Useful Tips for Gardeners & Birders!

   Here are some of the gardening & birding tips I have found most useful for a successful vegetable bounty & wonderful birds & blooms!

~ When planting your annuals, perennials & other transplants, remember to really break up the root ball. Remove all the soil if necessary to free up the roots. The peat they are often planted in will repel water anyway. Not a good start.

~ If you don’t have well water, remember to dechlorinate your water before watering those container gardens. (see April blog)

~ Deadhead & pinch your spent flowers regularly for a summer of blooms.

~ Try planting your tomatoes with the buried stem horizontal instead of buried deep vertically. Remove the leaves first. The plant will lean initially but will shoot up towards the sun in no time. I am trying this for myself this year. Will let you know. The roots formed will be able to get water more readily since they are closer to the surface. (And plant far away from any walnut trees).

~ Vegetables no longer thriving? Rotate your crops from past years to a new location.

~ Hand watering can never replace an inch of rain. So, really, really water deeply & consistently any new plantings this season. A rain gauge will help you judge what’s needed week to week.

~ Continue to feed you birds throughout the summer. Not all birds eat insects, so keep up with the seeds & suet. (and what a pleasure to watch!)

~ Buy a birdbath & keep if filled regularly. Birds that won’t visit your feeders will stop by for a drink instead.

~ Keep a record of all your successes & failures so you will remember for next year!