Ferret Hollow Gardens - The Blog
I look forward to having the Ferret Hollow Gardens Blog added to the Patch. I'll be adding posts regarding garden, green and sustainable practices, and environmental issues, ideas, information, questions, and answers. Please feel free to ask gardening questions and I'll do my best to answer. I'll link this to my other blog when the address is updated in a couple of weeks. For the time being you can reach it at: The Ferret Hollow Gardens - The Blog.
To start off with here are a few ideas.
1. Due to the warm winter season many plants are already starting to wake up and grow. It's time to cut down your Liriope and other perennials before the new shoots emerge.
2. Consider going totally green this year. Instead of chemical fertilizers try using compost tea, leaf mold/mulch, compost, worm castings and other Natural soil ammendments. This would also go for turf grass lawns. More at a later date.
3. Start sewing seeds indoors by the end of the month for a jump start in the spring.
4. Prune your shrubs and trees that bloom on new growth this year. Wait until after blooming for shrubs and trees that bloom on last year's bud set.
5. Feed your local wildlife. This is the hard part of the winter when fresh food sources are scarce. I put out bird food and wildlife food mixed with berries-grapes and cherries. A good suet is also appreciated by the birds that don't eat seed.
I have also included a photo of Emma, the Queen Chipmunk of Ferret Hollow Gardens taken last year in August. She is a bit chunky - pregnant. Check out my blog for other images and videos of her, Stella, and the other chipmunks, Fauna, and Flora.
Shirley
3:37 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
What sort of lights do you use on seeds sown indoors?
Suzanne Iommi
8:43 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
flourescent grow lights found at most garden supplies.
Shirley
5:05 pm on Sunday, February 12, 2012
Of course. I should have been mores specific. Do you use all white lights or do you use red and/or blue spectrum lights in addtion to the white lights? Which heat mats have been successful for you?
Suzanne Iommi
9:11 am on Monday, February 13, 2012
Not sure re: spectrum, just sold as "grow lights". I have been using HYDRA FARM mats for three years, pricey but well made. Seeding before the end of March w/i light and heat is way too soon, regardless of other reccomendations. (also research "damp off")
Stephen Coan
3:51 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Shirley, probably the best indoor lighting bulbs are the T5 florescent bulbs. Seth at Boyer Indoor Gardening in Gloucester City confirmed this and stated that for seedlings the best bulb to use is the T5. He is a good resource for indoor / outdoor / / hydroponic growing supplies and fertilizers. This year I think we're going to have an early warming up / growing season start. I'm starting to prep this weekend. I think that starting seeds in a couple of weeks is not a bad idea. That way you can have an early start to whatever you're growing. If I'm wrong and the weather holds out and stays cool then the worst that you have done is to have larger seedlings to plant when the weather breaks. If the roots and seedlings start to get too large then transplant them from the seed trays to individual pots and keep indoors until conditions permit. I myself like to experiment to see what can be pushed. FYI - the USDA has just come out with a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map. I have a link to the searchable map on my website in the resources section. www.ferrethollowgardens.com
Stephen Coan
5:48 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
For More information contact me:
Stephen Coan
Stephen Coan llc at Ferret Hollow Gardens
Landscape Design, Installation, and Consulting
267-251-5855
garden@ferrethollow.com
www.ferrethollowgardens.com
http://www.stephencoan.com/blog/
http://stephencoanllcatferrethollowgardens.brandyourself.com