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 March 2007 Back to Table of Contents Back to Archives Main Page
The Garden Calls By Carol Ann Harlos There comes a little thaw, Still the air is chill and raw, Here and there a patch of snow, Dirtier than the ground below. Dribbles down a marshy flood; Angle-deep you stick in mud In the meadows while you sing, “This is Spring.” – Christopher Pearce Cranch When March arrives I get really eager to get out into the garden. I look forward to putting my hands into the earth, sniffing the air, seeing the earthworms that have come back into the upper layers after the winter freeze has departed. You may say that it’s too cold but it isn’t really. Let’s take a look. There are the empty seed heads from the echinacea. The goldfinches seem to have really enjoyed them this past winter. There are also untouched seed heads from the garlic chives, shriveled rose hips of the few that the birds and I missed, some spikes of anise hyssop, and the remainders of Annabelle hydrangea flower heads that I chose to leave behind last autumn. There are some tangled messes from the phlox and the obedient plants. I look beneath these and see green — a good sign for what is to come later this year. I note frozen leaves, shredded and mulched last autumn that cover the roots of forsythia, sand cherry and other shrubs.
March is a good time to do some carefully thought out spring cleaning in the garden. I have notes from last year and have made some ambitious resolutions. I made note of plant locations so I will avoid stepping on newly emerging plants or destroying the soil above late emerging plants such as the perennial hibiscus. My clippers are sharpened and ready for work. I snip off dead material. I leave the quince alone as it hasn’t blossomed yet and I don’t want to cut off any blossoms. I do look all the shrubs over as their shapes are revealed without leaves or flowers. I look for crossing branches and shrubs whose branches are simply too thick. I cut these off at the base. I do not cut shrubs at their tips to shape them as this causes the formation witches’ brooms — which are truly ugly and change the natural form of the shrub. Inside I am enjoying my forced bulbs and forced branches, which at least temporarily satisfies my need to be in the dirt. I am gradually increasing the water to house plants as the day length increases. I add fertilizer to those plants not already fertilized by our aquarium water. I am taking the time to check my house plants for disease, insects and crowded roots. Some I merely top dress with fresh potting mix. Other plants are repotted, divided, pruned or made into cuttings. Soon I will be starting the seeds of gomphrena, snowball hybrid marigolds, ipomopsis and Scabiosa stellata — also called starflower. If you are thinking of establishing a new bed in your gardens, this is a good time to consider having your soil tested. Call Cornell Cooperative Extension or watch for soil clinics at local nurseries and garden events, or take a soil sample to Cornell Cooperative Extension in East Aurora. That way you won’t need to guess on the need to amend the soil before planting your new garden later on in the year. I love to hear from you: carolann2@adelphia.net. back to top back to table of contents Current Issue | About Forever Young | Where to Find | Advertise | Our Advertisers | Community Calendar | Contest | Clubs | Contact Us | Archives | Home |
