From Ann Million's garden

1011 N. Woodlawn

Kirkwood, Missouri

63122

314-965-3070

MailSCG@aol.com

On the next warm day, I set out with a power tool.  If you saw me, you would know that I cannot handle much of a power tool, but I also made use of a rake and my gloved hands. This fierce threesome had a big job to do in removing leaves which have tried very hard to firmly attach themselves to everything in sight!  One garden at a time -- not all at once -- is the way to approach what can be a very large job.  The results are absolutely worth it.  

There's life under them thar leaves and it is a joy to see it!  This job requires time, diligence, and gentleness -- emphasis on the last!  If you have a compost pile the residue can be added to it.

Leaf removal in my garden goes hand in hand with weed removal.  I do the two jobs together. Time is required  and I have a lot of it -- good thing.  Winter did not stop the weeds at all!  Weed removal will continue but in the mean time, I have used up what I had left of the PREEN in my cabinet. (PREEN -- a product for weed prevention, similar to Miracle-Gro's Weed and Feed product).

I used the next warm day to prune the clematis and the rest of my roses -- the teas, grandifloras and floribundas.  For the clematis, I followed a free handout we have a SCG that gives specific instructions for the different types.  For the roses, I did about the same thing I did for the shrubs but making sure there will be good air circulation for each plant. This requires some  judicious and light removal of  interior branches.

Next warm day: fertilizer. I sprinkled triple phosphate throughout all my gardens . Because of the rain, it is probably already doing it's job.  I then used ESPOMA's ROSE -TONE.   Last year my roses responded well to this new organic food. I've yet to add the epsom salts to the roses; I will do that next and soon.

I've snipped what needed snipping, I've removed the dead and cultivated the living. I've seen the empty spots...maybe some of the new "villosa" heucheras everyone is talking about!  Now  I can sit on my patio...in the sun...listening to the grackles courting one another...and Brody barking at the children to come and play with him...Isn't this just great?  It's Eden time! Get out in your garden. It'll lift your spirits!  It has mine.