Deadhead duty, mighty microgreens and more to do in the garden this week – Orange County Register

1. Keep Deadhead Pansies and Johnny Jump-Ups (miniature pansies) blooming. Deadheading is a method of removing wilted flowers to allow more flowers to grow. Wilting flowers is a sign that the seeds are forming, which consumes a lot of energy in the faded flower ovary, inhibiting the development of more flowers. Other winters that benefit from this practice Flowers include stock (Matthiola incana), cyclamen, alyssum, calendula, primrose, and snapdragon.

Stock and snapdragons can survive for several years by leaving flower stalks after the flowers have finished blooming. Simply cut them to where the leaf set is growing and the leaves will come out and bloom again. We recommend sanitizing with a solution of 9 parts bleach to 1 part water between cleanings. Of course, you can deadhead just by pinching the base of the flower with your thumb and index finger (but don’t dip your fingers in bleach while pinching). I get stuck twice.

2. Microgreens are becoming increasingly popular due to their ease of care and rapid growth, nutritional value, and the taste, texture, and color they add to salads and other dishes. Unlike sprouts, which are consumed whole, microgreens, as the name suggests, harvest only the green cotyledons, first leaves, and stems one to two weeks after germination. They can be grown in shallow purpose-built containers, such as containers for take-out burgers or store-bought cupcakes. Removing the base from the lid reveals two trays for growing microgreens. After punching some holes in the tray for drainage, cover the bottom with 1-2 inches of moist potting soil. Sow the seeds and sprinkle a thin layer of soil on top.

If you cover the container with a plastic dome or plastic wrap, the cover will keep the soil moist so you don’t have to water it again. It should be watered twice to keep the soil moist. Where natural light doesn’t reach you will need the help of a grow light. The most delicious small vegetables are peas, radishes, beets, mustard and the healthiest is broccoli.

3. If you have a front yard with a dead lawn or need a makeover in another way, Colonial Garden is a good place to consider. The first step in this conversion is to create a straight path that extends from the sidewalk or street to the foyer area. Build from bricks, paving stones, or decomposed granite. A garden or a path through a garden immediately demands a commitment to what is happening on either side of it.

Consider subdividing the two plots of your new yard and allowing each smaller plot to be accessed by a side road. The more you divide your garden, the easier and more attractive it will be to visit your plants. You become a growing person rather than a watcher.

Once upon a time, in colonial America from Virginia to Massachusetts, front yards divided like this were places to grow fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers. When it comes to design ideas, think twice before placing plants along the facade of a house or other building, known as foundation planting. and create a cramped and messy look. You can’t see what the houses are, but you can’t see the plants either – only the front is visible – nor what they are. Shrubs and trees adjacent to structures are also more prone to fungal and pest problems due to lack of air circulation and the inability of moisture to evaporate from the sun-deprived leaf surfaces.

4. I talk a lot about mulching, but I don’t think I can say too much because the benefits are so great. I found out about a two-year study conducted at Michigan State University. There, the growth of mulched and unmulched young tees was compared. After two years, the trunk thickness of the mulched trees (trunk diameter at 6 inches from the ground) was 70% greater than that of the unmulched trees. Soil moisture levels to a depth of 18 inches were consistently higher for mulched trees. It slows down or the fruit cracks. The tree used this time is Bloodgood Platanus (Platanus x acerifolia var. Bloodgood). There are some key differences between Bloodgood and the California native Platanus racemosa. On the other hand, the California sycamore has a straight trunk with a symmetrical pyramidal dome, with a sudden sharp 45 degree or more bend in the trunk, producing angular and unpredictable growth. increase. Also, California sycamores are highly susceptible to fungal diseases that disfigure the leaves and cause squarish growth when attacking the meristems of shoots, whereas Bloodgood is resistant to these diseases and is It has glossy foliage compared to diseased foliage. Sycamore. Both types of plane trees can grow up to 75 feet tall and live over 500 years.