Installing an Eastern Redbud

Yesterday I planted an Eastern Redbud with a customer. It was a 6ft B&B (balled and burlapped) — about 400lb ball. Before I even started digging I measured the distances from sidewalk and the house to allow for its mature size of 20ft x 15ft spread. I did not want it eventually hang over sidewalk or touch the house, and since it was a clump form I allowed for growth in all directions.

Next I measured the size of the ball to calculate the depth to dig and measured out a circumference one and half size of the ball. The home owner had planted a paper maple not far away last Fall, but only dug exactly size of ball so he was surprised at the size of the hole we were digging.  A tree or shrub spreads root and grows better when given loose soil so it can spread out.

Easter Redbud

As we began to dig it became quickly obvious that our top soil was only about 6-8″ before we hit gravel and rock. I had to pick ax out the rock and then amend soil. Planning and preparing increases survival and growth, so it’s important to think ahead and know the mature size of any tree or shrub and prepare the area well, for it may be there for decades.

With Spring here there will be many a homeowner/landscaper putting in trees and shrubs to enjoy their beauty for many years ahead.

Often to get the grass out I will dig up the entire plant in order to pull out all of the grass runners, and while I have plant out I determine if I can divide the perennial. So often homeowners get a bonus 2 or 3 perennials now ready to spread and fill in the garden.

I have had to water in any transplants or divisions well, for this April 2012 in our area has been one of the driest one in many years, falling short of normal rainfall. Adding to the misery, it has been a chilly Spring.

Remember, a landscape maintained a little at a time prevents a big job in the future!

First blooms of spring

I was working today mulching with my chipper on one of our woodland gardens. I was about to edge one of the woodland beds when I was so warmly greeted by our first bloom of the season. There in front of me in a bright blue was a crocus that had opened overnight or in the early morning.

Now that Spring is oh so near I am sure that each and every day from now on will be a ‘gardeners treat’. Looking forward to the explosion of Spring color. I eagerly await the blooms of bluebells, bloodroot, wild geranium, bleeding hearts, and so much more.

Anticipation for survival of last years plantings is like a child’s eagerness for Christmas morning to arrive. So my fellow gardeners may you find many treats in days ahead.

New and Old Muck Boots

Yesterday I received an early birthday present from my partner, Janet. She handed me a new Muck Boot to try on and told me she noticed how worn my old pair were. As I slipped on my new boot I glanced at my old reliable pair.

For the past three years they had served me well whenever I headed out to do garden work. The last few times I wore them I noticed that my socks were wet. I took my old pair in hand to look them over and noticed there was barely any tread left. The bottoms were wafer thin with a crack in one heel.

OH, they became a ‘garden habit’ as they were so easy to slip on as I headed outdoors, and just as easy to slip off the muddy boots as I entered our house.

It can be such simple things as new pair of boots, new shovel, new work gloves, or a new chipper that can bring great joy to a avid gardener.

May you, my fellow gardeners, have many little things that come to help your work be filled with pleasure during your ‘garden days’.

Rachel's Tool Shed

This past Saturday when I attended a seminar ‘Joys of Gardening’ I was inspired by a woman who gave a lecture on care of garden tools. When I entered the room I was impressed by the vast variety of tools she had on display. This woman really knew her tools and how to care for them, and I instantly felt a connection. As she continued to speak my (March) birthday wish list began to grow.

Since I am left-handed I was pleased to see that she had listed my Felco F-7 pruners listed as available for both right/left hand. My Felco F-7 left hand pruners were a gift from my partner last year. Oh, how they have had many hours of use and saved my hand from exhaustion because of their design. Thanks Felco! I learned many fine tips for care of my tools that day which shall be used for many years ahead.

My shed is loaded with many tools that make the care of our landscape so much more easy to care for over all four seasons. Our 11hp Troy Built chipper is a champ for cleaning up fallen leaves and branches while it provides mulch for our many garden beds. Although I do get extensive exercise caring for our landscape I am grateful for the assistance that my ‘tools’ provide with each and every chore.

Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

Next, I shall share the observations I have made this past week as to the ‘berries’ our landscape provides for the many feathered friends that continually visit our ‘home’. I walked around recently to take a look at what berries still remain on our shrubs and trees.

If you have space I suggest that you plant shrubs that will attract a vast variety of birds, for they are a great joy to observe in the winter months as they feed. I have planted 7 varieties of Viburnum (American cranberry), 3 varieties of Aronia prunifolia (Chokeberry), 2 varieties of Amelanchier (Serviceberry). I have also propagated and encouraged the growth of Gooseberries, Mulberries, Raspberries. My partner has photographed 42 bird species because we have provided food, shelter, and water for them on our landscape.

Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

In addition to shrubs and trees with berries we also have several Walnut and butternut trees that provide food for our many furry friends. I may have to work a bit to keep my shrubs and prairie gardens healthy to provide a food source, but the rewards are plentiful.

On Saturday February 18th I spent the day a Joy of gardening presentation at our local community college. The event was put on by the University of Illinois extension ‘master gardeners program’. I attended four workshops that only enhanced my anticipation for gardening this 2012 season. Already I have seen the promising buds on shrubs and with great restraint have held back from checking perennial beds for their ‘life’.

As always patience is a virtue that all avid gardeners must adhere to so that nature can be a part of our gardening path to beauty on our landscape.

(Source: Burpee on Flickr.com)

February brings on the catalogs from seed companies and wholesalers. This brings on dream designs for many gardeners. The thought of adding a new hybrid, a new texture, new color, or just a unique combo of plants.

As a landscape designer I have begun to think of designs for both new installations ahead and my own gardens. When a new perennial or plant comes into the landscape it will be in demand, and thus I often call to check on availability for upcoming season.

If possible I then have some set aside for my use during spring installations before sold out. Many homeowners take pride in their vegetable gardens and will be filling out forms to order their seeds.

Thus giving thought whether to stick with ‘old reliable’ (tried and true) or try something new. So to all my fellow gardeners browse and give some thought what catalogs do bring forth in the minds of all those who like to ‘play in the dirt’.

Vera the snowgirl

As most avid gardeners know we can not fight the weather, but rather we must adapt and flow with the weather. This winter 2011-2012 early on we had very mild temperatures here in the Midwest. For myself this allowed me to do many of the chores that I normally would have done in late March or early April.

I cut down the prairie gardens lest the grasses and chipped them up for a mulch base. Also my new 11hp Troy-Bilt® chipper worked constantly to mulch leaves & branches for my compost piles. The perennials and roses that could have possibly suffered from upheaval were given a covering of fresh mulch. At present we have about a 3″ base of snow covering with another 8″ expected to fall today.

So now I move on to reflecting what was good about the gardens in season 2011, and what needs improvement. Making plans for designs and installation for 2012 means reading and learning of any new hybrids or the availability of plants for upcoming season. I often like to order my perennials from wholesalers in late February or early March, for then I know I will not experience SOLD OUTS. Planning ahead can often diminish frustrations from having to change designs because lack of plant material.

May the winter of 2011-2012 allow you to improve your knowledge of plant material, create designs that inspire, and time to hibernate while you rejuvenate my fellow gardener.

My trusty chipper

For the past two days I have been cutting down herbaceous perennials and chipping up them along with fallen branches gathered in the yard, creating a compost pile that will be well used in Spring of 2012.

After cutting down the perennials in several garden beds I used our riding mower to chip up the leaves into a fine mulch. This mulch was then blown into the garden beds to create a winter blanket that will eventually decompose and add nutrients to the soil.

This afternoon I cleaned up our butterfly/hummingbird garden which brought glee as I think ahead to the return of the hummingbirds next Spring. I still have many garden beds to put to rest, but as always my work and efforts in Fall give me great rewards in the following Spring.

Soon our pond will be getting prepared for the winter, and our fish will hibernate once again. I know that many a gardener is getting set to put aside their gardening tools for the season. Tools will be cleaned and stored for 2012 season to arrive.

However, till our fall beauty ends, we shall enjoy the perfect Indian Summer that we are now experiencing. Still time for a few campfires and long walks amidst the rustling leaves.