Flip flopping weather
The weather patterns we have been having are not to my liking, at all. I am ready for some nice warm soil digging in the garden, without a long sleeved shirt.
It’s bad enough that this years dry season has started early, making the soil hard and prompting potted plants to be thirsty thirsty, every single day. The March winds are early and very drying already.
The more regimented gardener/yard worker will be scheduling their work outside to match the changing temperatures. Not me. I am good at arranging and transplanting and a great mood planter.
The day I am in the mood to go out and arrange and transplant just happens to coincide with the day that starts out at 40 degrees. A foggy day really messes me up.
Things do work out in my favor some mornings though. I recently was in the mood to trim a 12-foot high Lemon Grass plant. It was a chilly 50 degrees but as I wrestled with that lovely Lemon Grass monster I soon forgot about the cold.
One hour later, I was the victor, having trimmed, cut and chopped the monster down to a three-foot long tangle of both green and brown stalks protruding from a six-inch plastic pot. A pot that was not going to let go of its prisoner.
I was a little worried about the horticulture pick-up team coming along and deciding that a three-foot long tangled mass of horticulture, trapped in a battered plastic pot, would not be suitable for their pick up. Attempts at getting that pot off the tangled mass, were NOT successful. I think it only weighed 30 lbs. and that would be acceptable.
The next morning all the tangled mass and horticulture can of fragrant Lemon Grass cuttings disappeared forever.
I am not intending to ever plant any more Lemon Grass. It was a gift from a neighbor several years ago. She actually cooked with it. I mainly just clipped it now and then to release the beautiful sweet lemon smell though out the side-yard area.
I will however recommend this plant to anyone who wants a large grassy looking clump of green, with thin strap like leaves, waving in the wind.
It will grow its little heart out for you and does not need one bit of care. You don’t even have to plant it. If you do not spray it you can cut some leaves for eating and at the same time release its fragrance into the air.
It really is getting time to be planning for spring flowerbeds. Garden centers are starting to fill up with bedding plants such as geraniums, begonias, verbena, pentas and the lovely impatiens.
Alyssum comes in white and violet color and presents with a very sweet scent. They are good for edging around other flowers and in pots as an accent. If you prefer colorful leaves instead of actual flowers look for coleus, which come in an amazing variety of colors, upright and spreading. Crotons are available in several varities of leaf shape and multi colors for very attractive hedges or stand along bushes.
Courtyard fruit trees are attractive little trees. Imagine picking your own big fat lemons or small oranges right outside the front door. If you already have a fruit tree planted someplace it is a good time to fertilize them this month or next. A friend has just acquired a Sweet Lemon tree, what a find.
Don’t forget to mulch new bedding plants to keep out weeds and to provide shade to keep the soil from drying out as the sun becomes hotter. Mulche should be 3-to-4 inches deep.
Insect activity will be starting as weather warms and we stay dry. Sometimes aphids etc can be washed off with a strong hose spray. There is abundance of good products at garden centers. Or mix your own with liquid dish soap and water. Sometimes you have to use a stronger product. Do some reading, ask a neighbor, come to Garden Club.
Send a question to us at sbutts@breezenewspapers.com. We will be glad toh ear from you.
H. Jean Shields
Past President Garden Club of Cape Coral