Organic Gardens
- Free Container Plants
- Hail in the Garden
- Removing a Dead Tree
- Winter’s Last Gasp
- Keep America Beautiful Month
- National Garden Month
- Cats in the Garden
- First Day of Spring
- National Poison Prevention Week
- Use Your Garden Time Wisely
Posted by
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
Pot up unruly extras from the garden, and save money on container plants.
This is the time of year I can assess where my garden is going, and where it has been. If any plants didn’t make it through our harsh winter, I can see a blank spot in my garden. If any plants are threatening a garden coup, now is the time to divide them or transplant them to other parts of the yard.
I have a small woodland garden, and about 10 years ago, I purchased a few ostrich ferns to lend their lacy foliage as a foil to the magenta azalea blossoms. This spring, I watched their fiddleheads sprouting willy-nilly, until it appeared that my woodland garden was to be a homogenous stand of ostrich ferns.
I went out with my trowel and a bucket, and began digging out the exuberant fronds and their underground stolons and rhizomes. The future site of my next woodland garden is currently a stomping ground for 3 boys and 2 large dogs, so I viewed these extra plants as one step removed from a weed.
Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to toss these earnest new ferns into the compost bin. Didn’t I see ostrich ferns going for 15 dollars a pot at the nursery the other week? Suddenly, inspiration struck: These graceful plants, already nearing 18 inches tall, would look fantastic potted up on my deck. Eureka! I had just the pot, and now it’s brimming with mature ferns, at no cost. I’ll have until October to find a permanent home for them, or perhaps a friend who needs some ferns for her garden.
I have a small woodland garden, and about 10 years ago, I purchased a few ostrich ferns to lend their lacy foliage as a foil to the magenta azalea blossoms. This spring, I watched their fiddleheads sprouting willy-nilly, until it appeared that my woodland garden was to be a homogenous stand of ostrich ferns.
I went out with my trowel and a bucket, and began digging out the exuberant fronds and their underground stolons and rhizomes. The future site of my next woodland garden is currently a stomping ground for 3 boys and 2 large dogs, so I viewed these extra plants as one step removed from a weed.
Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to toss these earnest new ferns into the compost bin. Didn’t I see ostrich ferns going for 15 dollars a pot at the nursery the other week? Suddenly, inspiration struck: These graceful plants, already nearing 18 inches tall, would look fantastic potted up on my deck. Eureka! I had just the pot, and now it’s brimming with mature ferns, at no cost. I’ll have until October to find a permanent home for them, or perhaps a friend who needs some ferns for her garden.
Posted by
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
Hailstorms can bring devastation to the spring garden.
I live in a part of the country that some might say is set up for the perfect storm. In the springtime, cool air flowing down from the Rocky Mountains meets warm, moist air traveling up from the Gulf of Mexico. In its worst permutation, this weather pattern is the reason folks call this area “tornado alley.” In normal years, we must deal with severe thunderstorms, microbursts, flooding, and hailstorms. My exuberance for the generous rains and explosive growth I’ve experienced in my garden over the last few weeks dimmed my memory, or at least cast a glaze over these damaging, if not violent possibilities.
On the eve of Earth Day, a downpour jerked me awake at 2:37 am. I could see the clock clearly, not because it’s digital, but because the unceasing lightening beamed through my window like the probe of a UFO. A minute later, the cacophony of the hail began. Oh, dear, I had forgotten about the hail we’re subject to. I thought back to previous years, when hailstorms reduced my plants to ribbons. Some plants recovered, some did not. I listened for 12 miserable minutes until the stones finally abated.
It was painful to consider the prospect of surveying the damage in the morning, but I finally managed to drag my eyes to the picture window. A bubble of fear in my stomach turned to mirth and escaped as a giggle: not a single petal had fallen.
Some scientists say that violent storms will increase over the next decade because of global warming. However, the Rodale Institute has found that “organic soils actually scrub the atmosphere of global warming gases by capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it into soil material.” It’s another way organic gardening positively impacts the earth.
On the eve of Earth Day, a downpour jerked me awake at 2:37 am. I could see the clock clearly, not because it’s digital, but because the unceasing lightening beamed through my window like the probe of a UFO. A minute later, the cacophony of the hail began. Oh, dear, I had forgotten about the hail we’re subject to. I thought back to previous years, when hailstorms reduced my plants to ribbons. Some plants recovered, some did not. I listened for 12 miserable minutes until the stones finally abated.
It was painful to consider the prospect of surveying the damage in the morning, but I finally managed to drag my eyes to the picture window. A bubble of fear in my stomach turned to mirth and escaped as a giggle: not a single petal had fallen.
Some scientists say that violent storms will increase over the next decade because of global warming. However, the Rodale Institute has found that “organic soils actually scrub the atmosphere of global warming gases by capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it into soil material.” It’s another way organic gardening positively impacts the earth.
