Click here for The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert H. AND Hoberley Schuler

2012 FEBRUARY GARDEN ACTIVITIES

We hope that you enjoyed the recent rains and have prepared for a possible downpour.
Did you cover or bring in your most valuable plants during the cold weather? Except for deciduous bushes and trees, do not prune until after the 15th of March at the earliest. Do not prune tropical bushes or fuchsias as more damage could occur if we have more cold weather.

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert and Hoberley Schuler

Oregano and Parsley

Q: What is the best variety of Oregano? Also Curly Parsley and Flat leaf Parsley? Gerald, San Francisco
A: OREGANO (Origanum vulgare), the packaged dried oregano usually comes from a mixture of dried herbs (oregano, thyme and salvia) blended for their flavor. Select a plant by tasting or rubbing the leaf or get a cutting from a friend who thinks their plant is the “taste tested best”. We have four favorites in my garden.

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert and Hoberley Schuler

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert H. and Hoberley Schuler

2012 JANUARY GARDEN CHORES

Gardening Chores for January can keep you busy when the sun shines and on rainy days as well. Holidays are over, and gardeners are clutching their pruners and are eyeing their shovels with an itchy foot eager to start digging into the soil. Don’t start to turn over the garden soil until you are able to take a fist full of soil, squeeze it and it crumbles easily when it hits the ground. During damp days you can prune and if the weather is really bad, stay in and finish ordering your seeds for planting. Of course you can always pull the ever present weeds!

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert and Hoberley Schuler

2012 GROWING RESOLUTIONS

I am looking forward to a New Year! Take time to make some gardening resolutions today!

Promise to keep a Diary of your garden activities, which could include pruning, planting, and any pesticide use. You will appreciate these notes in the years ahead.

Promise to study the new seed catalogs you have received and to place your orders soon. You can get a head start with seeds that require warmer weather by planting indoors under lights. A fluorescent shop light works well, especially with a grow light or two different kinds of fluorescent bulbs.

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert and Hoberley Schuler

CHRISTMAS TREES OF THE PAST

The Blue Colorado spruce tree has been brought into the house again and is decorated with the red, green and blue twinkling lights. It is filled with colorfully decorated ornaments, some new, but most form memories from the past.

The holiday balsam cut-outs painted by our four children one rainy week-end in November; the Chinese silk animal ornaments from our China trip in 1981; the trip to Mexico City where we found the handmade animal ornaments; the cherished handmade ornaments from Dale and Gene Bauer of Redlands Horticultural; and the many specialty ornaments collected on other trips abroad and across the U. S.

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
Robert H. and Hoberley Schuler, Master Gardeners

This is your annual warning as you start to prune trees!!!

Q: We need to prune some of our trees throughout the yard to bring in more light during the winter months. Can the tops be removed as well as the longer side branches?

A: Don’t Top Trees!

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert H. and Hoberley Schuler

SLOW-RELEASE FERTILIZERS

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert H. and Hoberley Schuler

2011 DECEMBER ACTIVITIES

Shorter days, possibility of rain, colder mornings, possible snow in the higher locations, and the activities of the Holidays tend to put gardening on the back burner. There are many gardening activities that can be done inside, such as making certain that your favorite new 2011 seed and plant catalogs have arrived. Then you can take advantage of sunny, warmer day when it arrives, tempting us to spend it outdoors!