What to do with Daffodils after blooming

Today I was all ready to tell you about how to care for your daffodils after they're done blooming. I was going to share Martha Stewart's braiding method that I've been using for a couple years that helps keep your garden looking nice while the daffodil foliage fades away. Or maybe the bend and tie method, sometimes made easier by just using rubberbands ...

I'm a little behind at home with my own daffs; I haven't taken the time to braid them yet so I don't have any current photos. So I went to the Internet to look for some usable photos to accompany this blog entry.

While searching "daffodil braided foliage," I came across a bunch of warnings about this technique. (So, Martha doesn't know everything afterall ...)

According to Barbara Martin's garden tips on flowergardens.suite101.com, "You may hear or read suggestions for braiding the daffodil leaves or bundling them up with rubber bands and who knows what else, but it doesn't help the bulbs at all to do this and it is a lot of extra work for the gardener, too ... give yourself -- and your daffodils -- a break: Leave the leaves alone!"

"Daffodil foliage needs the sun to make and store energy this year for next year's flower. That concept is alien and hard to accept by some. However, if one follows the daffodil bulb growth, a dissected bulb clearly shows next year's flowers developed in this year's bulbs. It is for that reason that the theory of letting the folliage die backnaturally is so strongly defended," writes Clay Higgins on the same web site.

Easier said than done. I know, I know, who wants to look at those long green leaves now when it's time for all those pretty, colorful annuals? Well, I'm going to give it a shot this year, since it was an especially good year for my daffs! I want to do everything I can to ensure a good showing for next year, even though I had to move my double daffodils to make room for those dwarf rhodies I showed the other day.

Suggestions for "living with" the faded daffs include: Hiding the foliage with taller perennials and planting colorful annuals in front to take the eye away from all that green. At least it will save me some time not having to braid all that foliage this year.

Gardener's Block

Ok, you've heard of writer's block right? Well, I'm suffering from a case of gardener's block.

It's nothing severe, it seems to always strike this time of year. I'm sure some of you have suffered the same symptoms ... You've gone to your favorite greenhouse/nursery, perused the aisles for the perfect plants, made your selections, purchased the items, carefully drove home, unloaded your stock, placed them on the deck/patio and marveled at your score. Now comes the hard part -- exactly where to put everything!

I love when I first bring all my new plants in to their new home. I place all the containers on my back patio (this year, in the new greenhouse) and look at all the pretty colors. Then I sit and look at the various planting gardens and try to decide which goes where ... and that's when the "block" comes into play. So many new things to plant, so many open spaces, so many colors, perennials, annuals, seedlings --- AAAARRRGGHH!!

By rights, perennials should be the first to go in the dirt, since (with any luck) they'll occupy the same spot for years to come. Then the annuals, always making sure to plant up front because they provide the most color throughout the summer. Always try to take into account that perennials from prior years are just coming up now and some will get quite tall and block out the sun for the other plants. This is a hard one to remember, because a large empty spot may not be such a great place to put a plant that requires "full sun." Especially when the ornamental grasses are only about 2 feet tall right now and will go on to tower at about 8-12 feet, blocking the sun and any light rain from the new plant. (There's a reason you didn't plant anything there last year ...)

Oh well, I'm feeling overwhelmed right now, but I'll get thru it -- I always do. At least one thing's nice for now -- I can easily water everything right on the patio, it's all in one spot. I don't have to roll out the 150-ft. hose yet!

Anyway, the lovely little plant appearing in the blog today is the dwarf rhododendron I mentioned yesterday. Isn't it cute! I first saw it in my neighbors' yard and had to know where they got it. They got it from Lowe's about a month ago and, after checking for the last 3 weeks, I finally spotted some there last Saturday.

It's officially called a Purple Gem Rhododendron and it'll get about 2-ft. tall. It's described as having deep violet blooms mid-Spring to early-Summer with tiny, dense evergreen foliage and a low-mounded growth habit. It's an "excellent border plant," and enjoys morning sunlight.

Coming up: What to do with those faded daffodils and tulips.

The Lighthouse

In my garden, the surest sign that Spring has sprung, is when I deem the weather is good enough to bring out the lighthouse! This past weekend, the newly-refurbished lighthouse made its debut.

