May is finally here, and it is a perfect month to get outside and do some gardening. Before I get into the tasks for May, just be aware of watering. April was relatively dry. We are entering May under abnormally dry conditions. Thank goodness the last week of April cooled down and delivered us some rain. But we need more. Our plants are growing and leafing out and need water. We have had better seasons in past years, and we have experienced worse. We just have to deal with what Mother Nature gives us and learn to adjust our gardening habits to care for our plants.

As of April 28th, our soil temperature is 60 degrees. This soil temperature makes planting in May ideal.

HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL GARDENING CHORES AND THOUGHTS FOR MAY

• With May – it is now safe to plant summer annuals and vegetables.
• Birds have 5 basic needs: food, water, shelter from hot and cold weather, nesting sites, and protection from predators. Supply these and you will have many more birds around your home.
• Grass clippings can be used as mulch in flower beds and vegetable gardens if allowed to dry well before use. Never use clippings from a lawn that has been treated with a herbicide!!
• Pinch flowering annuals when 4 to 6 inches high to promote bushy growth such as zinnias, petunias, and salvia.
• Water your vegetable garden in the morning so plants have time to dry before the cool of the evening.
• Memorial Day is Monday, May 25. We can always plant red, white, and blue flowers and display our American flag to honor all our service men and women.

IT’S MAY SO BE SURE TO PLANT A LITTLE HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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What is Composting?

What is composting? The Environmental Protection Agency says composting is the aerobic decomposition of organic materials (food scraps, yard waste) into nutrient-rich soil amendments that build soil health and reduce waste. It requires a mix of “browns” (carbon-rich) and “greens” (nitrogen-rich), moisture, and air, and can take 8-12 weeks or over a year to break down, depending on the method used.

How To Get Started

Pick an area in your yard, at least four foot square, preferably shady and dry. Begin to layer in what they call “greens” and “browns.” Greens are grass clippings, fresh leaves (from pruning, not from diseased plants or insect-infested plants), fresh food scraps (not meats as they can attract rodents), and not pet waste, etc. They break down to release nitrogen.

Browns are dried leaves, broken up twigs, cardboard, straw. They break down to release carbon. The best mix is three parts carbons (browns) to one part nitrogen (greens).

How to Care For Your Compost

About once a week take a pitchfork and turn the patch over to aerate it.  Water it about once a week if we haven’t had any rain.  Turning it over will help speed it up.  You’ll begin to see your first bit of compost in a few months.

Compost improves soil health by adding organic matter, so mix it well in the top 3 or 4 inches of soil around garden plants.  You can mix about 1 part compost to 3 to 4 parts potting soil for your indoor plants

Your Garden and Mother Nature Will Be Happy!

Not only will making your own compost help your garden, but it will also the environment. Mother Nature will thank you!

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So, what is El Niño? El Niño is part of a larger climate cycle known as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which occurs when sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean rise above average. They typically occur every two to seven years. The most recent one was in 2023. Its effects on our weather depend heavily on how the pattern evolves over time.

What does this mean for Virginia? An El Niño could bring wetter periods this summer, as well as longer dry stretches. Personally, I have been in the plant business all my life, starting as a little kid learning to garden with my grandparents. Bottom line: “It is what it is”. We learn to adjust to whatever Mother Nature gives us.

But, with this said, we need to be ready. We need to be water-wise when watering. Here, at the end of April, we are dry. We need to water infrequently, deeply, and thoroughly. By doing so, this will encourage rooting and greater tolerance to dry spells. We need to use correct watering techniques. Water early in the day in order to reduce evaporation loss. Water less often for longer length of time to encourage deep root growth. Don’t be a gutter flooder. I would suggest turning off your lawn sprinkler system. Or, at least, use it very early in the morning. And, be sure your irrigation system is in proper working condition. Because of the dryness we are experiencing in April our fescue lawns are starting to look like summer already.

Let’s hope and pray for the best.

