Bumpin down

Actually, you could pot them up and drop them in your pond now if you wanted to. It won't hurt them. Hardy tubers are pretty tough. Watch the tubers closely if you store them in a cool place. I've never had much luck trying to store the hardy tubers. I tried to store some this winter with the sand and baggie method and that was a complete disaster. I thought I had them stored where they wouldn't freeze but they did freeze solid and ruined the tubers. There were a few that didn't freeze but those just rotted. With hardies, it just seems to be best to keep them in the pond even though its cold and icy. As long as the tuber doesn't freeze solid, they will be o.k.

Compost is what the maker makes of it. What you feed your compost decides its quality. Before putting unfinished compost around plants, consider just how "hot" it might be. Hot being not referring to temperature, but to the stage at which the compost has matured. You know that compost takes nitrogen out of the soil to effect breakdown of what is put into the pile. Hence, unfinished compost, still in the process of breaking down, will continue to use nitrogen from where it finds it. If the compost is still in working stage, then it will continue to rob the soil which plants you put into it, might need to survive. Tender new plants, seeds especially, should never be put next to unfinished compost...dug in or not. Put next to tender roots, the plant will not do well and may die on the spot. Don't be in such a rush to add compost to your soil when its not needed right away. New plants can start off in less than ideal soil and you can always add the amendments later. If you must add compost, then buy some commercial composted sheep or other manure and give your compost pile time to come to something. On other gardens, mulching the unfinished product can be done but keep it away from new plants just coming into the world. Especially true is don't top-dress around peony--you'll change the depth they're in and might prevent bloom.

We are suppose to have a wonderful week here in northwest FL...upper 60's during the day...upper 40's at night. I know we still have cold weather ahead, but this week will be a welcome respite. I've been outside cutting back the rose bushes this morning. I have lots of dead foliage on other plants that also need to be cut back. With this weather I can space it out and won't have to kill myself trying to get it all done in one day. I'm ready to dig in the dirt and lay mulch and enjoy the outdoors! We have huge flocks of robins that come in our yard every afternoon. They tear up the grass looking for worms and insects...messy birds...but fun to watch. For those of you up north...hang in there...spring is around the corner! Kathy