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The Gardener’s Corner: preparing for spring

April 30, 2014   ·   0 Comments

It won’t be long before we can be back in the garden and spring clean up of perennials differs depending on their growth habit.

Evergreens like pinks and moss phlox merely need a light tidy and trim of brown leaves. A heavier tidy of leaves is required for semi-evergreens like bergenia and heuchera. Sometimes frost can push the crown of heuchera up and it should be gently pressed back into the soil. Various tall perennials have a green rosette of leaves at the base of the flower stalks. The dead stalks can be cut back to the rosette with a light tidy of the leaves. Daisies, coreopsis and rudbeckia fall into this category.

With woody perennials like lavender and butterfly bush, you should wait until mid-spring to cut back to about six inches when new growth is evident.

Finally, herbaceous perennials like hostas, peonies and daylilies can be cut right back to the ground, cleaning away the winter debris.

Simcoe consists of heavy clay and sandy soil areas. If you have clay like me, try not to walk on it when soggy wet as you’ll compact the soil which is not healthy for plant roots. Instead, place out boards to walk on which will distribute weight more evenly or sometimes in the morning, the ground is firmer until the sun gets at it.

Previously I’ve written about an excellent website called “All Things Plants” which I’d like to refer to again because of the fantastic spring and fall growing calendar offered. Entering Innisfil or my postal code brings up Barrie each time, but that’s close enough to discover our last frost date this year is May 26. The suggested planting times for transplanting or direct sowing a large list of vegetables is available, and a handy guide to have. There’s also a link at the bottom to Margaret Roach’s planting guide, the long time garden writer for Martha Stewart Living. Just enter the May 26 frost date for her chart. The Garden Planning Calendar can be found at http://allthingsplants.com/apps/calendar.

The Biology Department of Carleton University is again soliciting our help to track the lily leaf beetle. If a reminder is needed about this insect, it’s the bright red jewel-looking pest that can eat and ruin lilies in no time. Many gardeners, myself included, felt it was easier to remove the lilies. If you’d like to participate in tracking the beetle, visit their site at http://lilybeetletracker.weebly.com.

During early morning walks I’ve seen robins and heard their cheery song along with the calls of red-winged blackbirds, cardinals and chickadees. It’s time to claim territories and begin the building of nests. With anticipation, I see tulip leaves emerging close to the house where the snow has already melted. Spring is definitely in the air. www.lavendercottagegardening.com

By Judith Rogers

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