Spring is in the air. It’s always exciting to see the plants in the garden come to life.
I’ve been invited to tour a garden in Scotts Valley in April, when many of the early flowering plants will be in bloom. I’ve been to this garden before, and there’s always an interesting tree, shrub or flower to enjoy. One of my longtime goals is to view great gardens in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
If you have a garden that you think others would like to hear about and you are willing to share it with me and the Press Banner readership, please e-mail me. I’d love to spend time with you in your garden.
There’s so much to do now in the garden. If you are feeling overwhelmed, here are some suggestions for the more important to-dos:
Drip maintenance
Check drip systems for leaks or clogged emitters. Flush sediment from filters, and check screens for algae. You might need to add emitters if plants have grown significantly.
Tidy up
Finish pruning and cleaning up trees, shrubs, vines and perennials. That includes fireblight die-back on pears, apples, hawthorns, pyracanthas, photinias, crabapples, quinces and toyons. Prune out and discard diseased branches, making the cut at least 6 to 8 inches below the blighted tissue. Clean the pruning blades with alcohol or a 5-to-1 solution of water and household bleach to prevent the spread of the disease.
Also finish pruning and cutting back perennials and ornamental grasses. Go ahead and give grasses a 3- to 5-inch crewcut so fresh growth can emerge. Cut back old foliage of maidenhair ferns to allow new growth to take center stage. If you have Western sword ferns or another type that has winter or thrip damage, remove shabby-looking fronds. Even if you have to cut back the entire fern, it’s OK. It will grow back in just a couple of months.
Prune any other frost-damaged plants when you see new growth begin.
Feed the soil
Spread fresh compost around all your plants. Good soil is the secret to successful gardening. The first principle of organic gardening is to feed the soil and it will feed the plant. Remember that all gardening used to be organic. Layer compost or mulch on top of the soil and let it slowly decompose and filter down into the earth.
As you plant new additions to the garden, add organic matter to the soil. If your garden’s soil is sandy, organic matter enriches it and allows it to hold water more efficiently. If your soil tends toward clay, organic matter will loosen it up and improve drainage. In well-amended soil, plants grow deeper roots and are hardier and more resistant to disease. Organic matter, such as compost, planting mix and well-rotted manure, boosts nutrition and improves soil structure.
Fertilize if you haven’t already done so. Citrus, shrubs and fruit trees just emerging from dormancy are begging for their first meal of the season. Lawns also begin their spring growth and benefit from a boost of nitrogen. Try spreading a thin layer of composted manure over you lawn. Leaving your grass clippings on the lawn will shade the roots as the weather gets warmer, and as they break down, they’ll help feed it, too.
Perennials benefit from both a fresh layer of compost or manure and a light application of balanced fertilizer. They respond to phosphorus especially in the spring for root growth, stem sturdiness and flower development. Wait until azaleas, camellias and rhododendron have finished blooming before feeding them.
And finally —
The most important to-do for March is to take time out and enjoy your garden and our beautiful surroundings. Those last few weeds will be there tomorrow, but you’ll never get another today.
Jan Nelson, a landscape designer and California certified nursery professional at Plant Works in Ben Lomond, will answer questions about gardening in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Contact her at
ja******@ao*.com
or JanNelsonLandscapeDesign.com.
