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Traditionally, daffodils bloom in March.
This year one bloomed in my garden on
January 29th. In the last 15 years I have
kept a garden calendar and this is the
earliest 1 have recorded a daffodil
blooming. Then the snow came February
12th.
The most predictable word in the English
language for life and gardens, is the word
"change." The Chinese have a saying,
"Bend with the willow", and my plants did.
My garden may have been ahead in
growth in January, but after the snow,
wind and rain it now wears the leftovers of
winter's debris. Spring cleanup is a good
time to start a new compost pile.
Compost is made from grass clippings,
garden refuse and vegetable scraps from
the kitchen. Coffee and tea grounds and
wood ashes can also be added.
The easiest container to use is a black
plastic trash bag. Black absorbs the heat
more than clear plastic. Fill the bag with
the above material and add a sprinkling of
water. The smaller the pieces of organic
material, the quicker the compost will
break down. To speed up the process add a
handful of commercial dryed fertilizer
such as 5-10-5, or 10-10-10. The extra dose
of nitrogen in the fertilizer will act as a
catalyst to quicken the decay. Depending
on all the right conditions, heat, size of the
refuse, and turning the plastic bag
occasionally to stir the mixture, the
compost should be ready to use in about 3
months.
The majority of the soil in our area is
heavy clay or sand. Adding compost will
break down the clay and add humus to
sandy soil.
The late Don Thompson of Wave Crest,
some years ago gave me his formula for the
best time to start a compost pile and when
to dig it into the ground.
His formula is;
Start one on March 21 (vernal equinox).
Dig it into the soil on June 21 (summer
solstice).
Start another one Sept. 22 (autumnal
equinox);
dig this one into the soil Dec. 22 (winter
soltice).
Don also gathered seaweed and kelp,
(washing off the salt water), horse manure
that was mixed with straw from a local
stable, and produce waste left from
Osburn's grocery store to add to his compost
pile. His industrious system of enriching
the soil by adding compost twice a year,
planting a winter crop of green manure
(clover), which he would dig back into the
soil each spring, and rotating his vegetable
crops each season turned an area of packed
clay soil into a productive garden without
using chemical fertilizer or adding peat
moss.
There are many types of structures that
can be built to contain compost while it is
in the process of decomposing. Wooden
structures should be built with openings in
the sides for air to penetrate, like a slatted
bin covered with wire mesh. I use 3 metal
garbage cans that I puncutred holes in the
sides for air, but you can build your
compost on bare ground. Cover the piles
with tarps.
If you use the black plastic bag to
contain your compost, you then can move
it into a sunny location. Heat will build up
inside the bag and heat quickens the decay.
Branches too large or woody to chop up
for compost can be used for other purposes.
Branched prunings are excellent to use as
stakes to support plants that have a
tendancy to sprawl. In England no
prunings are wasted. They build wattle
style fences, arched formed structures for
large bush roses to twine through, trellises
and tepee-like forms for other climbipg
plants.
Using organic material in your garden
instead of man-made metal or plastic
structures create a more natural look.
Have fun, be creative with your pruned
branches.
I hear a frog creaking under n y house.
Wonder if it's finding shelter from the
snow and cold east winds? It has a very
deep voice, wish it would invite a soprano
and alto voice to join it in harmony. I
already have a drummer, that noise must
be the neighborhood woodpecker that
occasionally visits my house looking for
insects hiding in the wood shingles.
Question: Can paper-white narcissus that
were grown for indoor winter bloom be
recycled?
Answer: Paper-White narcissus are not
hardy bulbs, however try planting them in
a protected area. Plant them as soon as the
flowers fade. Leave the leaves to dry
naturally on the plant. Foliage supplies
bulbs with energy for next year.
Question: Is there a way to keep Poinsetta
plants in hibernation until next year's
season's blooms?
Answer: What are called flowers are really
colored bracts. I have been advised to
place the plants in a cool dark place like a
garage in late spring. Reduce watering to
a minimum. In September start feeding
them with a high nitrogen fertilizer. In
October bring them into a warm room near
a window with good light but away from
drafts or heat registers. The new bracts
should start to grow the colored leaves.
Question: What plants are best for winter
color?
