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Penny Carnathan
Penny’s a Nurture And Hold (NAH): Nah, I won’t pull that out yet, it’s still got a green shoot. She likes dragonflies, lady bugs and new stuff only after weeding, pruning and fertilizing.
Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
Both advocate Plant Choice (SOMEthing besides crotons. Please!), lots of color and low maintenance. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re smart enough to learn from each other - and from you.
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A dead garden is more work than a live one!
Posted Feb 6, 2010 by Loren Omoto
Updated Feb 6, 2010 at 11:18 PM
I have diligently been working on Kim’s checklist of Things to Do to Delay Pruning. It hasn’t been hard. It seems like I have tons more work now than when my garden was a blooming, weed- and lubber-infested celebration of life.
But on the in-betweens, I have to confess, I’ve pruned. Just a bit, here and there. I’m already seeing how nuts that is. Things I pruned two weeks ago have died back further, as the weather warms and more of the plant realizes it sure does want to go into that heavenly light. So some, I’ll be pruning again. A day of that can make you question the desirability of opposable thumbs. I’m beginning to think snakes may be more evolved—they don’t wake up in the morning with snip fatigue.
Some of the alternatives on Kim’s list are pure joy, and I got a head start. A couple weeks ago I got this watering can at the Target Super Center (much better garden department than regular Targets) on sale for $10.
I absolutely did not need a new watering can. I have three. But there were so many colors! The friend I was shopping with said, “If it makes you happy, buy it.” That’s a friend you’re not sure whether to embrace or avoid. (I’m embracing her. I need color!)
Today I went to Home Depot for peat and compost. With so much dead stuff, it’s a good time to seriously amend my very sandy beds. It’s hard to do when you’ve got lots of plants growing in them, but hey, don’t have that problem now!
But the bags of peat and compost don’t come in bright colors. My trailer-thingy drifted like the planchette of a Ouija board straight toward the bright and pretty. And the spirits were sympathetic! I got this 18-inch fiberglass planter on clearance for half price - $20. (It’s at the HD on West Hillsborough and Memorial Highway. They have lots.)
Can you tell I’m in a “blue” phase?
I did, eventually, get around to the peat and compost. Farmer Rick highly recommends adding peat to your native sand, and HD has compacted 85-liter “bales” for $10 (but not at Hillsborough and Memorial.) I was eyeballing the cheap cow manure compost ($1.47 for 40 pounds) versus the Black Cow ($4.97 for 50 pounds.) I know I need a lot—my compost bin is full and working, but not up to what I have in mind—so the cheap was looking good. My helpful HD helpmate told me the cheap stuff sprouts lots of weeds. She’s seen it. The Black Cow doesn’t. I’m an easy sell. If I’m going to dig for hours, I want it to be worth my time!
So I dug up this bed and another small one. I pulled out dead (I hope) Cuban Gold, broken glass, rocks, tons of roots (I so hope they weren’t busy!), and a wooden border from the previous homeowner 20 years ago. I chunked in compost, peat and Dynamite slow-release fertilizer (on sale at HD for $5 for a twin-pack of 2-pound containers. Great deal!!)
The problem? Trying to get the bed leveled. I raked, stamped, dug and schmeared, but it’s stll uneven and I may have drainage and pooling issues ahead.
Last on my list today was a little gratification. I like to plant, and re-potting qualifies. I had a couple potted plants that I didn’t like enough to invite inside during the freezes. They got the message and went into the light.
With an eye toward Kim’s checklist, I responsibly scrubbed a pot and put my thriving (but developing troublesome leaf issues) blue butterfly cutting into a bigger, new, clean home. I love this bush, which grows to about 5 feet tall and has adorable, deep blue and pale blue blossoms. I think the mother plant may be a goner, so I’m counting on her daughter to take her place.
OK, I’m curious. What are y’all doing since you can’t really plant or prune? (I’m doing seeds, too. And books!)
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Reader Comments
Posted by (kgardens) on February 06, 2010
I love that cobalt blue pot. The watering can is cute too. I think I need to go to Target and my Target is right across the street from a Home Depot. Yay! I have to admit I’ve been cutting things back. I have some new growth showing up though.
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 06, 2010
I want a feijoa too, if you find one let me know. Mr. Grumpy and I cut back all the roses back today, tomorrow top dress with black cow, bone meal and Gro Mor, that’s what I am up to. Pumpkin
Posted by (RickBrown) on February 07, 2010
I have been cutting everything back and I would say I am 98% complete and ready to plant. I have been to Tropiflora and scooped up some hardy bromeliads, and even some tender beauties I could not resist. I found some nice sized 3 gallon blooming white mandevilla vines at Home Depot to replace the ones that were killed by the cold and planted those yesterday on our trellis. The thing we noticed is we will be able to modify our low volume irrigation system with all the plants cut back and out of the way. This year we will also cruise the hood and pick up bags of leaves when people start raking. I have a trailer and we get quite a few loads with it . Can’t ever have too many oak leaves.
Posted by (Janna) on February 07, 2010
Thanks for the tip on the sale pots! I need some more since I’ve been planting seeds and am ready to move some cuttings. I still have lots of trimming and clearing to do, though. Planting is much more fun.
I went to the fair yesterday and got three types of begonias. Fireworks, Merry Christmas and Mardi Gras (spent $22 total). I decided to try begonias in my shady areas and on the patio after Susan gave me the angel wing cutting at the seed swap.
Rick, if you can’t have too many oak leaves, I’m in luck. I have TONS!! Gotta’ get hubby out there with a rake.
