Winter Care for Irises

    

Irises are flowers that grow from a rhizome.  This rhizome is planted close to the soil surface; no more than two inches bellow the soil surface.  When winter comes there may be snow and ice and if the iris is not shielded from the winter weather the rhizome may be damaged. 

Late November marks the end of autumn and soon the winter season will bring snow and ice.  This is the time to get the iris gardens ready for winter.  Care for your irises by removing the leaves, sticks, and acorns.  Then do a hand pull to remove any remaining weeds.  Protect the iris rhizome with a light organic mulch; pine needles, grass clippings or fresh wood from chipper.  

Questions and Answers:

 

Why do you apply organic mulch?  Organic mulch retains moisture, helps in preventing weed growth, provides root protection and when the mulch decomposes the nutrients improve the soil

Why do your remove leaves from iris bed?  Leaves attract borers and rodents and these garden pests will eat the iris rhizome.  So it is best to remove all leaf matter from the iris gardens. 


What is the best way to remove leaves from iris garden?   Removing  leaves from an iris bed is a little tricky because a conventional rake will uproot the plant.  The was best way remove the leaves is to blow them out of the garden.  Set the blower on low and slowly move the leaves out away from your plants. Slow and gentle movement will not harm the rhizome or disturb the roots.  If there are remaining leaves then go over the iris garden lightly with a metal tines rack.  By raking over the iris bed you will be able to remove the leftover leaves, sticks and acorns.  There will always be leaves leftover, that are buried in the foliage.   Remove the remaining leaves  by hand.  

When do you weed your iris garden?

Spot check for weeds in the garden before you apply the organic mulch.

Irises grown and photographed by sgolis

Tips:

Remove the organic mulch from your iris garden in early spring.  Do this to prevent borers and other rhizome eating pests .

View this video to learn more about caring for irises.

 

Landscape Trees -Planting and Buying Advice

Buy a healthy redbud tree

Planting a tree is not difficult however buying a healthy tree may be a little tricky.  A tree is an investment and will increase your property's value, so it is important to buy the right tree for your landscape. 

When it comes to buying a tree for your landscape choose from tree roots that are wrapped in natural burlap or from trees that are grown in a nursery container. Always buy trees from a quality nursery and check the return policy and tree warranty. 

I usually buy trees that are wrapped in a natural burlap covering. The wrapped root ball is an easier transplant.  There is no need to remove the natural burlap root ball cover because the roots will grow through the burlap.  This covering does not inhibit growth and because it is natural the burlap will break down in the earth over time. 

Note: Before transplanting a tree that is wrapped in natural burlap (no wax coating) it is best to cut or pull the burlap away from the tree trunk. By doing this you will allow the tree to get air, and better hydration and the tree will not become infected with insects.  Some tree experts say to clip the wires that hold the burlap in place others say to leave the wires because the roots grow out of the burlap.  I have planted trees with the wires intact and I have also cut every other wire. 
 

If buying a  tree grown in a container look for a healthy root that is growing outward. An indication would be roots growing out of the drain holes of the container. Another way to determine a healthy tree is to look for a full tree or bush with new growth.  A tree with brown leaves or dead branches is an indication that the tree is under stress or infection. 

Removing the tree from a container takes work. You would need to set the container on its side and then roll it back and forth to loosen the soil.  Then gently pull the tree out of the container.  Loosen the roots if they are entwined and hydrate the root ball before planting by setting the tree in a bucket of water or hosing it down.

Tips: 


Buy trees for your landscape in the fall or in early spring.  Plant trees in the fall a month before a hard frost.  

Plan on planting the tree in soil that is well-drained and in a location that provides the sun/shade requirement.  

Transplant the tree on a cool and cloudy day to prevent unnecessary stress. Water the transplanted trees well.  Continue to water throughout the growing season and in the autumn months if there is no rain. Soil is best if it is evenly moist but not wet.

Home and Garden Curb Appeal Ideas

Is the entrance of your home welcoming to guests?   Is the landscape manicured or is the lawn overgrown with crabgrass?   Or does your home and garden need some curb appeal? 

Here are a few of my yard and garden photographs

Curb appeal says a lot about your house and if your front entrance is eye-appealing then your home will be a valuable asset to the neighborhood and if you intend on selling your home, buyers will be more attracted to a home.

Why you should improve your curb appeal: 

Improve your home's curb appeal especially if you intend on selling your home. A home that features a color scheme along with a manicured lawn, gardens, and welcoming home entrance is a home that will hold its real estate value. A simple remodeling will enhance the beauty of your home. 

