Halloween is over and we are now into the beginning of the holiday season.  A lot of people think we are rushing things if we get our Christmas season started too early, but there are so many plants out there that we shouldn’t limit them to just a couple of weeks in December.  We will try to share as many of those plants with you during the next few weeks so you can see the beauty they can bring to your home for months to come.

This week we featured...

Al’s Poinsettias

Your local garden centers are getting into the holiday mood!  Al’s Garden Center (503-726-1162) is one of the best at sharing that cheer with the gardener.  We paid a visit to Al’s in Sherwood to see some of the 50 different varieties that they grow.  Mark Bigej shared a couple of his favorites with us including ‘Cinnamon Star’, Trial 1180 which we named ‘Back to Back’ in honor of the Oregon State baseball team.  We also saw ‘Shimmering Surprise’, ‘da Vinci’, ‘Holly Tone’, ‘Pinot Noir’ and ‘Carousel Deep Red’.  He also showed us some plants that are great accent plants including Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’, Hydrangea ‘Shooting Star’ and some different ivies.  Here are some tips you should remember about poinsettia care: give them lots of light, keep them out of drafts, keep them watered (but not over-watered), don’t fertilize them.  You can get more care tips at your local Al’s location.  If you are looking to decorate for the holidays or are trying to find a great gift for a gardener, check out Al’s.

Fall Mums

A lot of gardeners have the common chrysanthemums in their garden, but one of the overlooked types of mum is the show mum.  We visited the garden of Clair Kidd who grows lots of these huge varieties and is part of the Portland Chrysanthemum Society (503-255-6119).  The show mum is grown for contests and also for the stunning display they put on in your garden.  These mums are protected from the sun, pinched back to just a few blooms and cultivated carefully.   Clair explained that these are classified by bloom type into categories like ‘Reflex’ and ‘Irregular Incurve’.  We also saw the varieties, ‘White City’ and ‘Xena’.  If you are interested in seeing these blooms up close you can check out the 68th Annual Flower Show "Kaleidoscope of Mums” this weekend, November 3 - 4, Saturday and Sunday at Portland Nursery, 90th and Division.  Hours are 9:00am to 6pm.  You can also get information on joining the society at this event. 

Pruning Tips Part 1

Fall is a great time to cut back your garden perennials.  The ‘Queen of Deadheading’, Tracy DiSabato-Aust, joined us to give us some tips for doing it correctly.  Tracy is an internationally known garden author who has written a couple of books on perennial care.  She has researched pruning techniques and has some great information that she is always willing to share.  She walked through William’s garden and chatted with Judy.  First she talked about bloom time and how you can regulate it by how you prune early in the season.  Cutting back or pinching off blooms can delay some flowering perennials for a couple of weeks during the blooming season.  She also showed us how to cut back to a lateral branch and how to clean-up your perennials without damaging the new growth for next year.  Her two books, ‘The Well Tended Perennial Garden’ and ‘The Well Designed Mixed Garden,’ are available through Timber Press (1-800-327-5680).

Adaptive Tools

It is never too early to start thinking about injuries in the garden.  We are talking about the aches and pains of the average gardener.  William and Judy shared some tips and some of the newest tools on the market.  First the tools:  Fiskars shared some of their newest tools that have been recognized by the Arthritis Foundation for their ease of use and design.  They are designed with power gears and are lighter in weight to relieve stress and strain on your hands and body.  We also saw tools with extending handles and benches to make it easier to get work done around the garden.  Tips to help your body included working later in the day once your muscles warmed up and working with containers and raised beds to relieve stress on your back.  For other labor (and body saving devices) check out your local garden center.

Pond Winterizing

It is getting colder and it’s about time to get your pond ready for winter.  We met up with Brian Tsugawa at Tsugawa Nursery  (360-225-8750) in Woodland, Washington to see how to prepare our ponds and pond animals for the cold.  John talked about the importance of feeding your fish the correct foods to prevent them from dying.  Once the pond temperature drops below 50 degrees you should stop feeding your fish.  They can’t process the food in the colder water.  You will also want to keep your pond running.  The water movement will prevent freezing and damage to your pond liner and pumps.  If you have to shut off the pump, you will need to drain all the water out of the water feature to prevent long-term damage.  You should also take care of your pond plants by either lowering them deeper into the water or moving them to protected areas.  To get answers to all your pond questions, contact the experts at Tsugawa’s.

Water Bottle Irrigation

We found a use for those old plastic water bottles.  During the holidays it is easy to forget to water your plants and containers around your garden.  We found that you can drill small holes in the cap of the water bottle and, once filled, it can be used to keep your plants well hydrated and healthy.  This is a great tip especially for those plants that are under your eaves and other protected areas that don’t receive direct rain or other water.

Fall Rose Care

Now that the cold winds are blowing, your roses may be in need of some fall and winter care.  Chris Williams of Heirloom Roses ( 503-538-1576) showed us how to clean up your roses now to keep them healthy through the winter.  She recommended that you cut your plants down to waist high AFTER the first frost.  You avoid making your cuts until then to prevent the plant from adding new growth. You also cut them back to avoid wind damage to the canes and to keep them from being blown over in the wind.  It is also recommended that you remove the leaves and throw them away (don’t compost them) to prevent disease next spring.