1000 Garden Tips

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Gardening is  fun and relaxing!  All your life worries are left behind as you create you own piece of heaven. Just as fantastic, you, your family and friends get to enjoy it everyday. You’ll be amazed how a walk through your flower garden will improve your well being. Your garden is never done and thats the beauty of it. You can spend a lot of time or a little time in your garden and have the perfect garden for you.  

I have been gardening at my home in Connecticut for the last several years and have picked up many tips, often accidentally and many from doing things wrong. My goal is to provide a new, simple, garden tip every week either to amuse you or to help make your gardening more enjoyable.

The tips will help you create a four season (and night & day) flower garden. I will need your help to reach our goal of a 1000 tips faster, so email your simple garden tip (and photo), your first name and state and we will add it to the list!   yourgarden@comcast.net

Tip 58       11.09.08  Go green plan a garden.

Here is Taylor with her GO GREEN   

Tee from BlackEyedT.com

Go green start a garden!

Get ready for the spring and cut back some of the garden on those sunny winter days.

Tip 57         10.4.08    Have you ever tried to dry flowers - its fun

Time to cut your bleeding hearts and hand them to dry out.  just cut three or four  stems and band the together with a rubber band and hang them just about any where in the house and watch them dry out for a great arrangement.

Tip56         9.28.08  Winter Daisies

Winter daisies are a must.  As the rest of  the garden is dying off the winter daisies are just  starting to 

bloom. In good soils in just 2-3 years they can grow 10 feet across. 

These blooms are just getting started. 

It almost time to cut the Japanies lanterns and hang them inside to dry.

Tip 56       9.13.08  Sun Flowers

My sun flower got so big - it busted off last week in the rain storm

Don't forget to take some time this fall away from the garden to enjoy your other hobbies - before snow ans winter.

Tip 55      9.7.08      Bird houses

As i am comtinplating a new adventure next summer on the farm I am wonder if planting a corp of gourds - for drying and painting for bird houses is a good idea - plenty of land on the farm.  Lets see how the gourds dry out this season.  I am planning on leaving them in the garden to dry out.

Tip 54  Record Sunflowers?

The mid summer two week rain really made the annuals happy.

Tip 53  Still Summer - back to school

So much to do, so little time.  I've noticed the great weather has brought crowds to the outdoor dinning table and to the boat launch in these few days before September.

Tall weeds?

tall flowers

When I am not having fun in the garden or going fishing I am working on my new on line Tee shirt company - Just launched this week - where the community designs the shirts (winners get $500) you vote for the best - then the best are printed for you to enjoy. Check out our profiles www.BlackEyedT.com

Marc

Tip 53  August Delight   8.17.08

Hand painted sign with hydrangea blossoms.

cone flowers

wild flowers       

////???????

Lilies of all colors.

Tip 53  Garden For Sale  8.16.08

When I got home we had a new addition to our garden. We have lived on Bolton lake for years and enjoyed both the garden and the lake.  Kayaking, swimming and fishing all the time.  Our goal is to buy a small farm and raise a couple of beef cows.

If you like flowers and the relaxing lake life this is the place for you.  If you want more info you can find more on realtor.com or call my real estate agent Tom Steed @ 860-490-2444.

Tip 52  Tomatoes in July

August 3, 2008  Our first tomatoes was last week in July and now we have a bunch ready  to pick - looks like we will have tons for anyone who wants some.

We have red cheery tomatoes too.  This is the soonest we have ever had tomatoes.  Looks like we will have tomatoes for a couple of months!

Everything is growing great!  I think I heard we had the 4th highest recorded rain fall in July and the maragolds on the right and gourd on the left love it.

Even the blackyed susans are early  and the sunflower and the wildflower garden are loving the sun-rain-heat combination.

Tip 51     July 29, 2008    Fill your Vase

There are so many flowers blooming in your garden

Are you filling your vases every day with flowers for your house.  Its so much fun

Tip 50  July 20, 2008       Dog Days of Summer - 90 Plus Degrees

50 post - wow!

Eating: peas & cukes     Watching grow:  Tomatoes & Pumpkins & all kinds of flowers

Don't forget to water any plants, planted this season.  While you might have the urge to plant now - don't unless your willing to water every other day!  I just got a 1 cent flyer for fall plantings - I think I might order some - great marketing - send no cash now - will bill me after I receive and approve my plants.  I have ordered before and been happy.

