Lots of daffodils this season, followed by tulips a few weeks later. When the flowers wither, the garden becomes a bit messy and many gardeners try to keep it clean.
I usually recommend removing dead and dying leaves and debris, but there is one caveat about spring bulbs. You can cut the flower stems, but keep the scissors away from the leaves. Don't tie it up with fancy braids. Leave the green alone to grow and store food for next year's flowers. If green leaves are cut or tied up, the plant cannot photosynthesize properly or at all. It may look messy, but as long as that green color fades to yellow or brown, it's fine.
The best solution is to transplant other plants later in the season to hide the bulbs from greenery. Daylilies are often beneficial and do well in daffodil beds. Daffodils will appear when they start to look messy. Other plants recommended for pots include hostas, amsonia, geraniums, and peonies. Choose a site-appropriate, late-blooming, multi-leaf bulb that mimics spring greens.
Mowing the lawn: what to remember
Cutting properly requires a little planning, tool maintenance, and patience.
Equipment Care : Maintain the mower before storing it for late winter. Using fresh gasoline or a fully charged battery, clean the underside of the cutting surface and repair any defects.
Sharpen blades. Dull blades break up the turf, leaving jagged edges, which stress the turf and make it more susceptible to disease and insects. The trimming height may need to be adjusted if it is new, out of control, or shows scars on the scalp. The fork should only remove one third of the grass height at a time. Cutting more than this causes severe stress to the tree. Long grasses cover the ground, cooling it and stimulating deep roots.
Warning of this principle, Scotts Co
There is, of course, one exception that proves the rule here: While most types of grass respond well to mowing, gossip and fescue prefer moderate mowing, and succulent grasses and dented grasses thrive in minimal mowing conditions.
Dry mowing: The best time to mow your grass is early in the morning on a dry day. The grass is dry, the temperature is cold, and it takes hours to recover before the sun rises. The grass is wet with morning dew. Mowing during the heat of the day puts extra stress on your lawn. Wet grass often has uneven patches. Lawn mowing prevents weeds.
Changing mowing direction: Changing mowing patterns prevents breakage and encourages grass to stand up rather than bend by cutting in one direction.
Mow when you need it: Never mow on a schedule, weeds depend on the weather, the nature of your lawn and the year it was grown. It doesn't matter what day of the week or the last time you cut it. Wait until there is enough growth that a haircut is urgently needed. New plantings or grass require special attention. Again, according to Scott Lunker, newly planted grass should be cut after it arrives:
- Bahia: 2-2.5 inches
- Bermuda shorts: 1.5-2 inches
- Bluegrass: 2-2.5 inches
- cm: 1.5-2 inches
- Fescues: 2-3 inches
- Perennial shavings: 2-3 inches
- Width: 1-2 inches
Fresh grass must be allowed to take root and restore the roots. Wait three weeks before mowing and letting the grass grow a bit.
As long as the grass clippings are small and not clumped together, let them sit in the lawn and decompose, returning nutrients to the soil. If you collect or wash the pieces, try not to add them to the trash. The litter box does not need a feeder. Untreated grass clippings can be added to the compost pile, but be careful not to add chemically treated grass clippings to the compost for food crops.
A great guide for all levels of lawn care is the Pennsylvania Extension article Seasonal Lawn Care.
A week in the garden
Planting: Start growing crops such as beans, radishes, lettuce and spinach in order to extend the harvest season. Plant tomatoes when temperatures are at least 50 degrees at night. Wait a few weeks before planting basil, eggplant, or peppers. Starter seeds for: goatee, eggplant, summer and winter squash. Direct sowing: seed material, shrubs and nuts, honeydew, cantaloupe, squash, rhubarb, summer and winter squash. Continue to simmer: celery, celery, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, chopped onions, onion bunches, parsley and Swiss chard. Plant or plant summer and perennial bulbs such as dahlias, cannas, callas, and caladiums in containers. Plant trees and shrubs with bare roots. Make sure the soil is dry enough to work with -- don't dig or till in clay. Purchase annual beds, annual garden beds, and perennial beds or shrubs to fill the empty space in containers.
Seasonal: Grow perennials indoors when the weather warms. Start with an hour or so on a warm day and increase your time outside until the evening is regularly in the 50-degree range before the season changes. Visit the nursery when it's open for inspiration and new plants. Also buy summer bulbs. Fertilizer Apply fertilizer to grass and beds. Check the soil for new bedding. Retest the soil in areas that have not been well managed or tested in the last 3-5 years. Cut ornamental grass. Share when you see new green growth. Various hostas and daylilies. Prune and divide some of the growing pods in late summer or fall. Prune and clean up dead, diseased, or unattractive perennials and shrubs, but not spring flowers. Please check the correct pruning information for each tree and prune as necessary. Apply spring and summer foliar spray 2 to 3 inches deep and several inches from roots, stems, and other plants. Sift flour and add more if necessary. Apply corn gluten weed control to the garden and establish a reapplication schedule, usually every four to six weeks.
Lawn: Mid-May: lawn with grass, seed, or mulch. Implement comprehensive weed and weed control projects. Mid-June: Apply spring fertilizer. Apply anti-rose before they show up for the next few weeks. Fill in any holes and depressions in the grass.
Homework: Watered plants recently anytime they receive less than an inch of rain each week. Repair broken screens and garden hoses. Look for broken seals around doors and windows. Avoid anything that collects standing water and rainwater to control the mosquito population. Protect at-risk crops from deer, rabbits and ferrets. Reapply anti-taste or odor agent. Clean and refill bird feeders regularly. Discard any spilled seeds and empty the pods. Empty the birdbath, clean it, and refill it at least once a week. If you have nest building materials, consider saving them. Keep gutters and direct rainwater away from the foundation of the house.
Equipment, Equipment and Supplies: Stock up on your winter gear and replace or repair it as needed. check spring and summer equipment; Repair or replace damaged or damaged equipment. Inspect and maintain power tools and lawn mowers as needed
Safety: Before mowing, remove grass debris and ensure that pets, children and other people are kept sufficiently away from the mowing area. Store garden chemicals indoors, away from pets and children. Get rid of expired items in preparation for local chemical collection. Take photos of storm damage prior to cleaning or repairs and file a claim immediately for an insurance claim. Anytime you're outside and it's 50 degrees or higher, be prepared to be bitten by a tick. Use insecticides containing Det. Apply permethrin to clothing. Wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing, a hat and long pants when gardening. stay hydrated. Drink water or other soft drinks without caffeine. Even in cold weather, wear sunscreen and a hat, and limit sun exposure. Wear closed shoes and gloves. wear eye protection; Use your hearing when using strong electrical equipment.
Sue Ketic is a gardening columnist, writer, and educator. Ask the gardener directly at grdnkpr@gmail.com or by mail to: Gardener, Morning Call, PO Box 1260, Allentown, PA 18105.
