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Hi, guys!
Happy new year — I hope you had a wonderful holiday!
Talk of the new year invariably turns to resolutions, and for us, that means gardening resolutions. So I present five that can easily be incorporated into your 2022 garden plans:
Plant at least one native plant
I’ve written about planting natives in the past, and if you haven’t, I encourage you to start this year. You can start small, with just a plant or two, and add more every year. Then when your exotics decline or become crowded, consider replacing them with natives. Your garden will be rife with butterflies, bees and other pollinators so your plants will thrive and bloom better, and many of your garden’s pests will become their dinner. Meanwhile, you’ll watch get to watch those pollinators flutter about, knowing that you’re providing essential shelter and sustenance for birds and beneficial insects. Not sure what to plant? Start your search at wildflower.org
Reduce the lawn; Care properly for what remains
Grass is a water and nutrient hog, and lawns play no role whatsoever in the ecosystem. But I’m not suggesting you eliminate the whole thing. Leave a small section or border of grass to define the garden and prevent it from looking unkempt, and care for that section properly. That means allowing grass clippings to remain on the lawn, where they’ll decompose into natural nitrogen to nourish it and reduce or even eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers. Water only in the morning to provide ample time for blades to dry, which reduces disease occurrences, while allowing time for water to infiltrate soil and reach roots before the sun is at its strongest.
Save water
Proper watering practices are important for all plants. In addition to timing irrigation for mornings, be sure to direct water to plants’ roots, where it’s needed, instead of the driveway, walkways and plant foliage, which encourages mold, mildew and fungal diseases to take hold.
Select drought-tolerant plants, which don’t typically require supplemental watering once established (water during their first season to encourage a sturdy and healthy root system.) And most native plants are drought-tolerant, so you can keep two resolutions with one practice (see resolution #1).
Consider installing a rain barrel to capture water from downspouts. You’ll find them in every price range and can even make your own.
Again, reduce the lawn (see #2).
Start a compost pile
It’s easier than you might think. Here are my step-by-step instructions.
Plant a row for the hungry
If you’re planting fruits and vegetables in spring, plant some extra to donate to your local soup kitchen. And if you don’t have room for an extra row, an extra plant (in the ground or even a container) will do.
You can find a drop-off site near you by visiting gardencomm.org and navigating to your state’s list.
And if you’ve purchased a copy of my 2022 Day-by-Day Gardening Calendar, flip to the back for more details.
📬 Ask Jessica
DEAR JESSICA: Can you identify this tree? Thanks for your thoughts on whatever you think it is. —Kathy Schiavone
DEAR KATHY: That’s a Pinus sylvestris 'pom pom', commonly known as a pom pom tree. The plant typically reaches 10 feet in width with a height of up to 15 feet. Its foliage, however, doesn’t just grow in pom pom-shaped mounds as pictured above but rather lends itself very well to shaping.
Annual pruning, in late spring, is necessary to maintain those balls. Wait until the season’s new foliage takes on a leathery texture, likely in early or mid-June, then clip away until you’ve re-established the neat, rounded forms. If you prune earlier in the season, when tender new leaves appear, they will bruise and turn brown, which will damage the aesthetic you’re trying to achieve.
Many landscapers and home gardeners use a wire template to guide their trimming and achieve perfect spheres. Without one, take care to clip only new growth that extends past the rounded mound and step back often to view the entire plant and plan your cuts. If the plant grows beyond your reach, you can safely prune it to your desired height.
Pinus sylvestris is hardy from horticultural zones 3 through 8. If you are gardening south of 8 - or in warmer areas of the zone — there are several junipers available with a similar appearance; check with your local nursery for recommendations.
💡 If you do one thing this week…
If you planted evergreens last year, protect them with burlap now to avoid wind and snow damage over winter.
👏 Sunday shoutout
Alison Anderson of Centerport, NY, captured this candy-striped leafhopper on a sunflower plant in her backyard cutting garden last July. Aptly named because they resemble fruit-flavored candy canes, these hoppers are certainly camera-worthy. But don’t be seduced by them: They suck nutrients from plant foliage, which damages delicate plant tissue, and hop from plant to plant, which makes them effective disease spreaders.
Send in your photo and you could be featured next!
📧 How’m I doing?
I welcome your comments and suggestions, so please send them along — as well as any topics you’d like to see covered and questions you’d like answered in the Ask Jessica section.
And if you’re enjoying this newsletter, please share it with a friend!
Until next week, stay safe. Be well. And always keep your mind in the dirt. —Jessica