Here are some poppies I planted this spring.  they have already passed their prime.  Remember to water new plants, even if they gone passed their prime.

I can't believe how this plant has grown in 2 season - maybe it's called winter daisies - it produces white daisies in the fall

Here are tall phlox blooming with some autumn sedums in the back ground.

Tip 49 July 10, 2008       Lots of Blooms!

Tip 48  July 3, 2008         Blooms From Seeds By July 4

Here are 3 areas of the garden I planted by seeds.  It fun to watch them grow from scratch & so cheap compared to buying plants.

Marc

Tip 49    June 28, 2008 Clematis up up and away

Clematis are a great addition to any garden.  Large colorful blooming flowers.  Often I notice gardens with short stakes for the clematis but I have great luck with tall structures.  I know there are three types - each requiring a specific cut back - I guess I have the type that doesn't require any trimming - cause thats what I do & they look great.

just lucky,

Marc

Tip 48      Roses all summer long  June 21, 2008

The roses are in full bloom. They will provide great cuttings all summer long.  Red, pink, white, small and large.  Its been an easy spring with rain almost every week.

Marc

Tip 47       Enjoy           June 19, 2008

Hello,  I  do not really have a gardening tip
except that I water everyday very well...
I  am a new gardencrazy perennial gardner and absolutely love digging in
the dirt and planting
New flowers...  I am needing tips very much so...  I have a flowering
weed that is spreading
All over and I do not like it at all....  It has a pinkish white hanging
(almost like a bell
Flower) with a bigger wide leaf that is growing in the center of one of
my rosebushes.. Can
I spray weed killer in the root of my roses ?????  I will be looking
forward to more tips from
Your webpage !!!!!

Thanks,  alison

Thanks for your thoughts and photo,

Marc

Tip 46           Bird Houses   June 12, 2008

Just a couple of bird houses will provide music for many hours and are a great complement to any garden.

Marc

Tip  45    90 Degrees & Blooming   June 6, 2008

The first 90 plus degree day and 97 degrees in a couple of days.  Don't forget to water your plants in the morning so they are ready for the heat of the day.  Container plants and plants planted this year often need watering every other day.

A lot of plants are newly blooming - check these out.

Clematis                                                                                         Pionise

To hot to weed,

Marc

Tip 44  Container Planting   June 5, 2008

I planted several large planters over the weekend.  Now my only job is to water them and watch them grow!  It makes the trip our to the garage an adventure every day.  Notice the pot on the right - as you may recal it was planted from seeds when it was cold out with a window top for a month.  There are 4 sunflowers in the pot.  We'll see how they grow and effect the rest of the plants.

Marc

Tip  43  The  Garden Barn, Vernon, CT      May 31, 2008

Their tag line is "Everything You'd Expect."    It's True!  I went there today and it was truly a pleasurable time (again). I was looking for something a little different.   I bought 3 "Tall Mallow Zebrina"  They are one of a few perennials that bloom every other year.  Check them out - all planted.

The great thing about the Garden Barn is that not only do they help you out - they are happy to help you.  I highly recommend them for flowers, shrubs, trees, information and great service. They have the largest selection in the area.  They are located at 228 West Street, Vernon, CT  www.gardenbarn.com  Make sure you get on their mailing list for all kinds of great discounts.

Many of our kids have had their prom pictures taken at their gardens.   Check out Taylor & Lee.

Enjoy your garden shopping,

Marc

Tip 42    Marc & Lori Garden Side           May 30, 2008

Here is a shot Taylor took over the weekend.  We were on our way to our daily walk.  We get to enjoy and observe the garden grow everyday!

Anyway check out a close up of my Lido Tee on my new web site  www.blackeyedt.com 

go garden,

marc

Tip 41    Vegetable Garden In                       May 29, 2008

Four tomato plants, cucumbers, peas and a couple of surprises.  Done in an hour and maintenance free for the rest of the summer.  Notice the leaf mulch and tomato supports.  At most I will need to do is water during the heat spells without rain.

Don't forget the cheery tomato plant for a quick snack every day in August.

Marc

Tip 40   Go Fish     May 26, 2008

What do you love besides your garden.  I love fishing and now I go fishing every time I drive down the driveway.