WE CAN STILL CONTINUE TO “PLANT A LITTLE HAPPINESS” – JUST BE MINDFUL OF OUR PLANTS NEED FOR WATER

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How Rachel Carson’s Book, “Silent Spring” Led to Change

Senator Gaylord Nelson was a senator from Wisconsin who was interested in conservation.  He was inspired by Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring.:  He was also inspired by an oil spill on the Santa Barbara River in January, 1969, a fire on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, and the activism of the 1960s and ’70s.  The fire on the Cuyahoga River was caused by industrial oil and debris in the water.

How Earth Day Came to Be

Nelson championed a nationwide “teach-in” focused on environmental issues. His tireless efforts in association with activist Dennis Hayes led to the celebration of the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. About 20 million Americans attended rallies, events, and took part in demonstrations. This nationwide outpouring of support led to  important environmental legislation to include the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, the passage of the Clean Air Act, and Clean Water Act.

Up until the passage of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, companies faced little or no consequences for polluting the environment. After these two laws were passed, companies faced serious consequences for acts of pollution.

How You and I Can Help

Now Earth Day is a day for us to remember and think of things to do about Global warming, recycling, plastic pollution, and many other ways to take care of our planet.

What can we do to help?  We can recycle, clean up our community, advocate and support environmental laws, plant more pollinator friendly plants (did you know that over 1/3 of our food requires pollination and 75% of our flowers require pollination), and, whenever possible, buy local (food grown in other places requires massive amounts of fossil fuels to ship).

The Important Bottom Line

Let’s take care of our planet.  It’s the only one we’ve got.

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FUN FACTS ABOUT HUMMINGBIRDS

• FUN FACT #1: Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backward. When the hummingbirds do arrive, they will be seeking nectar. Yes, we can put out hummingbird feeders to support them. And, remember, use clear nectar. The red-dyed nectar has been proven to be harmful. My advice is to plant flowers for support — especially NATIVE PLANTS. Speaking of native, did you know…
• FUN FACT #2: There are over 350 known hummingbird species, and the Red-throated Hummingbird is considered native to the Eastern United States. The Red-Throated Hummingbird flies here from Central America & Mexico. While here in the Eastern United States, the female will nest, lay eggs, and hatch another generation of hummingbirds, thus making them native to our region.
• FUN FACT #3: Hummingbirds will fly non-stop from Central America/Mexico across the Gulf of Mexico to come to Virginia. It takes them 15 to 22 hours of continuous flight. Hummingbirds are creatures of habit. They remember every feeder that they have visited. And, they visit certain native flowering perennials each year. On a daily basis a hummingbird will visit approximately 1,000 flowers each day. The more native perennials we have in our garden the more hummingbirds we could attract. Last year I had hummingbirds coming to my Bee Balm (Monarda), my Cat Mint (Nepeta), and my Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia). All are up and ready to support hummingbirds.
• FUN FACT #4: Most female hummingbirds will live to be 7 to 9 years old. The male hummingbird lives on average five years. In addition to have native perennials planted I will also give support to hummingbirds with flowering annuals. Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red. So, red petunias, red diplodemia, zinnias, fuchsias are popular to hummingbirds. But, they will fly to other color flowers.
• FUN FACT #5: As of 2021, there were an estimated 34 – 36 million ruby-throated hummingbirds over Eastern United States.

To show our support we need to plant more native flowering plants and a lot more flowering annuals. And then sit back and enjoy watching these hummingbirds flutter around you gardens.

FOR METHIS IS THE ULTIMATE “PLANTING A LITTLE HAPPINESS”

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M​ay Freeze, Really?

Six years ago, we had a frost on May 10th. I had forgotten to check the long-range forecast before moving them out. So, a couple of days later, when I watched the weather forecast, I was running around the yard throwing sheets over everything and dragging in what I could. I don’t want to do that again!

