Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Saturday February 6, 2010 |
Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) | Today's Featured Plant
Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
Read the full profile of this plant at ArcaMax.com.
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Q&A: Germinating Seeds from Cold Storage Question: I have several different types of vegetable and flower seeds that I inherited when my grandmother passed away. She kept them in her refrigerator or freezer and I have kept them that way since last summer. What is the best way to germinate them?
Answer: What a wonderful inheritance! Seeds that have been stored in a freezer ideally have a very low moisture content, and should be exposed to air for a few days before planting. This allows them to absorb moisture from the relatively humid air before being placed in a moist soil medium. After these few days of acclimation, if you want to test seed viability before planting, place a few seeds of each type between moistened paper towels, place the towels in a plastic bag with the end left open, and leave them in a warm spot (not in direct sunlight). You can then transfer the germinated seeds to soil, if you wish, or just use this method as a way to determine that seeds will still sprout. Were these seeds she had saved from her own garden plants? If you've been bitten by the seed-saving bug, you'll be glad to know there is a lot of information on the Web and in books to help you in this new hobby. Enjoy! |
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Q&A: Ground Cover Under Pine Tree Question: Can you recommend a perennial flowering ground cover to plant under my pine tree? The tree sits between two homes that are only 13' apart. When it rains, a good deal of water collects there, and the area gets very little sun.
Answer: Based on your description of the location, it sounds like a challenging area to establish plants. It is often difficult to establish a ground cover under pines anyway, and the added factors of deep shade and flooding will only compound the problem. My first suggestion would be to place some large containers of shade-tolerant flowering annuals under the trees.
If you still want to try to establish a ground cover, I'd experiment with several different plants and see which one does well before investing in a large number of plants. Lily-of-the-valley may grow if the soil stays moist all summer. Another option is Vinca minor (periwinkle), which is evergreen and has blue flowers. Neither of these plants does well with long term flooding, however. Another possibility is English ivy (Hedera helix). Although this last does not bloom, it is the more tolerant of diverse conditions and might do the best in that location. There are many different varieties of English Ivy available, some with variegated leaves that could brighten up the area. |
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Tip: Control Crabgrass in Lawns In mild winter areas, crabgrass seeds will be germinating soon. Apply an organic preemergent herbicide made from corn gluten to kill the seeds as they germinate. This product also adds nitrogen to the lawn. |
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Free Recipes for Valentine's Day Plan a romantic dinner at home this year -- try free recipes for Marsala-Poached Figs over Ricotta, Valentine Heart Cake, and more from ArcaMax's Valentine's Day feature.
This special section also has gift ideas, party planning tips, trivia, and more to make the holiday fun and simple.
Visit the ArcaMax Valentine's Day Feature.
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-- From the ArcaMax editors |
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ArcaMax Editors |
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