MARCH GARDENING CALENDER

First half of March:

v     Finish pruning shrubs and ornamental trees, except spring flowering shrubs, before growth starts. Prune spring flowering shrubs (lilac, forsythia, etc.,) as soon as they finish flowering.

v     Finish pruning home fruit trees. Do not leave stubs; they usually die and become great entryways for fungus.

v     To prevent the infection of fungal spores and bacteria into the plant as a result of fresh cuts, do not prune in damp or wet weather.

v     If soil is dry enough, begin primary soil tillage.

v     Add soil nutrients based on results of soil test.

v     To support newly transplanted trees from spring winds, use flexible ties between rigid stakes.

v     If weeds are beginning to grow in flower bulb beds, pull them by hand to prevent disturbing the bulbs and roots.

v     Spray home fruit trees (apples and pears) with dormant oil before buds swell and when temperatures are not likely to drop below 40 deg. for 24 hours.

v     Fertilize trees, roses, shrubs and evergreens.

Second half of March:

v     Plant cool-season crops (peas, lettuce, cabbage, onions, kale, broccoli, radishes and turnips), if weather conditions permit.

v     If a pre-emergent weed control is going to be used on the lawn, apply it now. Read and follow all label directions.

v     Leave mulch over strawberries until the plants begin to grow. At that time, the mulch must be removed to allow leaves to develop in the light.

v     Prune hedges before new growth begins.

v     Fertilize azaleas and rhododendrons with acid-type fertilizer.

PRECIPITATION OBSERVERS NEEDED

  March is obviously a very busy time for gardening.  It's also the month where we're working on a membership drive for precipitation observers.  I'm the Delaware state coordinator for an NSF supported citizen science program called CoCoRAHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow).  I'm also the Delaware Associate State Climatologist.  CoCoRAHS has tens of thousands of volunteer observers all across the country who take daily precipitation measurements.  I'm sure gardeners are doing this type of activity all the time already, so gardeners are perfect candidates to join CoCoRAHs.    

Here's a link to the CoCoRAHs website where you can find out more information about the program:

http://www.cocorahs.org

Kevin Brinson
DEOS Systems Manager
Associate State Climatologist
State Coordinator of CoCoRAHS Delaware
University of Delaware

Mail:
214 Pearson Hall
Department of Geography
Newark, DE 19716

Phone: (302) 831-6906
E-mail:  kbrinson@udel.edu
URL:  http://www.deos.udel.edu

KENT COUNTY SPRING WORKSHOPS

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SEED STARTING

Tuesday, March 5, 2013, Time: 6:00 pm

 Have you ever been to your local garden center to purchase transplants and come away frustrated because you could not find the variety you really wanted to grow? Have you ever wanted to start your own vegetable, herb and flower seeds for transplants? Have you started seeds and been unsuccessful? This class will cover the basics of starting seeds and offer some tips to help ensure seed starting success. Bring your seed pack and start some seeds with Master Gardener Pat Renfrew!

BUILDING A RAISED BED FOR GROWING YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN

Monday, March 11, 2013, Time: 1:00 pm

Have you been unsuccessful with a garden in your backyard because your site is too low and

the soil stays wet most of the time? Why not construct a raised bed? It can be built with all kinds of materials. Raised bed gardening allows you to start your garden earlier and continue to harvest later

 in the fall growing more in less space. The secret is planning! Allow Master Gardener Ralph Sena to share his construction tips and raised bed growing knowledge with you to ensure success!

ASK THE MASTER GARDENER GARDENING PANEL

Friday, March 22, 2013,  Time: 6:00 p.m.

 Come join moderators Maggie Moor-Orth and Beth Gemmill along with the gardening panel of: Mike Radebach (vegetable gardening and tools), John Tullis (perennial shrubs), Terry Dupuis (herbs), 

Janis Greene (raised beds and container grown vegetables), Charles Overmiller (vegetables and small fruits) and Art McQueen (starting plants from seeds). Bring your vegetable, flower and herb gardening and shrub

questions to this workshop and get tips and advice from a panel of experienced Kent County

Master Gardeners!

CRAFTS AND GIFTS FROM THE GARDEN

Tuesday, April 2, 2013, Time: 6:00 pm

Join us for a presentation that will introduce plants you can add to your garden or landscape to spark your imagination. There are annuals and perennials that are easy to grow and how you, too, can turn them into decorative and useful items to decorate your home or to give as gifts.