W​hen To Put Plants Outside

Aim for nights staying above 60 degrees, if possible. Yes, temperatures dropping into the 50’s won’t kill a plant native to the tropics (and 95% of the plants we grow as houseplants are native to the tropics)​, but it can stress them. As you move them out, put even your sun-lovers (like citrus and succulents) into part-shade. Even if they have been in a sunny window indoors, direct overhead beating sun can burn or scorch the foliage. After a week or so you can inch them into more sun. Shade loving plants can go under a porch or the heavier shade from mature trees in the yard.

Y​our Plants Are Outside! Now What?

Once you’ve moved them all out for the summer,​ remember to keep them fed. Summer is their time of active growth.​ Also​, remember that watering needs will change outside. The temperatures are warmer​, the light is brighter​, and the plants are actively growing so​ they will dry out faster. Do keep an eye on the weather so you don’t mistakenly water when you come home from work, after we had a mid-day shower.

When you first move them outside, it is a good time to prune most houseplants since they’re going to be entering a phase of active summer growth.

T​he Really Important Thing!

Last, and most important, occasion​ally sit on your deck, porch, or patio and ENJOY!

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Last week, I wrote a blog post about going from garden to table, focusing on growing your own vegetables and herbs and using them at the table, freshly picked. Today’s blog on edible landscaping takes this idea of home gardening a little more in-depth on the concept of growing your own fruit, vegetables, and herbs.

So, what exactly is edible landscaping? Simply put, edible landscaping replaces common ornamental plants with plants that are edible. With edible landscaping, you are now growing shrubs and trees in your landscape that not only flower but also produce fruit you can pick and bring inside to eat.

I think what may be driving edible landscaping to become more popular nowadays is our current economy. People are struggling to make ends meet and finding themselves living from paycheck to paycheck. If you can grow some of your own food, then this becomes a cost savings. Another strong driving force for edible landscaping is a desire to be more organic and natural in your food. And, finally, homeowners are starting to realize that you don’t need to live on a farm to grow fruits and vegetables. Backyards and front yards are starting to be transformed into growing fruits and vegetables. If you think about it, it only makes since. Why not have your flowering shrubs and trees be fruit bearing in the landscape around the house.

Are you ready to give it a try this spring? If so, come see us and we will help you make the right choices and give you the advice needed to be a successful fruit and vegetable grower. Here are just a couple basic tips that you need to keep in mind in making your plant selection:

1. Look at your area. Think about what you would like to grow. Do you have the needed space and sunlight?
2. Lear the growing dimensions of your selected plants.
3. Soil preparation is key to success. For instance, to be successful in growing blueberries you need an acidic soil with a pH around 5.0 to 5.5. So, not everything is the same. You need to do your homework with learning the needs of your plants that you want to try to grow. And, to be successful.
4. Be aware that some fruits need a partner. For instance, apple trees are not self-fertile. It takes two different apple trees to cross pollinate one another to produce fruit.
5. Once you have made your selection of plants you need to be patient. It can take a couple years or more before yielding any fruit.

We pride ourselves with our selection of fruit trees and small fruits. When you are ready then come see us. We would be honored to have the opportunity to help you with this edible landscaping trend.

HAPPY GARDENING & PLANT A LITTLE – NO, A LOT – OF HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Let’s Talk Hoyas

Hoyas are native to tropical areas of Asia, Australia, and Polynesia — areas that are warm and humid. It is a distant relative of the vinca vine and the Butterfly Weed. Most Hoyas are epiphytic vines. An epiphyte is a plant that grows on other plants; it is NOT a parasite, however, that sends its roots into other plants and steals their water and nutrients. Epiphytes use the host plant to lift it up where the light and air circulation are better. It gets its water from air humidity and tropical rain, and its nutrients from decaying organic debris that washes over it.

A Hoya’s nickname is Wax Plant because its leaves are thick and waxy. The foliage is very attractive, often with pretty variegated leaves, and wide varieties also have attractive flowers. They can either be grown in a pot and trellised up a pole or grown in a hanging basket and allowed to cascade.

How to Care For Your Hoya

They prefer very bright indirect light or good dappled light or they can take some direct sun before 10:00 AM or after 2:00 PM. You’ll want to pot them in cactus soil.

