We’ll be opening up beds by raking and trimming back browned stalks of perennials. There are many plants that need pruning at this season: Butterfly Bush, Caryopteris, Smoke Tree, Honeysuckle Vines (see article below), Colored Twig Dogwoods, White Hydrangeas, and subshrubs such as Candytuft and Germander, plus woody herbs including Lavender, Winter Savory, and Sage.…
Q: What will happen to my bulbs if a late snow comes after they’ve sent up new growth, or worse, if they’re already blooming? A: Bulbs are surprisingly resilient and can tolerate cold temperatures well. Emerging bulb tips or stems will simply stop growing and wait for better weather conditions. While snow may knock blooming bulbs over temporarily, they…
That is, as soon as the snow and ice are about out of the way! Aim to finish before new buds emerge in March. Begin by cutting out all dead canes to the base of the plant. These are very visible during this dormant season and will have a different color and lighter feel than live canes.…
Our first spot spraying of the year is right around the corner. We scout for leaf buds cracking on fragrant viburnum, V. carlesii, in early April. This is the moment to spray the new buds with horticultural oil and prevent unsightly damage from feeding larvae of the snowball aphid. Reese, our Plant Health Care Manager,…
Remove winter greens from containers, once unfrozen Rake out beds, trim brown stalks, assess winter damage and prune out Prune shrubs such as inkberry, holly, yew that may be overgrown Prune butterfly bush, caryopteris, smoke tree, St. Johnswort, and other cutback shrubs Shear ornamental grasses Shape lavender, sage, germander, thyme and other woody herbs by…
This native grass quite literally jumps out of the snow with bright green, hairlike foliage. It makes a great lawn substitute, gradually spreading and filling in from small potted plants. Or use it as an accent among other low native flowering plants such as American ginger, American pachysandra, or Meehan’s mint. In earliest spring, we quickly shear back…
Popular author and scientist Doug Tallamy (Bringing Nature Home and Nature’s Best Hope) has a new grassroots initiative afoot this season: Homegrown National Park. The idea is that we can all plant a small section of native plants at home and enjoy the wildlife that comes to partake of food and shelter. This does not mean that we’re going…
We began our compost tea program back in 2007. At that time, the study of soil microorganisms (or soil biology) was just becoming mainstream through the work of Dr. Elaine Ingham. She found that almost any soil can have its biology boosted through the addition of an actively aerated compost tea. Compromised soils, especially with compaction following construction,…
Our skilled staff loves to garden at home. Organic vegetable gardens are familiar territory. We’re happy to help you design a raised bed structure, pick a site and build it, fill with nutrient-dense soil mix, and plan the plantings! Tricky topics that are familiar to us include: when to sow seeds vs. planting seedlings, designing a fencing system to…
We’re putting the finishing touches on seasonal programs for plant health care and maintenance now. Our spring letter will be delivered by US mail this year, so watch your mailbox. Kim is available for virtual meetings to discuss details of your contract and maybe contacting you to arrange a time. She can be reached at <kimberly@pumpkinbrookorganicgardening.com> Here are…