Rascally Rabbits!
The Easter Bunny might have brought some treats but those darn cotton-tailed fur balls in your yard just take, take, take. The Elmer Fudd method is not advised. A physical barrier is most effective against those rascally nibblers. For a slightly camouflaged look, try green-coated ½” hardware cloth for bigger spaces. To protect vulnerable plants individually, get black mesh waste baskets from the Dollar Tree; flip them upside down over your seedlings and secure with landscape stapes.
🌺 Garden Tips of the Month 🌺
Cutting Daffodils
For the longest vase life, cut blooms when the bud looks like a gooseneck. For a longer stem, grab the flower stem down near the ground and pull it until it snaps off of the bulb. Don’t pull the bulb out of the ground. You’ll leave the greens which will collect nutrients and feed the bulb, so it will flower next year. Note that daffodils have sticky toxic sap in the stem. Put the daffodil stems in a vase alone overnight. Pour out the water and refill the vase with fresh water before you add other flowers.
Looking Ahead: Improving soil health while controlling weeds
April & May are great times to add 1” of compost to your beds, especially around plants that have been struggling.
Want to kill some weeds and plant a new bed? Start saving plain brown cardboard boxes to use the ever-popular sheet mulching method!
No matter what: Just say no to landscape fabric or “weed barrier” anywhere you want healthy plants!
Are you a beginner gardener, continuous learner or someone who wants to grow with a community? I’m launching the Seedling Society, an Online Gardening Learning Community, just for you! Through interactive webinars, you’ll get seasonally relevant ecological lessons for MN (zones 3-5). Learn more and Join the Seedling Society here!
Want 1:1 personalized coaching? Check out the 3-Pack of Virtual Sessions
Wanting to create a new garden bed or native microprairie? There are many benefits to getting a custom garden design.
Boost confidence in what you plant, where you plant it, and how to care for it
Reduce wasted money, time, and stress on improper plants & supplies
Ensure continuous blooms & cohesion with textures, colors, seasonal interest, & plant behaviors
Plan suitable spacing for plants as they mature
Receive personalized recommendations for preferences, climate, outdoor space & conditions
Increase curb appeal & enjoyment of your space
Incorporate appropriate native plants & ecological practices to suit your interests
Assess phased implementation options to optimize time and budget
Finally, check the project off your list that that has been weighing on you!
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“Alyson from Sassy Daffodil came to consult with us about our garden spaces. She made wonderful recommendations about plants and shrubs and their placement. She also taught us about gardening more ecologically which was very enlightening. Henceforth we will use her tips as we spruce up our garden beds. Our one hour consultation was worth every penny. We wholeheartedly recommend Alyson."
Mary W. - St. Paul, MN