I canceled the USA today.  No time to read with summer - gardening - and building my new T shirt company
www.BlackEyedT.com   I took the usa post down and relocated it about halfway down the driveway and hooked up my fish Christmas gift.

Going fishing,

Marc

Tip 39     Birds      May 25, 2008    

Birds love the garden too.  Here's to humming birds.  I put the feeder up and will keep checking -  and let you know  when they come.

Memorial Day Weekend & 80 degrees, it doesn't get much better,

Marc

Tip 38         5 Hoses to Make It Easy   May 24, 2008

We have several flower pots, a vegetable garden, roses, newly planted flowers which will need water on a regular basis all summer long. Some are in opposite directions from the spicket. After dragging the hose all summer long last year I decided to make my life easy.   I bought a splitter to leave one hose to get the close by flowers and a second hose - 150 feet long- that is left along the edge of the garden.  

Make your life easier.

Marc

Tip 37         Layer Your Plants  May 23, 2008

A couple of  weeks ago I planted peas along both sides of the lattice fence at the end of the garden.  The  peas are about 7 inches high.   Yesterday I planted Morning Glories that will also climb the lattice.  So I will have peas in June and flowers all summer long, all from the same plot of land.

Marc

Tip  36         Mulch                May 17, 2008

Mulch is a lot of work.  But over the summer it will save you from weeding.  Here is my remaining pile of 5 yards of mulch delivered this morning.  I weeded and prepared the whole garden for the mulch but only got mulch down on about 25%

I didn't mulch last year so I need  2 - 3 inches of mulch - hope I have enough.  

The good news is fresh mulch makes you garden look so nice - don't you think.

Marc

Tip 35                               Compost Bin                  May 14, 2008

My wife Lori was wanted a compost bin for table scraps and thought about going out and buying one.  The whole idea is to go green, conserve and help the planet - so why buy when you can build one, most likely from wood scraps you have hanging around.  In reality it is just the two of us and we don't have a lot for the compost.  But now Lori is happy, I am happy and I didn't spend a cent. 

Marc

Tip 34       Very Useful Web Sites      May 8, 2008

Garden lookup: Illustrated plant guides....pest-control library....garden projects and techniques....more.  From the National Gardening Association.  www.garden.org

Design-Vote-Wear:  My new web site company. Check out about the team. www.BlackEyedT.com

Marc Goodin

ps sign up for a free T

Tip 33       Take a Vacation -  Enjoy Your Garden Even  More When You  Get  Back  May 6, 2008

Just back from a three day camping trip.  Its fun to see three days of progress that took no  (current) effort.  The  biggest change is the the creeping phlox has flowered!  Don't forget to take time out to smell the flowers.

May blooms in review:

green grass
daffodils
tulips
azeleas
phasynthia - will have to check spelling on that one
Many flowers starting to grow

I'll post the bloomers month by month in the side column.  The trick is to have a garden flowering every month.

Marc

Tip 32      Its Not a Sprint     Its Not a Marathon    May 1, 2008

Gardening is a journey.  It does not have to be completed today and it does not have to be done every day.  Gardening is a part of your life's journey.  Much of your garden will grow with you year after year. 

These bulbs were planted last fall providing an exciting repeating pattern of yellow and red.

Today I started planting in this small section of my garden reserved for annuals.  I will add to it every weekend and should have it complete by Memorial day.  Half the fun is planning and visiting the garden shops.

Marc

Tip 31      Mowing 101 - 7 Tips        April 27, 2008

Its that time again.  Weekly mowing of the lawn.  With just a couple of basics you will have a wonderful lawn to show off your garden.

1  Empty all the gas from the mower every fall.  My mower started with just 1 pull.

2  Mow often enough to leave the clippings - if they pile up you will need to bag or rake.

3  Do not cut the lawn to short.  Leave 2" high - higher when during late summer hot dry spells.

4.  Sharpen the blades at least once a year.   You can do it your self with a metal file or have it done for $10.

5.  Fertilize late fall and again in the spring.

6. Change the oil and clean the air filter at least every spring.

7.  Watch for signs of grubs - especially if you have roses. They can eat the lawn roots and kill the grass
quickly.  They hibernate several inches deep over the winter so if you have grubs from last year, you have to wait for the ground to warm up before you can go after them.

There is something to be said for small lawns - I have it easy - 15 minutes and I'm done.

