His & Her sides ~ Of the Yard

The grass cutting season is among us and a bit early this year. In fact, we cut our lawn for the first time this past weekend. I think it's the earliest ever!

My husband and I have formed strict set ground rules about who cuts grass where. I thought this was just our quirk, but after posting a blurb on a local gardening forum, I learned it was more common than I knew.

An important part of garden design includes
using curves. Curves soften the view of the overall landscape.
It also allows mowers to easily maneuver around the beds
without having to make sharp turns. 

Touted on the forum as, His & Her sides... the guidelines at our house are as follows:
 HE stays on HIS side of the yard. Which contains only trees, barns and drives to cut around. So my flowers are safe from thrown grass clippings and large blades.
SHE, on the other hand, can go anywhere. But her focuses is on HER side of the yard. Which contains, curving landscaping, flower beds, a pond - and anywhere that might include being careful.
.
Of course, I knew there would be times when I couldn't cut MY side of the yard. It falls into the "in sickness" part of marriage vows. When I am sick, HE is "allowed" to cut MY side of the lawn with his John Deer. He is also "allowed" when spring brings on a thick layer of grass that my zero turn mulcher won't tackle.

That is what happened this past weekend. MY side was just to thick to cut. I did manage to use the zero turn to trim around the curves, which gave me some peace of mind. Thanks to my husband's careful cutting, and my watchful eye, MY side survived- this time.

So do You & Your's - take sides? Yard cutting wise of course!

Mid-summer Temps in March! This is just crazy!

I need to pinch myself! It really is only March! For those of us living in Michigan and are experiencing 70's and even a few 80's slipped in this weekend- it is just crazy!

The amount of garden clean-up I managed to get done just this past week is so unbelievable. My beds look better than they normally do in late April at the earliest.

I have cleaned up all the leaves I used for winter mulch. I have trimmed and pruned all my trees and bushes. Oh wait, I did forget the miniature rose garden. OK, I guess there are a few more to do. But for the most part I am as content as a gardener can be for the moment.

And sore too. But it's a good sore. One that makes you know you did a hard days work, and can look around and see exactly what you've accomplished.

Now the frustrating part. It is still only March. So there can't be any planting or dividing of perennials, though some are planting pansies now. Still it is so strange to see buds on my clematis, willows, and hostas even braking their tips through the ground.

One wonders what will all these early temps will mean come June? And what if we get some really freezing temps yet in March and April? To read what the Farmer's Almanac has to say about it, visit their website.

This is where our faith and patience in God's plan for our gardens is tested for sure! I just have to remember, Mother Nature has her own agenda.

Spring Cleaning- In the Garden!

Yeah! Sixty degree days are forecast for the week here in Michigan, and I am soooo ready for garden clean-up! Of course, what you need to do now depends how much effort you put in during the fall season. (For me, I try to do a lot of tidying in the fall, so spring is a welcome, not so overwhelming state in the garden.)

My early spring clean-up task include:

1. Cutting back grasses, and a few plants that had been left for winter interest
2. Cleaning-up mulched leaves from around plants
3. Minor weeding
4. Overall- take a look and see what needs to be cut back or pruned
   
   Then in a April, as things begin to come-up a bit more I assess:

• Per plants,what I need to replace, divide or add
• Work-up the soil around plants
• Major weeding and applying Preen in mid-late April
• Figuring out how much mulch needs to be refreshed

I don't know about you, but without a plan in hand, my biggest obstacle when heading out to the garden, is distraction. I get to looking at whats coming up, or find myself dreaming about what I could add this year- or Oh, maybe adding another space here or there. Yikes... I really need to stay focused!

A clean spring garden
makes for easy upkeep
once summer arrives!

That is where I find working in some kind of order makes the task more manageable. It also keeps me focused on what I need to accomplish next. First I start working on one bed at time. Kind of like house cleaning, I don't leave the room I'm working on til I'm done. Then I move on to the next one. I apply this thought in the garden too. Working on garden area at a time.

