Yard Dirt

Hooray for clover!

Julie Kirkwood — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:22:09 +0000

In my column this week, I wrote about the clover I planted in my lawn last year (and also my unfortunate habit of spying on my neighbors’ lawns).

It’s Spring: Time to get in the game and check out the competition

It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who likes clover.

Here’s a comment posted to the blog:

Hi Julie, I live in the Newburyport area and like you, have discovered the joy of clover. Whilst my neighbor’s beautifully manicured lawns turned into straw last summer, mine remained green and lush. I too, am known as the crazy lady with the clover seed but this year my neighbors have stopped laughing at me and I think a few are headed to Essex Co Coop for some Velvet Mix and Clover!!
J True

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Seedlings, finally

Julie Kirkwood — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:43:36 +0000

On Sunday I wrote about how nothing is happening yet in my garden:

“Yard Dirt: Backyard garden off to a slow, and messy, start”

Well, the seedlings have finally poked through. Here’s the leaf lettuce.

The lawn is waking up, too. Hooray for April showers and April sun!

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Saturday surprise

Julie Kirkwood — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:18:51 +0000

What a gorgeous day this turned out to be!!

I woke up at 6 a.m. with the baby and we listened to the rain. It was a good, steady garden-friendly rain, and it felt so cozy to be inside and awake when most people are sleeping.

The forecast called for raw, rainy weather all day so I wasn’t planning on going outside, but by late morning it was sunny and 60 degrees. Now it’s 70 and absolutely beautiful.

I did a bunch of garden clean-up this morning, and I’m just getting warmed up!

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April yard

Julie Kirkwood — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:33:42 +0000

It was nice outside today and, though I couldn’t garden with the baby in my hands, I could take pictures.

Here is a nibbled crocus beside one that somehow survived (and that randomly came up purple from a bag of orange crocuses — maybe the rabbits don’t like the purple ones?).

The early daffodils …

And the dormant lawn …

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Nibbled

Julie Kirkwood — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:13:50 +0000

Grrrr!

Something has been eating my crocuses. They were coming up so nicely. Many of them had bloomed, and many were on their way. Now they are just little green stumps.

I suspect rabbits, though I haven’t seen any yet this year. Whatever it is, it looks like we’re going to have a tough year for gardening.

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Yard Dirt

Julie Kirkwood — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:52:07 +0000

This week’s column, “Awakening to the possibilities for balancing baby, garden care,” about my baby’s first nap in the garage, can be found here.

Also, I forgot to post a link to the column from two weeks ago, “Baby it’s cold outside, but let the planting begin.”

I hate to miss a Sunday for yard work, but it’s cold and dark and raw out today. There’s no way I’m going out in that. Ick!

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First flowers

Julie Kirkwood — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:58:19 +0000

Spring must be here. My crocuses are blooming!

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UMass workshops

Julie Kirkwood — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:14:04 +0000

If you want to invest some time and money in your gardening skills, check out these upcoming workshops at the Topsfield Fairgrounds.

Saturday, March 29: “Painting with Plants, the Art of Designing a Flower Garden”

Nancy Garrabrants, director of UMass Extension, will discuss the subtleties of combining flower and leaf textures, plant silhouettes, and plant weight. Design concepts of rhythm, proportion, and visual balance will be explored. She will help you learn to manipulate color to create your perfect retreat. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $60.

Saturday, March 29: “Hot Powered Plants for Cool Gardeners”

Tina Smith, UMass Extention Floraculturalist, will help you choose what to grow and how to grow some of the newest plants for beautiful, season-long color for your garden and patio. From the intense colored flowers of annual phlox and trailing impatiens to the vivid foliage colors of coleus and heuchera and clouds of dainty white flowers of ‘Diamond Frost’ euphorbia, see how easy it is to have beautiful color all season long. 1 to 3 p.m., $40.

Saturday, April 19: “Growing Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants in the Home Garden”

Fresh herbs can make the difference between a mediocre meal and an exceptional one, and you can have fresh herbs all year long from your own garden or windowsill. The great variety of herbs, spices, and medicinal plants which can be grown successfully in the home or garden is outstanding. Learn about herbs with UMass Professor Dr. Lyle Craker. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $100.

To register in advance for any of these programs go to www.umassgarden.com, or just register at the door.

I’ve never seen any of these speakers before, but a couple years ago I went to a UMass Extension Saturday lawn workshop and it was fantastic. I consider UMass Extension my top source when it comes to lawn and garden topics.

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Seeds!

Julie Kirkwood — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:48:01 +0000

I woke up this morning to this:

Blah! More snow? Who needs it?

Fortunately, the arrival of this package brightened my day:

It’s my seeds!

This year I was selective about what I’m starting from seed. Most of these seeds are for planting directly in the garden: shell peas, green beans, two kinds of lettuce and my orange and yellow cosmos flowers. Super easy.

I’m only starting two things indoors: tomatoes and hot peppers.

I’ve had luck starting my Big Beef hybrid tomatoes from seed two years in a row. They’re super tasty and I’ve never seen this variety available to transplant.

The hot peppers, well … I’ve tried to start hot peppers for the past two years and they always fail. But maybe this is the year. If not, I’ll just buy some transplants in May.

The theme this year is simplicity. I hope this is enough to keep it interesting and not so much it’s overwhelming. We’ll see!

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Grubs

Julie Kirkwood — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:39:49 +0000

If you’ve lost parts of your lawn this fall to white grubs, you’re not alone.

The University of Massachusetts released an update Friday saying this was “a banner year” for white grubs.

You can read the full advisory at: http://www.umassturf.org/mangement_updates/management_updates.html

They think it has to do with the dry weather in August and September.

Unfortunately if you’re just noticing the damage now, there’s not much you can do to kill the grubs short of serious chemicals, and even that might not work because it’s so late in the season.

You may as well just let the skunks, raccoons and birds feast on the grubs and repair the lawn with seed … and maybe feel a little better knowing you’re not alone.

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