Bayscape Blog 12/29/10
New Year’s Resolutions for the Gardener
By Judy DeFiglio

Since my garden lays buried under a couple feet of snow it’s a little hard to think about spring planting. Even those blazing hot days we had this summer are just a fading memory. But as 2010 comes to a rapid end, we need to make some gardening resolutions for 2011. Here are some of mine.

1) I will plan my garden. I won’t buy a plant until I know where it will go.

Make those plans now. Don’t put it off. You know that when the weather breaks we all rush outside trying to escape our “cabin fever” from the long cold winter. We start to rake, dig and plant with a furious abandon. The rush is on and there is no time to plan, the garden is calling you. Do it now. Grab a mug of herbal tea (to remind you of that great herb garden you want to start), gather pen and paper or open your computer for those who prefer the hi-tech approach, and start your list.

2) I will incorporate more native plants in my garden.

Native plants are a winning addition to every landscape: gorgeous for the garden, good for the gardener because they are less work and great for the environment because they reduce the use of harmful chemicals. If you are starting a new plot, natives are the sensible way to go. They are low maintenance and require no fertilizer, and little to no additional watering. Even if you have an established garden you can find a native to include that will coordinate with your existing landscape. For ideas and information be sure to check the previous blogs.


3) I will only add plants to my garden that have several seasons of interest

A plant has to earn a spot in my garden. It must be more than just a pretty flower. Interesting leaf shape or color, berries, unusual seed pods, long blooming or reblooming flowers are some of the things to consider. Lots of natives have many of these attributes. Echinacea is a good example with pretty, long blooming flowers that can take the heat and drought as well as, interesting seed cones that attract birds to your garden.

4) I will do my best to pull weeds early and not use harmful chemicals to eradicate them.

Weeds can be a big problem in any landscape but powerful weedkillers can be an even bigger problem to the environment. Knowledge is the key. Learn to identify weeds and take care of them when they are young when they can simply be pulled to remove them. Weeding is good exercise and a really wonderful stress reducer.

5) I will mulch my garden beds

Mulch will reduce weeds, conserve water and give your landscape a finished look. It free at many County and Municipal Recycling Centers.

6) I will have a compost pile

Composting is the #1 best thing you can do to improve your garden. It is simple and easy. It does not smell. It’s another win/win situation. Fantastic for your garden and another great thing for the environment since you recycle lots of organic material that would be going to the landfill.

7) I will reduce my lawn size.

Everyone loves a nice, green lawn but it comes at a high cost. It is labor intensive and is causing problems for our environment. Barnegat Bay is suffering because so many homeowners over-fertilize their lawns and it runs off into the bay. Lawns also require a large amount of water to look good. Reducing lawn size can really make a difference. Try planting native grasses and groundcovers to replace some of your lawn. They are drought tolerant and also act as a filter to catch run off.

8) I will be a good Shore Steward

Find out more. www.littoralsociety.org

Happy New Year and Happy Gardening

Bayscape Blog 12/14/2010
Give Everyone a Priceless Gift this Year
By Judy DeFiglio

How’s that Christmas shopping going? Tired of fighting the mobs at the mall? Tired of having to wrap all the presents you bought and probably spent too much for? (Not to mention, the cost wrapping paper and the environmental impact of all that wrapping paper headed to the landfills on the day after Christmas.) Money is tight this year for many. The world has sustained many environmental nightmares recently. Maybe it’s time to rethink Christmas giving. Wait. Don’t call me Scrooge just yet. I’m all about giving at the holidays. Matter of fact, I think with a little planning, we can give a priceless gift to everyone .

The Priceless Gift List and Environmentally Friendly Tips:

· Give the gift of a beautiful garden. Take divisions, cutting or collect seeds to give to gardeners on your list. If you’ve already put your garden to bed, wrap up a picture of the plant with a promise to give it to them in the spring. It’s free but shows you care.

· Introduce your family and friends to the native plants. Purchase a native plant or gift certificate from a mail order nursery. They will ship plants at the appropriate time. Give a book on native plants.

· Plant a tree in the gift recipient’s name, or donate to an environmental organization in their name.

· Join the Littoral Society. Share this blog. Sign a shore stewards pledge and promise to garden responsibly and protect our waterways.