Answer: One of the guides I use to plan my
garden for all seasons is the book, "Right
Plant, Right Place", by Nicola Ferguson.
This book's contents explain each plant and
where it is best grown; also in what season
it gives the best performance.
Question: What are nematodes? Will they
help control a cutworm problem?
Answer: Quote from Sunset's Gardener's
Answer Book, "Nematodes are amicrosiopic
transparent worm which decompose
organic matter. Some are parasites that
infect roots, bulbs and leaves." Unquote.
Write to Rodale Press and Research Center,
33 E. Minor St., Emmaus, PA 18098 for
answers to both questions. Rodale
Research Center is know for advising
organic alternatives to control all
problems related to gardens.
Question: When to prune Hydranges and
what fertilizer to use on them?
Answer: Prune Hydranges when you
prune your roses. I prune mine in late
February or the first of March. Cut off last
year's dead flowers to an outside leaf bud.
There are special fertilizers that can be
used to change the flowers' color but I use
a dressing of compost and commercial
dryed chicken fertilizer in the spring.
Question: How to support small Azalea
plants?
Answer: Azalea plants don't usually need
support, but try dried branched prunings.
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5340 N W SKYLINE BOULEVARD
PORTLAND, OREGON 972272554
(5 0 3 2 7 75064
___ ______ ,
Civilization is the encouragement of
differences. Civilization thus becomes a
synonym of democracy. Force, violence,
pressure, or compulsion ivith a veiiv to
conformity is both uncivilized and
undemocratic.
Mohandas Gandhi
Question: Is it time to start seeds indoors?
Answer: Look on the back of the seed
packet for germination period to determine
when to start the seeds. Time your
plantings to be transplanted outdoors
around Mother's Day. Dixie cups, egg
cartons, milk cartons or plastic trays can
be used to plant seeds but be sure all
containers have adequate drainage. It's
best to use "potting mixes" to plant your
seeds in, keeping the soil moist while
germination takes place. If there isn t
good drainage the seeds will rot.
Question: What is the best way to take care
of plants that are in danger of being lost
because of frost, snow, or ice?
Answer: Bulbs are hardy. The cold could
kill the flowers that have already bloomed,
but not the buds. Protect plants with a
covering of wet newspapers or any
covering. A week of cold weather could
kill many plants but most will recover with
new growth when the weather turns
warm.
Question: When to weed and prepare the
soil for planting?
Answer: March is a good time to start
preparing your soil for late spring
planting. Weeding is a year long project,
but of course after a heavy rain is the
easiest time to dig out the deep growing
roots of dandelions and other weeds that
are prevalent in our area. Instead of
waiting until June, as Don did, to add
compost to the garden, I dig it in around
the perennials in spring.
Please send your gardening experiences,
comments, or questions about coastal
gardening to;
June's Garden
PO Box 74
Cannon Beach, Or.
97110
(503) 436-2832
Cannon tfeadi
5MfAinzU5A
239 N. HEMLOCK • P.O. BOX 905
CANNON BEACH, OR 97110_____________J
C
> Oregon
State University Extension
f >
Master Gardener
Spring Garden
Seminar
Ed Hume
"Color In The Garden"
April 3, 1 9 9 5 - 7 :0 0 -9 :0 0 PM
Seaside Convention Center
g h H - p w e n t ation_tollow«d by Question/Answer Session
Garden Seminar
April 8, 1 9 9 5 - Camp Rilea
Section B
Section A
9 00 am
, 0 «5am
1 2 30pm
9 00 am
Mushrooms
by Veronica Williams
English Gardans A Organic
Methods, by Baih Holland
10 * 5 am
U n iq u . snd Unusual Par.nnials
12 30 pm
by Cathy Howard
Hithra Rants ldandfic.iion
A Uses, by Craig Wiisti
Introduction to «ha A n ol
Bonsai by Ann Brooks
Drying Herbs tor Ornament.i
Wreaths A Other Uaas.
Sea bach tor additional Intormatlon and reiivtraflon form
are-redistrafion retomntended
h r further lefarmaEn « i « M H i .
‘• * * * * )
v fla t too Countv t«1en*»on at 325-8573
S I 2 .5 0 Individuals and SB 0 0 Spouse - Refreshments » ill be Available
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UPPER LEFT EDGE MARCH 1775