Prepping the garden

Juliarugula

It’s been a gorgeous sunny 70 degree day, so I spent some time getting the garden ready for spring. Weeding, plants a few hellebores I picked up at Trader Joe’s (very rootbound - hopefully they grow out of it), worked on laying down paths.

I’m moving all my bed rows over into where I had path rows last year, so I have to shift over all my watering lines, and probably switch out where I have straw mulch vs leaves. This will mean I won’t have a row of dahlias up against the privacy fence, which wasn’t the ideal layout last year for many reasons…

blown_dry

We've had just a few sunny days and it's been wonderful to start cleaning up. Things got very overgrown in my perennial beds over the winter and it's exciting to see the hardscape and plants emerge from the weeds. It's like magic when the shape of the garden is revealed again. Ta-da! We are being deluged by another atmospheric river right now though, with hail which is relatively rare. And cold! Definitely in like a lion. And dahlias! Yes, definitely weeding in the dahlia beds. Right now about a third are covered with the most fantastically large volunteer nasturtiums. I covered those beds with a thick mulch of coffee grounds last year and I think they are enjoying it. They have round leaves, about 2-3 inches across normally, but these would cover my hand.

Juliarugula

blown_dry Right now about a third are covered with the most fantastically large volunteer nasturtiums

Really cool! I’ve never had nasturtiums self-seed. Maybe it’s a warmer climate thing?

Dahlia53

been having many hand and shoulder problems but i got out there and weeded some quack grass out of the dahlia beds; had to dig up the glads in those spots - surprising that they survived that deep freeze! so happy about that. Never got the dahlia beds covered and with the heavy rains, fear i've lost all the top dressing and enriching of the soil that I put into those beds. Canada thistle already emerging. Lots of work to do!

Question for Ted and others;
I had meant to put some gypsum in the beds in fall and never got around to it. it's supposed to help break up heavy clay soil. Is it too late for gypsum now? Any other things you can do to add tilth? the soil is so fine - no sand in it so to speak. Very difficult soil when it comes to digging time. Sticky as glue. thanks in advance.

Juliarugula

Dahlia53 ugh, Canada Thistle. Nothing kills it.

I’m in zone 6a (used to be 5b), and my glads come back every year and multiply with zero attention. They’re a lot hardier than the packaging says.

Teddahlia

"I had meant to put some gypsum in the beds in fall and never got around to it. it's supposed to help break up heavy clay soil. Is it too late for gypsum now?"
I thought you put it down a few weeks before you plant. It does dissolve in water and go away and it is the action of the pellets(not the chemical) that does the work.

Dahlia53

Teddahlia thanks for your answer about the gypsum, Ted. I hope it helps my sticky clay fine silt soil. Too bad I'm not a potter!

re glads; there was a lady at the farmers market, very much alive, selling stalks of gladiolas for something like $12 a stem - and selling out! 😉 I grow them because the hummingbirds fight over their nectar - it's kind of fun to watch those bossy females be so territorial and greedy; the poor males don't even stand a chance. Everything I grow is for the pollinators; I am their willing slave.

Teddahlia

Glads used to be grown by the old time dahlia people, usually to sell the flowers. Marge Gitts of Swan Island insisted that the crew till her private garden that was mostly glads(statice too) and she picked them and put them on the flower stand while being in her 80s. I think she may have had them pay separately for them but I do not remember. Les Connell sold them too. Note, mostly dead people (that lived well into their 80s).

calico20hill

Gladiolus in the garden add height and form to a collection of annual flowers too. I like some to mix into my dahlia bouquets as well. it is fun to try different color combinations each year, though the ones left in my garden over winter have no trouble coming back.

Juliarugula

I worked for three full days, and aside from the last few tubers that should be coming in the mail today, I’ve gotten the whole backyard dahlia garden planted (about 400 plants).

I feel oddly let down. Now what do I do?

JK - I have plenty to do. It’s just not as fun as dahlias.

Krista

Juliarugula Woohoo, way to go — 400 plants in the ground already?! I’m itching for our planting date to be here and can’t wait for that gratifying “all planted” feeling.

KitCMC

Juliarugula 🙌

Juliarugula

Krista I got the tubers you sent today and got them planted too, and now I’m all done! Thanks so much- they are beautiful!

I do have an “overflow” bed at a nearby church garden that I will be planting if all goes well, but they’re not quite ready yet. I went to the kickoff meeting today and we’re all supposed to wait to plant, because the pastor has “ideas” this year. So, not sure what that means… 😬. I’ll be ok without the overflow space, but it was nice to have last year, and fun to hobnob with other gardeners in the community. 🤞

Krista

Juliarugula Hooray, I’m so happy to hear it! And an overflow space sounds amazing to have. Also, I forgot one tuber for you — I’ll get it in the mail on the double. I’ve been so disorganized this year, and have forgotten a tuber here and there in some others’ packages too. 😅 Next year will be better when life is in one place.

Juliarugula

Krista oh gosh! I didn’t even notice! Don’t worry about it - we can plan it for a future swap!

MissyWeitzel

In previous years I planted in 4' wide beds. Neither I nor the dahlias were fond of it so this year I redid my entire layout. Now I have 2' wide beds. I started planting tubers only and the new layout is a dream!! I should have done this sooner!