It's a great time to get ready for Spring in your garden.
The spring season for nursery owners started last fall and ends in a flurry of activity as the New Year approaches. Preparing for spring is easy for once the right plan and the last of the crop decisions have been made.
Computers help in preparation, but getting out and talking to customers to get a feel for the local economy is much more helpful. That’s what I’ve done and that’s why I'm planning on crop increases of 7-8% through spring of 2012. This may seem optimistic, but the crops have been committed!
Flowers plugs have arrived and are in the greenhouse as this goes to press. Trees and shrubs have been pruned back one last time for the spring flush of growth. Many of the new tomato cages, watering cans, and stylish new garden gloves for 2012 arrived this week. I'm still working on two new organic fertilizer registrations for the state of Arizona and five new bug killers to be introduced next spring, so I'm ready to dig into the New Year (pardon the pun). I really am looking forward to the garden season to come. Spring 2012 should be very good.
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This rain and snow is every gardener’s dream! If we receive a few more good storms like we’ve had this week, wildflowers should be over-the-top this spring. I usually wait until the first rains in January to write about wildflowers, but weather has been absolutely perfect for spreading these wilder versions.
'Beauty Beyond Belief' is the seed of choice for wildflower purists. It is the best collection of truly wild seeds collected throughout the Rocky Mountains for use at high elevations. This family business is so helpful to local garden centers that, by working together, we were able to develop an 'Arizona Mix' of wildflowers. This mix is my personal favorite, but I have dozens of other good local wildflower mixes as well.
You have plenty of time to plant wildflowers, but try to finish by Valentine’s Day. There are four simple steps that really make a difference between wildflower success and failure. Here are the specific planting techniques that I count on to guarantee breath-taking crops of wildflowers:
Step 1: Select and prepare the planting area. valentine flowers, except those that are shade loving, need a considerable amount of sunshine so choose an area that receives at least six hours of sunlight daily.
Planting in weed-free soil assures optimal results so pull out any growth you don’t want mixed in with your wildflowers. Then rake the seedbed to loosen the top 1"- 2" inches of soil. I find that better growth occurs when a natural plant food is raked into the seedbed when loosening the topsoil. My 'All Purpose Plant Food' is well suited for this use. It releases slowly throughout the spring and is exactly what’s needed during the germination period because slow feeding creates healthier roots and better valentine flowers.
Step 2: Create your own hydro mulch. Some of the seeds in a mix are so small you can barely tell if you’ve spread the seeds evenly across the soil. Buy a bag of composted mulch, pour it into a wheelbarrow, and mix in the seed. Spread this seed-mulch blend over the prepared seedbed. This simple trick helps you see where the seed is placed, ensures good seed to soil contact, insulates the seed, and camouflages it from hungry birds.
Step 3: Keep the seedbed moist. If sufficient moisture is present, seeds will start to germinate by the end of February through April, as soon as soil temperatures warm. Regardless of planting location, your wildflowers will require supplemental water if it doesn't rain enough to keep the seedbed moist. A layer of snow over your seedbed is perfect for wildflowers. It maximizes germination every time without extra watering.
Step 4: Re-seed. In the fall, after the blooms are off and the seed heads are ready to drop, you can help spread your wildflowers for the following spring. Just trim back the drying plants with a weed whacker. Besides pruning back the flowerbed, this will send a mixture of seeds flying throughout the garden for next season’s growth.
I've been collecting a list of the best flower mixes and thier plant techniques for years. Ask for my ‘Planting Wildflowers 4 Life’ handout the next time you visit me at the garden center. Best of all, it's free to the readers of my column.
I'll see if my Watters Facebook page will upload this list, but they can be difficult to use with plant lists like this. Take a look at www.facebook.com/watters1815 . Hit the 'Like' button at the top and your page will receive a copy automaticly when it post. I shot a quick video on how to prune Russian Sage that will post this week to fans as well. Join the garden conversation and share it with freinds.
Have the merriest of Christmas everyone and a safe and prosperous New Year.
Until next week, I'll see you at the Garden Center.
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