A unique and practical holiday gift for the gardening afficionado, or anyone who could use a hand in the garden, is a custom gift certificate.  Garden Makeover Company offers gift certificates in any denomination, tailored to the sender’s request — e.g., for a garden consultation or coaching session, or for any hands-on gardening service.  It can be used to purchase a nice floral gift item, such as hanging baskets or containers, or an array of annuals that can be planted on site.  We can tailor and mail the certificate directly to the recipient or to the gift-giver.

Flower bulbs for forcing indoors make nice winter gifts.

Paperwhites and Amaryllis bulbs forced indoors in winter. Photo: thegtguide.com

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IF YOU HIRE ANYONE TO APPLY FERTILIZER TO YOUR LAWN, THEY MUST BE CERTIFIED TO DO SO BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (PREVIOUSLY SUCH CERTIFICATION WAS REQUIRED ONLY FOR INDIVIDUALS OR FIRMS HIRED TO APPLY HERBICIDES (WEED CONTROL) OR PESTICIDES (INSECT OR DISEASE CONTROL) TO YOUR PROPRTY.)  IF YOU TREAT YOUR OWN PROPERTY, YOU MUST ALSO COMPLY WITH NEW LEGAL REQUIRMENTS ON HOMEOWNERS CONCERNING FERTILIZER USE. 

Maryland’s new law contains various requirements on products sold and distributed in Maryland, to foster the use of products that maintain healthy lawns without excess amounts of nitrogen and fertilizer.  In addition, requirements are placed on lawn care professionals and homeowners who treat their lawns, beginning October 1^st.

Lawn Care Professionals.  If you hire a professional to care for you lawn, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) must certify that person or company in order to apply fertilizer in Maryland.   Certified applicators must be trained and pass an exam.  Certified fertilizer applicators will be published on the MDA website, and homeowners should refrain from hiring businesses or individuals who are not certified.  Businesses engaged in commercial fertilizer applications must be licensed.  Previously, similar certification requirements applied to entities applying herbicides and pesticides to lawns and gardens.  This law expands these requirements to the application of fertilizer on lawns.

Fertilizer Application Restrictions.  The new law contains many restrictions for fertilizer application.  Some of these would: (1) prohibit lawn fertilizer applications between December 1 and March 1 (and between November 15 and December 1, only water soluble nitrogen – no slow-release – may be applied to lawns at a maximum rate of ½ lb. per 1,000 square feet);  (2) require professionals to use University of Maryland recommendations about fertilizer; (3) require soil tests every 3 years; (4) limit individual applications (e.g., 0.9 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet and 0.25 pound of phosphorus per 1,000 square feet – these are also  subject to annual limits and conditional upon soil test results.)

Homeowners .  The new law requires homeowners to meet mandatory restrictions similar to those imposed on lawn care professionals, when applying lawn fertilizer.  Homeowners must: (1) follow University of Maryland fertilizer recommendations on applying nitrogen to lawns; (2) adhere to maximum allowable nitrogen per application (e.g., 0.9 pound total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet and 0.7 pound of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet); (3) prevent nitrogen fertilizer from application on impervious surfaces (driveways, sidewalks); (4) prevent nitrogen applications within specific distances from waterways; (5) prevent fertilizer applications between November 15 and March 1, and when the ground is frozen; (6) prevent use of fertilizer if heavy rain is predicted; (7) prevent use of  fertilizer to de-ice walkways and driveways; and (8) prohibit use of phosphorus on lawns unless specifically indicated by a soil test or if establishing, patching or renovating a lawn.

Keep in mind:  it is important to be aware of and follow the new legal requirements and to make sure that any individual or firm you hire is certified and otherwise in compliance with the legal requirements governing land care.  There are significant monetary penalties for violation of this law.

You can obtain more detailed information from the MDA website: http://mda.maryland.gov/Pages/fertilizer.aspx

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The snow is pretty though

Not a typical sight in spring

Glad I enjoyed spring flowers just yesterday.  One of the nicest, but small delicate, Katherine Hodgkin dwarf iris may
not make it through the heavy snow fall.

