Organic Fertilizers: When and When Not Use 'Em

Organic Fertilizers are definitely the best type you can give your plants and soil, basically because they are all-natural and of course cheap. But there are some downsides when using them. Among are:

1. They can also serve as home to some pests. Decomposing plant clippings or animal manure can allow some organisms to breathe life. The trick is to keep these decomposing natural fertilizers from the plant at a safe distance. This way, even if some organisms would start to live within them, they wouldn't directly affect the plants and their growth.

2. They take a little while to be actually useful. Of course, animal manure and plant clippings need to decompose first so they can serve nutritious values to the soil and the plants living within the area. But once they have, you can rest assured that 100 percent of these nutrition are being shared to your soil and plants.

3. They smell. Because animal manure and plant clippings need to decompose first, they will really give off disgusting smell. But then, this is a greener means of fertilizing your soil and plants. Plus, it will only take for a while than the long-term damage that other synthetic fertilizers can do to your and your community.

Live green, use organic fertilizers!

Seasonal Planting Calendar

Thank you to the original author of this seasonal planting calendar. I'm  sharing it now:

January

Plant bare root roses, trees, berries, and vegetables

Plant flowers: California Poppies, Daisy, Delphinium, Hollyhock, Snapdragon, Stock,

English Daisy, Candytuft, Columbine, Wildflowers, Alyssum, Primrose, Pansy, Sweet

Peas, Cineraria, Iceland Poppies, Viola

Plant vegetables (beets, carrots, chard, onions, lettuce, radish, spinach, cabbage, parsley,

cauliflower and leeks

February

Begin ordering Daylilies and Dahlias

Cut back and divide some perennials: Daylilies, Erigeron, Stachys, Iris, Nepeta,

Geranium, Lamium, Ajuga, Alstroemeria, Agapanthus, and most ground covers

Plant annuals (Alyssum, Bacopa, Petunias, Nemesia, Snapdragon, Hollyhock, Candytuft,

Felicia, Ranunculus, Petunias, Marguerite Daisy, Cobbity Daisy, Euryops).

Plant bulbs (Lilies, Calla Lily, Canna, Dahlias, Gladiolus, Tuberous Begonias).

Plant Camilleas and Azaleas, Fuchsia baskets, flowering shrubs (Lilac, Mock Orange,

India Hawthorne and Viburnum), bare root Roses, trees, and berries.

Plant vegetables (chard, carrots, beets, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, radish, onions,

parsley, lettuce, leeks and peppers).

Plant spring blooming perennials (Alstroemeria, Coral Bells, Dianthus, Diascia,

Foxglove, Violets, Brunnera, Campanula, Catmint, Scabiosa, Marguerites, Poppy,

evergreen Candytuft, Linaria purpurea, Columbine, Dicentra, Delphinium, Bergenia).

Plant vines Vines: Hardenbergia voilacea ‘Happy Wanderer’, or ‘Rosea’, Jasminum

polyanthum, Clytostoma callistegioides (Lavender Trumpet Vine) Carolina Jessamine

(Gelsemium sempervirens),

March

Plant low water ground covers as an alternative to lawns: Try ‘Huntingon Carpet’

Rosemary, Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Wood’s Compact’), several cultivars

of Lantana (L. montevidens) and a variety of Juniper, including (J. conferta, ‘Blue

Pacific’, ‘Emerald Sea’, J. communis ‘Mondap’, and J. horizontalis ‘Monber’.

April

Annuals: plant or sow seeds of Ageratum, Lobelia, Marigold, Petunia, Phlox, Verbena,

Sweet Alyssum, Zinnia, Impatiens, Globe Amaranth, Portulaca, Stachys and Sunflower.

Plant bare root deciduous plants, flowering vines, fruit trees, Roses, Tomatoes and

Strawberries, culinary and medicinal herbs, Calendulas, Dianthus, Forget-me-Not,

Pansies, Cosmos, Impatiens, Marigolds, Petunias, Sunflowers and Zinnias.

Plant frost tender plants such as Bougainvillea, Citrus, Geraniums, Hibiscus, Tecomaria,

Tibouchina, Grewia, Limonium, and Datura.

Plant low maintenance perennials: Armeria, Catmint, Coreopsis, Gaillardia, Erigeron,

Heuchera, Penstemon, Rudbeckia, Yarrow, Sedum, Delphinium, Echinops, Guara,

Verbena, Scabiosa, Diascia, Heuchera, Scaveola and Dianthus.