Marc

Tip 30      Pea Fence   April 24, 2008

I planted some snow peas last week.  I used a piece of plastic lattice I had sitting around. I secured it in place with two pieces of rebar.   Check it out.

Marc

Tip 29      Roses Roses Roses Roses  April, 20, 2008

Today I cut my roses back.  They should have been cut back in the late fall or late winter.  Many of the branches I cut back already had growth & buds.  I usually cut them back about 50 - 60% but this time I only cut back about 25%.  We will see what happens.

I fertilized and water the roses after pruning.  Roses need 1" of water a week. To make it easy to water your  roses and all your flowers I recommend you have a heavy duty hose that you can leave streached out to your garden all summer.

photo soon

Roses are red or any color you like,

Marc

Tip 28      Start  Plants Indoor Now     April 16, 2008

I got indoor starter planter cups for easter.  I planted them 3 days ago.   I  buy my vegetables ready to plant near the end of May but  starting a couple plants indoors gives me something to check on everyday when I get home. I can't wait to see them sprout.

It was going to be a while before I could plant in one of my planters - so I decided to take a chance and plant some flower seeds with my own makeshift green house.  I simple put an old window on top of the planter.  The problem is the window dividers keeps the glass off the planter 1/2 inch - maybe letting in the cold air.  I planted 3 days ago when the nights were in the high 20's.   We will see what happens. I can always replant.

To the new flowers every day,

Marc

Tip 27       Stop Weeds Now & Enjoy Cuttings Every Day   April 13, 2008

Now is the time to spread the mulch and preen.  Preen can stop the weeds from starting - but it will not stop weeds already growing - so don't wait spread the preen today.  Don't forget to spread the preen again in mid July.  It will save you hours - and there will be enough weeds that make it through for you to get you weed therapy.

A couple of daffodils at the dinner table make the dinner taste great to the last drop.

To 70 degrees and sunny,

Marc

Tip 26            First Daffodil of the Season       April 8, 2008

Its that exciting time of the year.  Soon the yard will be full of hundreds of daffodils and tulips.  They are are a critical part of the garden as they add an easy early month to the life of the garden, before the weather warms up and the plants start growing.  They do an especially excellent job of filling areas where the flowers really don't take off till mid or late summer.

To yellow & red,

Marc

Tip 25            Build A Vegetable Garden         April 6, 2008

You still have a good month plus before you can start planting your garden.  A vegetable garden is a great addition to your flower garden.  For years I have had a small 4 foot by 8 foot raised vegetable garden.  It was never intended to replace the summer vegetable stand but just enough to grab a tomato or cucumber when we wanted one.  We even planted pumpkins for the kids.  So if you don't have a vegetable garden nows the time to get one ready for May.  

Eat what plant,

Marc

Tip 24            Block Retaining Wall to Beautify Your Garden     March 29, 2008

We have two block retaining walls in our yard.  One that was built by landscapers we hired about 8 years ago and one my son Lee and I built last year.  They are both semi circular about 2 feet tall.  There is one at each end of the driveway providing anchor gardens, connecting in the stonewall along the driveway and garden along the driveway.

The block wall took a little planning and muscle.  Both the savings, about 50%, and the gratification  of being able to say we built it, made it well worth the effort.

Here is the wall we built.  The key to building a block wall is taking the time to get a level compacted base course material before the first block goes down.  We used 4 inches of compacted stone dust.  Due to the project size we had the stone dust and block delivered to our home.

Initially remove the topsoil.  Then additional material will have to be removed to level the existing sub base material.  Install and level a  four inch layer of sand or stone dust base course.  The longer the level the more accurate your leveling job will be. A four foot level is recommended.  We compacted the base material with a hand compactor from Home Depot. Re adjust the base material and first row of blocks as required to make sure the entire first row of blocks are level.  This is critical.  As you add each row of blocks set them back 1/2 inch from the row below. If you are going more than a couple of feet tall you should back fill with drainage gravel and a 4 inch drainage pipe (to daylight).  A top cap was used to finish the wall.

You can do it,

Marc

Tip 23                We just need a couple of warm days - get ready    March 25, 2008

Spring just can't seem to get launched.  Here are a couple of pictures I took today - to prove that one or two warm days and the tulips and daffodils will start to blossom.