· If you feel it’s not a present unless it’s wrapped, get creative. Do a nature theme. Reuse your brown shopping bags to wrap gifts. Gather berries, pinecones, and sprigs of greens to decorate the boxes. Use biodegradable twine instead of ribbon. Or make it a family project, using food color, stamp designs on the brown paper. Your gifts will look beautiful and unique.

· Promise to be a more responsible gardener next year, increasing the number of native plants in your landscape and decreasing the use of fertilizers and pesticides.


· Start a compost pile.

· If the mall is still your thing, plan your shopping in advance. Make fewer trips and group your errands to save fuel and reduce emissions.

The whole world will thank you for this priceless gift of saving our environment.

Bayscape Blog 11/07/10
“Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly”
By Judy DeFiglio

The holiday season is upon us, and as I start to decorate my home I am reminded of yet another reason to “go native”. Native plants don’t only add beauty to your garden but can also be used to beautify your interior as well. Start singing “Deck the Halls” and head outside.
First stop, the American holly (ilex opaca) with stiff branches of dark green holly leaves and bright red berries. Nothing is more festive. Snip some holly to bring inside, but handle with care, the leaves are very sharp. I recommend placing the holly in a vase with water, if not it dries out quickly. Another native holly, inkberry holly (ilex glabra) has small, smooth, green leaves similar to boxwood and black berries that will add to your holiday décor.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without some evergreen boughs. Pines, spruce and even Easter red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) with its blue fruit, can be used to decorate, and your house will smell great too. Again, use care because the needles can be sharp. Also be careful with the placement of these branches since they may ooze sap which could damage surfaces.

My favorite native to use for winter decorating is the red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea). It’s not the flower display that’s the star of this dogwood, it’s the stems. They turn a spectacular red in winter. They look great against the snow and add color to the winter garden, but they also make an interesting, colorful accent inside. This dogwood likes to be pruned so feel free to cut as many branches as you want. The new growth is the reddest. An added bonus, several of my branches have rooted in the vase and I planted them back in the garden in spring. Virginia sweet spire (Itea virginica) also has reddish stems that can make a nice addition to a holiday arrangement.
The large flower heads of the oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) can be dried and added to wreaths and decorations. You can also snip the seed heads of our native grasses to bring indoors. Try Northern Sea Oats (chasmanthium latifolium)or switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) for a unique look.

This holiday season let’s celebrate the beauty of nature. Let your native plants do double duty and deck your halls with boughs of real holly instead of plastic imitations. Mother Earth is giving you a beautiful gift. Enjoy.

Bayscape Blog 11/30/10
Divide & Conquer
By Judy DeFiglio

I have been sharing with you all the great things about growing native plants, and while they are easy to care for and less work than other exotic ornamental, even natives need some occasional maintenance when grown in a garden setting. Especially if your garden is small, you may want to take steps to keep your plants from growing to large or spreading too much.

The easiest way to control any plant in your garden is do your homework before you start. Do a little research on the plants you think you want in your landscape and be sure you choose the right plant for the right space. That’s more then half the battle. Sun, shade, water, soil type all play a major role in determining how big your plant will grow. A little time spent on planning will save you lots of time digging and moving unhappy plants.

Even with the best research and design you may still find you’ve made a mistake or years have passed and the conditions have changed. Your garden spot used to be shady but the tree came down in last year’s storm or the neighbor’s new sprinkler is now drowning your drought tolerant natives. Don’t worry. Most natives can be moved with little problem. The exception is those plants like butterfly weed (Asclepias turberosa) that have a tap root. Here’s how: First, decide where you want to move the plant. Second, dig the new hole. Next, dig around the plant and gently lift it trying to keep the root ball intact. Finally, place it in the new hole at the same depth it was growing, fill in with soil and water well.

If you are happy with the placement of a plant but it has overgrown its space you can dig and divide the plant, replant one section in the same place, then plant the rest of the divisions in a new location or pass them along to friends. Most perennials can be divided spring or fall but a good rule of thumb is if it blooms in the spring divide in fall and if it blooms in the fall divide in spring. This way you will be sure not to interrupt the bloom cycle.

Another way to control your natives is to deadhead them before they go to seed. Simply snip off the spent flower so no new plants will grow. Personally, I usually leave a few flower heads go to seed because I enjoy a few surprises and few free plants.

If your garden has gotten out of control, divide, conquer and share the extras.