February Mary, Mary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Mary, Mary, How Does Your Garden Grow?
by Mary Crowell

Now that the weather can turn on you in a minute, it is a grand time to read all those gardening magazines either at the library, at a cafe or by subscription. I subscribe to “Fine Gardening”, “Sunset” and yes, Martha Stewart’s “Living” magazine. Also, I am very interested in any articles about Going Green! Environmental issues are something that we all have to understand for the world to continue into the future. What can an individual do? Tending a garden brings you closer to the earth and “how” you garden can make a difference. Avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides by switching to natural resources such as lady bugs, insecticidal soaps, Sluggo (for snails and slugs), compost teas, composting, going Organic and keeping your plants healthy. Ever try layers of newspaper under your mulch? It ends up using less mulch and the newspaper does eventually break down, but keep colored papers in the recycle bin. What about a drip irrigation system? It uses less water and can be very efficient, especially if you get one of the new timers with a rain sensor. How about recycling plastic pots? Our own San Mateo Garden Center can always use your castoffs, although they seem to need only large ones. Some local nurseries take back their own pots, check with them.

In February, continue doing your pruning, fertilizing, applying the organic dormant spray, looking at catalogues, reading about your plants and planting spring flowers and shrubs. Hope you are going to the Home, Garden and Gourmet Show held this year February 11-13 at the San Mateo Fairgrounds because it is a great place to see a lot of interesting ideas for landscaping, design and home vendors all in one place. Our Peninsula Succulent Club has a booth and is selling cuttings and plants that are both easy and drought tolerant. February is the right time for planting bare-root roses, shade trees, fruit trees, flowering shrubs, grapes, and strawberries. Choose those plants that have strong stems and a healthy root structure. Always plant as soon as possible after you get the plants. I am not sure how many of you lose plants waiting to get them into the ground or into a pot, but I have been known to send more than a few to plant heaven! In fact, I have learned not to even go near a nursery unless I have the time, energy and plans to plant ASAP or put it on the honey-do-list, grin. Prune any frost damaged leaves and branches, but be careful as exposing the new tender undergrowth can be tricky on your timing. It is really best to wait until the weather report gives the green light for no more frost events. If you failed to prune your roses in January, do so right now before new growth is damaged. Be thinking about mulching, adding humus, compost and preparing any planting beds this month when the ground is easy to dig and weed. I just read in Fine Gardening Magazine a way to plant in an area where it is impossible to dig such as around a tree. You place the bags of soil that you have poked holes in the bottom for drainage in the area to be planted and cross hatch several areas in the top of the bags with a knife, plant your plants and apply mulch around the plants and on top of the bags. The bags won’t show once the plants grow up and the mulch covers the bare areas in and around them. Instant beds!

Now is a great time to sharpen and inventory your tools, clean your shed or garage. Here is a list of my favorite local nurseries in the SF Bay area that are fun to visit: Half Moon Bay Nursery, Hwy. 92, on the left side before you get to HMB, 650-726-5392, Wegman’s, 492 Woodside Rd, RWC, 650-368-5908, Roger Reynolds, 133 Encinal Ave., Menlo Park, 650-323-5612, Central Garden Center, 408 Ninth Ave, San Mateo, 650-340-8850, Golden Nursery, 1122 Second Ave (at Amplett), San Mateo, 650-348-5525, Carlmont Nursery, 2029 Ralston Ave., Belmont, 650-591-6845, The San Mateo Arboretum Society, 101 Ninth Ave, San Mateo in Central Park, 650-579-1536, and our own San Mateo Garden Center, 605 Parkside Way, San Mateo, 650-574-1506. The SF Botanical Gardens at 9th and Lincoln in San Francisco have monthly plant sales and is a fantastic world class garden.

Cymbidiums should be spiking, some flowering already, mine started just after Christmas, but are all later than usual. We should have changed to the hi nitrogen (growth) fertilizer in Jan and use that through June, switching to the lo nitrogen (bloom) in July through December. Remember cymbidiums are heavy feeders and need more sunlight than one expects (4-6 hours of direct sunlight for best flowering). Stake any spikes with figure 8 ties and long stakes, so the heavily laden spikes don’t break off. Watering needs are low this time of year, but don’t forget under the eaves, patios, or trees. My plants are loving all the acid rain in rainwater.

You may ask me questions at macro6096@hotmail.com, or write to me c/o the San Mateo Garden Center News, 605 Parkside Way San Mateo, 94403.