Tip 22      Build A Stone Retaining Wall   March 22, 2008

Because the wall is only 1.5 high all the typically important construction details like level compact gravel base and gravel back fill with drainage were thrown out the window.  I just removed the topsoil and started building the wall by putting one rock on top of another. That simple.  As you can see in the pictures I was not looking for a perfect wall.

I ordered the stones delivered from a local stone excavation yard and saved money by not requiring the "hand picked" rocks.  The rocks cost approx. $900 for a 100 wall, 1-2 feet tall.  It was fun to build and I feel great every time I go down the driveway.  I did have to have my son Lee - 6 foot tall & all mucles move some of the larger rocks.

Spring, before the summer heat, is a great time to plan and build your wall.

Still waiting for spring,

Marc

Tip 21     Look it must be Spring.    March 15, 2008

All in all I spent a couple of hours in the yard and got well over all the clean up done.

To spring,

Marc

Tip 20     Ice Out             March 6, 2008

You know how good you feel about having (& getting ready for)  a vacation coming in the near future. We'll the same goes for spring.  I know spring is a date on the calender but to most of us it means warm sunny weather, finally.

I live on the lake so one major sign of spring is when the last piece of ice is gone - ice out.

40 degrees - at night
bulbs breaking through the ground
green grass
day light savings - yea it comes early this year
Flyers in the mail from the garden stores
Urge to take the afternoon off from work due to good weather
Time to go fishing
Baseball season
Kids playing in the water and mud without their winter jackets
Helping your friends put their(heavy) dock in the lake before the water rises.

Marc

ps the surfing picture of my daughter is there just for the fun of it.

Tip 19       Special garden treasures                 March 2, 2008

You don't have to be an artist to have some fun and paint rocks.  You can make it a fun project for you and your kids or grandkids.

We painted these master pieces last summer while camping.  And now they are part of are garden keepsakes!

Whats more fun then gardening?  Fishing of course.

Marc

Tip 18       Daisies are one of my summer/fall favorites     Feb 27, 2008

This daisy was one of several I planted late last summer.  You can see several of them in the photo to the right.  By late this summer they will have grown enough to create a sea of daisies behind my rose garden. I can't wait to show you the pictures this summer.

Daisies need very little care, if any, once they are established.  They are also great for cutting.  I actually have daisy in three different locations in my garden. Right after many of the spring flowers turn green daisies start to bloom.

Waiting for spring,

Marc

Tip 17    Enough about the rocks, how about the Lawn   Feb 24, 2008

I don't know much about lawns - but I do know it takes a lot of work to have that deep thick green lawn.  Thats why I keep making my yard smaller and my garden.  But for those of you with large lawns you may want to check out Allyn Pauls Lawn Tips

Allyn Paul writes:

Most homeowners think of their yard in terms of the grass only, but healthy soil is the basis for the green love we call our lawn. With this in mind, you should consider whether your lawn could benefit from an application of lime.

Turf grasses will not grow well in highly acidic soils. Acid conditions in lawn soil can occur due to overuse of nitrogen fertilizers; introduction of excessive amounts of organic soil conditioner, such as compost or peat moss, and by needles dropped from evergreen bushes and trees.
Acidic soils are commonly referred to as “sour,” whereas alkaline soils are called “sweet.” Extremes on either end are not good for turf grass.

Now if you have an area where flower or lawn just won't grow there are solutions.  Here is a picture of one along my driveway and garage.  Stones with planters!

To green grass,

Marc

Tip 16  Maybe its too cold to garden                           Feb. 21, 2008

If it is to cold to go out, maybe you can try writing about your garden instead.  Thats what my daughter (senior in high school) did last winter.  She submitted her article to two small local papers and both of them published it.  She was so proud!  I printed the first two paragraphs below for your reading pleasure.

The Secret to Winter Gardening by Taylor Goodin  Nov. 2006

Frost and snow are just around the corner. Now is the time to make your garden more attractive and interesting for the coming year.  The best way to do this is with rocks.  A few chosen rocks strategically placed will make your garden glow.  Snow will make them glisten and the rain will reveal their shinny colors.  additionally the summer sun bouncing off the rocks will brighten the flowers near by.

Your options are many, several flat rocks stacked on top of each other, one or two tall cylinder rock statues, or a couple of odd shaped rocks precisely balanced on each other. These beautiful options are all easy to assemble using rocks around your neighborhood.  Even a low stonewall will make your garden special.  My favorite is a brightly painted red rock amongst several natural rocks. 

