Saturday, 11 February 2012 11:16

Written by Doug Oster

Be careful what you wish for, right?

Seeing this crocus bloom last week just didn't thrill me like it has in past seasons. I'm glad we finally got a blast of winter to make spring sweeter. Photos by Doug Oster

What is spring without winter?

Even though I despise cold weather and have enjoyed my impossibly long, steep driveway being snow-free, I can't wrap my head around this season. I know I shouldn't complain, but the late winter garden isn't the same without first struggling with cabin fever.

When the warm afternoon sun heated up a bed of crocus bulbs, their cheery purple flowers dotted the landscape. But the excitement and satisfaction of seeing them bloom just wasn't there like in previous seasons.

How ironic it is that the dreaded winter is a necessary evil, at least for me? The past few winters have been brutal, but when spring arrived, it was so welcome.

I visited a friend in Florida years ago and envied the climate he enjoyed year-round. But he longed for the change of seasons. "You know the one day you walk out of the house and smell spring in the air?" he said. "We just don't have that here."

Thinking about it now, I realize I also need the change, a break from the garden. But this seems to be a continuous gardening season. Greens protected by floating row covers are still producing, pansies are in bloom, flowering kale remains and the tall 'Redbor' variety is putting on new growth.

Snowdrops are always the first plants to bloom in my garden. The earliest I've ever seen them is Feb. 15. This year I saw the white flowers more than a month earlier. It was a miracle the year they bloomed in mid-February, and it was thrilling. But mid-January feels wrong.

There's nothing to be done with the bulbs that have emerged. If it's only foliage above ground, no worries. They will bloom when they are ready. If the buds are already showing, gardeners should cross their fingers that they don't freeze. That would mean waiting another season for the flowers.

I do know why the winter has been so mild. It was my $750 purchase of a big, self-propelled snow blower able to traverse the terrain of my long, uphill driveway. I have used it only once this year. If you're loving this season, you have me to thank.

After a long gray snowy winter, the sight of luminescent crocus flowers and petite snowdrops hugging the ground is exhilarating. For me, the magic of the first blooms of the season have faded like an April snowflake.

Saturday, 11 February 2012 00:00

Written by Doug Oster

Winter is the best time to prune many trees and shrubs. Avoid spring bloomers like rhododendrens, azaleas and forcythia as their buds are in place and cutting them off would sacrafice this years blooms. Pines and maples should not be pruned either, they have running sap and are best dealt with during the growing season.

The AccuSharp sharpener is an inexpensive and rugged tool to keep pruners and other tools sharp. Click on the link in the story to find a local retailer.

To keep them sharp I use a tool called AccuSharp as demonstrated in the Digging with Doug video (right hand of the page in the viewer). I've used the tool for over 20 years and I love it for sharpening things in the garden and kitchen.

Take your time when pruning, look for crossing branches and it's important to try to keep the natural shape of the plant. Here's a pretty good guide to pruning, but it's one of those things that you just learn in the garden.

Here's a wonderful list of plants that have been used by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy that have proven themselves to be unattractive to deer. That doesn't mean your herd won't eat them, but trial and error will offer many answers.

Perennials

Mountain Mint         Pycananthemum muticum

Yarrow                         Achillea millefolium (various cutivars)

Salvia ‘May Night’   Salvia nemorosa ‘May Night’

Black Eyed Susan   Rudbeckia fulgirda

Bearded Iris               Iris germanica (various cultivars)

Golden-alexander  Zizia aurea

Virginia Willow          Itea virginica

Annuals

Salvia ‘Victoria Blue’

Zinnia ‘Profusion Cherry’

Ageratum ‘Blue Horizon’

Dusty Miller

Celosia ‘Fresh Look Red’

Marigold

Alyssum

This blog post from the PPC has more tips, ideas and details for dealing with the deer.

Here are some other plants that aren't getting eaten in my garden. Just remember though, each herd eats differently-

Tithonia (Mexican sunflower)

Siberian iris

Forcythia

Anemone

Anise Hyssop

Dahlias

Azalea and Rhododendrons

Perennial hibiscus

Rose of Sharon

There are lots of different products that can be sprayed on plants like hostas that the deer love. Bobbex really has worked well in my garden.

