Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2002
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/gardentips.html

Garden Tips
February 2002
Marty Johnson, President, Johnson's Garden Centers 
  and Kansas Certified Nurseryman

SPRING GARDEN SOIL PREP
    Now is an important time to get your soil into shape for the spring
planting season. While most of the winter has been dry, and the risk of
working your soil when it is too wet seems unlikely, never work wet
soil. The temptation may be there, but the soil structure can be
destroyed by working wet soil.

  When the soil is ready (light and crumbly not wet and sticky) add
organic matter such as Gard'N-Wise Cotton Boll Compost and a good
quality fertilizer such as ferti-lome Gardener's Special. Check at any
of Johnson's stores for information on our Soil Recipe which contains
everything needed to get your soil ready for spring planting.

GAMBLE GARDEN
    Although every year is different, planting a gamble garden is
something vegetable gardeners should try every season. This winter is no
exception. The warm temperatures that we enjoyed in early January got a
lot of us in the mood for outdoor activities, especially gardening.

    The earliest spring vegetables are normally planted in March. A
gamble garden is planting these same crops weeks earlier in an attempt
to take advantage of unseasonably warm weather. Many vegetables may be
planted in late February if you want to take the gamble. Try items such
as:
  - cole crops (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower)
  - lettuce (seeds or transplants)
  - onions (plants or sets)
  - potatoes 
  - radishes
  - peas  
  - spinach

    I would plant small quantities in your gamble garden. Don't plant
your complete spring crop this early. You just want to be harvesting
before your neighbors!

ANNUAL PRUNING
    Proper pruning is not done just once. It begins at planting time and
continues throughout the life of the tree. The objective is to develop
the tree's structural framework to create a canopy that has evenly
spaced branches. Try to prune so that the branches are at a fairly wide
angle (60 degrees) from the trunk. This allows adequate sunlight to reach all
the branches, and creates less chance of wind damage.

EARLY SPRING GRASS SEEDING
    While early September is the best time to plant cool-season grasses
because of the warm soil temperature, planting fescue in the winter
months can be successful. The newly planted seeds will not germinate in
a few days as in the fall, but will come up as the spring soil
temperatures allow. If you want to control crabgrass this spring, be
sure to apply Hi-Yield Crabgrass Preventer containing Tupersan, which
will allow the newly planted seeds to germinate.