Winter is a stark reality here in the North in December. The garden is bedded down, and all plants that require special protection should have it before the month is very old. All small deciduous trees planted this year can be protected from sunscald and drying out of the main trunk if the latter is … Read more
There is no lack of jobs to be done in October, especially if you are foresighted. By doing them now you can save valuable time and the spring rush next year will be less hectic. Tender plants such as dalias and tomatoes are killed by early light frosts, but protect them with a cover of … Read more
Clear warm days and crisp cool nights promote superb color and quality to roses and annuals that flower until cut down by hard frosts. Petunias, pansies, snapdragons, verbenas, lobelia, alyssum, annual asters, ageratum, cosmos, salvias, scabiosa, and browallias put on a final burst of bloom; dahlias do the same. The garden chrysanthemums practically alone among … Read more
Autumn in the North comes much earlier than in other regions of the country. September ushers in our fall planting season, the time to put in lawns, trees and shrubs, hardy bulbs, and perennials. Plant Evergreens in Early Fall It is wise to plant evergreens in early fall, when free from their spring task of … Read more
This month and next some important planting and gardening can be done here in the North, although not enough gardeners realize it. Garden plants are in good condition. Perennials, for example, are maturing after a long season of growth. Planting them now can be done with a minimum transplanting shock and practically no setback. All … Read more
June is a busy month in the flower and vegetable garden. It’s time to sow late cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, and celery to provide plants that may be set out in July for late fall use and winter storage. Sowing the seed in soil mixed with peat moss is an excellent idea to encourage better … Read more
April is daffodil time. When the bright flowers appear, appraise the varieties you have and look over the plantings of friends and neighbors for ideas on the new kinds to plant next fall. Many brilliant ones have been put on the market in recent years. Be on the lookout for the short-cupped type, which comes … Read more
Midwinter is a favorable time to repot house plants. But do not move the plants to larger pots unless their roots are so crowded that they really need more room. Often it is possible to merely top-dress the plants. To do this, scrape away as much as possible of the surface soil without injuring the … Read more
We are already looking ahead to spring. Former disappointments are forgotten, and they should be, except insofar as they keep us from repeating the same mistakes. Soon, the flower catalogs will be arriving. Although we know very well that we won’t grow all the intriguing things they offer, nor really believe all the glowing descriptions, … Read more