Garden.True.North
  • Blog
  • Classes
  • Picture Gallery
  • Contact

​Garden Stories

​​Garden.True.North is about gardening in Zone 4,

​sharing thoughts, ideas and tips for all northern gardeners.

Part 1 Ugly Names -- Good Plants, the Falsies

5/29/2018

0 Comments

 
​Definition of “Falsy”:  Okay, I’ll let you look up the definition.  For this article I’m using the term to define plants that have in their common name the word “False”. 
 
I wander around nurseries with hardly any idea about what I want, hoping that I will see something interesting to fit my garden.  I’ve found some good plants this way.  And I like wandering around greenhouses.  However, this is not the best way to select plants because when I get home I end up walking around my garden with said plant in hand wondering where to put this new acquisition. 
 
I have some criteria for perennials in my garden:  longevity, low maintenance, hardy in my climate, resistant to diseases and pests, no winter protection needed, long blooming or attractive foliage, not invasive, and doesn’t need staking.  But sometimes I just want to have fun and I throw all those important criteria out.  Sometimes that fun is something that has an interesting name.  

Read More
0 Comments

Using Lawn Equipment on Perennial Beds

3/28/2018

4 Comments

 
​ 
Do you want no raking, no removing debris, no hauling mulch and drastically reduced work in cleaning up your perennial beds this spring?  The equipment you will need is your lawn mower and broadcast spreader.  And the timing is just about now, well not quite now with snow and ice still on the ground.  But pretty soon.
 

Read More
4 Comments

An Alternative to Seed Starting Indoors

2/14/2018

0 Comments

 
Read more to discover the Winter Sown method of seed starting.  The pictures are of a milk jug seed container cut in half, then taped shut until the weather was warm enough to expose the seedlings to the elements. 

Read More
0 Comments

Houseplant Watering Systems

1/19/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture Source: Amazon.com
​There are many systems for indoors that claim to do a great job delivering moisture for houseplants.  But as gardeners we know that each plant has its own finicky needs and the challenge even for hand watering is how to provide just the right amount.  Several winters ago, I tested a few systems prior to going on a two-week trip.  While my neighbor has proven to be even more reliable than myself, it was time to find an alternative way to take care of the plants.  

Read More
0 Comments

October Calendar

10/1/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​My fall chore list has become shorter over the years as I have discovered easier methods of dealing with leaves on the lawn with frequent mowing with my mulching lawn mower.  Leaves that land in the perennial beds are left there to provide protection over the winter.  The only area that I clean up is the vegetable garden by removing dead material after the frost. 


Read More
0 Comments

Grab the Camera

9/29/2017

2 Comments

 
​I have been taking pictures of my gardens all season long so I can reference them in the off-season.  My camera is an essential garden tool to record successes and failures, to document what needs to be done next year, and to steal ideas from other gardeners.  

Read More
2 Comments

Bringing in the Houseplants

9/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Believe it or not – it is almost time to start bringing in your houseplants from the summer vacation outdoors.  Don't wait until the first freeze/frost warnings are posted for the fall.  Many of our houseplants are from the tropics and get stressed when nighttime temperatures dip lower than 50°.  I start by moving the houseplants to shadier spots in the garden around the beginning of September.  This gives them time to acclimate to the lower light conditions in our homes.   ​


Read More
0 Comments

September Calendar

9/4/2017

0 Comments

 
Activities for September
  • Fertilize lawn around Labor Day- if you only do it once this is the best time to do it.  Any later in Zone 3 and the grass doesn't have time to  take advantage of the food.  
  • Fertilize Astillbes - these perennials are heavy feeders and I give them a little boost this time of year with a light fertilizer, usually 10-10-10 or less. 
  • Stop fertilizing - Besides Astillbes, the lawn, and any annuals it is best to stop fertilizing.  Fertilizing would encourage new growth and instead you want the plants to start getting ready for winter by going dormant. 
  • Deadhead perennials - this is a good time to deadhead those that are self-seeders that you don't want spreading.  Also be sure to deadhead phlox if you want them to stay true and not cross-fertilize with other types.   I leave the seed heads on most of my perennials as food for the birds during the winter and to create some winter interest.  
  • Clean up the garden - the one place that I clear out is the vegetable garden to keep any diseases and pests from overwintering.  I leave my perennials standing during the winter.  One exception is that I cut down any perennials that have had a disease or pest problem.  There have been aphids on my Heliopsis  (common name:  False Sunflower) so those will get cut down to the grounds after they die back this year. 
  • Bring in tender plants - for any plants that have spent the summer outside, I start to get them ready to bring inside.  First step is to move them to shadier spots to get them used to the lower inside light.  I then hose them down and treat with an insecticide soap to prevent them from bringing pests into the house.  They are then isolated in the garage for about a week to insure no pests.  
  • Use the mower to chop leaves - As leaves begin to drop I use the mower to mulch them right back into the lawn.  Any leaves dropping on the perennial beds are left there until spring (when I use the mower again to mulch them right in the beds.)  For areas where the mower can't do the job, I use a mulching lawn vacuum and then dump the leaves in perennial or shrub beds that could use a bit more.  This minimizes hauling leaves around and puts them to good use right where they land.  
  • Order fall planted bulbs - if not already done, this is a good time to order those spring bulbs and roots planted in the fall.  This includes tulips, daffodils, minor spring bulbs, garlic, rhubarb, peonies, lilies, foxtails, and many more.  All these can be planted when the ground temperature reaches 50 degrees or after the first good freeze (usually in October and as late as November.)  
0 Comments

August Calendar

8/1/2017

0 Comments

 
August tasks are sparse, take time to enjoy the garden and harvest the edibles and flowers.  The spring flower bulb catalogs are now coming in the mail, time to look them over and place your order for fall planting.  I'll post later on when to plant those bulbs, usually in October after our first frost.  
  • Order spring flowering bulbs for fall planting
  • Keep phlox deadheaded.  They easily cross-pollinate, so deadheading  helps keep the true colors.  (Deadheading is cutting the spent flowers so they do not go to seed.) 
0 Comments

July Task List

7/5/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
In my garden notebook are the following reminders:  
  • Remove peony seedpods
  • Harvest garlic when half the leaves turn brown
  • Plant fall lettuce, spinach, pak choi, kale
  • Fertilize asparagus
  • Fertilize perennial beds
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Classes

    ​
    * Sun Gardens on April 23, 2025 and Shade Gardens on April 29, 2025 at the Hayward Library No registration needed 

    ​Handouts for programs ​are on the ​ "Classes" tab. 
    ***************
    ​Check out my Garden Course catalog if you are interested in  a presentation to your group - Click Here

    Link to North Country Master Gardeners' website

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    December 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    January 2024
    November 2022
    April 2022
    August 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017

    Categories

    All
    Annuals
    Fall
    Garden Events
    Garden Trends
    Garden Visits
    Low Maintenance
    Miscellaneous
    Monthly Calendar
    Perennial & Biennial
    Spring
    Summer
    Travel
    Trees And Shrubs
    Vegetables
    Winter

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • Classes
  • Picture Gallery
  • Contact