dew is gone – but before the sun heats up. For dry, winter use, harvest leaves and seed heads before the flower buds open. Pick them as the color changes from green to brown or gray. Wash leaves and seed heads in cold water; then drain thoroughly, dry and use.
Not sure about all of you, but in my gardens, flower beds, and my lawn, the annual war against pesky weeds is now in full swing. Making it a grand time for a blog post that covers different methods of engaging these invasive little enemies.
armory, an important note: Fighting weeds requires persistence and consistency. During peak growth, weeds can quickly take over and become tough to manage. So set aside an amount of time that works with your schedule – whether it be 15 or 30 minutes a day, or a dedicated hour a few days a week. This will help you stay on top of them and keep them from taking over your space. Keeping a schedule helps you ensure your plants get all of the room – as well as all of the water and nutrients – they need to stay healthy and strong.
In your gardens and beds, cultivation can be a very effective tactic for small weeds. Breaking up the soil provides easy access to weeds and their entire root. You can then remove them easily by hand or just leave them to wither in the sun. This is where the scissor-like action of the 
AG Crabgrass Killer
unique ideas I have found for weed control is this: plant perennials that actually suppress weeds! These particular plants help do some of the heavy lifting for you, discouraging weed growth:
Using mulch creates a barrier that deprives weeds of the chlorophyll-producing light they need to take over your garden. Plus it looks nice and adds another layer of defense to your weed-fighting strategy. Organic mulch, synthetic mulches, black poly film, and even newspaper can work for barrier material.
A friend told me recently I needed to “stop and smell the roses.” I knew he meant “slow down and enjoy life,” but it occurred to me that I would actually like to plant some roses in my garden TO smell.
Roses need 5 basic things: sunlight, soil, water, space and food. Assess your desired spot for these factors:
grow. All roses need good air flow and wind should be minimized. A good rule of thumb is to allow as much space for the width of the fully grown plant as it will be tall.
Tending Means Noticing
A garden or flowerbed’s best friend is good, rich soil. And there are very few better – or cheaper – ways than composting to pack nutrients and add vitality to any soil, so plant growth can flourish.
much just a shovel or pitchfork – and a space outdoors with at least a foot of clearance from surrounding structures. You can also buy a fancy composting bin if you’d like. They’re terrific, and especially good in tight spaces. But basically, a pile on the ground can work just as well!
Grass clippings and kitchen scraps provide nitrogen while leaves or dried straw provide carbon. Just throw in any organic materials as it becomes available. To speed things up, we suggest you water it to keep it moist (but not soggy!) turn the pile every other week to give it air. If your pile smells bad, break out the pitchfork as it may be wet or not getting enough oxygen.
plants and the environment. And it’s free! What’s not to love about composting? Now that spring is in full bloom, find a small space in your yard and make it your composting headquarters. Your plants and your wallet will thank you!
Many tomatoes found at grocery and garden stores today are hybrids. This means they are commercially grown with controlled pollination to retain or introduce desired traits – like thick skin or disease resistance.
When deciding what to plant, I like to visualize my plate. Heirlooms come in a range of beautiful colors from yellows to reds to purples and everything in between. And, because they taste so great, they can be cut and served as their own beautiful and delicious dish. So I like imagine what colors would look good on a plate served together and make my selections about what to grow from there.
Now that spring has sprung, it’s the ideal time to plant your perennials.
or packaged plants sold dormant by mail order or at garden centers. These are for spring planting only. If you get these at a time you can’t plant right away, keep the plants cool and the roots moist. You can store them for several weeks this way, thus assuring their survival prior to planting.
After you have your plants in the ground, cover around the stems with mulch. This will stop weeds from taking over and stealing nutrients from your perennials. It will also hold in soil moisture and protecting your plants from drying out quickly.
