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Daffodil (Narcissus) | Today's Featured Plant
Daffodil (Narcissus)
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| | Q&A: Soil Building Without Digging Question: I read an article somewhere that you can establish new garden beds without digging up the sod by layering newspaper, compost, soil, manure, and other organic matter, and then planting in the layers. Is this true? How is it done?
Answer: You are describing a form of permaculture gardening that builds healthy soil over time without the need for digging or tilling. Another plus is that it reduces weeding! Here is one method: Spread several layers of moistened newspapers on top of the soil, cover it with straw, and let it sit for several months to smother the grass. You can do this in the fall in preparation for planting in the spring, or in early spring for summer sowing. Once the sod under the newspapers has died and begun to decompose, you can plant. Push aside an opening in the straw and poke a hole through the newspaper (which should be starting to decompose). Fill the opening with rich soil from your garden. Plant seeds or transplants and care for them as you normally would. | | | Q&A: Pruning Mature Nut Trees Question: I am now taking care of an estate which has many mature black walnut and hickory trees. Should I plan to prune these trees annually, as I do the apple trees?
Answer: Unlike some fruiting and flowering trees, nuts don't require yearly pruning to ensure production. Pruning nut trees is a matter of maintaining form so they grow strong and healthy. Hopefully the previous caretaker pruned the nut trees to form. Nut trees should have a strong central trunk with main branches spaced evenly in a spiral around the trunk. Ideally, the junction between trunk and branch should be a wide one, as narrow crotches are weak, prone to breaking and disease. Your job will be to simply remove any dead wood (anytime), and remove crossing, crowded and misplaced branches in the fall during nut drop. Since these are probably large trees, you may want to enlist the help of an arborist, who will have all the necessary equipment such as lifts, ropes, etc. | | | Tip: Divide Bleeding Hearts Now is a good time to divide spring-blooming perennials such as bleeding hearts. Dig up clumps and cut them into 4- to 6-inch diameter sections. Plant divisions the same depth they were in the original hole and water well. | |
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Question: I read an article somewhere that you can establish new garden beds without digging up the sod by layering newspaper, compost, soil, manure, and other organic matter, and then planting in the layers. Is this true? How is it done?
Answer: You are describing a form of permaculture gardening that builds healthy soil over time without the need for digging or tilling. Another plus is that it reduces weeding! Here is one method: Spread several layers of moistened newspapers on top of the soil, cover it with straw, and let it sit for several months to smother the grass. You can do this in the fall in preparation for planting in the spring, or in early spring for summer sowing. Once the sod under the newspapers has died and begun to decompose, you can plant. Push aside an opening in the straw and poke a hole through the newspaper (which should be starting to decompose). Fill the opening with rich soil from your garden. Plant seeds or transplants and care for them as you normally would. |
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