Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/88972
4B Daily News – Saturday, October 20, 2012 Country Lifehome garden Va. (MCT) — This month, Lisa Ziegler is sowing seeds in her flower farm fields in southeastern Virginia. Come spring, those NEWPORT NEWS, fall-planted seeds will germinate into rows and rows of colorful pop- pies, larkspur, dill, cal- endula, nigella, sweet peas, bachelor button and a Queen Anne's Lace lookalike called Green Mist. "Fall planting is full of more anticipation than any other season," says Lisa. She grows fresh cut flowers for bouquets and stems she provides to customers, florists and food mar- kets through her busi- ness, The Gardener's Workshop, an online gardening tool and seed shop (www.shoptgw.com or 888-977-7159). "You spend all winter & Reap garden rewards with fall planting Cold weather prep, outdoors MCT photo wondering, hoping and peering out the window thinking are those flow- ers going to survive and bloom? It is such a blissful moment when you realize you did it." These flowering plants are called hardy annuals, and thrive winter conditions up to zones 6. In colder regions, the seeds are best planted in early spring, or six to eight weeks before your last frost date, when the days are warm and you can work your soil, says Lisa. For sure success in your home garden, Lisa suggests that you add and thoroughly work in two to three inches of aged compost before you plant. Plant in a pat- tern, and mark using a plastic knife as a plant marker; straight rows you mark are easiest. Hoe or hand weed weekly to prevent invaders, and mulch in Royal Mix sweet peas produce multiple colors. once the seedlings are tall enough. When the seedlings are 4-8 inches tall, feed them a liquid fertilizer. "Then, put it all to bed for the winter and wait for the spring sur- prise," she says. flowers weekly and they will bloom into sum- mer." "In spring, cut your This method of sow- ing directly in the gar- den means you don't start these particular seeds indoors. The seeds germinate into babies in five to 30 days, depending on the species. They are hardy and will survive whatev- er Old Man Winter throws your way, because all the action is happening underground, says Lisa. "The plants will have a solid, strong root sys- tem to stand on, and will be more resistant to pests and diseases," she says. Even though they may look weary during winter, spring will revive them with new shoots. the seedlings until spring. The row cover also guards against wind damage. The biggest chal- lenge, says Lisa, is knowing the weeds from the flowering plants, which is why she rec- ommends planting in a pattern that you can eas- ily recognize. She main- tains a photo album of many of the seedlings at her website so you can get help there knowing what's a keeper. Because fall's tem- peratures are cooler and there's usually more rain, you won't have to water the seedlings. It's what Lisa calls her "lazy gardener" season. If rabbits are a prob- lem in your yard, you may need to use a float- ing row cover that is placed protectively over In spring, thin the seedlings so they have room to grow strong and sturdy without the com- petition of too many plants. Often, these same plants reseed to give you more plants the following year, espe- cially if you leave some old flower heads to form seeds in the garden. "Every spring, even after 14 years, I am still surprised how easy it was," says Lisa. Community Clip? e-mail: clerk@red- bluffdailynews.com or Fax: 527-9251 Through a Child's Eyes … A special contest bringing Tehama County school children and local businesses together … to the delight of Daily News readers! Selected student-designed ads published in a stand-alone section of the Daily News Saturday, December 22, 2012 • Participating businesses agree to let school children in grades 2-8 create and draw a special ad for them. • Participating businesses choose the winner from the ads designed by the children. • Winning children's ads appear in a special section of The Daily News on Saturday, December 22, one for each participating business. • First and Second place winners in three separate age categories receive cash awards and special recognition in the newspaper. • Ads published are the same size (apx. 5" wide x 3 1/4" tall) Business Operators: Deadline to commit to participate: …so we can provide list of businesses to local classrooms Business Sponsorship/Advertising cost: $ TUES., NOV. 20 Includes $7.00 for publication in the Daily News Online Digital Edition TEHAMACOUNTY 9650 Call your Advertising Representative TODAY! RED BLUFF DAILYNEWS 527-2151 OC O C O S C advertise@redbluffdailynews.com Fall is the perfect time to prepare your home's exterior and the areas around it for the winter cold. It's not yet too cold and the fall weather is ideal for working outdoors in many parts of the country, including North- ern California. Lawn and garden prep: The catch phrase "winterize your lawn" is more than just fancy words. And for most parts of the country, fall is the ideal time to prepare your lawn for spring. Adding fertilizer to your lawn now will promote growth of its root sys- tem for the winter. Look for a winter lawn fertilizer with a high potassium ratio for optimal results. Leaf pick-up: With the cooler weather come the changing colors of leaves. And soon after, comes the lawn covered in fallen leaves. There are a number of ways you can deal with fallen leaves: • Compost: Establish a compost bin, fill it up with leaves (and other compostable materials) and prepare yourself for organic, nutrient-rich soil. • Decorations: Grab a few leaves or branches and feature them in your home décor. • Make them disappear: Some communities provide curbside leaf services. Or you can always have a yard waste can that's picked up by the sanitation department. We conducted a poll on our Facebook page that suggest- ed most people have their favorite way to deal with leaves. Nearly 1,600 people responded, and more than 620 people said they get rid of their leaves by a lawn mower, over 435 rake them up and almost 250 prefer to use a leaf blower. Clean the gutters: You might not realize your gutters are clogged until it starts raining and water starts gushing over the sides. Wet leaves that remain in the gutters can freeze when the really cold temperatures hit, adding significant weight and possibly causing damage. Insulate water pipes: Avoid freezing pipes in the winter by insulating them. Whether it's in a basement or outside near the front lawn, this is one of the oldest and most trust- ed winter prep measures. Begin by cleaning the pipes of any dirt or grease. Insu- late by using fiberglass insulation, tubular sleeve insulation or a trusty old blanket. Secure the corners with duct tape for a nice tight connection. Cover the AC unit: Sure, your air conditioner unit is designed to withstand the elements. But it's possible that wet leaves and debris can rust and damage its internal work- ings. With a hose, spray the blades free of anything loose, then cover the entire unit with a breathable waterproof cover. Sean Murphy Project Home Until next time, Happy Home Improving! Sean Murphy is a copywriter for Build.com in Chico. Visit the company's website for more home improvement tips at www.build.com. Fall Color Pumpkins & Gourds Available Now! George's Specialty DORMANT SPRAY CLASS Saturday, October 27th at 11am Learn all about Dormant Spraying *Free-Please call to reserve your seat. REMINDER S.O.F.T. Fruit Tree Orders due Nov.1st (See Website for more info.) 8026 Airport Road, Redding I-5 North, Exit #673, Rt on Knighton, Rt on Airport Located 1 mile south of the Airport (Next to Kents Mkt) Open Mon-Sat 8-5 & Sunday's 10-4 wyntourgardens.com WYNTOUR GARDENS 365-2256 Facebook