As the rain subsides and the weather warms, spring finally become visible on the horizon. That means our time to get into the garden is drawing near.
Many of us, however, are looking at our winter-ravaged gardens and wondering where to start. If you have been braving the elements to tend your garden, you will probably be thrilled to begin spring garden duties. For the rest of us, however, spring garden prep can be daunting.
Where to begin? In our little garden, my wife and I will start with cleaning up leaves and other debris. This will not only improve the aesthetics, but it will also have a dramatic effect on the garden's health and on pest management. While a thick layer of leaves can act as compost, it also provides a cozy living space for snails and slugs, rodents, insects and fungus. During cleanup, we can also look for any problem areas or damaged plants that need attention.
Next up is everyone's favorite chore: weeding. Don't put this off. It is important to pull weeds before they go to seed and become an even bigger problem.
Then it is time to plan any new plantings. Planting in wet soil is not recommended, so check now for areas that may have drainage issues. Overly saturated soil will look black and have a rotten odor. If you find such a spot in your garden, leave it bare and let the sun evaporate some of the excess moisture. During any upcoming rainy periods, cover the area with plastic sheeting to prevent the problem from worsening. Remove the plastic on sunny days to let the water continue to evaporate.
Should your soil feel dry (unlikely given the amount of rain we've had) or at an acceptable hydration level, cover with a layer of compost or mulch. This material will improve moisture retention through the summer and improve soil tilth and biotic health. Good mulching practices can make a world of difference when it comes time to dig that tough Napa soil.
If you are planning to plant vegetables, early February is the perfect time to get some of them started. Broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, kale, peppers, onion, peas, lettuce and tomatoes will all benefit from an early start inside your home or greenhouse. Sowing times vary by variety, so be sure to follow the instructions on the seed packet.
If you don't have a seed-starting tray and warming mat, consider investing in one. The extra warmth can reduce germination time considerably. When you are not starting seedlings, you can also use the kit to improve your results for any cuttings you want to propagate.
Thinking of adding some ornamental plants but not sure which ones to choose? Consider California natives. The benefits are myriad, but to me, their best attribute is the low amount of care they require once established.
Plants adapted to the regional climate are generally more drought tolerant, making them an easy choice for low-maintenance landscaping. Some personal favorites include the Matilija poppy (Romneya trichocalyx) and Ceonothus ‘Dark Star' (also called California lilac). Both have attractive flowers that enhance any garden.
Should you wish to attract hummingbirds, I recommend California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), scarlet monkey flower (Mimulus cardinalis) and hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea). The blooms of the California fuchsia persist well past those of many other flowering plants and can be relied upon to add a splash of vibrant red to a fall landscape.
Finally, don't let this winter's wet weather fool you into thinking that drought is a thing of the past. Southern California is still considered to be in drought conditions. Ground-water levels across the state continue to be a concern, and 2016 was the hottest year on record. Designing a water-wise garden is not only socially and environmentally responsible but will also certainly pay off in lower utility bills.
Proper plant choice, garden design and irrigation use can maximize your garden's beauty while minimizing your effort and expense. If you are interested in making such changes to your garden but need more information, call or e-mail the Master Gardener help desk. The volunteers there can help find answers to any questions you have.
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Growing Summer Vegetables” on Saturday, March 11, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at University of California Cooperative Extension, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Napa. Learn what the garden needs to successfully produce spring and summer vegetables from seeds and seedlings. The workshop will cover soil types and preparation, temperature essentials, watering, fertilizing and harvesting, with a dash of integrated pest management. Online registration (credit card only); Mail-in registration (check only or drop off cash payment).
Garden Forum: Join the U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County at a forum for home gardeners on Sunday, March 12, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington Street, Yountville. Bring any questions about anything in the home garden. Questions about fertilizing, watering, planting, plant care, diseases and pests, tools and tool care or nursery purchases are welcome. Register with Yountville Parks & Recreation or contact 707-944-8712.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
The challenge of seed starting is to have sturdy, well-grown seedlings ready to plant at the right time. As a general rule, seedlings need four to eight weeks to reach planting size. Most leafy greens (lettuces, mustards and arugula, for example) sprout fast and are ready to plant quickly. Cabbage, broccoli and their relatives need a bit longer to reach transplanting size, while some summer vegetables, like peppers and eggplant, take even longer. Consult the Master Gardener's Vegetable Planting Calendar (http://ucanr.edu/sites/ucmgnapa/Gardening_Books/Vegetable_Planting_Calendar/) to determine when to start seeds for the vegetables you want.
You'll need containers, seed-starting mix and a suitable place for the plants to grow. You can use any containers—new, used or repurposed—as long as they drain well. Wash containers well to remove debris, then soak them for 10 minutes in a 10 percent bleach solution (nine parts water to one part bleach). This step helps prevent damping off, a disease caused by soil-dwelling fungi. A sterile potting mix also protects against these fungal diseases. I like to use a potting soil specifically formulated for starting seeds, but regular potting soil will work, too.
Moisten the planting mix before filling containers. Plant two or three seeds per cell or small pot at the recommended planting depth, then gently firm the soil. A rule of thumb is to plant two to three times as deep as the seed diameter. Label your containers, marking the pot directly with an indelible marker or using a plant stake. You can make perfectly good plant stakes by cutting up yogurt cartons or using popsicle sticks.
Water the containers gently and let drain. At this point, I like to cover the pots loosely with plasticand put them in a warm place away from direct sunlight until the seeds sprout. If you don't have a warm spot,you can hasten sprouting with a seed-starting mat, which warms the containers from the bottom. This technique is especially helpful for the seeds of heat-loving plants like tomatoes.
