The Dirt on Roots: Wintertime

by | Feb 17, 2012 | The Dirt on Roots

Frost heave

By Michael Leach

Roots don’t sleep during the winter. They continue doing their job of absorbing water and other essentials albeit at a slower rate. But most important for small flora — they hold the plant in place during the raucous season.

Because roots continue growing in the fall, even as the top of the plant goes dormant, autumn is a traditional planting time for trees and shrubs. Perennials of many sorts also take to fall planting/transplanting — up to a point.

Because perennials are bantam weights compared to woodies, they need extra time to grab hold before the soil begins freezing and thawing. This process goes on for months in some winters and places. Come spring — or before — the little plants may have been pushed nearly out of the ground. Even a bit of exposed root can cripple or kill.

Take a walk around the garden when weather allows and check for bare roots. Gently tamp plants back into place or replant if soil is workable the exposure is pronounced and mulch lightly.

Come fall, err on the side of caution when transplanting and quit early. Even then, a few inches of mulch can help even the winter survival odds — and keep those roots in their proper place.

 

Book Notes: Home Orchard Handbook

by | Feb 10, 2012 | Gardens to Drive

The Home Orchard Handbook: A Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Fruit Trees Anywhere   by Cem Akin and Leah Rottke, 2011, Quarry Books, Quayside Publishing Group.  Retail: $24.95

Reviewed by Debra Knapke

Harvesting the fruit that you grew is an extremely satisfying late summer and fall garden task.  The Home Orchard Handbook provides clear, concise information on how to create and maintain an orchard. You will understand why a tree succeeds or fails in your garden. You will know which fruits you can grow in your area and you will be able to select healthy, vigorous plants.  For specific cultivars and fruit varieties check in with your local extension agents and garden centers.

Growing fruit is a time-consuming undertaking as you establish the trees, but there is a rhythm to the care and feeding of an orchard that puts you in touch with the cycle of the growing season.  The authors have focused on cultural practices that should lessen the need for pesticides. However, many fruit trees are susceptible to a host of animal pests and diseases.  Three charts summarize the possible problems and biological and organic controls that are available.  More information follows to help you deal with the problems that crop up.

The Home Orchard Handbook has a global focus.  It was written by the executive director and a volunteer arborist of The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation.  The Foundation’s mission is to create sustainable orchards all over the world, and its effort is supported by the sale of this beautiful and useful book.

Take a look.  Even if you don’t create your own orchard, it may inspire you to help others.

Garden Happenings: Home & Garden Shows

by | Feb 7, 2012 | Happenings

Garden Showcase at Cleveland's Great Big Home & Garden Show

         By Teresa Woodard

Hold your breath. Make a wish. Count to three, and enter a world of pure imagination at an upcoming home and garden show.  Over the next eight weeks, Midwestern expo centers will be transformed into blooming gardens filled with a bounty of ideas for the upcoming growing season. Cleveland hosts the region’s first show featuring gardens designed around classic TV shows like “Cheers”, “Green Acres” and “Fantasty Island”. The Central Ohio Home & Garden show will celebrate Columbus’s bicentennial by showcasing the city’s landmarks in the exhibitors’ landscape designs.  At the Chicagoland Flower and Garden Show, plants will take center stage with a Hort Couture theme tying colors and textures of the fashion and plant worlds. The beloved Cincinnati Flower Show won’t resume in 2012; instead, the Cincinnati Horticultural Society is planning several smaller garden-inspired activities.  Check the speaker line-up for each show at the links below.

Trendspotting: Indy readies for Super Bowl XLVI

by | Feb 4, 2012 | Trendspotting

Congratulations Indianapolis, host to the Super Bowl XLVI!  We Heartland Gardeners discovered this super city in August when we toured gardens at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, community gardens and other sites while attending the Garden Writers Association symposium.  Check out this post from the Indianapolis Museum of Art blogger Jenny Anderson. 

Super Bowl XLVI: More than a Football Game

Jan 26 2012

It’s hard to believe that it has been almost four years since Indianapolis was selected to host the 46th Super Bowl. For most of us, the Super Bowl has some sort of yearly tradition tied to it. We get together with friends, indulge ourselves, laugh at a few commercials and watch a football game. It’s one day, maybe two with a lingering hangover, and one event.

For a host city, the Super Bowl is much more than this.

Super Bowl XLVI
Pictured left to right, from the IMA’s permanent collection: Untitled, plate 8, Garo Z. Antreasian, 1969. © Garo Antreatsian; Letter L, Edward Lear, about 1862; Double V, 1978; Double Shaft Pen Holder, Asian.

Like many of its predecessors, Indianapolis has transformed in preparation for its countless visitors. From new hotels, to temporary businesses, street improvements and hours upon hours of logistical planning, the Super Bowl Committee has worked hard to prepare our city for its big day. But when those temporary businesses close and the zip line is taken down, what will our city be left with? Lots.

2,012 Trees Program According to the Alliance for Community Trees, More Trees = Less Crime. In an effort to maximize the community impact (not to mention environmental impact) of additional trees, the Super Bowl Host Committee aimed to plant 2,012 trees by 2012. Not only did the Committee succeed in generating early excitement for the Super Bowl, but they surpassed their goal, planting 2,876.

Indy Super Cure Did you know that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer? Did you also know that Indianapolis is home of the world’s only known tissue bank that collects healthy breast tissue for cancer research?  Extending a nod to the city’s leadership in health and life sciences, the Super Bowl committee has teamed up with the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank to develop Indy Super Cure. The goal of Super Cure is to raise awareness and increase donations to the tissue bank, while also raising money. Super Cure has surpassed their million-dollar fund raising goal but is working to collect 700 tissue donations in the weekend leading up to the Super Bowl XLVI. You can learn how to donate here.

Super Baskets of Hope Super Bowl hosts cities have a long history of service projects, but Super Baskets of Hope will be the first to extend its reach nationwide. Beginning on January 30, gift-filled baskets will be put together for 7,000 hospitalized children in each of America’s 32 NFL cities. The Riley Children’s Foundation, the Basket of Hope program, and Tony Dungy have partnered on this effort, recruiting NFL players, coaches, and volunteers to then hand deliver the baskets.

46 for XLVI Spear headed by the Arts Council of Indianapolis, 46 for XLVI ‘sought to elevate the arts and culture of our city.’ Supported by partnering institutions (including the City of Indianapolis) and a team of talented muralists, the project resulted in 46 new public murals throughout the city’s neighborhoods (you can search the murals map here). So next time you’re walking on Mass Ave. and Kurt Vonnegut greets you with a smile, you’ll hopefully smile back in reflection of this city, its partnerships and the lasting impact of one football game.

Be proud Indianapolis.