Companion planting – a little help from their friends

Tomatoes in your asparagus bed are said to foil asparagus beetles and members of the onion family are thought to discourage the carrot rust fly.

Tomatoes in your asparagus bed are said to foil asparagus beetles and members of the onion family are thought to discourage the carrot rust fly.

The keynote speaker will talk about her concept of edible landscaping, including tips on how to cultivate and cook with produce from “theme gardens.”

The exhibits included structures, patios, fire pits, water features, retaining walls, specimen trees, flowering shrubs and masses of bulbs forced into bloom for this winter spectacle.

Add these plants to your garden first thing in spring, before you get carried away by all the spring bloomers that will be showcased early on at the garden center.

The final mulching for winter protection should not be done until the ground freezes which usually doesn’t occur until December. If put it down too early, voles may take up residence and feast on your perennial plants all winter.

A four-season garden would not be complete without one of these amazing ornamental grass.

Perennials that bloom in late summer and fall include colors of purple, red, orange, and gold that echo the fall color on deciduous trees and shrubs. These flower colors look great against the evergreen foliage of junipers, false cypress, pines and spruce trees.

The longer you wait to pull out the weeds, the deeper the roots will dive into the soil. Instead of the slight tug on the stem it takes now to remove the weed, you will be digging out the roots with a trowel later.

“Anticipation is one of the joys of gardening and if you know how and where to look, you can find signs of each season long before the calendar confirms it.” Nancy Goodwin

“Pet cancer is on the rise and some of it is being attributed to what we put on our lawns.”