Archive for the ‘rain’ Category

Gearing Up for Gardening in the Winter

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008

My head is damp, but the rest of me is toasty and dry even after working with a client in the garden for a couple of pouring-rain hours earlier today. I had on a wool hat that eventually got drenched, but the rest of me was kept warm and dry through layering that was topped off with what I refer to as my “rubber robot suit”.

The rubber robot suit is my Carhardtt coveralls and coat that do a great job of keeping out the wet. The coat has a hood but I don’t use it. I can’t see what I’m doing or hear my clients if I wear it. So, I suffer with a soggy head in real downpours.

Rather than reinvent the wheel, I’ll remind you of the post from last year on gearing up for wet weather gardening. The only change to my glamourous gardening wardrobe this year is my heavy duty robot suit, and my muck shoes, which I consider my “truck slippers”.

The muck boot company makes fantastically comfortable and dry shoes, but their sizing is just a bit off for me. Rather than get rid of the shoes, I keep them in my truck to change into after stomping through wet gardening days. My gardening boots stay dry inside, but there’s nothing like slipping on a soft, squishy pair of snug shoes for a long drive home.

Have favorite ways to stay warm and dry? Please share them here!

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Dig ‘n Split Party Wrap

Friday, October 31st, 2008

Last night’s forecast for Seattle: Dumping rain all Halloween morning.

My plan for this Halloween morning: Dig ‘n Split Garden party.

Result: Happy, soggy gardeners!

I woke up really early for no good reason on a pitch-black rainy day. I got up and wondered how much it was really raining. When the black sky changed to a lighter shade of grey, I knew it was wet out there. Actually, it was pouring.

Knowing that we’ve been short on rain so far this fall, I emailed all the gals planning to come to my garden party to divide perennials and told them we were still on. (I can be known to cancel an event if I’m worried about soil compaction, but since only the top 2-4″ of soil –actually mulch– are significantly wet this fall, I knew the beds would be okay.)

Halloween Dig 'n Split Party with Favors!

Halloween Dig 'n Split Party with Favors!

I headed out a little while before the party was going to start. I wanted to pull out tools, pots and yard waste bins. I wanted to clean up dog poop in some areas. And, I wanted to start doing divisions of plants as samplers to get people started. Eventually, all three ladies showed up, braving the sopping morning. It was fun to share loads of plants with them, enjoy their enthusiasm over all the options and see my overcrowded beds get a little more breathing room as we cleared various plants out.

Here’s a rough list of the prizes my guests took away:

  • Geranium m. ‘Album’
  • Geranium samobar
  • Tiarella (a couple of cultivars)
  • Rose Glow Barberry
  • Vine Maple
  • Midwinter Fire Twig Dogwood
  • Cala Lily
  • Ligularia ‘The Rocket’
  • Gunnera
  • Angel’s Fishing Rod
  • Pulsatilla
  • Sedum (many kinds)
  • Black Mondo Grass
  • Autumn Fern
  • Sword Fern
  • Iris
  • Japanese Anemone
  • June Bearing Strawberry
  • Amazing Red Flax
  • Tall Garden Phlox (White and Pink)
  • Leopard’s Bane
  • Artemesia
  • Lamb’s Ear
  • Donkey Tail Spurge
  • Vancouveria
  • Monkshood
  • Climbing Hydrangea layered starts
  • Japanese Maple seedlings
  • Ribes viburnifolium
  • Mahonia (came with the vine maple/left with the vine maple)
  • Seed garlic

I think that about covers it, but who knows what else they got…probably some fireweed and shotweed just for the fun of it! I like to think even with these, this is the best halloween haul anyone will get today.

Hmmm…note to self: Next year require costumes?!

Ladies, thanks for clearing the way for changes in my garden. It’s been a while since I’ve had some larger open spaces to work with. Now to take a hot shower!

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Is There Enough Moisture in Your Soil to Sustain Your Lawn and Ornamentals?

Friday, April 4th, 2008

This is just a quick reminder that spring rains in western washington can deceive us into thinking our soils are holding enough water to sustain our plants. It may be gray and drippy for days on end, but the rainfall totals may not be significant enough to keep your soil moisture levels consistent for your plants.

If you’ve got clay or have been amending your sandy soils with organic mulches, your garden will have better moisture holding capacity. But, with lower rainfalls, your moisture may be getting trapped in upper layers of mulch rather than getting down to the deep feeding roots of your plants. And remember, just because your soil is hard to dig in doesn’t mean you have clay. It may just be compacted!

 So, this is just a reminder to get out in your gardens as spring goes on to do a little digging and see how deep your soil is moist. If it’s dry a few inches down, sadly, it may be time to turn on your irrigation or begin hand watering. This is especially critical if you have newly installed gardens or gardens that are just a year or two old. As your plants get established, even if they are labelled “drought tolerant”, it is important to water them consistently. If you don’t, you may lose the investment you made to install them. 

And, don’t forget about your lawns. Spring is when they green up and look great, but are their roots continuing to get deeper into the soil profile or are they living with shallow roots that require constant watering. Dig a hidden patch of your lawn to see how deep your living lawn roots are. The deeper you can get them to grow now, the less watering you’ll need to provide in the summer as they’ll have the ability to tap into the deeper water resources you have helped build up for them this spring.

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