Melinda Myers - Gardening Tips and More



		Click here to view Melinda's "A Fabulous Garden in Five Easy Steps" brochure.

Whether you are hoping for a big harvest, a beautiful landscape, or a little stress relief, knowing the when and how of gardening will help you be a success. Use these timely garden tips to eliminate some of the guesswork. For more gardening tips, check out Melinda's books.

Sponsored by:
Wisconsin Green Industry Federation

Growing Green

Give the gift of flowers this holiday season and be kind to your budget and the environment. Reuse attractive pasta sauce, pickle and other glass jars as vases. Fill the vase with cut flowers, tie a ribbon around the upper lip of the jar and you have an attractive gift for your friends, relatives or hostess. Plus there is no need to return the vase the recipient can simply reuse or recycle the vase guilt-free.

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Flowers

Keep planting hardy bulbs. Those in warm regions may just be getting started while those in cold climates are winding down. If the ground freezes you can still plant, it just takes a bit more time and effort. Use a shovel to break through the frosty covering and outline the planting hole. Lift the frozen lid of soil, much like a manhole cover, and plant the bulbs at the proper depth in the unfrozen soil below. Water and replace the soil lid. Some gardeners claim it is a great way to protect bulbs from squirrels.

Or use the extra bulbs for forcing indoors. Plant the bulbs at least an inch below the soil surface in a standard container filled with well drained soil. You can pack the bulbs in tight for a showier spring display. Cover with soil, water and store in a cool (35 to 45 degrees) location. An unheated garage or attic with a bit of extra insulation around the pot or a spare refrigerator (no apples please) work well. Or sink the planted containers in a vacant area in the garden. After 15 weeks the potted bulbs can be brought indoors, placed in a cool sunny location and watered. Continue to water as needed and soon you will have a bit of spring bloom indoors.

Collect and save seeds of coneflowers, black-eyed Susans and other perennials you want to plant next spring. Remove the seeds from the seedpods and allow them to dry. Store the seeds in a 35mm film canister or other airtight container. Write the seed name and date on the outside and store in the refrigerator.

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Edibles

Try growing your own salad indoors. Fill a windowsill container with a well-drained potting mix. Sprinkle the seeds of lettuce or other greens on the soil surface. Add a few radishes for zip. Or make it an herb garden. Basil, marjoram, parsley and many other herbs add a little life to the indoors and flavor to your winter meals.

Protect next year's strawberry harvest now. Cover the plants with a 4 to 6 inch layer of straw or marsh hay once the top half inch of soil is frozen. This is usually after the temperatures start hovering around 20 degrees.

Check on stored produce throughout the winter. Look for signs of sprouting, soft spots and rot. Move to a cooler and darker location if possible. Remove and compost rotten fruit and vegetables. It is true that one rotten apple, squash or onion does spoil the bushel.

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Trees, Shrubs and Roses

Hybrid tea roses need help getting through the cold northern winters. Once the ground freezes, it is time to get busy. Loosely tie the canes to prevent wind damage. Mound 8 to 10 inches of compost or soil around the base of the plants. Once the soil mound freezes, cover it and the plant with straw, marsh hay or evergreen boughs.

Or try the leaf method. Surround the planting bed with 4 ft tall hardware cloth. Sink the bottom 4 inches into the ground to keep out the varmints - you'll need to do this part before the ground freezes. Once the ground freezes, cut back the roses to 18 inches and fill the fenced in bed with dry leaves. Pack them in tight until you have a 3 ft layer. Then sit back and relax until spring.

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Lawns and Groundcovers

It’s time for northern gardeners to start packing away the lawn care tools, equipment and supplies. Drain and store the garden hose for winter.

Winterize your mower after the final cut. Empty the gas tank or fill it with a preservative. Disengage the spark plug for safety. Drain and replace the oil if needed, clean off dirt and grass and check blades, belts and filters. Winter is a good time to take care of routine maintenance and repair. You and your mower will be ready for the first cutting in spring.

Store fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides in a secure location for the winter. Liquids should be stored out of direct sunlight in a frost free location. Freezing temperatures and sunlight can diminish their effectiveness. Store granular materials in a cool dry location. Once wet, they clump together making it impossible to apply evenly at the proper rate.

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Indoors

The holidays are approaching and many of us like to give or receive living plants. Protect these blooming gifts on their travels from the garden center or florist to your home and others. Wrap the plants in paper, plastic or place in a box for protection from the cold. Don't leave plants sitting in a cold car while you run errands. Even a brief chill can kill a plant. It often looks fine when you deliver it, but the leaves of chilled plant discolor and drop in several days. Not the holiday cheer you were hoping to deliver.

Pot up extra bulbs or buy a few for indoor forcing. Plant them in a container filled with a well-drained potting mix. Place them in a refrigerator, sink them in a vacant area of the garden, or store in some other location where they will receive cold (35 to 45) degrees temperature for 12 to 15 weeks. Once chilled, they can be moved indoors for a little spring delight.

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LANDSCAPE MAKEOVER IDEAS - Check out my landscape makeover photo gallery to get ideas on making over your yard and then post photos of your accomplishments!

MELINDA'S GARDEN MOMENT VIDEOS - In need of more gardening tips that can visually walk you through the process? Click here to watch online streaming video of my nationally-syndicated gardening tip segments.

PODCASTS - Listen to my weekly garden podcasts.