Posted by (RickBrown) on February 07, 2010
Guys, great pictures of death by freezing at this blog. http://blog.fredsommer.com/SommerGardens/
Don’t try this at home!
Posted by (Chip) on February 07, 2010
I just about have my garden back to where it was before our cold snap. One more coat of paint and I will be able to work on the beds around the house. I am so ready for some color around the house but I think I am waiting a few more weeks old man winter isn’t done yet so I am going to have to be happy starting a few more seed trays stuff I can bring in if it gets to cold….“Chip”
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 07, 2010
Penny, Thinks for the tip on the dynamite sale, I just got 6 containers. I do take the soil and mulch away from the roses and throw it away.The Hillsborough ROTC kids are the best I ask them to do something and the next it is done. Pumpkin
Posted by (mangoman) on February 07, 2010
Well, so far I’ve gotten into the saltwater aquarium hobby. lol. My lettuce and suger-snap-peas did great but everything else suffered. Can’t wait until the weather warms up.
I guess I missed the feijoa part. Who has one of those?
Was at the Florida fair today working at the Rare fruit council citrus exibit and was stunned by the amount of fruit!!! Saddly, I think today was the only day they do the sampling. there’s always next year…
Posted by (mangoman) on February 07, 2010
Yes, the lychee’s do resemble an eyeball. lol. Have you ever seen a rambutan? if not please look it up. Its the same as a lychee inside but the outside is… well… just look it up
Feijoa or pineapple guava’s that’s about all i know saddly. I’m sure you could get one or I could try to get one at the Rare fruit council meetings or sale. Will check next time. I’ve never tried one, have you?
Posted by (kgardens) on February 08, 2010
Penny, I’m glad you found the more recent entries on my blog. The pics aren’t so pretty right now, but I have hope for springtime blooms. If Farmer Rick is cutting back and planting then I feel more confident about me doing so. I still can’t find the sedum in “my” Home Depot. I guess I’ll have to branch out to some other HD locations.
Posted by (Chip) on February 08, 2010
A rare type of fruit that hardly anyone here had heard about is the Barbados cherry. And I want one bad Kerby,s has them sadly there is no room at the Inn. The things that makes it different, are the vitamin content[ one little cherry has more vit. C than ten oranges } the way the cherry comes from the tree is different it gets spikes that look like sharp teeth on the trunk and branch’s and on the sharp points is where the fruit grows. Sour oh boy! talk about pucker power I think sour cherry’s make better pies. ....“Chip”
Posted by (mangoman) on February 08, 2010
Never tried a barbado’s, heard about them though. Where did you try them? I’d love to try one. Have you ever tasted a calamondin? WOAH those things are sour!!! its about the size and shape of a kumquat but WAY more sour and acidic. I tried one once without knowing how sour it would be. UGH. I hate them now.
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 08, 2010
Penny, That would be great if you find Feijoa Sellowiana, you know I am sitting on pins and needles.
Welcome Mangoman, You will really enjoy that aquarium. Glad your veggies did well through the cold. Pumpkin
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on February 08, 2010
Penny, I just learned about the feijoa from Kay’s blog. Pumpkin
Posted by (Chip) on February 09, 2010
Very cool tree! I put one in at my Mom’s house and I was wondering if the cold messed up the blooms. Anything I put in my Moms yard has to be plant and forget I started a tray of zinnias for her I still need to come up with a few more I can start from seed and put in later [ Mom is a known plant killer] so anything suggested is welcome I try to get as much color as possible but it has to be bullet proof so that limits me….“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on February 10, 2010
I hate to be the one who says this but it looks like the blankets are coming back out. I just about got everything back like it was and I have some monster tomato’s just starting to ripen bad timing. We have tonight and maybe Saturday night to worry about oh boy! good luck ....“Chip”
Posted by (Janna) on February 10, 2010
Geez…I guess I’d better cover the little milkweed and orange cosmos plants I have going. I was a little over eager for spring and already put them in the ground. They’re doing well, though and if they make it through, I’ll save the cosmos seeds for anyone who wants them. They sprouted pretty easily from the seeds we got from Monica’s garden.
Take care of those tomato plants, Chip!
Posted by (kgardens) on February 10, 2010
I’m just going to pretend I didn’t read these comments about freezing temps. We’ll see how that works for me. Kay
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on February 10, 2010
Yup——the plumeria, hollyhocks and a few other tenders have sheets all over them already. The orchids are inside all nice and warm along with all those cute little cuttings I got at the seed exchange. It would be a shame to have you guys nurture those babies only to have me neglect them before they make it in the ground.
Dang weather! We do live in Florida, right? Then again, my home state of Ohio is having a blizzard. Glad I’m not there.
Posted by (Chip) on February 11, 2010
I am not sure what is more trouble covering everything or taking it all down! I did my 3:00 a.m. check and it was 34 deg. cold enough to do damage so I was happy I covered but what a pain!
.....“Chip”
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on February 14, 2010
My orchids are tired of being in the garage. Sigh!
Posted by (Chip) on February 14, 2010
Monday night into Tuesday maybe bad. the cats are back so I know it is going to get cold. If they would only keep the birds away! My blue berry bush’s are loaded with blooms so are my tomato plants and strawberry plants so this is a most unwelcome cold front enough already! I want the warm days and cool nights we need for our spring gardens soon I hope!....“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on February 14, 2010
I do not know how many blueberry’s we will get but the cats if they want to earn there food should keep them away! If only it was that easy maybe I should put some catnip close to the blueberry’s? I do have some started!....“Chip”