Trillium(2)

SuperUser Account — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:44:28 GMT

In early spring, when the forest floor is a soggy brown carpet, small green spears poke up and each unfurls an elegant whorl of three green leaves. A single stalk rises at the center, and one flower with three petals opens above each leafy trio.Trillium, a wildflower found in woodlands across North America, is also known as wakerobin, wood lily, or trinity flower.The flower of Trillium grandiflorum has three large white petals; other species may have yellow, pink, maroon, or variegated flowers. Trillium likes a shady spot with moist, humus-rich soil.

Spring Cleaning for the Birds

SuperUser Account — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:29:41 GMT

Birds will sing your praises if you give them a clean place to live this spring. • Remove debris, old nesting materials, and dead insects from nest boxes and birdhouses. These can be breeding grounds for parasites that kill young birds. • Check for items that could harm birds, such as exposed nails, slivers, damaged roofs, and split posts. • Before purchasing new boxes, make sure the top or one side of the birdhouse is hinged or lifts out for easy cleaning.Photo courtesy of Tracy Walsh

Regional Gardening Tips

SuperUser Account — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:00:55 GMT

Wonder what region you live in? See our map here or visit the “Site Specific” column in each issue of Gardening How-To.Pacific Northwest• Start cool-season transplants (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce) under lights. In about three weeks, move them to a protected place outside during the day, bringing them in at night. After a week of this treatment, leave them out in a protected spot before planting them. • Clean up dead leaves and debris in your flower beds and divide summer-blooming perennials. Be on the lookout for slugs and slug eggs; getting rid of them now will leave fewer chewed leaves later. • Add fruit to your landscape. Bare-root plants are available now for considerably less than potted ones will cost later in the season.Southwest • Beware of closeout sales on bare-root trees and shrubs. The chance of survival is low on bare-root plants this late in the season. Best bets for now are container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees and shrubs. • Shear back freeze-damaged plants just as new growth begins to show. Shear off only parts that are damaged. • Fertilize non-native trees and shrubs with slow-release or organic fertilizers.Midwest/Mountain• Pot up tender bulbs of tuberous begonias, caladiums, dahlias, and canna lilies in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Discard any that have rotted in storage. • Pot up, cut back, and water geraniums that you stored in cool, dark conditions over the winter. • Order perennial and summer bulbsNortheast • On trees, shrubs, and vines, prune off and destroy cankered twigs and dead branches. Prune shortly before budbreak, or wait until just after leaves have expanded. • Thin bramble plantings (raspberries, blackberries, etc.) to increase air circulation and reduce stem and leaf diseases. • Check for tan gypsy moth egg masses on tree trunks and branches. Scrape or brush off and destroy.Southeast • Mulch strawberries with pine straw as soon as they start blooming. • Get your mower blade sharpened and start your regular mowing regime. • After camellias and azaleas finish blooming, fertilize them with 2 to 3 pounds of azalea-camellia fertilizer per 100 square feet of bed area. (Follow package instructions.)

They keep growing…and growing

SuperUser Account — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:40:35 GMT

Unlike other flowers, tulips keep growing after they’re cut. Stems grow upward—often an inch or more—while flowers grow toward the light. The flowers open wide during the day and close at night. Here are four tips to help you enjoy long-lasting tulip bouquets:1. Use a clean vase with fresh, cold water. 2. Trim the stem ends with a sharp, clean knife before arranging flowers. 3. Top off water daily. 4. Keep away from sources of heat, direct sunlight, drafts and very dark locations.

What herb do you most enjoy growing, and why?

SuperUser Account — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:10:52 GMT

Gardeners love growing herbs because most are low maintenance, have very few pest and disease problems, and can be enjoyed fresh or dried. Whether you grow lemon balm for its fresh scent or sweet basil for its flavor, we’d like to hear about it. Tell us what herb you most enjoy growing in two or three sentences, and send your response to forum@gardeningclub.com. Include your first and last name, city and state, and member number. Deadline is April 1, 2008. If we choose your entry, it will appear in the July/August 2008 issue of Gardening How-To.

National Home Gardening Club

Trillium(2)

Spring Cleaning for the Birds

Regional Gardening Tips

They keep growing…and growing

What herb do you most enjoy growing, and why?