Cheshire – Not everyone starts as a great gardener. Of course, according to Elizabeth Morein, you should have fun outdoors and get your hands dirty, but it is also important to educate yourself.
Maureen, a resident of Cheshire, has been a graduate of the New York Botanical Vocational School and a 30-year-old Hartford gardener and Hartford senior gardener for the past five years. She is a longtime member of the Connecticut Horticultural Association of Cheshire Suburban Garden.
Since many horticultural philosophies have changed over the years, Morein warns that what he has learned may not last. The old adage “Plant 50 cents in a $ 5 hole” reminds gardeners that they need to add fertilizer and other improvements before planting. According to Maureen, the new philosophy is to dig a wide hole and not worry about improvements because the plant does not adapt well when the plants are dead or when the roots are growing and struggling to adapt.
The same can be said of planting trees. According to Maureen, it is better to dig a hole that is “wider than the depth” than the old way of digging a hole twice. After placing the tree in the pit, Morin fills half of the soil in the pit, filling the rest of the way with water. Another change in approach to planting is about time.
“Spring is just beginning. Memorial Day was a thumbs up, now it’s May. ”
In general, spring and autumn are the best times to plant when the nights are cool and the days are warm, so plants can absorb their energy into their root systems.
That lasts for weeds. “Stay awake,” Maureen said. “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize” She points to frequent walks in the garden. If the weeds are small, take a long-stemmed hoe and scrape it. When the weeds overgrow, Moore pulls them by the hand, lying down on top to dry the roots and leave them in the garden.
“If they are bad weeds, don’t discourage them,” she said.
In general, weeds dry out quickly if they are hot and sunny, but weeds are certainly easy to grow after it rains.
Some of the most common mistakes in home gardening are “jumping too fast, buying too much and putting plants in the wrong place,” says Morein. It pays for research, advice and planning.
Maureen provides home advice. I want to help homeowners “buy the right plant for the right place.” She goes to a courtyard with her husband and offers ideas for plants and placement. It makes it easier for the landlord if they plant themselves or use a contractor.
“I even go to the nursery with clients to pick plants,” she said.
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