Gardening Tips – Page 2 – West 104th Street Community Garden

Gardening Tips

Winter Gardening Tips

February 7, 2009

2 min read

This National Gardening Association page link is for Over-Winter Maintenance.
http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/reminders/2986

Lucille found a good article with information about preventing plant theft from the November 2005 edition of House & Garden Magazine. Download at:
http://west104garden.org/articles/Stop-Garden-Theft.pdf

Some Tips:

Tips from Sergeant Martin Peirson, Metropolitan Police Service, London

Install low-voltage lights with a photocell switch that automatically illuminates all avenues of access from roads to landscape during hours of darkness.
Enclose the garden perimeter with a barrier of thorny plant (such as “New Scotland Yard” rose).
Locate valuable plants out of sight of roads.
Inhibit digging of valuable trees and shrubs by surrounding them with collars of heavy welded wire fencing.
Collars (hidden under mulch) should extend out over roots for several feet from plant; for extra security, fasten down collars at edges with hooks or concrete reinforcing bars anchored in concrete.
South African park police are embedding wild cycads with microchips much like those used for identification of dogs and cats. Such a system could also be effective for the identification and recovery of stolen garden plants.

Also, the Home Depot Garden Center offers a garden club with expert advice and special offers at:
http://homedepotgardenclub.com/

Happy New Year! LM

Gardening Tips

Seed Planting and More

February 7, 2009

by garden

1 min read

FYI — when thinking about your spring planting plans. LM

The Floyd Bennett Gardens, the largest community garden in nyc, continues to post interesting garden info it their newsletter. From time to time I will repost info here:

In this issue–Time to Think About Getting Your Hands Dirty ‹‹Attracting Butterflies and Other Pollinators

There are gardeners who plant only crops of vegetables and then there are those who know the importance of balancing both worlds. This year, think about planting your usual and then expand and create an environment that helps you, the birds and the rest of the wonderful world of pollinators. Remember, without them we are nothing!
Happy Gardening-JW

Read the Full Article

Moss in the City – October 2008

October 13, 2008

by garden

2 min read

Share the Harvest

October is one of my favorite months. The temperatures begin to cool down. The rich purple flowers of fall-blooming colchicums and crocuses burst from the ground like the royal goblets of … more >>

There's usually plenty to share. (Photo courtesy Yvonne Savio).

Urban green space contributes to a healthy ecosystem.

Reducing Urban Flooding

Many parts of the country have been hit with devastating floods recently, and in urban areas the problem can be especially severe. Urbanization itself — clearing trees, draining wetlands, and paving the ground — makes flooding worse. Most natural landscapes absorb rainwater and allow … more >>

Saving Seeds From Annuals and Perennials

With the arrival of fall the annuals in my garden are winding down. One particular cleome put on a dazzling display this year. It volunteered near my vernal witch hazel and quickly branched into a candelabra of pink and white flowers. Next year … more >>

Cleome seeds can be planted this fall for next year's show.

October Q & A

Question: Recently, I was wandering through a large garden center and discovered rubber mulch. Can it be used like regular mulch? Is it any good? more >>

October Gardening Tips

As a family activity, paint some of your pumpkins instead of carving them all. Use nontoxic paints to create colorful, scary faces, or whatever you can imagine. After Halloween, use the pumpkins to make bread, muffins, or pies with the kids.
Pot up amaryllis, gloxinias, freesias, and other winter-blooming bulbs now for blooms by Christmas.
Spend some time outside under the Hunter’s Moon. The full moon in mid-October is one of the brightest of the year. Enjoy brisk evening walks before the cold months arrive.