I've been avoided pulling out the dead zinnias in the island beds, hoping that they would provide seed for the local birds. But the birds don't seem to venture into the middle of the garden much, so the dead zinnias were just an eyesore.
I got them out of one bed, shaking them out and scattering seed as I did. I also collected some seed, and have a bunch more in the other bed, so if anyone is interested in some orange Zinnia Profusion seed, let me know and I can send some :-)
Haven't started on the other bed yet. It has more problems than just dead zinnias. It's overrun with bermuda grass which will be a pain to pull out. However, while I was morosely poking around in it, I discovered a pleasant surprise....
... underneath last year's daylily leaves, new daylilies starting to peek out of the ground!
There are quite a lot of them, so I think that, although late summer is the best time to divide them, I'm going to divide them up this spring and move the extras to the newer of the two island beds.
I didn't take proper care of the compost bin last year, so while I was able to get some good compost out of it, most of it hadn't actually composted.
I pulled a bunch of dry leaves and branches out for my husband to run through our new chipper/shredder and then I will layer that with some leftover potting soil, wet it down and add some compost starter and see if I can take better care of it this year.
The small amount of compost I was able to use, I put on the small vegetable bed and dug it in. Next weekend, weather permitting, I'll go ahead and buy some bags of composted cow manure, or something similar, and add to both veggie beds.
Then we'll have to turn our attention to a drainage problem we have noticed. More about that in another post.
Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.
7 comments:
I've been slowly working my way around my own garden doing winter clean-up. It's a chore, isn't it, but deeply satisfying in its own way.
So ready for spring. I have noticed some day lilies sprouting some green, too. I bought a big bag of wild flowers seeds and some more zinias and can't wait to get them scattered soon. Ready to dig in the dirt!
Hi Jayne,
You mentioned not having the pretty snow, but I would gladly take your green and brown along with the warmer temps and earlier spring. I do enjoy seeing what's going on in warmer places, though, and the progression of spring as it heads my way. I've divided daylilies in the spring before, and they did fine, by the way.
I agree with Sue about the snow, Jayne. How I envy you getting outside already. I do most of my perennial dividing in the spring -- just don't have to leave it too late. P. x
Hard to believe that it's almost spring again. I'm ready for warmer weather, and I cannot wait to watch my garden "spring" back to life. After the snow in my garden melts, I'll be out there cleaning up too.
Your gardens are looking like spring mode as we get another layering of snow here in the northeast. I'll take clean up over snow anytime!
I"m so sorry for those of you getting buried in snow yet again this winter. It makes me feel guilty for complaining about our weather here!
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