Posted by
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
Dead trees can be valuable in the organic garden as a wildlife refuge. However, sometimes the hazards outweigh the benefits.
It was with sadness that we had to say goodbye to an old black walnut tree in our back yard yesterday. My relationship with this tree (yes, one can have an arboreal relationship of sorts) had been a mixed bag over the last 11 years. When we moved into our residence, I was delighted to have a newer home surrounded by so many mature trees. However, I hadn’t been initiated into the black walnut litter club. Nor was I acquainted with the toxic juglone that black walnuts emit from their roots and nuts, which kills many sensitive plants. However, one must accept the faults of a mature tree with the attributes, especially when one’s tree was probably only a sapling at the turn of last century.
A few years ago, I noticed the walnut drop its leaves in late August, about a month earlier than usual. The following spring, the tree didn’t leaf out. Did my muttering curses as I lugged around the wheelbarrow full of nuts hasten its death? No matter, for the tree seemed livelier than ever in its state of decay. A myriad of insect species colonized its trunk, and a red-bellied woodpecker carved out a cavity beside this buffet for its nest.
I might have been content to watch nature slowly reclaim this giant for years to come, but a couple of near misses with thigh-sized branches dropping from its canopy sealed the tree’s fate.
This Arbor Day, I’ll be looking for a sprightly young crabapple, or perhaps a redbud, to turn into a gnarled old specimen for future generations to enjoy. For the best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago, but the second best time is today.
A few years ago, I noticed the walnut drop its leaves in late August, about a month earlier than usual. The following spring, the tree didn’t leaf out. Did my muttering curses as I lugged around the wheelbarrow full of nuts hasten its death? No matter, for the tree seemed livelier than ever in its state of decay. A myriad of insect species colonized its trunk, and a red-bellied woodpecker carved out a cavity beside this buffet for its nest.
I might have been content to watch nature slowly reclaim this giant for years to come, but a couple of near misses with thigh-sized branches dropping from its canopy sealed the tree’s fate.
This Arbor Day, I’ll be looking for a sprightly young crabapple, or perhaps a redbud, to turn into a gnarled old specimen for future generations to enjoy. For the best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago, but the second best time is today.
Posted by
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
When the calendar says April but the weather says February, organic gardeners must cope with Mother Nature’s capricious ways.
Three weeks ago, with a song in my heart, I rushed to the nursery to purchase pansies and seed starting supplies. This weekend, Mother Nature showed us she is as mercurial as a teenager is when she blasted our region with frigid winds and a spitting snowstorm. I accompanied my family to the hardware store to spend a gift certificate we received at Christmastime, and I was prepared to spend my share on something for the garden. However, the swirling snowflakes dampened my garden spirit. I know that the chance of frost isn’t behind us here until the first of May, but how did we go from flip-flops to snow boots in the span of a week?
I should stop my whining. Our gardening friends in the upper Midwest and alpine regions have several weeks of touch-and-go weather to contend with before they can plant the first tomato. If your mind is in zone 8, but your garden is in zone 3, try these tips to deal with winter’s final grip:
I should stop my whining. Our gardening friends in the upper Midwest and alpine regions have several weeks of touch-and-go weather to contend with before they can plant the first tomato. If your mind is in zone 8, but your garden is in zone 3, try these tips to deal with winter’s final grip:
- Call your utility company and see if they deliver free mulch from tree trimming to customers.
- Buy a fragrant houseplant from your local nursery, and treat yourself to some aromatherapy.
- Sharpen and clean all of your pruning implements.
- Try a new vegetable soup recipe with the produce you preserved from last season.
- Read over your garden journals from past years, and decide what you’ll do differently this year to make your garden the best it can be.
Posted by
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
Organic gardeners can practice litter prevention, waste minimization, recycling, and beautification this month.
In 1953, a forward-thinking group of individuals decided to form the non-profit, voluntary organization Keep America Beautiful (KAB). Now, as green living has become so fashionable, more Americans are interested in carrying out the practices and principles that guide Keep America Beautiful’s mission. April is Keep America Beautiful Month, so organic gardeners can consider the many ways we improve our community and our environment by looking at KAB’s three focus areas:
Litter Prevention
When litter happens, it stays on the move, traveling with the rain to waterways, and eventually reaching the ocean. Few of us intentionally litter. However, accidental littering can occur when the wind whisks away the empty bag of potting soil we just used. Take ownership of your refuse, and don’t let a single piece escape your trash can.
Waste Minimization and Recycling
According to KAB, yard trimmings and food scraps comprise nearly a quarter of the waste that ends up in landfills. A handful of fragrant compost is one of the best ways organic gardeners demonstrate the utility of recycling. Remember that you can compost more than just leaves and broccoli stems; napkins, newspapers, and cardboard break down too.
