Zone 7 gardening: Zone 7 gardening

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Zone 7 gardening

March 2007 gardening notes:

About 4 weeks before the last frost is the time to plant dormant roses and bare-root shrubs. Dogwoods and magnolias should only be planted in the spring.

A young tree will develop a stronger trunk if the tree is not tightly staked, but allowed to sway with the wind.

To quicken the decay of tree stumps cover the stump with soil. Tree stumps may be used as an attractive base for flower pots. Or plant flowers in the rotten areas.

This is a good time to repot houseplants into larger containers. Leggy plants should be cut back. Root your cuttings to grow additional plants. The secret to rooting coleus and wax begonias is to cut the top 6 inches of a leafy stem below a leaf node. Then remove the leaves from the bottom 3 inches and place the cutting in water adding a few drops of bleach. Place in a partially sunny window. Place in soil after roots have developed.

Perennials such as hostas, liriope, daylilies, Shasta daisies, astilbe, and coral bells can be divided before new growth starts. Plant the extras in containers for gifts.

Fertilize lilies, clematis, lilacs and bearded iris with bone meal or 5-10-5 plus lime. Also fertilize pansies and houseplants. Do not begin fertilizing peonies until after they have been planted for 2 to 3 years. A great all around fertilizer is liquid seaweed.

Vegetables that can be planted before the last frost are lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Also plant seeds of carrots, beets, radishes, and parsnips. Plant onions, potatoes, peas, radishes, asparagus, and turnips near the end of the month. Seedlings started inside will appreciate fertilizing at half strength every two weeks.

Add mulch to asparagus, artichokes, bramble fruits and fruit trees. Don’t remove mulch from your other plants. The ides of March can bring surprises such as our 80o week followed by two frosts.

For two nights an opossum has met me at my door. The pests are appearing. If you use wire fencing around your vegetable garden; let the wire have some slack between posts. This makes it more difficult for groundhogs to climb your fence. However, I found out that opossums are not a pest, but eat insects, such as cockroaches, crickets, and beetles. They catch and eat rats, mice, and they consume dead animals. They like over-ripe fruit, berries, and grapes. They think snails and slugs are scrumptious! Opossums are North America's only marsupial; since they carry their young in their pouch. To learn more for $25 a year you can join the National Opossum Society (www.opossum.org).

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: I live in Goochland Courthouse which is 15 - 20 miles west of the Henrico/Goochland County line. I have always been told that we are in Hardiness Zone 6B - not Zone 7 like eastern Goochland County. Does anyone know if this is true?

Thanks,
Betsy; May 16, 2010 at 8:05 PM

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Feb. gardening notes cont.

February is the month to prune! The tree and shrub branches which you pruned can be forced to display lovely blooms and foliage, a reminder of approaching spring. Prune fruit trees and other deciduous trees. Old lilacs can be cut back to one foot, but they should be mulched, fertilized and water for 3 years to develop a compact flowering shrub. Also hollies can be heavily pruned down to a foot. Prune summer blooming shrubs, such as beauty bush, butterfly bush, Hydrangea, Nandina, crepe myrtle, and Rose of Sharon. Prune vines. Grape vine cuttings may be saved for making wreaths. Deciduous bare-root trees can be planted about a month before the last freeze. Mulch your tree to a depth of 3 or 4 inches at a distance of 3 inches from the trunk. Don’t neglect your vegetable garden. I read that one can replant the roots from leeks. In 60 to 90 days you’ll have a new tasty plant. The next time I buy an organic leek I will be sure to plant the roots in my garden. Will let you know the results. Last year I planted a few store bought organic cocktail tomatoes which had rotten and they grew into a healthy plant. Also cut one of the eyes off your potatoes and plant. You can have a wonderful vegetable garden with out buying seeds or young plants. Bluebirds are already checking out homes. So clean birdhouses and put out new houses in open fields on post about 5 ft. high. If you place a nearby feeder stocked with mealy worms; you will have a better chance of the bluebirds to taking up residence. Don’t forget to feed all the wild birds, which will soon be nesting.

January Gardening Notes cont.

Also indoors start germinating seeds of Petunia, Portulaca, Salvia, Snapdragon and Verbena. All take 8 to 10 weeks before their seedlings are ready to be planted in your garden. Sprinkle poppies seed in snow.

Even in the winter you should weed. If the weather is too miserable; then study your garden catalogues and plan for the arriving warm weather. For a fun and informative read, Susan Orlean’s “The Orchid Thief” will entertain you with her experiences with orchids and obsessions in Florida.

October Notes cont.

This is the month for a fall cleaning of your yard. The foliage of tall bearded and Dutch irises should be cut down to 2 inches and added to your compost pile. Also add your raked leaves to your compost pile. Diseased plants should be burned or put in the garbage. Compost will reward you with rich soil to add to your garden. If your vegetable garden suffered heavy insect or disease invasion then (after discarding the plants) turn the soil. The fresh air will help prevent the insects and diseases from returning next summer. Otherwise let the dead plants and vegetables remain in your garden until spring, because beneficial insect have laid their eggs on these plants. You do not want to discard the dead plants until after the insects have emerged in the spring.

If the soil dries out; then keep watering your container plants, camellias and azaleas. Shrubs can suffer winter damage if they are allowed to dry out. Also water your new seedlings and pansies. Mid-Oct should be your last fertilizing of shrubs and trees. Only fertilize English box every two or three years.

Due to our drought, even with this recent rain pounding on the ground, trees have dropped their leaves early. So the colorful fall leaf display is diminished. We may not receive our first frost until next month. Before the first frost, dig up your sweet potatoes. Also pick your green tomatoes.

Now is the time to cut wood for your fireplace. Gather the dried seed pods which have fallen from magnolia trees. Place these pods in a basket next to the fireplace to use as kindling.