Tips for “Greener Gardening” in Yakima

by Heather Caro on Mar 4, 2011

By Sharon Fisher

Earth-friendly gardens and yards are colorful, diverse, drought-tolerant, friendly to birds, butterflies and other wildlife, and, in the long run, less work than the clipped shrub- and lawn-dominated yards we’ve known for decades.

As practitioners of sustainable gardening, Master Gardeners focus on the challenges of designing garden spaces that will become easier to care for with each passing season. They will also tell you that no ground cover, perennial or shrub needs to be watered, fed, edged or mowed as often as a lawn. To that end, if you are reading this because you want to garden “greener,” you can save water by removing some of your lawn — it is a water hog.

Planting the right plant in the right place, with the proper soil, light exposure, protection from wind and moisture and drainage, will help you grow healthy plants that are not so prone to insects and diseases, as well.

Here are some other “Master Gardener” tips on how to garden “greener”:

• Create border and island gardens that replace some of your turfgrass.

• Plant trees with groundcover underneath. There are many shade-tolerant and sun-loving groundcovers that tolerate varying degrees of foot traffic: pachysandra, liriope, lamium, thyme, ajuga, blue star creeper, creeping thyme, sun-loving creeping phlox, “hens and chicks” and many varieties of sedum (Stonecrop). You may have seen “Steppables,” as well. The native evergreen Arctostaphylos uva ursi (Kinnikinnick or Bearberry) are examples of the many ground cover plants that are slightly taller. Ornamental grasses also make excellent ground cover.

• Water lawn infrequently but deeply.

• Install drip irrigation or soaker hoses and use a timer.

• Water in the early morning when there is less evaporation.

• Consider using recycled “gray” water — water from the house, such as dishwater, air-conditioner condensate, water from dehumidifiers, etc. — on ornamental plants.

• Reduce evaporation by maintaining a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch on top of all bare garden soil. Pile it around your veggies and landscape plants.

• Reduce water loss from hanging baskets by lining the insides with black plastic (except for the bottom) and using small amounts of water-absorbing crystals in the potting mix.

• When digging new beds, work compost or other organic matter into the soil to improve drainage and water-holding ability.

• Group plants together that have the same water needs.

• Get composting! Compost can include your grass clippings, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable scraps, shredded junk mail, leaves, egg shells and anything else that will break down.

• Find creative ways to use garden prunings by building trellises, gates, furniture or garden ornaments with it.

• Use sticks for labeling and plant support.

• Plant trees and shrubs that provide cover and food for small wildlife. Plant flowers and herbs that provide food for good insects and bees. Create a habitat such as an old log or pile of rocks in the corner of your yard for frogs.

COMPOSTING

Composting isn’t that difficult, and you get to use up a lot of waste that would ordinarily end up in your garbage or your garbage disposal. Compost needs alternate layers of “brown” matter, such as fall leaves, shredded newspaper and pine needles, and “green” matter, such as vegetable scraps, garden trimmings and grass clippings. “Red Wiggler” worms are very effective at biologically decomposing kitchen food wastes. You can buy a bin or container specially designed for vermiculture or you can make your own.

Get more information on beginning backyard composting on the Yakima County Public Services website: http://yakimarecycles.com/composting.asp.

ABOUT PESTICIDES

Encourage wildlife in your garden by not using pesticides. Rather than spraying at the first sign of something crawling, ask yourself if the bug is really a problem or just a passing cosmetic issue. If it is a real threat to your garden, try picking the offender off the plant by hand or using a strong spray of water from the hose. These are frequently all you need for insect control. If necessary there are many environmentally safe options, such as Bacillus thuringiensis (commonly known as Bt), which is an insecticidal bacterium widely used for control of many plant pests. There are also a variety of oils, soaps, repellents and natural insecticides that solve the problem with less impact on the environment and less collateral damage to nonpests. Be sure to follow directions and use only as indicated on the label.

The topic of the Master Gardener Spring Symposium this year is “Environmentally Friendly Gardening in Yakima.” All talks are from 7-9 p.m. in the Davis KIVA and are open to the public. $30 for the series or $10 for each class.

March 9: Ciscoe Morris. Topic: Environmentally friendly garden design.

March 16: Andy Stepniewski. Topic: Birds and bees in the garden.

March 23: Bonnie Orr. Topic: Worms and composting.

March 30: Jeannie Stephens. Topic: What’s new in perennials, shrubs and trees for the Yakima garden.