Beautification
Every garden is an act of beauty, even if it’s just a few pots on the terrace. Extend the notion of beautification by organizing a community garden. Site the garden on public property, and ask your Public Works Department to provide maintenance.
Litter Prevention
When litter happens, it stays on the move, traveling with the rain to waterways, and eventually reaching the ocean. Few of us intentionally litter. However, accidental littering can occur when the wind whisks away the empty bag of potting soil we just used. Take ownership of your refuse, and don’t let a single piece escape your trash can.
Waste Minimization and Recycling
According to KAB, yard trimmings and food scraps comprise nearly a quarter of the waste that ends up in landfills. A handful of fragrant compost is one of the best ways organic gardeners demonstrate the utility of recycling. Remember that you can compost more than just leaves and broccoli stems; napkins, newspapers, and cardboard break down too.
Beautification
Every garden is an act of beauty, even if it’s just a few pots on the terrace. Extend the notion of beautification by organizing a community garden. Site the garden on public property, and ask your Public Works Department to provide maintenance.
Posted by
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
April is the ideal time to enjoy America’s favorite hobby.
The National Gardening Association designates April as National Garden Month, to encourage everyone to engage in America’s number one hobby. If you’re reading this blog, you probably don’t need any encouragement! However, perhaps you would like to increase your organic efforts, but you aren’t sure how. Or, you might want to encourage your child’s school or home association to replace some conventional gardening methods with organic gardening principles.
According to a survey conducted by the National Gardening Association, if everyone who considered organic gardening made the switch, we could double the number of organic gardeners. We can encourage those who might consider organic gardening by sharing our knowledge, and offering suggestions in a neutral, non-judgmental way. For example, if you’re shooting the breeze with a neighbor about getting geared up for lawn care season once again, and your neighbor laments the onslaught of dandelions, share the success you’ve had with corn meal gluten or horticultural vinegar.
As a hobby, I would argue that gardening is unparalleled in its ability to improve our health, beautify our communities, and connect with the environment. Organic gardening principles further these notions by eliminating harmful chemicals that may cause illness or poison our environment. Bring out the organic gardener in a friend or neighbor, and have a glorious month in the garden.
According to a survey conducted by the National Gardening Association, if everyone who considered organic gardening made the switch, we could double the number of organic gardeners. We can encourage those who might consider organic gardening by sharing our knowledge, and offering suggestions in a neutral, non-judgmental way. For example, if you’re shooting the breeze with a neighbor about getting geared up for lawn care season once again, and your neighbor laments the onslaught of dandelions, share the success you’ve had with corn meal gluten or horticultural vinegar.
As a hobby, I would argue that gardening is unparalleled in its ability to improve our health, beautify our communities, and connect with the environment. Organic gardening principles further these notions by eliminating harmful chemicals that may cause illness or poison our environment. Bring out the organic gardener in a friend or neighbor, and have a glorious month in the garden.
Posted by
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
Teach your cats which parts of the garden are off-limits, and enjoy their companionship outdoors.
Last week, I took my three boys to the animal shelter, “Just to look.” Now, raise your hand if you’ve ever gone to the animal shelter just to look. If you have, then you’re probably the same kind of person who can make a batch of chocolate chip cookies without sampling a single chocolate chip, or you must visit the nursery for ideas without leaving with a single 6-pack of flowers.
I was in denial about the true purpose of our shelter visit; therefore, on Good Friday, we brought Max home. He’s a fine cat; a black and white adult Manx with greenish-golden eyes. We’ve been without a cat since our last 15 year old feline passed away in October, and I hadn’t realized what a gap she’d left in our lives.
Now that we’ve introduced Max to everyone in the household, it’s time for him to learn some manners, both indoors and out. As I prepare to begin planting my spring container garden, there are still remnants of last year’s cat deterrents. I used to lay thorny branches pruned from my rose bushes across my containers to keep my cats from digging in the fresh soil and making unwanted deposits. I trust that Max will find these as unpleasant as the last tenants did.
I bought Max his own little container of cat grass to browse at his leisure. I was impressed that the container read, “USDA 100% Organically Grown.”
Perhaps Max will turn out to be as good at repelling moles and mice as the cat we lost in October. Regardless, I hope that Max will enjoy as many carefree years with us as our other cats did.
I was in denial about the true purpose of our shelter visit; therefore, on Good Friday, we brought Max home. He’s a fine cat; a black and white adult Manx with greenish-golden eyes. We’ve been without a cat since our last 15 year old feline passed away in October, and I hadn’t realized what a gap she’d left in our lives.
Now that we’ve introduced Max to everyone in the household, it’s time for him to learn some manners, both indoors and out. As I prepare to begin planting my spring container garden, there are still remnants of last year’s cat deterrents. I used to lay thorny branches pruned from my rose bushes across my containers to keep my cats from digging in the fresh soil and making unwanted deposits. I trust that Max will find these as unpleasant as the last tenants did.