OK, if I can back it up a few years ... about five years ago, when my gardening habit started, my family surprised me with the lighthouse. I always wanted one, but never really had any place to put it. We had a beautiful Japanese cherry tree that was a big focal point in our yard and it had just died.

So, one thing led to another and I constructed a whole new garden and put the lighthouse where the tree used to be (spotlighted at night, of course). I love to see it out in the yard, it reminds me of the seashore.

Nothing lasts forever, and the lighthouse started showing wear from the elements. To tell the truth, we decided to sand and paint it over the 2006-2007 winter, but I only got around to it this past Easter!

Oh well, no harm done, and I think it looks great, back in its place of honor, overseeing the rest of the garden path. What do you think?

Update: My ambitious weekend plans went pretty well. The weather was great and the garden beds are all ready for planting! The compost was tended and turned (still nothing ready to spread on the beds yet, but that didn't stop my bichon Bailey from climbing into the bin and rolling in the fresh coffee grounds -- Ugh!) The patio is clean and the furniture is ready too.

I still didn't start my seeds yet, and I have a new plastic greenhouse to put together (don't get too excited, it's just a small thing I got at Lowe's last weekend).

I also got an email from Breck's confirming shipment of my perennial order! I can't wait!

Gardening with the Masters

An interesting press release came across my desk yesterday and I thought I would share it with you.

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Berks County will teach a series of three gardening classes at GoggleWorks, 201 Washington St., Reading.

"Backyard Composting" ($12) will be held April 28, followed by "Vegetable Gardening" ($5) on May 5 and "Container Gardening" ($5) on May 12. All classes are from 6 to 8 p.m. Pre-registration with payment of class fees are required by April 25.

You can also attend all three classes for one fee of $20. Class size is limited to 20 students per class. For information call the Penn State Cooperative Extension at 610-378-1327.

I wish I could take credit for the container garden pictured above, but that one was purchased last year at Glick's Greenhouses on Fisher Mill Road in Oley.

Cover it up

I should have mentioned this yesterday, but better late than never. We didn't actually have a frost last night in Douglassville, but the next few nights could get pretty cold.

So, if you've received any early perennial deliveries and planted them during last week's warm weather, you'd better cover them up tonight thru Thursday.

I planted those perennial geraniums last Thursday night and I'm happy to say that they're really starting to come up. So last night they needed covering.

All you need is a leftover pot from last year or a bucket. Actually any container will do. You can even use plastic trash bags lying across the plants. Nothing too heavy to crush the plant though. Just remember to uncover them early in the morning after the sun is up, or it'll get too hot under the covers!

Enjoy these red lillies from last summer.

Take a walk!

This weekend, the weather is perfect for a walk. So take one, it's free, it's good for you and maybe you can get some new ideas for your garden.

By the way, this is Lexie, she's one of my favorite walking partners. She also likes to help in the garden. If I'm digging holes, she digs holes too. If I'm pulling weeds, she pulls too, although not always weeds ...

I've already been out walking around the neighborhood this weekend. It was nice to see all my neighbors, out and about, working in their yards, or just walking, like me.

Anyway, while you're out walking, take time to look at what others have done with their landscapes. Chances are you'll get some ideas and, if someone happens to be out, ask them about their garden. I bet they'll be happy to tell you all about it.

So, why are you still sitting at your computer reading this? -- Take A Walk!

What's Coming Up

This is how things look today -- but not for long!

Spring is the season of renewal, and it's also an exciting time for gardeners.
It's when you get that feeling where you can't wait to get your hands dirty and to see what's coming up, so to speak.
All over my gardens, things are starting to pop up, and I don't just mean the spring bulbs. Of course, I have my share of daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and tulips -- most leftover from Easter blooms of year's past. Yes, each year, I can't resist purchasing one or usually more Easter flowers just to brighten up things in the house. And speaking of Easter blooms, now's the time to get them into the ground. Don't expect them to bloom next spring though, most were forced to bloom early for Easter this year and will need a season to recuperate.
OK, now on to the perennials! The daylillies are sprouting green stems, the tall lillies are coming up, the grasses are off to a slow start, but they'll catch up, and my spring favorites, the bleeding hearts are shooting up rapidly! I've got green leaves on the butterfly bushes, and best of all, there're plants coming up that I can't remember what they are! It's always a fun surprise to see where I planted all those perennials I divided last fall ...
The hostas are spiking up, the astilbe and hydrangeas are breaking through and even inside the core of the ferns are little green pinwheels just waiting to unfurl in warmer weather. It looks like it's going to be a good season!