Rock out,

Marc

Tip 15  How is your winter garden growing?             Feb 17, 2008

Mine grows with every snow storm.  It wasn't much work to plant but great to watch all winter long.

To lots of snow,

Marc

Tip 15        Happy Valentines Day                   Feb 13, 2008

Why is Valentines day in the middle of the winter?  I'll tell you why, because Hallmark and the flower shops don't want us giving our special someone flowers from our own gardens!  Its a plot to get our money - well their not getting mine.

Here is a shot of some of the flowers I previously gave my sweetheart.  Maybe I'll just add some more flowers to her collection for valentines day.  Dinner out sounds good to.

Best,

Marc

Tip 14  Keep busy with winter projects.    Feb 10 2008

Here is a beautiful plant stand I made in a couple of hours. It's made from oak with a tile top and can be left out doors all year round. I brought it inside so I could take photos from all directions so you go build one for yourself.

The flower was a Christmas gift (from our skiing friends who want winter to go on forever,heaven forbid).  The  amaryllis bulb was planted (indoors) just over a month ago and it is a beautiful flower already!  If your not in to building a table, your winter project can be to go out and find a amaryllis bulb and plant it!

Most of you don't follow directions - so I'm not going to give you any.  But maybe the pictures and a couple of dimensions will help.  Both glue and nail and don't forget to pre drill the oak.

Top tile  15" x 15" to 16" x 16"  outdoor tile.  Tile gets glues to top mitered 14" x 14' square.

 top square  4 - 1" x 2" - 14" long - must miter corners - 45 degrees - like a picture frame for 14" x 14" sq.

Top square to be both glued & nailed to 4 corner legs - must pre drill !

5 lower shelf slats  1" x 2" - 9 3/4" long            2 lower shelf supports  1" x 2" -14" long

4 corner legs  2" x 2" - 17" long

Good luck,

Marc

Tip 13  Inukshuk Stone Landmark         Feb 8, 2008

Here is a rock formation forwarded to me by a New England gardener.  The creation is modeled after an inukshuk.  An inushuk is a stone landmark used as a milestone.  The Arctic Circle, dominated by permafrost, has few natural landmarks and thus the inukshuk was central to navigation across the barren tundra. 

A inukshuk would look good in your garden.  And just thin of the stories you could tell your friends, after you did a little research on inukshuk's at wikipedia.

Send me a picture of rocks growing in your garden and I will feature them in my next entry.

Keep the faith,

Marc

Tip 12   Rocks Rocks and More Rocks         Feb 6, 2008

There are a lot of decorations that can be added to the garden.  Rocks are my favorite.  My garden has several rock features.  It can be a single rock, one special rock from the back yard or far away or a rock pile or a painted rock or rock sky scraper.  Just like many garden features rocks make for an interesting garden both summer & winter!  The first three pictures are from my garden.  The large boulders are at my garden at work.

Plant a rock,

Marc

Tip 11  Winter garage clean up & hang your plant tags Feb 2, 2008

Nows the time to clean up the garage - so its one less thing to do in the spring when you want to spend time in your garden.  Since the snow just melted I also picked up the six, yes six, extension cords for the Christmas lights.  I also noticed there are quite a few plants that needed to be trimmed back before spring.  Maybe a project for tomorrow.

I had a pile of tags from the pots from last year that I finally took loris advice and stapled them to the garage wall.  I should have done this along time ago.  Just the colors from the tags brighten up the garage.  And now when I can remember the name of plants I can just check the garage wall of flowers.  It is amazing how often i want to need to know the name of a forgotten flower.

Best,

Marc

Tip 10  Flower & Garden Shows  Jan 28, 2008

Now is the time to look up when the Spring Flower & Garden show is coming to your area.  In New England they are already schedule for Feb. & March.  The Connecticut  show  will be held  at the  Hartford  Convention  Center, Feb 21 - 24.  Visit  www.ctflowershow.com for more information.

Spanning nearly 3 acres, the CT show will include landscaped gardens, an extensive arts & craft area and over 200 booths beaming with plants, seeds, bulbs, garden tools, books and more garden related products and services. Seminar programs will include well know experts on native plants, design, water gardening and more. Sounds like a great winter event!