Garnish Your Winter Garden

by Heather Caro on Nov 5, 2010

By Carol Barany

Viewed from one’s frost-laced window, a winter garden is quiet and serene. Plants finally put themselves to rest after three seasons of exuberant growth. Yet there is no reason for the December garden to be stark and uninteresting. Bright flower and foliage may be missing, but winter’s neutral color palette provides a backdrop that draws the eye to other aspects of a garden’s structure that may have been missed during summer’s heyday.

Without the distraction of foliage, stems and bark can now provide rich textural interest, especially when peeking out from an icing of glittering frost or snow. The winter shape of a plant forms an intricate lattice. The muted colors of seedheads, berries and evergreens add an unexpected punch of color and attract native birds, perhaps adding the most satisfying visual element of all. The following plant selections, recommended by some of our Valley’s most extraordinary gardeners, can make your landscape a wonderland this winter.

Cornus stolonifera, or “red twig dogwood”

No winter garden is complete without a red twig dogwood. “Arctic Fire,” a recent introduction that is more compact and lush than the taller native, is a perfect choice. White blooms in May and June are followed by pale berries, which attract birds. The glory of this plant comes with winter’s chill, when its 3- to 4-foot stems are transformed from ordinary brown to a brilliant scarlet, adding a spectacular hue to the winter landscape.

Ilex verticillata, or “winterberry”

Winterberry is a native, deciduous holly that grows 6 to 10 feet tall. When its serrated glossy green leaves drop in the fall, stems festooned with brightly colored berries are revealed. When shopping, remember that fruit is set only on pollinated female plants, so be sure to place a male pollinator nearby.

Acer griseum, or “paperbark maple”

The paperbark maple is a deciduous slow grower, reaching a height of 20 feet and an equal mature spread. The pleasing rounded shape of this tree and its crimson fall foliage make it a high impact addition to gardens large or small. Its cinnamon-stick bark, unclothed and fully revealed in winter, exfoliates in papery curls and is irresistible to the eye and to the touch.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora, or “Karl Foerster” grass

Feather reed grass was the first ornamental grass to be named “Perennial Plant of the Year,” in 2001, by the Perennial Plant Association. Foliage breaks early in the spring and reaches 3 to 4 feet, with blossoms emerging in June and July atop sturdy stalks that reach 5 to 6 feet. Shimmering with frost, these seed wands will sway with grace through winter winds and stand up despite heavy snowfalls.

Picea bicolor, or “Howell’s Dwarf Tigertail” spruce

Dwarf and intermediate growing conifers are low maintenance and highly ornamental in all seasons, especially winter. This selection grows slowly to 3 to 4 feet in height and almost twice that in width in 10 years. Especially striking in the snow, the architecture of the branches as they radiate from the center of the tree and grow upward exposes the glittering cool silver-blue undersides of the needles. If that wasn’t enough, stunning violet cones in clusters cap the branches each spring.

Keeping Bouquets Beautiful

by Heather Caro on Sep 10, 2010

By Carol Barany

Congratulations — that bouquet from your garden is gorgeous.

Now, how do you keep your cut flowers looking fresh, not frazzled, for days to come?

Whether you grow your own flowers or buy them, following these simple suggestions will help them last and last.

They’re Pretty and You Can Eat ‘Em Too

by admin on Jul 9, 2010

By Carol Barany

July and August are months of lush abundance in the Yakima Valley, when gardens explode not only with extraordinary produce, but with extravagant flowers. For centuries and across many cultures, flowers have provided not only a feast for the eyes, but for the palate as well. Many flowers are edible and can make a beautiful and delicious addition to recipes.

But before you head into the garden and pick a bunch of blooms to add to tonight’s dinner menu, it’s important that you know precisely what you are eating.

Plant Picks from the Master Gardeners

by admin on May 7, 2010

By Sara Perry

A beautiful and appealing landscape is part of what makes our homes lovely, comfortable and comforting places to be.

Purchasing plants can represent a significant investment, and mistakes can be frustrating and costly. Luckily gardeners are notorious share-alls and advice from an experienced gardener – especially one who gardens in the same area you do – can be very helpful.

Start Your Own “Salad” Garden…Easily

by Heather Caro on Mar 5, 2010

Start Your Own “Salad” Garden…Easily

By Jim McLain

Start Your Own “Salad” Garden…Easily

Over the last several years, vegetable gardens have been popping up like dandelions in backyards across America. One reason for the renaissance of vegetable gardening has been the recession.

But there is also another reason: a desire for fresh produce that has been grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Not so long ago, organic farmers and gardeners were thought to be sort of, well, wacko. But organic gardening — gardening without chemicals  — has now gained mainstream acceptance.

If you are considering starting your first vegetable garden this year, whether you decide to jump on the organic gardening bandwagon or not, heed these two words of advice: start small.