Of course, there are some jobs I like to do all at once. Like applying Preen, a weed preventive. This product is a wonderful tool, cutting weeds down by at least 80% in my book. The catch, you have to de-weed the area first, then sprinkle Preen to the soil and rake in. Also remember, it has to be applied every three months. I like to apply it in mid-to late April, then in July, if needed. Note, area stores tend to run specials on Preen early in the season, so keep your eyes open. For already mulched areas, you can apply Preen too, just rake it into the existing mulch. Remember, you need to know if you want to plant seeds somewhere before applying Preen to a bed. Since it keeps weed seeds from germinating, this means flower seeds will not germinate either!

Another overall task, adding mulch. With a variety of mulch types available, it's good to keep an eye out for sales in the spring on your favorite. For cypress lovers, Home Depot usually runs a good, by the bag, sale early in April. Otherwise, bulk is usually cheaper if you have the means to haul it. Figuring out how much you will need is always a guess, but this website has a great little tool. Just grab the measurements of the areas you need to mulch and enter the in.

What's your favorite spring clean up tip? Happy Spring Cleaning- In the Garden!

Just a reminder, On the Right Path is now taking appointments for spring garden clean-up.
Areas covered, Saginaw, Thomas, Tittabawasee, Richland Townships and some areas of South East Midland County. Send me an email, with name and phone number and I'll get back to you soon to set up a time. Thanks! 

Nurture it and it will grow!

Our cockapoos,
Pebbles and Dino (as a puppy)  

I have compared garden design with decorating and rearranging furniture...today I have another analogy. Gardening is also a lot like raising children. (Or even pets for that matter.) If you give them the care they need to grow strong roots, they will grow up firmly planted, healthy, and ready to provide the world with vibrant, beautiful colors!

Grandson

As you can imagine, this thought comes as I am babysitting my three month old grandson for the first time - all day! While I am excited to spend the day with him, I am also hoping that I remember how to take care of such a little one! My husband and I already raised two boys, have had a variety of pets, including currently two very spoiled cockapoos (who are like kids) ... so  I'm sure it will come back to me quickly, right?






But in reference to babies, pets and gardening, one favorite saying I've heard over and over from other
gardeners, and one I like to keep in mind is ...

"The First Year they Sleep!"

"The Second Year they Creep!"

"The Third Year they Leap!"

If you remember this as you contemplate how you will design, plant and nurture, both children, pets and gardens - they all will flourish! Like children plants need tender care so that their roots (values) grow, and mature in a loving environment. Of course, this means, tending to their needs on a daily basis, and since each one is different, we must give them the individual care they each need.

Still there is basic care for young plants (children and pets ) that is pretty simple:

Columbine

• Water deeply- For plants, water every other day for new plants and as needed for established plants.
  
  For children, love them deeply and feed them often. For pets, well - feed them often, play catch, and love them and they will love you back!
• Weeding daily- if possible. For plants, minimal every couple of days. This keeping the weeds from crowding the roots, giving the plant room to develop and grow.
  
  For children, surround them with family and friends, and opportunities that allow them to grow. For pets, train them!



Columbine babies

• Deadhead/Pruning - when needed. This is just pruning off the old flowers so that the energy stays within the plant. It also is a good way to keep the garden tidy by preventing reseeding. Of course if you want a more cottage or natural look garden, reseeding can be your friend. I'm more into the tidy look, but one plant I like to let reseed is my spring flowering Columbine. The baby plants are simple to move and replant. If you would like more information on  reseeding, visit this website to understand it a bit more. I also like to deadhead my knock-out roses, though they don't have to be. If want to do this type, find the first three leaf sprout after the dead flower and cut off there- it will inspire new growth.
  
  For children (and pets), teach them right from wrong, about God's love and forgiveness, and keep them safe from this crazy world! Oh and for children (if they reseed :) may you experience the joy of loving on a grand baby!

We can make life much more complicated than this. And many times we do! But really, fellow gardeners, it's really that simple.

Love it, nurture it, and it will grow!