Choosing the right curb appeal theme for your home:

Before you begin any curb appeal project take a picture of your home.  Then list from the pictures the areas that need to be improved.  To get some ideas for ways to make your home entrance look better is to buy home improvement magazines or garden and landscape books. Another way to get some ideas is to drive around your neighborhood and look at what your neighbors are doing.

How to add curb appeal to your home:

Make your home more inviting to guests by installing a window box.  Grow flowers or herbs in the boxes.  Plant ivy close to the rim of the box and it will cascade down the outside of the window box.  This attractive window box will improve your home and your neighbors will compliment you on your curb appeal. 

 

Another way to make your home more inviting by improving your curb appeal is to install a natural stone or gravel path.  Design a meandering path that is attractive and inviting to guests.

Plan gardens that will outline the path, and also add solar lighting. The path should connect your front entrance to the sidewalk or driveway.

Another way to improve the appeal of your home is to paint your front door and then hang a seasonal wreath or flank your entrance with fragrant herb container gardens.  If you have porches why not add an inviting seating area with cushions that coordinate with your color scheme.  A free-standing fountain is tucked in the corner of your porch. 

More Curb Appeal Ideas

Consider painting your entire house with a new color scheme. A trendy color scheme that complements the style of your home will add warmth to your home entrance. A simple way to determine a color that would be suitable for the exterior of your home is to look at the colors in your roof shingles or stone facing.  Select the prominent color in the roof shingle, or stone facing your home, this color would be your primary color then select two complimentary colors for trim and accent colors. 

Container Herb Gardening - Rosemary

Grow rosemary in a  freestanding containers and the rosemary stems will grow upright.   Rosemary stems are grayish with spiky aromatic leaves and grow to three feet. The flowers are blue and they bloom in August. . 

 I like growing rosemary in a containers gardens as I can move them outdoors in the summer and then bring them indoors in the fall. A container herb garden allows you to enjoy this tasteful and fragrant herb all year round.

Herbs grown in containers : Freerangestock.com

Before you buy containers for your herbs, check the growth requirements of the  rosemary.  Also check to make sure the containers have adequate drainage holes.  Once you have your containers for your rosemary you would then need to set them in an area that has full sun and has wind protection.  

Plant the rosemary by digging a hole that is the same depth as the nursery pot. Gently remove the  rosemary from the nursery pot and loosen the root ball. Set the rosemary in the center of the hole and cover the roots with soil.  Water the rosemary until the water drains out of the container. 

Containers require more water than plants that grow in ground. Water your rosemary in the morning as needed. Watch your rosemary and if the leaves seem to drop this is an indication that the plant needs water. 


Learn more about growing rosemary in contains here:

Tips:

1. Rosemary is tolerant of cooler weather and can stay outside in 20-degrees . When temperatures dip bellow then bring your rosemary containers into the greenhouse or set them indoors next to a sunny window. I keep my rosemary in my kitchen on a bakers rack next to a window. There is a fan directly above and the air circulation is good for the rosemary.
2. Harvest rosemary leaves by cutting the stems in the morning.
3. Harvest the leaves before the flowers bloom.
4. Use sprigs of fragrant rosemary to decorate harvest wreaths or to add to potpourri.

Warnings:

Watch for spider mites. Repel the pest with an organic solution.

Plants That Keep Cats Off Your Car

Keep cats away from your car by growing plants that are repulsive to cats. Cats lying on your car can be annoying especially if you had your car washed or wax.
Those tiny paw prints seem to be embedded in the hood of your car and windshield.  Many people find cats to be a nuisance especially when the cats are attracted to the family car. 

The best way to keep cats from your car is to park it in a garage. If concealing your car behind closed doors is not an option then you need to make the cats uncomfortable and not welcome.  Achieve this by growing plants; garden mint, peppermint, lavender, lemongrass, thyme, chives, garlic and onions in containers or in gardens close to where you park your car. 

Cats avoid areas where these plants are growing because the scent that the plants release is repulsive.

Another way to keep cats off your car is grow citrus trees. If you live in a warm climate then plant two citrus trees in your yard. Citrus trees produce fruit and the skin that covers the fruit can be chopped and spread in your yard and driveway. 

Cats tend to avoid areas that have the scent of citrus. So enjoy a fresh picked orange, grapefruit, lemon or key lime and toss the peels into your yard and garden and you will stop cats from jumping on your car.

Tips:

• You can grow patio citrus trees in a container and keep them outdoors during the summer.  Bring the trees indoors during the winter season and toss the citrus peel or treat the area with concentrated orange oil.  Cats find oranges to be repulsive.  
• Mix citrus peels with used coffee grounds for a more potent cat repellent.
• Saturate your yard and garden with the fragrant herb gardens for best results.   
• I am a feral cat colony caregiver and cats are always seen crossing my yard, thee cats walk away from my herb garden. 

