Hear Debra LaGattuta, Master Gardener, speak on February 20

Garden Club R.F.D

Quick February Forays

Okay, it’s February. Yes, we made it out of January with the rain, ice and snow-- and the flu-- and spring WILL BE ON ITS WAY SOON! But let’s not wait! Have a quick foray or two!

A “foray” can be an effort to branch out and try something new—an involvement in an activity inside your home or outside in your garden that is beyond your usual range of things to do in February. There are many tasks for a gardener to do now that will give you a running start on the rest of the year.

Inside your home:

1—Check your seed packets to find out how long it takes different varieties to sprout. Mark the last frost date for your area on the calendar and count back the number of weeks needed for sprouting. The resulting date is the day you should sow your seeds indoors.

2—Test the germination rate of seeds you saved from last year. Place about 10 seeds of the same variety on a damp paper towel. Roll up the paper towel and put it in a plastic bag—do not seal bag! Keep the bag in a warm area and check the seeds daily, keeping the paper towel moist. In 2 or 3 days, count the number of seeds that have sprouted. If half of the test group germinated (5), it is likely that half of the rest of your seeds will grow.

3—Save any daffodil, hyacinth and crocus bulbs, that may have been forced into bloom indoors, for planting in the garden. Plant outside when the weather turns milder. If you forced paper whites and other bulbs in water this winter, just toss them. Roots developed in water are very different from roots developed in soil.

4—Try this concoction to keep those cut flower arrangements fresh longer-- Make a simple solution of equal parts lemon lime soda and water plus a dash of bleach. Make sure all leaves that sit below the water line are removed.

Outside your home:

1—Study the winter bones of your garden. Give thought to what improvements can be made for a more colorful winter garden, such as planting Red Stemmed Dogwoods or Willows. Red Twig or Stemmed Dogwood will brighten your winter landscaping with its bright red branches. But it will also provide variegated leaves and small white flowers and berries to hold interest in spring through summer.

2—Take care of your tools. Sharpen, clean, oil and repair saws and pruners. Make a “to be fixed” list of other tools—or prepare a list of new tools you’d like to purchase.

3—Typically, most pruning is completed in January through late March with the heaviest pruning reserved for late February and early March.

• Prune early spring flowering shrubs like forsythia, quince, winter honeysuckle and winter jasmine immediately after the flowers fade.
• Cut back hybrid tea and repeat blooming roses before the buds break. Wait to prune one time blooming roses until after they have bloomed.
• Crape myrtles, butterfly bushes and clematis should also be pruned in later winter/early spring.

4—If your plants that prefer a soil pH of 7 or above (an acidic soil), one should sweeten it with wood ashes.

5—To have blueberry muffins this summer, plant the bushes NOW!

Your last “foray” for February should be to join the Garden Club R.F.D. at the Little Red Schoolhouse at 951 Middletown Lincroft Road in Middletown on February 20, at 10:30am, to listen to the free program by Monmouth County Master Gardener, Debra LaGattuta, as she speaks about the “Ten Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid”. Using slides to demonstrate the errors that might be made, suggested alternatives for homeowners will also be given.

Some of the chief landscaping problems to be discussed will include “mulch volcanos”, the crowding and the size of plants chosen, improper pruning, high maintenance designs and the unknowing use of invasive and aggressive plants. Let Debra get you on the best road to success for your property.

Please call Nancy Canade at 973-452-4846 for further information about the club and the program. Let us know that you will be joining us so we can learn more together. This Club is a member of the Garden Club of New Jersey and the Central Atlantic Region of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. Check us out on Facebook.