It’s a wonderful time to start planting

THE GARDEN FANATIC

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink,

taste the fruit... Let them be your only diet drink and botanical

medicines.”

-- HENRY DAVID THOREAU

“Nothing is so beautiful as spring ... “

-- GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS

Spring is in the air in Laguna. It’s a time for flowers and sunny

days. It is the end of another mild winter and words like dormant

spray and bare root roses leave our vocabulary until next January.

Fertilize and mulch everything -- shrubs, trees, perennials and the

lawn. This is the season of rapid growth and adding nutrients will

enhance the beauty of your plants

Subtle signs of the change in the seasons are appearing throughout

Laguna. Deciduous trees, like the Japanese maple and weeping willow,

are beginning to leaf out under mainly clear, afternoon skies, and my

mom’s Iceberg roses have already begun to display bountiful blooms.

The advantages of planting in March are obvious: longer days and

warmer sunlight. Once in the ground, plants have a full season’s

growth before they enter their first winter after transplanting. But

sometimes, due to other imperative spring work (like taxes, remodels,

and Design Review Board hearings), it is simply impossible to

complete all of your garden plans. Relax, this is Laguna and we can

plant the year around!

For Barbara, the planting of tomatoes and herbs needn’t be

hurried, the skies could become cloudy and chilly nights may still be

lurking. After all, the days still belong to mid-March. If you plant

too early, your plants may be lost to the cold. Be a little patient,

and your crops will arrive just a little later. Of course, there is

always the rush to see who has the first homegrown tomato.

The camellias were particularly lovely this winter, but are now

past their peak flowering period. Old camellia flowers should be

raked up and destroyed to prevent flower blight next season. Once all

of the blooms are spent, fertilize plants with a complete fertilizer

for acid loving plants. Finally, mulch the shade beds with azalea

mix, peat moss or leaf mold.

About the only problems a gardener may face are fungus gnats in

the lawn (let the grass dry out a little); aphids on roses (wash them

off); or snails crawling up windows (saute with lots of garlic). If

you still have berries and bare root roses in plastic bags, they must

be planted (NOW) before it is too late. This also applies to Maui

onions, artichokes and the remaining spring bulbs sitting in the

garage. Check with your local nursery if you have forgotten what you

were supposed to do with them.

Almost lost in the flurry of spring horticulture is the flood of

activity by our feathered friends. Nests have appeared everywhere in

our back garden, and the insistent chirping and cheeping seems to

indicate that a new generation of hummingbirds, doves and

mockingbirds are on their way. Catharine’s upcoming spring flowers

and well-supplied bird feeders will provide a delectable and ample

supply of food for them all.

See you next time.

* STEVE KAWARATANI is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery,

1540 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. He is married to local artist,

Catharine Cooper, and has three cats. He can be reached at 497 2438,

or e-mail to [email protected].