 

Autumn Yard and Garden Checklist

Autumn is when you clean up your yard and gardens to get them ready for the winter season. There are many tasks to be completed so it is best to manage your time by making a checklist and then working in your yard and garden every day during the autumn season until the list is completed.

Before beginning any yard and garden work I find it is best to take a notepad and walk through and jot down areas of concern.  Take your notes and make a checklist. The list will allow you to be efficient in your yard and garden clean-up. Organize the jobs so that they are all in one area.  Then complete one task before moving on to the next.  You will find that the checklist will keep you focused and you will work faster. Below is my yard and garden to-do list.

Autumn Yard and Garden Checklist

Pruning

Prune all summer-blooming shrubs to shape them.  Also, prune all dead branches and remove tree branches that have died.

Check Gardens for Overcrowding

Divide perennials if there is an indication that there is overcrowding.  Do this if you have one month of fair weather before a killing frost.  Roots need a minimum of one month to become established. 

Flower Gardens

Remove the spent blooms from black-eyed Susan’s, and purple coneflowers if the days stay warm they may have new growth.     If it is late in the season, leave the spent blooms as they will provide food for birds throughout the winter season.

Cut down all flowers that have died back and are not eye appealing. 

Weed the garden beds in autumn. Weeding will prevent weeds from growing in early spring.

Water gardens if the fall season is dry.  Stop watering when there is a hard freeze. Remove the hose from the faucet and put it away for winter storage.

Watch for garden pests; slugs and powdery mildew.  When the temperature tips bellow an average of 85 F zinnias and bee balm are susceptible also watch for webworms.

Containers

Rejuvenate container gardens by planting cold hardy pansies, chrysanthemums, and Vinca minor or ivy to trail down the sides.

Harvesting

Harvest any remaining crop; tomatoes, corn, lettuce or herbs.  If you enjoy cooking or healing with herbs then transplant the herbs into containers and move them indoors.  Grow them on a sunny southern exposed window and enjoy the herbs during the winter season.

Manicure Lawn

In the fall the grass dies back. Before the leaves cover your lawn it is best to cut your lawn and use the edger to trim back where your lawn can't go. Manicure your lawn so that it looks presentable during the fall, winter, and early spring seasons.

Lawn Repair

If your yard is in need of repair September is the best time to use a tiller to ready the soil.  Work organic matter into the soil before planting grass seed.  For spot seeding, it is best to remove the dead grass and then till or use the spade to loosen up the soil. Mix organic matter into the soil and then spread the seeds.  Cover the seeds with a thin layer of compost and top with a layer of dried grass clippings or straw.  Water the newly planted grass seeds and keep the seeds evenly until the blade of grass in healthy and strong.

Leaf Removal

Rake the leaves from your yard. Recycle the leaves by adding to your compost or putting them in a leaf shredder. Make fine mulch. Use this mulch for gardens and for your shrubs.

Plant Spring Bulbs

When the average temperature is 60 degrees you would plant spring bulbs; tulips, daffodils, anemones, and hyacinths.

Trees and Shrubs

Autumn is a good time to plant trees or shrubs.  If you intend on transplanting a tree or shrub or planting a new one make sure to plant them a month before a hard frost. 

Mulch

Apply a thin layer of mulch on the garden bed, around the remaining flowers and flowering bushes.  After the ground freezes add a thicker layer of mulch.

  

Evergreen Groundcover - Baltic Ivy

The Baltic ivy is a fast evergreen ground cover that not only adds interest to your yard and gardens it also is a good way to prevent erosion.   The leaves on this ivy are blue-green with white veins making this ivy eye-appealing when grown in rock gardens, and on walls and it is very attractive cascading down the sides of a container.   

  

Planting Tips for Baltic Ivy

Plant Baltic ivy in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.  If you intend on planting the ivy in masses, then it is best to purchase them as a bare root.   I bought my Baltic ivy as a bare root and I got more plants for less money because I was a member at greenwoodnursery.com  

Planting a bare root does require a longer rooting and growing time.  On average it took 14 days for the leaves to form on my plants.  Now if you going to plant the Baltic ivy in a feature garden or in a container garden then it is best to buy a nursery-grown plant. 

Ivy grew by patio table

Choose a garden site that has rich soil, good drainage, and sun to partial shade.  If your summers are Hot, temperatures in the mid 90’s to 100’s partial shade in the afternoon would benefit the Baltic ivy.

Hydrate the bare roots by filling a pan with tepid water.  Set the roots into the pan of water and allow them to hydrate for an hour before planting. 