Brighten shady spots with colorful plantings of Astilbe, Begonia, Bergenia, Chinese

Foxglove, Impatiens, Lady’s Mantle, Lamium, Cineraria, Coleus, Columbine, Coral Bells,

Campanula, Brunnera, Cranesbill and Geranium.

May

Plant a cutting garden of Alstroemeria, Lavender, Limonium perezii, Purple Coneflower,

Shasta Daisy, Yarrow, Scabiosa, Mexican Sunflower, Gloriosa Daisy, Coreopsis and

Gaillardia.

Plant Camellias and Rhododendrons, and Canna.

Plant vegetables (Cucumber, Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatoes and Squash including

Pumpkins).

Plant watermelon

Plant Japanese Maples

Sow seeds of bush and pole beans, corn, summer annuals and vegetables

  

June

Plant Artemisia, Dusty Miller, Saliva, Begonias, Gladiola and Dahlias.

Plant Citrus

Plant herbs

Plant warm season crops (beans, cucumbers, peppers, squash, tomatoes, etc.

Plant low maintenance, low water shrubs: Tree Mallow, New Zealand Flax hybrids,

Lavender, Plumbago, Rockrose, Russian Sage, Cape Mallow, Euphorbia, Ceanothus,

Jerusalem Sage.

Plant summer bloomers: Globe Amaranth, Vinca, Scarlet Sage, Zinnias, Sunflower,

Portulaca and Verbena.

Plant annuals and perennials favorites, Coreopsis, Gentian Sage, Gaillardia, Penstemon,

Verbena ‘Homestead Purple’, Rudbeckia, Statice, Salvia, Summer Phlox, Mealy cup and

Russian Sage.

July

Plant fall vegetables (beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, green onion, spinach, peas,

winter squash, bush beans, turnips).

Plant gopher resistant plants (Plum, Japanese Maple ‘Senkaki’ and ‘Koshimino’, Lemon,

Pomegranate, Bottlebrush, Breath of Heaven, Borage, Butterfly Bush, Ceanothus,

Escallonia, Grevillea, Euonymus japonica, Fuchsia, Heavenly Bamboo, Hydrangea,

India hawthorn, Lavender, Rose, Lily, Foxglove, Salvia, Rosemary, Strawberry Tree,

Catnip, Coral Bells, Ferns, Lantana, Oleander, Penstemon, Shasta Daisy, Fortnight Lily,

Fibrous Begonia, Agapanthus and Vinca).

August

Plant cool season crops (Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Spinach, Swiss Chard, and

Lettuce).

Plant shrubs (Lavatera, Butterfly Bush, Plumbago, Princess Flower, Cape Fuchsia and

Oleander).

Plant Salvia and Sweet Peas.

September

Buy bulbs (Anemones, Crocus, Daffodils, Dutch Iris, Hyacinths, Ranunculus, Tulips,

Freesias, etc.).

Buy trees noted for fall color when color is showing.

Plant bulbs (Freesia, Grape Hyacinth, Amaryllis, Ranunculus, Anemone, and Dwarf

Narcissus).

Plant natives (Bush Anemone, Arctostaphylos, Fremontodendron, Pacific Coast Iris,

Sticky Monkey Flower, Mahonia, Penstemon Salvia clevelandii, Western Columbine and

Heuchera).

Plant cool season annuals after mid-month (Calendula, Forget-me-Not, Poppies,

Ornamental Cabbage and Kale, Pansies, Primrose, Larkspur, Violas, Stock, Snapdragon,

Sweet peas, Toadflax, Cineraria, and Nemesia).

Plant cool season vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, beets, carrots, lettuce,

parsley, chard, chives, radishes, spinach, sugar/snap peas, onions), ornamental cabbage

and kale and salad mix seeds).

Sow wildflower seeds.

October

Divide perennials such as Aster, Calla, Daisy, Yarrow, Helianthus, Rudbeckia, Daylily

and Bellflower.

Plant annuals: Nemesia, Ranunculus and Snapdragon.

Plant berry producing plants to support birds and wildlife over winter (Barberry,

Mahonia, Nandina, Strawberry Tree, Cotoneaster, Holly and Pyracantha).

Plant bulb covers using cool season annuals (Violas, Forget-me-Not and Primrose).

Plant bulbs that naturalize (Daffodils, Muscari, Ornamental Allium, Tulips and Scilla).