In anticipation, a few photos of what's to come in my garden this summer.








Up next I'll be getting into planting my new perennials (hopefully tonight) and starting seeds, as well as opening up the pond for spring. I just hooked up the filter this past weekend and the fish are looking good!

Hello Chippy!

With the temperature reaching 60 degrees yesterday (Wednesday), it sure was a great day to spend time outside! Fortunately, I live close enough to work to be able to go home for lunch (and let the dogs out). While pulling up the driveway, I was welcomed by a familiar face I haven't seen for awhile. One of the many chipmunks that call my yard home was sitting on the window sill.

I'm not only plant and pond friendly, I also like to help out my local wildlife whenever possible. So it was nice to see Chippy, after not seeing him since last November. We have had a large hawk in the area and I was afraid that while the squirrels seem to be thriving, maybe our chippies had met a terrible fate.

Yes, I know that chipmunks, moles and the like can reek havoc on a garden. But I still feel that it's their world too. So, I put out birdseed, though the squirrels and chippies tend to get the majority of it. I also put out corn, which is why I can never get any to grow in the summer (the critters tend to dig it up as soon as I turn my back).

The pluses outweigh the minuses: I love to sit out on the patio in the summer and watch the chippies run along our split rail fence to get to the seed. When they run across the lawn their little tails stand straight up, and every now and then, one will wander onto the patio, not realizing that you're there. Only to be startled when you make a move!



Also, while I've never had any luck growing fancy sunflowers (as stated above, the critters dig up and eat the seeds), the chippies have helped me out. They take great mouthfuls of the black oil sunflower seeds put out for the birds, and then burry them throughout the garden, not realizing that if left there awhile, they will sprout. Each year I have had 6- to 7-foot sunflowers, that I never planted, in places I would have never thought to plant them. And they were beautiful, thanks chippy!



Unfortunately I learned the hard way that ponds and water fountains are not always safe for our critters. More than once I fished out a drowned chippy or hapless bird. Since then I make sure I have stones or bricks piled up to the edge so they can find a way out.



The squirrels, of course, provide endless entertainment for my dogs. I have a 13- almost 14-year-old Maltese who doesn't act his age at all and two Bichon Frises who all love to chase squirrels!



And soon the rabbits will be out in droves! Each year we have at least one nest that I try to find before the dogs do. Usually a small wire garden fence around the hole will keep the dogs out, so that mom can get back and forth to feed the babies.



I take it as a great compliment that the animals find my garden as enticing as I do and hope they continue to come back each year.

Time to start getting ready ...

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter! Now it's time to start thinking about this year's crop of colorful blooms.
First, just a little background info, aside from my profile, to introduce myself. I've been a garden/pond enthusiast for about five years now and hope to share some of my experience with anyone who wants to read it. Hopefully some of you can pass on your tried and true tips to me and the rest of our readers. I live in Douglassville, Pa., and, after watching hours and hours of HGTV (Home & Garden), I decided I could do some landscaping around the yard. Every year it seems to grow and grow, and I don't mean just the flowers! Over the years we've (me and my poor family) added an in ground fountain, a fish pond (followed two years later by a much larger replacement pond), a gravel path with lush gardens alongside it, new landscape lighting (electric as well as solar), countless paving and wall stones, a compost bin, more gravel, more dirt, more mulch, more plants -- you get the picture. Now, what started as a small outdoor project to add some interest to the yard has become my April-October obsession!
Anyway, now that the days are getting longer and, hopefully, the weather getting warmer, it's time to get on with this year's prospects. So feel free to let me know what you're getting ready for this season and I'll be checking back in to let you know what's happening in my garden. I will be including some photos from past seasons to get started until this year's blooms are ready for publication!