March , 1996
It was just a year ago today..."
- with apologies to Sergeant Pepper
"Are there memories left that are safe from the clutches of phony anniversarists?"
-W. J. Wetherby
"I don&Mac226;t believe that I have ever seen you so committed," Catharine told me, over a glass of champagne at China 88. "I don't mean to congratulate an already over-inflated ego, but your next column will certainly be a milestone... the one year anniversary of writing garden stories for the Coast Line!" I must admit, even I am amazed that a year has passed since my first column.
A great deal has happened in a year...many new gardening friends have introduced themselves; great suggestions have been made for horticultural subjects. The Plant Man, my alter-ego, was born...the evangelist and pontificator of garden issues. Let's see what garden questions he&Mac226;s answering this month.
Q. Dear Plant Man, I haven&Mac226;t pruned my roses yet. Am I too late?
A. Absolutely not. Prune lightly to shape, and don&Mac226;t forget to fertilize and apply a dormant spray.
Q. Hello. My camellia has just finished blooming. Do I need to do anything with it?
A. Fertilize it with a complete fertilizer, one formulated for acid-loving plants. Mulch with azalea mix or leaf mold; don't forget to rake up old flowers.
Q. Plantman, should I fertilize my garden, even though it has been raining?
A. Spring is advancing rapidly (at least, that&Mac226;s what the calendar tells me). If you don't fertilize your garden on a regular basis, this is the most important month to remember to do it. I would recommend that you try Gro Power Plus or Gro-Rite because they become immediately available to plants and are easy to apply.
Q. Plant Man, my lawn isn't looking very green and has a number of holes in it. Any hints?
A. Your lawn should be fertilized with a product high in nitrogen. You may decide to select a fertilizer that is combined with a weed killer. This is a good month to reseed bare spots as well.
Q. Hey you, Plant Man! Is it too late for bulbs?
A. March is the "other" bulb season. There is plenty of time to start gladiolus, dahlias, the fragrant tuberose, and of course tuberous begonias. They will all benefit by being mulched to keep the soil moist.
Q. Plant Man, is it finally safe to start my tomatoes and herbs?
A. If you're missing those home grown tomatoes, I would recommend that you set out a variety like Early Girl, which does well in Laguna during March. You can, of course, start herbs by seed in a protected area. They'll be ready to plant in your garden by the warmer weather.
Q. What do I do with my old bulbs?
A. Hyacinth, narcissus, or other spring-flowering bulbs that have flowered may be saved, by allowing the foliage to remain on the plant. Once the foliage has matured, remove the bulbs and keep them dry until time for planting in the fall.
Once upon a time, the Plant Man wished for a partner who loved bulbs as much as he. Then he met sweet Catharine, who not only has a passion for flowers, but remembered to chill (not freeze) tulips and hyacinths in December. It is a marriage made in a garden...each passing anniversary finding their love has grown. See you next time.
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