The Early Spring 2008 edition of people places plants, The Magazine for Northeast Gardeners has all the details for several Flower & Garden shows. I always enjoy this magazine.   If you can't find it  at your book store you can  find it at www.ppplants.com. 

Tip 9      Plant grasses of all kinds for year round pleasures  Jan 25, 2008

Grasses can provide beauty and texture to your garden season to season.  A single clump or a row of grasses, short or high, you and you garden decided.  Is so much fun to watch them grow.  Then in the fall the turn to seed is spectacular.  The wind turns the grasses into musical show you can't take your eyes off.  The winter snows on the towering grasses often provide the best winter garden views.

Grasses are very hearty and need very little care.  The grasses should be cut back in early spring to permit for the new growth.

Remember to ask at your garden center the recommended planting spacing.  I know its tempting to plant them too close together but don't.  It won't be long before they fill in.

Larger grasses should be planted in the back of the garden at least four feet behind other plants.  Its amazing how much area they will take when they grow.  Tulips and dafadils are a great combination for large grasses.  The dafidils will fill in the area in the early spring before grasses grow and the grasses will fill in the area of the dafidils, when they die off in late spring. 

Tip 8     Build a simple brick walk through your garden    Jan 19, 2008

Or in my case I built the walk through my yard last fall to outline my future garden.  It is not really a big deal.   The good news is you are not building the entrance walk to your front door so perfection is not required or even preferred.  Keep it simple.  An 18" wide walk is perfect for the garden.

Just remove the topsoil and install just enough sand to level the base.   Compact the sand with a hand compactor and re level with an 18 inch piece of 2x4.  Then slide each brick into place. Plan on building your walk in stages. Change the brick pattern as often as you want.  

 I found the key was to stabilize the bricks after they were installed by sweeping a cementing sand in the joints.  I used a product called Alliance polymeric sand for paver joints.

You can buy your sand and bricks at Home Depot if it is a short walk or you may want to order a pallet of bricks for both better brick options and convenience. Tumbled bricks (round edges) are worth the extra money.  They look older and you do not notice if every brick is not exactly level.  Many Garden shops will help you determine the  number of bricks if you provide the length and width of the walk.

I had some bricks left over so I build the brick square for my trash can at the end of my driveway - shown below.

Tip 7 Planning, Design, Installation, Maintenance Jan 15, 2008

These are all great subject matters to contemplate during the winter months when it s tough to work in the garden.  I am not really great on contemplating garden matters.  I am more of a doer than a learner or planner so I take advantage of opportunities to work in the garden in the winter, when they arise.

In the spring, when there are so many things to do in the garden some tasks can become chores, but done in the winter they are fun and rewarding.  This week we got a half a foot of snow but the week before it was in the 40's even 50's.  Take advantage of these breaks in the winter weather.

A winter weather break is a great time to cut back many of the plants to get ready for the spring.  It is also a good time to walk through the garden to start your project list for next years garden. It could be adding plants to the existing garden or expanding your garden, building a walk path or a rock wall or whatever works for you.  I typically only plan one project at a time but always have the next project in the back of my mind. For me this keeps gardening enjoyable.

This spring I am expanding my garden.  As part of the expansion, last fall I built a brick walk meandering 5-8 feet on the backside of my garden along the driveway.  I will go into more details on building the brick walk in my next  tip, but the walk will provide several new garden beds. About  2 weeks ago my  daughter 's boy  friend  turned the grass/topsoil  over  in  one of the  beds  during  one  of the  winter  thaws so I will be ready to start planting as soon as the spring is here.

Tip 6  Split Rail Fence  Jan 12, 2008

One great way to expand your planting area and provide a roadside, driveway or property line buffer is to install a split rail fence.  Last year we removed a row of overgrown white pines and the neighbors driveways became to obvious so we installed a split rail fence.  It was amazing the difference the split rail fence made. We got great reviews from all the neighbors.

It was simple.  We had the fence delivered so the major work was digging the holes for the post.

We made a stone pier terminal at the end of the driveway near the street to add a little stature to the fence.  We planted Black Eye Susan’s at the stone pier.  Yellow Daffodils and red Tulips were repeated at each wood post. Climbing roses were planted in the center of each rail section. Lastly mulch was put down to keep the area maintenance free.

I can’t wait to show you the photos of the planted fence this spring and summer.

