gardenEven while many parts of the country are still under a blanket of snow (with more in the forecast!) the calendar tells us that spring is in fact, on the way. It’s easy to forget how close it is, but for everyone hoping to put in a garden this spring, there are some things you can do to get your garden ready for the warmer days of spring.

As you are waiting for the last of the snow to melt away, you can start thinking about what plants you will grow. It’s important that the plants you choose can grow successfully in the climate you live in. Don’t assume that just because your local nursery sells a certain type of plant or flower that it will grow in your climate. You can consult a USDA zone map to find out what zone you live in, and then use books or websites about flowers and plants to find out which zones each variety grows best in. Many gardners end up with problems with pests or having to use chemicals to get their plants to grow- and it could be that the wrong type of flowers were planted for the climate.

In addition to the climate conditions, you’ll also need to consider the type of sunlight your garden area receives and how much light the plant varieties you are selecting require to grow. Sunflowers need full sun most of the day, and will not grow in areas that are shady. Your local nursery can help you select plants depending on how much sun the area receives, or you can consult a book about plants as this information is generally included.

Once the snow melts, and the danger of cold, frosty nights has passed, you can begin to prepare the soil for planting. Soil preparation begins with testing your soil to find out what pH level your soil is, as well as how much of various nutrients are in the soil, including phosphorus, nitrogen, calcium, potassium and magnesium. You should test your soil before beginning a garden; and then every three years after planting the garden. There are many facilities that will test the soil for you, including many local universities. You just put some soil into a sealed plastic bag, label it and send to the testing service.

The health of your soil depends on the drainage. Root growth is effected by soil with poor drainage, and the absorption of nutrients by the plants is greatly effected by too much or too little drainage. You can test your drainage ability with a simple, do-it-yourself test. Dig a hole about six inches across and twelve inches deep. Put water in the hole and let it drain. Once the water has drained, fill it again and time how long it will take the water to completely drain out of the hole. If it takes more than eight hours, you have a problem with your drainage that will affect the growth of plants.

Debbie Dragon writes for http://www.hoppyshopper.com about Home and Garden and other consumer topics.

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Fire Resilient Gardening by Leo Nov

 

photo credit: Kanzeon Zen Center

Many homeowners, when considering landscaping and gardening, are more concentrated on having a landscape that is pleasing to the eye, is a complement to their house, and has variations of color, foliage, and flowers.

There is another important aspect of home landscaping that should be considered, which is safety. If you are developing your landscape, you should think about fire safety in general, and how flammable the plants are that you will use. Be aware that flammable plants in your landscape can increase the risk of fire around your home. These plants can act as fuel that contributes to the intensity of a fire.

Although there are many preventative methods applicable to your backyard and outdoor area, planting fire resilient plants is one of the best methods you can use to support fire safety.

Fire resilient plants have a stronger capacity to withstand the high temperatures associated with fire and are less likely to be ignited by flame or other sources. The foliage and stems from these plants will rarely contribute to the intensity of a fire.

Be aware that fire resilient plants are not fire proof and can most certainly be damaged by fire.

Some of the fire resistive plant characteristics you will find are supple and moist leaves, water-like sap (usually the sap will not have a strong scent), thicker bark, high moisture content, and low resin content.

Planting Fire Resilient Plants

By surrounding your house with fire resilient plants, you won’t guarantee the safety of your home, however, it will decrease the risk of damage. A great advantage that these plants have is that a garden filled with fire resistant plants will grow back looking good even when the worst happens.

Proper placement of fire resilient plants will help to protect your house by sheltering it from intense heat. You should plant the most drought tolerant and fire resistant plants within about three feet of your home.

There are a wide variety of plant and tree species to choose for your landscape that are both attractive and fire resistant.

Consider the following species which belong to the grasses, groundcovers, vines, perennials and annuals family: African daisy,  Iris, Ivy, Thyme, Yucca, Poppy, Lavender, Red hot poker, Clematis, Coral bells.

photo credit: Vertigogen

In the trees and shrubs family you will find Oleander, Lilac, Jasmine, Poplar, Oak, Plum, Peach, Maple, Elm, Ash, Birch, and Cherry.

Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS®, to learn more about Fire Damage Cleanup and Smoke Damage visit RestorationSOS.com or call 1-877-767-2407.

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