Iris reticulata ‘Katherine Hodgkin’

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‘Jelena’ Witchhazel in February

Witchhazel hybrids. Hamemelis x intermedia. One of the more vivid cultivars – ‘Jelena’, for some reason, has come in more red than copper in hue this year, but this allows it to really pop in the dull winter landscape. This close-up photo highlights the interesting form of the bloom, which is reminiscent of crepe-paper or a spider. This large shrub or small tree has outstanding four-season interest in the landscape, including vivid fall leaf color, and warm-hued flowers in yellow, copper, or red hues to add some fire to the dull winter landscape.

Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose).  This wonderful evergreen perennial, which tolerates shade and is reliably deer-resistant, is blooming a bit late this winter.  This perennial spreads over time to fill in nicely through the landscape.  Shown here (below left) is a close-up photo to show how lovely a single inflorescence looks in the winter landscape (though there are many flowers ready on pop on the same plant).

Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose) flowers in February

‘Katherine Hodgkin’ dwarf Iris blooming March 1st

Dwarf Iris.  Sure, there are many early winter bulbs around the landscape, including several daffodil varieties, and snowdrops.  More unusual specimens truly make the landscape pop.  Here is the first dwarf iris starting to emerge.  This one is Iris reticulata ‘Katherine Hodgkin’, sporting unique powder blue and yellow petals with interesting ink-colored markings.   Each flower is a work of art.  These short flowering bulbs are nicely placed near the front entrance to be seen close-up as you walk by.

Erica (Heath) blooms for many months beginning in early winter

Erica blooms in shades of purple/pink and white

Erica x darleyensis (Heath) is one of my favorite mounding evergreen ‘subshrubs’ for a sunny spot. Most think it is ‘heather’, which is not as heat tolerant in this area. Erica is a great evergreen groundcover – a small rounded shrub that holds its own through the year – sporting nice short dark green needle-like foliage that is covered with bell-shaped pendulous flowers in mauve or white from early winter (sometimes as early as  October) through May. While I love the display of color during snow in winter (photo on the right).  The photo on the left shows a close-up of the very-summery hued blossoms gracing the landscape in February.

Crocuses – their appearance is a tease that spring is sure to arrive – someday, relatively soon.  This group of crocuses has been in bud for some time, and is just waiting for a tad more warm-up to burst forth in bloom.

Crocus: a signal that spring cannot be far off

          Photos by Connie J. Bowers

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See the before, during, and after photos of a grouping of ornamental grasses that we decided to cut back in early February this year.  The result made the nice stand of ornamental evergreen trees behind the grasses (3 or 4 varieties) really stand out for the rest of winter.   As shown, a power hedger makes cutting back such mature grass stands easy, though it is quite time-consuming to package all those cutting for disposal. (You can also tie the grass bunch together before cutting, with rope or duct tape, to keep the cuttings together).  Doing it now, leisurely, allows more time during the very busy early spring for the multitude of other chores.

Grasses Before

Grasses During Trimming

Grasses After Trimming

There are various other landscape tasks that can be done at this time.  Many deciduous trees and shrubs are best pruned now while they are dormant and their structure is easily visible.  Jump start garden bed clean up now, again to free up some time in the spring for many other things.   Hopefully, you’ve left many plants, with drying seed heads, in addition to the ornamental grasses, standing through the winter to provide interest and feeding opportunity for birds.  These too are likely beginning to topple and can be cut back.

You can also begin to remove old leaves and other plant debris sitting on the ground around plants.  It is, in fact, important to protect plants with compost or mulch, and often, fallen leaves contribute to this.  Also fallen plant matter decomposes and feeds the soil.  However, this debris, unfortunately, can harbor insects and diseases that overwinter in it and the soil beneath.  If left untouched, this debris becomes a prime suspect to attack your ornamental plants in the spring.  Ditto for clusters of fallen tree leaves that piled up after the fall leaf cleaning.  Breezes may have blown leaves up against shrubs and trees, and the large mats of leaves can also harbor pests and prevent needed moisture from reaching the base of plants.

You can start removing this material now, but do not leave bare ground around plants – they do need some protection from the cold.  Once temperatures moderate, you can finish the cleanup proceedings by applying compost or mulch around your plantings.  You may not need to pick up old debris under all plants.  Focus on those that are most susceptible to insects and diseases – roses for example, and other plants that have shown evidence of pest problems.   Keep in mind that pests will also overwinter in weeds that are around – such as winter annuals — and this is yet another reason to remove them promptly.

Winter is the “off-season” for gardening.  So, take advantage of those warmer days to tackle tasks such as these.  Your spring gardening chores will be easier.

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