Oh gosh, for me it's Spring, 'cause I don't do a whole lot of clean up n' stuff in the Fall. I like to have a home for things to over-winter in, not to mention most of what I have growing now does better pruned in the weeee hours of spring. I'd say 75% of my yarden work is done in the Spring.
Yarden maintenance schedule for March
I think spring harder for us too. We live in 'the woods'. Tons of leaves. Water feature needs netting too. Yard art has to be freeze protected. A LOT of fall work needs doing. ....that being said, spring is harder because physically out of shape from not doung much yard work all winter. Getting started is real hard and fatigue comes fast ,plus it is hotter and more humid and buggier in the spring.
Spring, for sure!!! So much to get done--and so little time! It is always a crunch......
But--I LOVE spring! The season of miracles....
Some things just cannot be put off....like, starting seeds, taking cuttings, dividing and potting up perennials,
the compulsion to propagate everything. etc...etc....AH! And--mowing the lawn.
Fall is, sort of, more laid back. The major crunch is to get all the plants inside the house when cold weather approaches.
That is a lot of work--for me anyway.
I also like to clean up my garden as much as I can--but if i cannot--it will go into winter as is. No biggie!
Gita, don't you find that all the stuff that needs cleaning up in the fall gets bogged down over the winter? That is why I don't leave it. I think it might be better for the plants to leave it down (the fall leaves) but leaving it for spring might just do me in with all the other chores. But you are right about one thing..it is a rush in the spring, summer hits real quick here in NC. I guess the heat comes a little slower for you but probably quick enough!
missing--
The reason I like to clean it up is that I have heard over the years that leaves and debris left in beds
can harbor insect eggs, fungus, and all kinds of things. So, I clean it up.
I agree that it may be beneficial to leave leaves to decompose--but they never actually do in the short winter months.
Besides--I like to dig up a bit and turn the soil over in the spring--as I add some amendments.
The leaves just--kind of--do not belong.....
I vacuum/shred my leaves in the fall and keep them in black trash bags to decompose.
I add some water and a hand full of Lawn fertilizer (for the N) and tie the bag shut.
Amazing stuff in two years!!!!
G.
JEEZ, gotta start more seeds. Its April tomorrow! Need to decide on starting cukes and squash, and maters....!!! I must plant those dang cow pots and use them.
Gita, I agree - that is why I pick them up. I misunderstood and thought you were saying to leave the leaves til spring. Here, the leaves pack down hard and won't rake as easily. The rake has to be thrust into the piles forcefully to loosen - a lot of physical work. One spring as I did that, I heard a awful squeak/ squeal and it was a wee nest of rabbits. I won't ever use a rake in that manner again. It was horrible.
It isn't so much the value of decomposition I have read about but the fact that the leaves insulate the cold sensitive plants and roots during the winter. I could not vacuum and bag - waaay too many leaves. I am surrounded by woods and all the trees send the leaves my way.
Once again, tales of lots of labor and a garden mishap or two to keep things interesting. To everyone being attacked by garden implements, be careful. I was sitting here a bit ago and felt some sore spots on my left arm. I have been aware of several bruises on my right arm the past few weeks, but didn't know I had sore spots on the left one too. I too must be banging myself up as I go about my chores, but am so accustomed to it, don't stop to think that is going to leave a bruise.
Missingrosie - What time of year do you try to propogate Caryopteris? My husband and I have been going back and forth over the pruning of our one Caryopteris. A couple of weeks ago I was going to prune it and he asked me to wait because he wanted to save the branches and try to propogate. Here we are two weeks later, and he hasn't mentioned a word since. If now is the time, I can begin some nagging...did I say that? I can begin hinting that he needs to get to it.
One year I was tired of looking at the poor condition it was in and I too gave it a major hair trim and it did beautifully that year. It is truly a very beautiful bush. Out Butterfly Bush is much like your Caryopteris in terms of sprouting in areas all around the grounds. We have them pop up in some very unusual places it seems.
Ssgardener, can't advise on horse manure, but do know that living in cow country and usually having plenty cow manure available, the beds amended with it do about five or six times better than the areas not using it. It is some amazing stuff for sure. Haven't heard any plans for getting any this year, so not sure if it will happen or not. It is still early I have to remember.
My last three days have been spent mainly indoors and on side porch working once again on houseplants. Last week John and I visited Pat and David, ecnalg and greenthumb and another friend in Northern Virginia and came home with a car load of houseplants that I have been tending since last Thursday. I might be caught up enough to mosey outside later today and see what I can get in to. I am sure that there is plenty for me to do when I get the time to get out.
The report of David and Pat's place is that it is spectacular. The dome home and many gardens and the very organized potting system that David has going on was a quite a sight. The lunch that they prepared was yummy!!! I was running on adrenalin for several days afterwards. May have calmed down a bit by now, I hope.
Anyway.....so happy to hear all the ideas for nice yards and be warned not to wrestle with water hoses and rakes has been good. Thanks to all who share.
Ruby
This was a great thread! Should we start another one for April?
I live in New Mexico, far from most of you but with many of the same yard
issues. I just discovered this thread and would love to see it continue.
I will start a new one...look for Yarden maintenance for April
Ruby - I cut it way back in the fall - towards the end of fall. It is a summer bloomer here. The flowers hang around a long time too. I think it just has a long blooming time ---not sure about how long the flowers last but there is a lot more opening to take the place of those aging out. Yesterday I saw that 1/2 (just one side) of a big one die over the winter (big meaning three foot tall and pretty wide) . Two large limbs (branches I guess since not a tree??) coming off the main trunk and one up and died and took half the bust with it. I believe it is the spring that I have grabbed a young branch...cut it to about 8 inches or so ....dipped in rooting hormone and kept IN THE GROUND in a moist shady area..... it just grows. I am unsure about the spring (it could have been fall but I am pretty sure it was spring) that I have done it. Reason unsure is that the darn things send babies everywhere ---I don't have to root anything --this was before I knew that!! Just look down and far and wide and I will see a few sprouting. Like butterfly bush and nandina - the babies pull right up if you don't want. But, unlike the other two..... you will have a foot high the following bloom season. Don't you just love the fragrance....it is so unlike anything else. Minty/Flowery/Spicey and those blue blue flowers! It is a winner for me and I don't mind picking off the offspring. Maybe this big one died because the bush is not that long lived??? It is my oldest (about 6 years) --if so - no problem because all the seedlings will be that big in two blooming seasons.
Oops forgot to add this link
new thread for April
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1250176/