You can find them in most greenhouses in the cactus section, but they are NOT a cactus. They do like to dry out almost completely between waterings, but they don’t want to stay dry for several days. You can feed Hoyas a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20) during the growing season (mid-February through October), but they do suggest a couple of doses of a blooming plant fertilizer during the summer.

Give a Hoya a try. You’ll love them!

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So, what exactly does GARDEN-TO-TABLE mean? Garden-to-table is the practice of growing your own food and bringing it inside to use in recipes. I love this concept, and more and more people are recognizing its advantages as well.

I’ve been practicing garden-to-table for quite some time. I had a small garden patch at my previous house where I grew assorted vegetables and herbs right off my back door. Now, at my current house, I grow vegetables and herbs in containers that I have sitting around my front door and my back patio. My point in sharing this information with you is that you don’t need to have a traditional garden to enjoy growing fresh vegetables and herbs.

Besides growing your own vegetables and herbs and knowing how you grew them, you are also saving money from the grocery store, where we are all experiencing rising costs.

WHEN TO START PLANTING VEGETABLES

A person over the weekend asked me a very intelligent question. He wanted to know when you can start growing vegetables. Here we are in early April. And now is a good time to grow the Cole crop vegetables. Cole crop vegetables are mostly the leafy type vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, collards, kale, broccoli, etc. These vegetables are available and can be planted now. Cole crop vegetables need the cooler soil temperatures. I plant my Cole crop vegetables now into containers. Once our soil temperature reaches into the sixties and we are past the threat of frost (toward the end of April), then you can plant the fruiting type vegetables and herbs such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, basil, etc.

I just did a soil temperature test. Our soil is recording a temperature of 58 degrees. It have risen 3 degrees over this past week. We are getting close to the time where you can plant summer vegetables. My advice with planting tomatoes, basil, peppers, etc. is to wait until the end of this month. We just had two cold nights this week. Yes, our extended forecast has us warming up next week. I am hopeful. But, we still have the potential of having more cold nights. Just be careful and watch our local weather forecast.

For me personally, I find a lot of gratification in sharing my GARDEN TO TABLE vegetables with family and friends.

SOME HELPFUL TIPS BEFORE STARTING YOUR GARDEN-TO-TABLE ROUTINE

• Have a plan as to what you want to grow. Learn about spacing. Learn about what vegetables and herbs can be considered companion plants.
• Know your soil. Have you done a soil test to see what nutrients you may need to work on for best results.
• Understand that most vegetables require a lot of direct sunlight – usually a minimum of 6 hours.

Have a good time with your GARDEN TO TABLE gardening

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Wait On These Veggies

I’d wait another 3 weeks (in the Richmond area…a bit later further north) before planting corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, and melons. Before I plant them, I’d still go online and double-check the long-range forecast. I’ll never ever forget that frost we had just six years ago on May 10th!

Remember that root crops should never be started indoors. They do not transplant well and should be direct-sown in the garden. Follow the directions on the back of the package. They will tell you how far apart to space, etc.

Plant These Veggies Now

You could have started spinach, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc., indoors last month so now would be the time to transplant outside. If not, you still have time to direct-sow — just remember to still follow the directions on the seed packet for spacing.

Loosen the soil first about 10 inches down for root crops and about eight inches down for kale, spinach, broccoli, etc. Water well after planting and side-dress with a vegetable fertilizer.  Do keep an ear tuned to the weather forecasts. Even early spring veggies should be protected from temperatures below freezing with row covers or something else (I’ve used sheets successfully in the past).

How to Check Foliage for Pests

Now you will want to start checking the foliage about once a week for certain early-springs pests. Cabbage worms are the worst so keep tabs on all your cabbage family members — cabbage, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. Also, keep a watch on the rest of the veggies for regular pests like aphids. Early detection is the best way to keep things under control.

The Most Important Thing

The most important thing you can do is enjoy that first bite you take of your home-grown veggies!

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