Scatter bulbs by hand over planting areas to create a natural look.

Plant California natives when rains are predicted.

Plant early blooming perennials (Campanula, Columbine, Verbascum, Delphinium,

Foxglove, Candytuft, Coral Bells).

Plant groundcovers to cover banks and large areas (Arctostaphylos ‘Emerald Carpet’ and

A. uva-ursi, Ceanothus, Coyote Bush, Juniper (J. chinensis, J. procumbens and J.

horizontalis, Myoporum, and prostrate Rosemary).

Plant winter annuals (Iceland Poppies, Sweet Peas, Forget-me-Not, Primroses,

Cyclamen, Violas, and Pansies).

Sow wildflower seeds.

Plant sod lawns.

November

Divide perennials that are overgrown

Plant bulbs. Chill Tulips and Hyacinths for 4-6 weeks before planting in December.

Plant a butterfly garden (Butterfly Bush, Mallow, Milkweed, native grasses of Carex and

Festuca, Penstemon, Willow, and Buckwheat.

Plant Crape Myrtle, Japanese Maples, Liquidambar, ornamental Pear and Persimmon,

deciduous Azaleas, Oak leaf Hydrangea, Smoke Tree, Viburnum and Wisteria.

Plant greens (Mustard, Chard, Lettuce and Kale).

Plant herbs (Chives, Marjoram, Parsley, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary and Oregano).

Plant native shrubs (Oregon Grape, Pacific Wax Myrtle, Ribes speciosum, Salvia

clevelandii, Toyon, Arctostaphylos and Bush Anemone).

Plant perennials (Alstroemeria, Campanula, Columbine, Geraniums, Scaveola, Coral

Bells, Delphinium, Lamium, Oriental Poppy, Penstemon, perennial Foxglove, Phlox,

Salvia, Artemisia, Catmint, Dianthus, Diascia and Scaveola).

Plant spring flowering bulbs. Add 1t bone meal to soil in each hole. Its high phosphorous

content contributes to root growth.

Plant sweet peas and wildflowers (California Poppy, Clarkia and Lupine).

December

Plant spring flowering bulbs: Tulips and Hyacinths

Plant Cyclamen, Camellias, Roses, and Living Christmas trees

DIY Welcome Vine Arcs

Secure, gorgeous steel gates are probably one of the integral parts of a modern home these days. They are primarily keeping thieves off properties however newer designs also add aesthetics to the overall perspective of most homes nowadays. But before they became an important constants in building and securing homes, we were all once introduced to ‘friendly’ vine arcs that welcome visitors and guests. And though these arcs are truly lovely, they have either become too old fashioned or gallant for modern living. Also, there is the undying issues on burglary. This is why most of the youngsters these days will no longer be able to see the old home styles—no gates, no alarms, just homey and welcoming.

Good thing is that I was able to live in those days and I can still remember our old vine ‘welcome’ arcs that stood in place of the gates now. Unfortunately, I was not able to save any photo to show but I can still remember how they are planted and formed. Here is a simple step by step development of a do-it-yourself welcome vine arc:

Step 1: Choosing the vine or type of plant.

-          There are different types of plants, especially vines that can be used in making welcome arcs. The most used is the bougainvillea because of its beautiful flowers. There are plenty to choose from, but pick something that can grow best with your resources.

Step 2: Planting the vine.

-          Planting a vine is very easy because these are plants that are not very picky of planting methods. You can use seeds and sprinkle it on the cultivated soil or cut a sap for grafting purposes. The not so easy part is in developing the arc, which design will rely at this stage too. As a matter of fact, you can only plant the vine when you are already sure as to where and how wide apart you want the 2 columns to appear.

Step 3: Developing an arc structure.

-          Once the vine sprouted or new vine blooms from a grafted plant, it is time to help them grow up by placing structures where they would be able to creep on. Most landscapers use post constructed chicken wire posts for the vine to crawl on, but back in the days, we just used bamboos that will help the vines shooting up to the height where we want the two columns bend and meet to create the arc. This way, it costs less but create the same finished product.

Step 4: Maintenance.

-          Throughout the growing phase, the vines will surely need some guide, cutting and cleaning. We used to loosely roll the vines over each other which makes the arc a lot stronger and well-formed.

The best part of this is when your arc is already fully developed and the flowers start to bloom. 

BGC Yellows