GROWING SWEET, ZESTY AND ORNAMENTAL PEPPERS

Wednesday, April 17, 2013,  Time: 6:00 pm

Sweet? Zesty? or Beautiful? You decide which type of pepper plant is right for your garden or flower beds this year. Peppers will prove to be the topic of choice of friends visiting your yard or garden. Come learn about soil preparation, plant care, and cooking your harvested peppers

BEYOND HYPERTUFA: CREATING A CONCRETE POT

Saturday, April 20, 20I3   Time: 9:00 a.m.

Hypertufa is still a good product, but so yesterday! Learn basic techniques of construction and unique recipes of concrete by creating a basic concrete pot. These techniques and recipes can later be applied to create more elaborate garden art. Participants should wear old clothing/shoes and must bring two sets of gloves (a pair of long, heavy vinyl or rubber dishwashing type gloves and a pair of thin garden gloves) along with an apron and a cardboard box (minimum 2' wide for transporting pot). Respirators and goggles would also be desirable (but not mandatory). Drinks and small snacks will be provided. Parking is limited - so car pooling is strongly suggested. Class will be held in Camden. Exact location will be shared once payment is received and class is established.

Unless otherwise indicated, all workshops will be held free of charge at:

University of Delaware,

Paradee Center

69 Transportation Circle,

Dover, DE

If you have any questions or

need directions, please call: 730-4000

For free classes, you may call 730-4000 to register, or mail your request to address below (include name, address, phone, email)

Please check or circle the workshops you wish to attend:

     March 5          Seed Starting

     March 11        Raised Beds

    March 22         Ask the Master Gardener

    April 2             Crafts and Gifts

    April 17           Growing Peppers

    April 20           Beyond Hypertufa  $15.00 fee    

                             Location will be disclosed once payment is received.

  

To make payment, make check payable to: "Kent County Master Gardeners"

Mail registration form to:

Kent County Master Gardeners

University of Delaware Extension Office

69 Transportation Circle

Dover, OE 19901

VALENTINES DAY

Thursday, is February 14, we will be celebrating St. Valentine’s Day. Have you thought about what little present you may give to your sweetheart or for someone you want to remember?

     Traditional gifts like cards, candy or flowers are nice to give or receive. One Victorian art that I have seen in specialty greeting card shops are flower and/or herb prints with an explanation of their meaning or symbol. During the Victorian era, receiving a “posy” or flower from someone was more than a nice gesture on the sender’s part. The type of flower sent was symbolic and carried some message or hidden meaning or expression.

     I was thinking many of my readers may be interested in expressing themselves this Valentine’s day in the language of flowers. The list of flowers and herbs and their meaning follows. It may help you decide which plant material you want to send to express yourself this St. Valentine’s Day:

·        Aster, Sentimental recollections

·        Baby’s Breath, Pure heart, gaiety

·        Basil, Best wishes

·        Begonia, Unrequited love

·        Camellia, Excellence, contentment

·        Carnation, Ardent and pure love

·        Pink Carnation, Lively and pure affection

·        White Carnation, Living for love

·        Yellow Carnation, Fascination

·        Crocus, Youthful gladness

·        Daffodil, Chivalry, respect, regard

·        Daisy, Innocence

·        Dill, Irresistible

·        Forsythia, Good nature

·        Gardenia, Purity, peace, ecstasy

·        Hyacinth, Games, play

·        Ivy, Wedded love, constancy, friendship

·        Lavender, Devotion, happiness

·        Mint, Virtue, cheerfulness, warmth of feeling

·        Narcissus, self-esteem, egotism

·        Orchid, Luxury, love, beauty

·        Pansy, Loving thoughts’

·        Parsley, Gratitude, thanks

·        Primrose, Gaity, innocence

·        Red Rose, Love, desire, passion

·        White rose, Purity, spiritual love

·        Yellow rose, Friendship, jealousy, forgive and forget

·        Pale pink rose, Good health

·        Cream colored rose, perfection

·        Champagne colored rose, Devotion

·        Sage, Domestic virtue, wisdom

·        Shamrock, Luck, lighthearted, Ireland

·        Thyme, Bravery, courage, strength

·        Tulip, The perfect lover, happy years, love

·        Purple violet, You occupy my thoughts

        To my readers, I am sending a “posy” of basil, daffodils, ivy, mint, pale pink roses parsley and tulips. In meaning, I am sending a big bunch of best wishes, respect, friendship, cheerfulness, good health, thanks and happy years.

     No matter which way you send St. Valentine’s greetings, whether it is in a card, box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers to the special folks in your life, they can say more than “I am thinking of you.”

     Happy Valentine’s Day, readers!