Friday, 10 February 2012 08:55

Written by Doug Oster

The Pennsylvania Resources Council is the oldest citizen action environmental organization in PA. They've been helping the environment since 1939 and I've worked with them for the past 13 years spreading the word about their various public programs.

They hold one of the most informative compost classes and you get a composter when the event is over. Worm composting might scare you, but it's a great way to deal with kitchen scraps without walking out to the compost bin, it's odor free and produces nutrient rich castings. Rain barrels do a lot to help our environment and it's the best water for our plants.

These are posted early because they always sell out. If you're interested get registered.

Backyard Composting Workshop:

This workshop thoroughly covers the importance of composting, setting up a compost pile, proper maintenance and ways of using finished compost. Participants will receive an Earth Machine Compost Bin with attendance. This bin, approved across the state as an ideal bin for urban and suburban areas, has an eighty-gallon capacity.

Cost $50 single/ $55 couple and includes one compost bin

Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the  Boyd Community Center – 10 AM -11:30 AM

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at the Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church on the North Side -  6:30-8 PM

Thursday, April 5, 2012 at Phipps Garden Center at 7PM -8:30 PM

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at East End Food Co-op – 6:30 PM – 8 PM

Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Blueberry Hill Park, Franklin Park – 10:30 – Noon

Wednesday, May2, 2012 at the CCi Center -6:30PM – 8PM

Saturday, May 26, 2012 at Construction Junction – 11AM – 12:30 PM

TO REGISTER CLICK HERE or call Donna at 412-488-7490 ext. 246.

 Worm Composting

Learn about the benefits of composting with worms. It’s easy, fun, odorless and produces a great soil additive! Workshop participants will learn how to house, feed, harvest and care for their own worms. Be prepared to roll-up your sleeves and make your own worm composting bin! Each participant or couple will be provided with a bin, instructions, and worms. You will go home with a complete, ready to use vermiculture system!

Cost $45 person/ $55 couple and includes one compost bin and worms.

Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Construction Junction at 11AM -12:30 PM

Thursday, April 19, 2012 at Cooper-Siegel Community Library (Fox Chapel Road) at 7PM – 8:30 PM

TO REGISTER CLICK HERE or call Donna at 412-488-7490 ext. 246.

Rain Barrel Workshop:

Rainwater harvesting is an effective, ecological and economical method for the conservation and protection of this precious natural resource. By catching, storing and re-directing your roof water for on-site usage you can take advantage of this free source of precious water while at the same time contributing to a reduction in the combined sewer overflow (CSO) problem that plagues the Greater Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas, helping to reduce flooding and non-point source pollution, and contributing to recharging our groundwater supply. You’ll also have a free source of non-chlorinated water for use in your yard and garden.

Learn how to harvest rainwater from your roof and divert it for on-site usage in the landscape.  Attend a rain barrel workshop and return home equipped with the knowledge and hardware needed (not the 55-gal. drum) to assemble and install a rain barrel. It’s easier than you might think.

Cost $35 person/ $45 couple.

Thursday, April 12, 2012 at Phipps Garden Center – 7 PM – 8:30PM

Saturday, Aprl 14, 2012 at Boyd Community Center – 10AM -11:30 AM

Saturday, May 12, 2012 at Construction Junction – 11AM - 12:30 PM

Friday, 10 February 2012 00:00

Written by Doug Oster

It's funny what you take for granted over the years.

When the angle of the sun reaches a certain point in February, my unheated greenhouse can hit 80 degrees on a sunny day. It's a wonderful place to sit and write, I can hear the birds starting their mating calls.

But there's a beautiful stained glass window on the door linking the master bedroom to the greenhouse. When we first moved in, it was one of those little things we loved, but now I don't even see it, until today. I was headed out there to enjoy the warm temperatures and the light hit the window just right.

This pretty window is the gateway from the master bedroom to an unheated greenhouse. Photos by Doug Oster

The greenhouse was steaming, overwintering plants needed some water, but looked happy. Hopefully now I'll appreciate the gateway to my world of plants. I doubt it though when the crush of the season hits, it will be just another door to a workplace. I guess it's human nature, but today I love that window.

I started some other greens in there today too, they will give the tatsoi some company.

Outside the cool weather plants are taking it on the chin, finally.

But the contrast between colorful foliage and blooms against the icy snow is beautiful.

This pansy just started blooming a week ago, I wonder if it will last until spring.

The tip of a flowering kale leaf pokes through the snow in a container.