I bought Max his own little container of cat grass to browse at his leisure. I was impressed that the container read, “USDA 100% Organically Grown.”
Perhaps Max will turn out to be as good at repelling moles and mice as the cat we lost in October. Regardless, I hope that Max will enjoy as many carefree years with us as our other cats did.
Posted by
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
Even if poor weather conditions herald the first day of spring in your area, don’t let its passage go by unnoticed.
I'm ready to celebrate the first day of spring as if it were a national holiday (which it should be, so more people can stay home from work and garden)!
I bought a flat of pansies to fill up my window box, and I'm going to put out my little wooden garden placard that reads:
First, a howling blizzard woke us
Then the rains came down to soak us
And now before the eye can focus
Crocus
I’m not sure who originally penned this clever poem, but I love the fact that my yard is sporting some of these cheerful late winter flowers right at this moment. I never thought that crocus had much to offer in the fragrance department, but this oversight must be due to the diminutive stature of these blossoms. My neighbors probably wondered what I was doing with my nose to the ground, but anyone as starved for growing things as I can appreciate the urge to inhale something wonderful that didn’t come from an air freshener. It won’t be long before my hyacinths add their glorious perfume to the environment, and I definitely won’t need to strain my joints to enjoy their strong scent.
If your garden is still barren, head to the nursery and pick up a flat of pansies or some transplants of cole crops. Keep them in a sheltered area of the yard until you can get them into the ground.
I bought a flat of pansies to fill up my window box, and I'm going to put out my little wooden garden placard that reads:
First, a howling blizzard woke us
Then the rains came down to soak us
And now before the eye can focus
Crocus
I’m not sure who originally penned this clever poem, but I love the fact that my yard is sporting some of these cheerful late winter flowers right at this moment. I never thought that crocus had much to offer in the fragrance department, but this oversight must be due to the diminutive stature of these blossoms. My neighbors probably wondered what I was doing with my nose to the ground, but anyone as starved for growing things as I can appreciate the urge to inhale something wonderful that didn’t come from an air freshener. It won’t be long before my hyacinths add their glorious perfume to the environment, and I definitely won’t need to strain my joints to enjoy their strong scent.
If your garden is still barren, head to the nursery and pick up a flat of pansies or some transplants of cole crops. Keep them in a sheltered area of the yard until you can get them into the ground.
National Poison Prevention Week
Posted by
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
Although organic gardeners take care to minimize the harmful chemicals in their garden shed, nearly any product can cause harm if accidentally ingested.
This year, National Poison Prevention Week falls on March 16-22. This is an excellent time to take stock of your garden products, and make sure you are practicing safe handling and storage techniques. Although organic gardeners eschew the use of toxic pesticides and herbicides in the garden, that doesn’t mean that our natural alternatives won’t cause any harm if ingested. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are at greater risk for accidental poisoning when in the care of others, such as friends or family members. If these caregivers don’t have children, they may not be accustomed to locking up their dangerous household chemicals.
Here are some tips to keep your family safe:
Here are some tips to keep your family safe:
- Keep garden products in their original containers. Never store excess garden products in old food containers, such as margarine tubs or milk jugs.
- Install childproof locks on cabinets that contain garden chemicals, even if the cabinets are in an out-of-the-way place like the garage.
- Post the phone number of the poison control center (1-800-222-1222) near your garden product storage area. Call 911 and/or the poison control center if you think a child may have ingested any garden product.
- Know that poisoning can happen by other routes than ingestion. Some garden products, including organic garden products, can harm the skin or release vapors that can damage the eyes or lungs. These types of exposures may require medical attention as well.
Posted by
Jamie McIntosh
Jamie McIntosh
How will you use your extra hour of daylight in the organic garden?
The lights began to dim in October, when I found myself finishing my raking and other fall clean up tasks in the dark. Then, one weekend, I don’t remember when (it seems like an eternity ago now) the news anchor reminded us to set all of our clocks back. That was the death knell of my gardening activities for the remainder of the year. Sure, my compost pile continued to work its magic, albeit with the urgency of a snail, in the cold winter months. However, even the most enterprising gardener must take a three-month respite in this part of the country, unless he’s lucky enough to possess a nice greenhouse.
This past weekend, the scales tipped in favor of the gardener. Even if you’re still buried under a foot of snow, it’s still daylight when you get home from work! You can hunt for signs of life in the soil on the way to the mailbox without a flashlight.
Here are some things I’m going to do with my extra hour this month, weather permitting:
This past weekend, the scales tipped in favor of the gardener. Even if you’re still buried under a foot of snow, it’s still daylight when you get home from work! You can hunt for signs of life in the soil on the way to the mailbox without a flashlight.
Here are some things I’m going to do with my extra hour this month, weather permitting:
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