Get Garden Site Ready

1. Loosen a track of soil along the foundation wall or the back border of your rock garden. 
2. Remove the grass, weeds, and rocks. Work a generous amount of compost into the soil. 
3. Plant the ivy bare roots in a hole that will accommodate their root up to the stem.  
4. Firm the soil around the stem.  
5. Plant a nursery-grown ivy the same depth as their nursery container. Space the plants ten inches apart.  
6. Water so the soil is evenly moist.

Care for Baltic Ivy

Apply two inches of mulch around the ivy. The mulch will help to control moisture and will reduce weed growth.

Water the ivy in the morning so that the soil is moist but not wet.   

Here are some of my photographs of Baltic Ivy. The photos below show you the quality of the plants that I bought online at greenwoodnursery.com  Know I have enjoyed the ivy for the last ten years.

Baltic Ivy stays green in winter

Tips:

1. Climbing comes naturally to the ivy, in a few weeks you will see vigorous branching.
2. Feed the ivy in early spring with a water-based fertilizer like miracle grow.
3. Add Baltic ivy to containers, and window boxes. The green leaf with the white veining will accent the flowers. 
4. When the flowers die off the ivy will add color to your containers throughout the winter.
5. Grow Baltic ivy in zones 5-6-7-8. 
6. When the Baltic ivy is mature the height will be 12 inches.  

Garden Idea:

In the autumn, plant yellow daffodils mixed with red tulips in front of the ivy. The backdrop of the Baltic ivy will look beautiful when the flowers bloom in spring.

Grow Persian Silk Tree from Seed

 

The Albizia julibrissin silk tree is commonly referred to as the Persian silk tree or the mimosa tree.  Many homeowners grow this ornamental tree for the fern-like leaves and the showy fragrant flowers.

The flowers bloom in early summer and are rose pink tipped with red. These flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.  The Persian silk tree will accent your landscape beautifully with its eye-appealing greenery and exotic flowers.

Grow the Persian silk tree from seed , when seed in planted in the fall it will grow two feet by the end of the following summer. This fast growing tree can reach the height of 25 to 40 feet within 10 years and is a good landscape tree for shade.

Growing the Persian silk tree is easy provided you have a way to get the seeds. The best way to get the seeds is to ask a neighbor who grows the tree for a seedpod, most homeowners are eager to give away the seeds because if the seeds are left on the tree and they fall to the ground the seedlings will germinate quickly and this is how the tree becomes invasive.   

Harvesting Persian Silk tree Seeds

Allow the seedpods to dry out on the tree.  When they are ripe and ready for harvesting the outer shell will be dark beige.  Collect the seedpods from the tree and lay them out on a paper towel.  Break open the seedpod and remove the brown seed.  Set the seed in an envelope for fall or spring planting.

Planting Silk Tree Seeds

Plan to plant the seeds in spring or late summer.  If you plant in late summer do allow 6 weeks before hard frost.

Plant seeds in a container or in the ground.  Many times I will grow seeds in a container and put the container in the greenhouse over the winter. Come spring the seedlings are approximately 12 to 18 inches in height and ready to be transplanted into the yard. 

 Another way to plant the silk tree seeds is to sow them into well-drained acidic soil with a PH of 4.6 to 5.0.  Silk trees grow best in full sun to partial shade.  If you plant more than one silk tree space the trees 20 feet apart.

Get the growing site ready for planting by clearing away the grass.  It is best to clear a circle of 2 feet wide.  By doing this the tree will not be competing with other plants or grass for hydration. 

Work the top 10 inches of the soil with your shovel; loosen the soil so that it is a fine texture.  Amend the soil with compost or manure.   Plant the seed in a hole that is two inches deep.  And water well.  Cover the planting site with organic mulch; pine needles, dried grass clippings, or a thin layer of straw.

Care for Persian Silk Tree

Keep the growing site evenly moist but not wet. Do not allow the soil to dry out as it puts stress on the seedling.  Germination for the seed is 7 to 14 days.

Persian Silk Tree Tips

1. Flowers are high in pollen and may cause people to have an allergic reaction.
2. Leaves will fold inward and appear closed at night and during periods of rain. 
3. Deep rose-colored flowers will bloom mid-summer.
4. Flowers are a good nectar source for honeybees.
5. Grow the Persian Silk Tree in USDA Zone 6a to 10b
6. The seeds can be harvested for livestock feed or for forage for wildlife
7. The Persian silk tree is commonly referred to as the Mimosa in the US. The mimosa tree is related to the silk tree but the flowers are different.
8. When the Seedling is 10 inches tall fertilize the small tree with spray n' grow. 
9. Stake the tree to support it and to help it to grow straight.
10. Helpful to add a mulch ring around the base of the tree to protect it from lawnmowers and trimmers.