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Judy Alleruzzo

 

 Episode 76
March 8, 2008

 

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William McClenathan


Spring is definitely here.  The weather has been warmer and it has been drying out a lot more.  That means we have been able to videotape some more stories outdoors.  We have done a couple of garden projects, taken care of some plant maintenance and even had to break out the sunscreen on one day.  All this activity feels great (except for the next day)!  We have even more tips this week for your spring garden.

This week we featured...

Container Rejuvenation

Our hanging baskets are pathetic!   If your containers are a little tired, we showed you how to give them a fresh start.  William got some helpful hints from Andrea at Al’s Garden Center (503-726-1162) in Sherwood.  She told us how to use structure and color to build a winning hanging basket, but first she dumped our old baskets in the trash!  She was trying to prove a point.  You may want to start your basket fresh, with new soil, plants and fertilizer.  If you really love an old plant in your basket, put it out it in your garden.  Andrea also showed us how to mix perennials and annuals to get great color all season long.  She also rotates her annuals to freshen up her pots every couple of months.

Lawn Moss

If you live in the Northwest you have moss.  This is one of the biggest problems facing the homeowner and with the warmer weather you may have the urge to renovate your lawn for the summer months ahead.  But first you have to get rid of the moss.  We talked to Norm McCreight of Lilly Miller about moss and why we seem to have so much of it in the Northwest.  It is a condition that we get from a lack of care.  If you take care of your lawn and help the grass grow, then you can help keep the moss from taking over.  Norm gave us some tips on getting rid of the moss and what you should do to keep it from coming back.  We also learned that if your have a moss control that contains iron you should be careful to not let it get on buildings, patio or clothing.  The iron will cause a stain.  We even sprayed one-half of our lawn to show you how fast the Lilly Miller product worked!

Evergreen Shade Perennial

With most of your garden plants still without their leaves you may be itching for plants that will stay green through these early spring months.  We paid a visit with Ken of Extra Perennial Nursery (503-628-1492) to see some of the wonderful plants that will thrive in those shady areas.  Ken started with a couple of gingers, the Chinese Wild Ginger and one named ‘Callaway’.  Then he showed us a couple of hellebores including ‘Mrs. Betty Ranicar’ and ‘Ivory Prince’.  He finished the ‘show and tell’ with Black Mondo Grass (which is really a member of the lily family) and a Plumed Soft Shield Fern.  William liked the fern so much; he bought one to take home!  We also found out that Extra Perennial Nursery is a chemically non-dependant nursery.  That means the plants are thriving without the use of chemical fertilizers and that makes them acclimate better to your garden when you get them home!  If you want to see a really cool nursery, check them out in the Scholls area. 

Up-Potting Plant

Spring is a great time to move!  That is true for all your garden plants as well.  Some of your favorite trees and plants are inching for new, bigger homes.  They can tell you by the way they grow.  If you are seeing fewer flowers or less fruit that could be a sign that they need to stretch out.  We tackled a columnar apple tree that had been in its pots for 3-4 years.   We found a good stable pot that had holes for drainage.  We added some new Black Gold soil, some transplant fertilizer and a root stimulator in a bigger pot and then moved it to its new location before we watered it (to keep the pot lighter).  For more tips on transplanting, check out the help desk at your local independent garden center.

One Weekend Wonder – Garden Trellis

People are looking for more structure in their gardens.  One way of doing that is to build a trellis or arbor.  William and Judy showed us a One Weekend Wonder project on how to build a new trellis with just a few simple materials.  All it took was 2 treated posts, 2 twelve foot 2x4s, 2 bags of concrete, 2 ten foot 2x2s and some nails and bolts.  The project started with the placement of the posts.  Once the concrete was set, we built the top of the trellis.  If you are looking for step by step instructions, click here**, for all the details.

**You may need Adobe Reader to open the instruction file.  Click here Get Adobe Reader to download a free version!
 

 
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