Rip Out, Relocate and Revive.

I’m excited for spring because I have a big gardening project planned. This year I’m going to revive my 38 year old yard. The only reason I know how old the yard is, is because my wife was pregnant with my oldest son Mark, when we moved in. It’s time to rip out a few things, relocate a few, and revive what’s left. I might even take out a piece of lawn and make a new place to plant, or put in a rock garden, or whatever else might make my tired old yard feel new.

It’s time to rip out the shrubs that are planted right underneath big windows; shrubs that have grown up and now keep me from seeing out the windows, unless I wack away at them with my pruners. I’m getting tired of pruning them. It’s time to rip them out. The moss covered, craggily 38 year old azaleas need to go too. They used to look great, but now they are a mass of mostly motley looking branches, not much on bloom or foliage.

My shovel is sharp and I’m ready to relocate some plants that never did as well as they should. The clematis that I planted in just too much shade is on that relocation list. It’s going to a sunnier side of the yard, where I’m sure it will bloom like crazy in the full sun. I’ll finally get to see what color its blooms are. It will seem like a new plant. Look around your own yard; I’m sure you’ve got candidates for a new address.

If I get a real wild hair, I might even rip out a piece of lawn and make a new bed to plant in. There’s nothing more fun than a brand spanking new garden bed to play in. There are so many new plants I’d like to grow, and I’m just plum out of room, unless I make room. So, I think a new bed to plant in will be just the ticket to reviving my old yard.

Before you start ripping and digging, you might want to learn a little bit more about the soil you are working in. In this issue of Al’s Bloom, you’ll find out What’s in the Dirt?  When you know what you (and your plants) have got to work with and how to amend the problems, everything, I mean everything, will grow better.

Also in this issue is an article called "Everlasting Edibles". These are plants that grow outstanding fruits and vegetables and whose lifetime is long enough, that I call them "Everlasting Edibles." Springtime wouldn’t be the same without fresh picked asparagus. I’ve grown asparagus for over 25 years and I’ll let you in on my tricks in "3 easy steps for growing asparagus".

Finally, what would spring be without kids running around? Spring fever hits and they are off like a rocket. My daughter-in-law Amy has some gardening projects for kids to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

It’s spring, and time for a fresh new start. This year, in my yard, spring means it’s time to Rip Out, Relocate and Revive!
 

Happy Gardening,

Jack Bigej

Owner of Al's Garden Centers and Greenhouse