HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
JEAN LAIRD MASTER GARDENER

Dear Fellow Gardeners and Future Gardeners

Time is passing quickly, soon Spring will be here. Daffodils are popping up everywhere. This means that gardeners need to really get ready. Check yourself: Have I ordered my seeds? Have I trimmed back all my dead perennials? Do I have my caladium bulbs ready to plant: Have I inspected my camellias for insects and sprayed them? Soon the weather will be too warm to spray camellias, so be sure to spray now with the dormant oil. If needed, spray again with a systemic insecticide. Rake up the dead blooms under your camellias, also. Put them in the mulch pile, if your plant is not diseased. Never add diseased plant material to your mulch. If you haven't started a mulch pile yet, now is the time. I have explained in previous articles how to start a mulch pile. If you need further information, please contact me at 903- 984-3380. You are being good stewards of the earth when saving your pine straw for mulch, and using a drip system to water. Your are also saving your money. Have I checked my tools? I found some neat tools at Wal-Mart on the lower shelf in the garden area. You might check them out if your need new tools. Have I enriched my soil in the flower beds? If not, add Pro-mix Ultimate Potting Mix and slow-release fertilizer. Try trimming plants back by one third before planting. I find this hard to do, but it was suggested to me by an expert. Fertilize every two weeks with all purpose fertilizer and water regularly.

Do you want your annuals to bloom all summer? When you buy them from garden center, they have been given a daily diet of water and fertilizer. You need to continue the same regimen. It is good to buy in 3's. One to fail and 2 to make it. If they do then go buy more.

If you haven't started a Garden Journal, please try it. I think you will be pleasantly surprised how helpful it will be. It will help you remember where to plant, when to plant and what to plant. It will help you remember your successes and failures.

Mack said it is important to plant your potato slips right now. Most farmers plant them on Valentine's day, but it will be ok to plant anytime soon after, and remember, Mrs. Gatlin said to "turn your eyes up."

I have given you a lot to think about, but we need to be ready for the spring that is coming. I have a list of new plants and flowers to search for, but I will save that for the next week.

Until then, evaluate your gardens and its needs and get ready to get your hands dirty!

The Happy Gardener

"A vision without a task is but a dream, a task without a vision is drudgery, a vision and a task is the hope of the world." Found on a wall in Sussex England, circa 1730