This picture of the Uinta Mountains was taken on Fackrell Lane the end of May last year, it is a composite of over 150 pictures I took. It had to be this small to fit on here. In 'real life' it is 2' tall and 11' wide. To see it bigger, click on it.
Spring is here in the technical sense, but if you haven't gotten your yard started, not to worry. Our last frost date in Bridger Valley is not until June 7th, you still have plenty of time to gear up for gardening. I'm here to get you excited and headed down the path to yard and garden success.
April is the time to get your ducks in a row, so to speak. I like lists, so here is one to get you started:
- What are my expectations for my yard? Are you hoping for an oasis from the wind and desert? Maybe you would like to grow some fresh produce for you and your family. Are you hoping for something in-between? Even if you can't get it all done in one season it's good to have a general idea of where you are going. This will eliminate the need for redoing or removing work you have already done.
- After you've created on paper your dream yard, it's time to get realistic. Grapes, Hydrangeas, or Peach Trees ain't gonna happen. If you don't know what kinds of plants you can expect success with, The University of Wyoming Extension is an invaluable resource for all people who hope to grow things in Wyoming. I will include a link at the end of this list. If you need help with design, or have no idea what you want I highly recommend Sunset Magazine and all of their publications. A final word on the reality of gardening in our environment: You may not be able to grow things like they do in Utah or California, but there are many beautiful plants that do grow here and aside from Palmettos or large ornamental cactus, you can usually find suitable substitutes for plants that you wish you had in your yard.
- Decide if you are going to be buying seedlings, or starting seeds yourself. If you are new to the gardening scene, seedlings are a better bet for you. It's good to set yourself up for success, and there is a better chance of it if you buy your plants already started. If you are going to start your own seeds, carefully read the directions on your seed packets to determine when you should get them started. I generally do not start anything until May 1st. Tomatoes can be grown here, but I do not know anyone who has had success starting them from seed.
Here is another list of things to avoid like the plague as you make your plans:
- Weed barrier is a joke, and harmful to your environment! I say your environment because it stratifies and compacts your soil, decreases the amount of oxygen that gets to plant roots causing rot and poor growth, and will eventually breakdown and become black plastic pieces littering the plains between here and Nebraska. Even the stuff that looks like window screen--NO ES BUENO! Just say NO! A four inch layer (mulch) of organic matter (bark, compost, Soil Pep) is sufficient to choke out most weeds. Weeds that do begin to grow in a properly mulched bed can be pulled out with ease. Really, don't do it. Black plastic is not your friend. Plastic of any kind is not your friend. If you already have it start phasing it out, there are better more sustainable ways.
- Cow Poop is not a good mulch or fertilizer unless is has been allowed to decompose for several years. A good rule of thumb is that if it still smells strongly of manure it is too 'Hot' to put anywhere near your yard. The ammonia levels and salts in fresh manure will literally burn your plants and lawn. Once cow/horse poo has had a chance to break down a bit and has had several winters and rainy seasons to beat down the salts in it, it is suitable for use as organic matter. Be prepared to pull a lot of weeds.
- Anyone who has a voodoo hoodoo recipe or method related to them from a friend of a friend or their great grandmother should be taken with a grain of salt. Anything that sounds fishy usually is. They are fun, and there is sometimes a little truth to them, but they do not replace sound gardening practices proven through science and extensive horticultural studies. Still though, they are fun. If you have a good one please share it, we'll find the nugget of truth hidden in it, or at the very least have a little giggle.
I had a very delightful great grandmother, Letha Eardley Maxfield, and I will include this bit of gardening advice from her this month. Sweet peas need to be put in the ground on May 15th if you want them blooming by the 24th of July. Unless of course it falls on a Sunday and then you need to wait until the next day. So far, this has always worked for me. Sweet Peas are pretty hardy, and if we are going to have a hard frost they can be covered with an old sheet to protect them.
Got questions comments or ideas for an article? Please let me know. I will be having periodic drawings and prize give-aways so make sure you become a follower and tell your friends. Have fun gardening!
I dig it.
ReplyDeleteOk Penny, I need to know about Thistle. It grows like mad in our grass and it stinks to step on. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteOh, Canadian Thistle, how I loathe thee.
ReplyDeleteThere is no silver bullet for Thistle, but I recommend the following:
As it begins to pop up in your yard, dig it out and get all the roots that you can. Spray any remaining parts of the plant with 2/4D (Weed-B-Gone Max) or RoundUp. Be careful with RoundUp, as it will indiscriminately kill all the plant life around it. This method can take 3 or more years to work as Thistle seeds have a very long viability.
Thistle spreads by roots and seeds. If you do pull a plant that has a seed head on it, do not throw it in your yard or compost, make sure it gets directly to the trash preferably in a trash bag. Even flowers that have not blossomed can still produce viable seeds.
If you feel like redoing all or part of your lawn, in early spring you can spray Roundup on everything and cover it with a tarp or dark plastic for several days. Once everything under it is dead, dig up and properly dispose of any Thistle plants you find. This is pretty drastic, and is not a 100% guarantee of Thistle not coming back. It will however knock it back considerably.
Which ever method you choose, I would recommend aerating and fertilizing to encourage the growth of good grasses in you lawn. If you also have crab grass (who doesn't) aeration will help with that too. Doug Longwill will come and do it, and his prices are very reasonable. If you feel like your lawn is a lost cause reseeding might be a good option for you. I recommend IFA Quick Green grass seed. I will be doing a piece on reseeding in the next couple of weeks.
I am glad you are going to be doing a piece on seeding. Will you please include step by step the best way to START grass from seed? We currently have a dirt lot and have been promised grass but the state is cheap so they won't spring for sod they will do fill dirt and seed it but I want good grass not spotty grass because they did something wrong or stupid with it.
ReplyDelete