I check my seeds daily. Under the right conditions, some will sprout in a couple of days; others will take up to two weeks. Most seed packets provide an estimate. Once seeds sprout, I take them off the warm mat and remove the plastic covering. The soil in small pots can dry out quickly, so keep water handy and gently add as needed. In warm spring weather, I sometimes water twice a day.
A few weeks after seeds sprout, most vegetables need thinning to one seedling per pot or cell. Snip extra seedlings at the soil line rather than pulling them out so you don't disturb the roots of the seedling you're keeping.
Young seedlings need light, preferably from a south-facing window. Seedlings should be as wide as they are tall; spindly seedlings are probably not getting enough light. You can supplement natural light, if necessary,with a shop light and fluorescent bulbs. Keep the light source about six inches above the plants, and raise the lights as the plants grow.
More time consuming but equally effective for me has been to move my seedlings in and out of the daylight. On sunny days, I move my seedlings to a deck to get direct morning light and afternoon shade. In the evenings, I move them indoors. As they get closer to transplant size, I leave them in direct sun longer. If the weather is warm enough, I'll leave them outside overnight. By the time I want to put them into the garden, they will be acclimated to the weather outside.
I recommend that you start twice as many plants as you think you need to allow for mishaps.If, in the end, you don't need those extra plants, you can have the pleasure of sharing them with friends and fellow gardeners.
Workshop: Napa County Master Gardeners will hold a workshop on “Propagation and Seed Starting” on Sunday, March 1, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Yountville Community Center in Yountville. Master Gardeners will discuss and demonstrate several types of propagation methods, including division, soft wood cuttings, grafting and seed starting. Learn about the tools and techniques that lead to successful propagation and have a hands-on experience. To register, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 707-944-8712 or visit its web site.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. Napa County Master Gardeners ( http://ucanr.org/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
My garden continues to be my comfort and my unbiased confidante. It turns out that I am not alone in this feeling.
The children's book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett was a childhood favorite of mine. Published in 1911, the story used a garden motif to explore the healing power innate in living things.
In H.G. Wells's short story “The Door in the Wall, "one character recounts a garden experience almost identical to mine. Describing a garden he had entered, he says, “I forgot the sort of gravitational pull back to the discipline and obedience of home. I forgot all hesitations and fear, forgot discretion, forgot all the intimate realities of this life. It was, I tell you, an enchanted garden.”
Horticultural therapy (HT) has been practiced since ancient times. Dr. Benjamin Rush, an 18th century physician recognized as a founder of American psychiatry, was the first to document that working in the garden had positive effects on people with mental illness. In the 1940s and 1950s, health professionals working in the medical rehabilitation of veterans found that working in the garden was beneficial, thus enhancing the credibility and acceptance of the practice.
Today, horticultural therapy is an accepted and widely used option in rehabilitative, vocational and community venues. The therapy helps participants regain lost skills and learn new ones. It can help strengthen muscles and improve balance, coordination and endurance.
HT improves memory along with cognitive abilities, language and socialization skills. People can learn to problem solve, work independently and follow directions in a vocational HT setting.
The University of California at Davis's California AgrAbility Project assists organizations that help veterans plant gardens. The gardens provide many benefits, including peace of mind, hope and a connection to home. CalAgrAbility researchers found other health benefits, including strong evidence that nature heals and helps create therapeutic environments that reduce anxiety, stress and blood pressure.
A leader in the field of environmental psychology, Dr. Clare Cooper-Marcus, says that gardening brings the mind to a state similar to meditation. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers are using gardening as therapy for PTSD symptoms. At V.A. facilities in Connecticut, medical staff has found that veterans working in gardens report relief from depression and reduced substance abuse. Gardening turns the focus away from self and affords an outlet for frustration while providing satisfaction. To find more information, visit http://calagrability.ucdavis.edu
.In San Diego County, Master Gardeners worked with several local agencies to educate residents at a girl's rehabilitation facility. Working collaboratively, they designed a garden and taught the young women about building healthy soil, watering wisely, managing pests and handling food safely. Ten residents participated initially. Their positive experiences encouraged more to join the endeavor.
Residents in the program work in small groups with Master Gardeners. They learn how to make healthy snacks from the food they grow. The positive results include better collaboration, communication and teamwork. The organizers hope to use this plan as a template for other sites in the juvenile-court and community school system in that county.
Napa County Master Gardener Jill Rowley has written about Napa Valley Hospice's gardening program for clients of its Adult Day Services. Participants, who worked with Master Gardener volunteers, enjoyed experiencing the fresh air, watching plants grow, tending perennials and weeding the specially built raised beds. Rowley noted that participants often showed improved memory and increased socialization skills after participating in the gardening.
So when life becomes overwhelming for you or you just need a re-set, I highly recommend that you head out to your garden. Whether you relax in a chaise with a glass of iced tea and a good book or rake leaves like a mad person, I feel sure you will emerge refreshed and in a better frame of mind.
Workshop: Napa County Master Gardeners will hold a workshop on “Propagation and Seed Starting” on Sunday, March 1, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Yountville Community Center in Yountville. Master Gardeners will discuss and demonstrate several types of propagation methods, including division, soft wood cuttings, grafting and seed starting. Learn about the tools and techniques that lead to successful propagation and have a hands-on experience. To register, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 707-944-8712 or visit its web site.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. Napa County Master Gardeners ( http://ucanr.org/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.