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Get your yard ready for spring
Published 2/4/2010 in Agriculture : Columns
The new month of February is already here and warmer days will soon arrive. Quite often, late February will have temperatures near 70 degrees, but sometimes not. But when the temperatures do rise, are you ready for the spring that will soon follow? Here are a few tips to help get you out of the house and into your yard.
Winter is one of the best times to prune shade trees. With snow and ice causing limb breakage, pruning to remove and repair broken limbs is needed. But even if weather hasn't been a factor, pruning is always easier done before the new leaves emerge.
- Never leave stubs.
- Cut damaged branches back to laterals or to the trunk, but preserve branch collars by making cuts just outside of the collar and branch bark ridge.
- Use the three-cut method for larger branches to prevent bark stripping.
- Prune to develop the shape of tree you desire.
Fruit tree pruning is best done when trees are dormant. During February, when temperatures may be less extreme, is the best time to prune fruit trees. A small amount of annual pruning encourages production of fruiting wood and opens trees to increased light penetration which increases fruit production and quality. When pruning fruit trees, understand what age wood the different species bear fruit on. Make proper pruning cuts and use sharp pruning tools. Do not use pruning paints or wound dressings on pruning wounds. If a fruit tree sustained storm damage, consider removing the tree if more than 50 percent of the tree's branches need to be removed due to breakage.
Starting seeds indoors for transplants allows gardeners to grow varieties that are not available to buy locally. Growing quality transplants requires the right growing conditions and not starting too early. Depending on the vegetable, start most transplants about six weeks prior to the expected outdoor planting date. So if you're wanting to plant tomatoes on May 1, then plant the seeds indoors about the third week of March.
To grow quality transplants, use a soilless potting mix and provide fairly high humidity, cool temperatures (60 to 70 degrees F) and 14 to 16 hours of bright light per day. Use a grow light or one cool white and one warm white fluorescent light, placed one to two inches from the plants. A little air movement, such as with a fan, can also lead to sturdier transplants. Any good fluorescent light will provide excellent plant growth if you keep the bulbs about two to three inches above the young plants to maintain a very high intensity.
Checking seed viability: Test the germination rate of leftover seed before buying new. The seeds of many plants can remain viable for up to five years if stored correctly. Conduct a germination test by placing some seed between paper towels that are kept constantly moist and at a temperature between 65 and 70 degrees F. Check seeds daily for sprouting. If, after seven to 10 days, the germination rate is 70 percent or less, consider buying new seed.
For more information or assistance on this or other topics, please call the Extension Office at 272-3670, located at 501 S. Ninth St.
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