| Dear Reader, Hi everyone! Rain day and it is so good to be able to catch up with all of you. In the last ezine I said the newsletters would get shorter. I should have said non-existent, at least for awhile. I have never been busier and for that I am most THANKFUL!!! Thanks also to everyone of you who has invited us to your yards this spring. Working with you and helping you turn your yards and gardens into places of wonder and beauty is my delight. I am republishing the article on watering because so many of you keep asking me how to water. So when I say, "Read the newsletter", I mean it in a nice and helpful way. Much of the remaining ezine features pictures of some of the trees and shrubs that I have planted on my property. By sharing them with you, I hope to get you interested in and familiar with them at the same time. You may want to invite them to your yards as most have multi-season interest as well as outstanding horticultural qualities making them very landscape worthy. There will be more to come in future issues. This is just a sampling and if you think for one second that I have a problem or am obsessed or something like that....... I am, I already know. |
| Six Tips for Watering Wisely Water is a precious commodity. No water, no life. Here are six ways you can save some. 1. Established, healthy trees and shrubs in an average climate don't necessarily need irrigation except during very dry summers or a dry fall (especially evergreens.) 2. Generally, flower and vegetable gardens only need watering if it has rained less than 1" that week. 3. Mulched gardens, closely planted gardens, gardens in clay soil or soil rich in organic matter often get by with no watering even with less than 1" of rainfall. But watch out. Raised beds and sandy soils may require more. 4. Try to water deeply. The goal is to make the moisture meet. That means applying enough water from above so it joins the water deeper down, with no dry layer in between. 5. Best policy is to water the soil, not the leaves since the droplets act as lenses that concentrate the sun's rays perhaps giving some of your plants a sunburn for sure. 6. Choose plants that can handle water shortages and rarely require extra water. They are often times more drought tolerant. Call GARDENING GRACES, we can help. 734 482-8230 |
 Ornamental cherry. Fast growing, flowers early (April in Michigan) graceful canopy and beautiful.Pests don't seem to bother it.
 Magnolia 'Royal Star'. Flowers early when you need that early spring boost. Hardy, pest free so far. Flowers first and leafs out later. Redbud. Once again, it flowers first before it leafs out. Deep lavender pink is a most welcome spring sight. Leaves are large and heart shaped. A must have ornamental.  Bradford Pear. Somewhat overused but I still love them. Not only do they put on a stunning show in early May but you can look forward to October and their beautiful multi-colored leaf display. And my dog likes to walk under them. One shrub for this round. It's my star of the backyard, azalea 'Karen'. Blooms in early May and it is a sight to behold. I have it planted on the north side of a fence and loves it .  |
| | |  In closing, a little irony from Barb's life and it has to do with speed. (no comments from those who have been forced to keep up or ride with me.) I'll have you know I have been pretty pleased with myself for not complaining about gas prices. So several weeks ago when I had to replace my truck and got a brand new Dodge Ram 4x4 with a hemi engine. I developed an even greater resolve not to complain. Did I mention that it is even bigger and more powerful than the last one?! And I like that. But as you well know, it guzzles rather than sips the liquid amber. And since powerful, gas-conserving (is that an oxymoron?) hybrid pick-ups don't exist, I have been forced to do a better job controlling my speed................ And it's killing me!! It's like being given a racehorse and having to ride it in the pony ring! If any of you can identify with me, welcome to my world. So when I'm putzing down the freeway at the speed limit, you can save your sympathy. At least I'm saving a little cash. Plants and speed, two of my obsessions. There are more. I have spared you....for now. Have fun in the outside!!
Call 734 482-8230 or email to gardeninggraces@comcast.net to schedule your next project. I'd love to hear from you! You'll know we were there!
Also visit the website just by clicking any of the links in the sidebar up top.
|
|
|