Sussex Co. Master Gardener Workshops

The workshop series sponsored by Sussex Co. Master Gardeners continues with four presentations through March at the Carvel Center. Workshops are free. To register, contact Tammy Schirmer at 302-856-2585 ext. 544/ tammys@udel.edu or register online at http://ag.udel.edu/rec/Extension/MasterGardeners/workshopreg.html.

Houseplant Care – Fran Meehan – Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m.

Plants With Winter Interest in Your Garden – Eddie Filemyr and Gayle August – Thursday, March 7 at 12 noon.

            Tool and Tips – Ingrid Hetfield – Tuesday, March 12 at 1 p.m.

            Soil Tests: Taking the Tests, Using the Results – Tracy Mulveny – Tuesday,

March 26 at 7 p.m.

FEBRUARY GARDEN CALENDER

First half of February:

ü      Take advantage of early-bird discounts and order seeds through catalogs.

ü      Continue to leave mulch on perennials, as there are probably more cold days ahead.

ü      Prune ornamental plants such as oak, yew, pine, juniper and arborvitae to shape. Remove dead or unattractive parts of the tree such as branches and crotches that have crossed and sprouts or suckers growing at or near the base of the trunk. Also, remove branches broken because of winter wind and storms.

ü      Remove honeysuckle and other weedy vines from deciduous landscape plants.

ü      Watch for signs of growth from early spring bulbs, and when foliage is one inch high, remove mulch gradually.

ü      Don’t start garden plants indoors too early. Read the package for planting instructions.

Second half of February:

ü      Order shrubs for spring planting.

ü      Order perennial plants and bulbs, such as Shasta daisies, gladiolus and lilies to be used as cut flowers this summer.

ü      Prune grapevines while they are still dormant, and use the pruned pieces to make wreaths to decorate your home.

ü      Examine houseplants. Weak, thin or soft growth may be an indication of insufficient light or high temperatures.

ü      Plan vegetable, perennial and herb gardens on paper. Compare last year’s notes to make improvements or adjustments in the plot size.

DECEMBER-JANUARY GARDENING CALENDER

First week of December:

o Collect pine cones, old bird nests, any remaining seed heads, etc. to be used in making wreaths and other holiday decorations.

o Spray seed heads and dried flowers with hair spray to keep them intact.

o Clean and sanitize (mixture of bleach and water can be used) emptied seed flats before storing so that they will be ready when needed in the early spring.

o Change the oil and do routine maintenance on your outdoor power equipment, such as rotor tillers and lawn mowers that use oil in their engines. Remember to recycle this used oil.

Second week of December:

o       Check stored dahlia tubers and gladiolus corms; if sprouting, move to a cooler location. If they appear to be shriveling, rewrap them using a ventilated plastic bag. If there are signs of molding, change their environment; this is usually the result of moisture.

o       After the ground freezes thoroughly, mulch azaleas, rhododendron and camellias. These acid-loving plants prefer acid-loving materials such as oak leaves or pine needles. If you do not have either of these, any mixture of dried leaves will do.

o       Scout your landscape for the small buff or yellowish velvet gypsy moth egg cases attached to trees, stones, walls, logs and other outdoor objects, including outdoor household articles. Pick off and destroy them.

Third week of December:

o       Prune fruit trees anytime this winter. Keep in mind, it is easier on the tree if the temperature is 45F and above.

Last week in December:

o       Fertilize peach and apple trees anytime after the leaves drop and before spring growth.

o       Your holiday tree has several good uses. Place branches over spring flowering bulbs and/or perennial flower beds to help prevent heaving damage caused by the ground freezing and thawing. Branches placed next to a bird feeder provide shelter for birds.

First half of January:

§         On warm days, go outside and check your perennials and bulbs to see if they have been heaved out of the ground. If any heaving is evident, press down firmly and cover with at least two inches of organic mulch.

§         A problem with houseplants this time of year is the low humidity in most homes during the winter. Place plants over but not in trays that have water in them.

§         Low light levels in your home may be causing problems with your houseplants. Those that normally do best on the north side of the house, move to an east window. For those plants that are ordinarily in the east windows, move to a south location.

Second half of January:

§         Start pansy plants from seeds indoors. They should be ready to transplant outdoors in mid-March to bloom with spring tulips and daffodils.

§         Begin dormant pruning of fruit trees and grapevines now and try to finish them before March.

§         Winter is the ideal time to apply horticultural oil sprays to kill overwintering mites, aphids and scale. Use this oil on deciduous plants and hardy evergreens but not on needle-leafed species. Spray horticultural oils when temperatures are about 40F but not within 24 hr. of a freeze (watch the local weather stations for this information). Read and follow all label directions.