Tip 5   How to Make Your Garden Grow       Jan. 10, 2008

Winter is the time to learn about your garden and make plans for the spring.  One of my favorite Christmas gifts was the book How To Make Your Garden Grow, by Toby and Lisa Buckland. 

I’m really enjoying the book. Half of every page consists of photos that in themselves motivate me with great ideas. The step-by-step photographs and inspirational garden scenes make the book enjoyable and practicable.  It’s a great book you will read and reread over the years as you can never too much of the basics.

Chapter one gets right into a favorite subject of mine Year Round Structure. Chapter 2, Flowers with Impact, starts with; At any successful party the guest list should always include one or two larger than life characters who will add a bit of fun and glamour.  It’s the same with gardens – they can be a bit tame without one or two extroverts… And goes on to provide several great possibilities for your garden.

As I am thinking about my garden throughout the winter I also enjoy getting an occasional email from www.gardeners.com providing me with a page of the latest garden stuff.  I am like most people and only rarely buy my garden stuff on line, since I enjoy looking at all the options at the local garden shop.  But occasionally I do get a great idea for the next time I go shopping.  Certain items like my solar powered garden ornamental lights were easy to find and purchase on line.

The photo is of my daughter and myself, on vacation, with my new book.

Tip 4   Name you Garden - to make you happy or sell your house.  Jan 8, 2008

Have you ever noticed how large estates are named?  I never owned a mansion but since my last house was on a pond and my current house is on a lake we've always had a sign out front "Still Waters Edge".  Its kind of fun.  

You may not have a lake in your backyard - but you do have a garden.  So put on you thinking cap and name your garden and your homestead.  Have a sign commissioned or paint one yourself. 

You won't believe how much better you will feel every day after work when you come home and see your sign.  Eventually your friends will put your estate name at the head of the letters they mail you.  Its great fun.  Below is an example of how multi million dollar condo projects name their properties to give them stature and I'm sure, help sales.

Tip 3    Aloe Vera       Jan 6, 2008

Most of my garden tips will be related to outdoor gardening.  Since I live in New England, outdoor gardening is limited in the winter.  But today I am in Florida and it is a warm 75 degrees out.  

Below is a photo of a potted Aloe Vera Plant that we planted outside of our condo several years ago and have not watered since. It is pretty scragily looking - but its great on a Florida sun burn.  The second picture is of an Aloe Vera planted a couple of houses down the street.  The last Aloe Vera is in a pot in our house in Connecticut.  It is over 25 years old and it has been divided a couple of times when it was twice the size.  

House plants never excited me but I always liked our Aloe Vera.  Every since I can remember my mom applied the fresh liquid from the leaves as a topical ointment for sun burns, bruises and small cuts and scrapes.  I don't know how much they helped heal us but the gel oozing out of the leaf and the fact the magic healing plant was growing right in our house always intrigued us as kids and took our mind off our pain at the time. 

They are easy to grow and forgive you if you forget to water them for long periods of time.  They are easy to take cuttings for your friends to start their own Aloe Vera plant.  If you goal is to have a very large plant you will want to have a single plant in your pot.  Maybe its time for you to get an Aloe Vera plant and teach your kids or grand kids about natures cures.

Tip 2   Garden Fish  Jan. 4, 2008

You can fish in my garden, because I love to fish.  What do you love to do? Garden statues make the garden more interesting, especially during the winter and early spring before the flowers start blooming. Light figures provide for a 24 hour garden.  Rock piles, fish, solar lights and birds are just of the creatures in my garden.  So next time you go shopping keep your garden in mind.

Tip1   Garden Vase  Jan 1, 2008 

One of my favorite Christmas Gifts was my Garden Vase.  I can't wait to use it.  As you can see the screw on cover has a wire mesh to spread your garden flower stems for a great flower presentation. One of the great joys of gardening is cutting flowers for everyone.  Often on the weekend I fill several vases for the house and for the neighbors.  So if you have a gardener in the house vases are always great gifts.  mg

My Garden Pictorial

It starts at my front door;

From there It travels over and around the pavement;

 To a raised bed of roses;

Continuing 100 feet along the driveway;

To the raised entrance flower bed;

Then back along the the driveway split rail fence:

To the buffer grasses;

Then along the house;

To the lake!

2008 Blooming record

April:

Green grass
Daffodils
For