Some gardeners are organized, and some, like me, kind of wing it. But every season, questions arise about what to do when. Many of these questions have answers that depend on where you live in the country, which means that many texts can only give very general answers.
Now there's a book written just for those who garden in Pennsylvania. Liz Ball, a horticultural writer, photographer and speaker who lives in the Philadelphia area, has written "Month-By-Month Gardening in Pennsylvania." (Cool Springs Press, $19.95).
Of course, Pennsylvania has several zones, too. According to Ball, the warmest area is just south of Philadelphia, a zone 7, and the coldest is our area, a zone 5. The smaller the number, the colder the zone.
Ball has broken the book into easy-to-follow sections with subjects like annuals, herbs and vegetables, houseplants, lawns, roses, shrubs and trees. Each section gives monthly tips for dealing with the specific subject. For instance, this month is the time to repot potbound houseplants and fertilize them with slow-release fertilizer. It's also the time to check roses for leaf bud swelling. When that happens, it's time to start removing the protective soil or mulch from around the canes of both established and newly planted rose shrubs. Once all the winter protection has been removed, you can also cut out all dead and damaged canes on all types of roses. And if the ground is not too wet, you can patch lawns with pieces of sod cut to fit or with seed.
The book also has a handy appendix with information on troubleshooting pests and diseases, pest control guidelines, information resources and mail-order sources of seeds, plants and equipment.
Another helpful book that just showed up on my desk is "Ortho's Home Gardener's Problem Solver" (Meredith/Ortho Books, $24.95). While I like these Ortho books because they make identifying plant problems easy with clear photographs and concise text, the reader must be aware of the publisher. Ortho is a chemical company, and many of the solutions given in the book involve spraying a chemical compound formulated by, you guessed it, Ortho. And while I'm not a rabid organic gardener, I strongly believe that using pesticides sparingly and only when completely necessary is something we all should do.
So, while the book may provide an answer to what ails your plant, you may want to check additional sources for a solution and make a decision based on the least environmentally toxic treatment. That said, this is sure to be helpful to the home gardener.
Last but not least, the "Chicken Soup" series has grown to encompass gardeners. "Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul" (Heath Communications, $12.95), is a collection of warm, sometimes tear-inducing essays from various authors about the subject of gardening. From the first chapter about a terminally ill man's last gift to his wife, to the story of lilies blossoming out of season in a surprising memorial to a lost pilot, to the funny tale of the plant collector who unknowingly ends up growing marijuana, these short vignettes are sure to make you feel better, even if you never lift a shovel.
Bealls Greenhouse, Nursery and Supply, 9334 Saltsburg Road, Plum, is having a free lawn care seminar today from 10 a.m. to noon. Learn how to care for your turf from early spring to late fall. Call 412-793-6147 for reservations. Seating is limited.
On April 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bealls will sponsor a free clinic on Versa-lok retaining walls and Omni stone pavers with instructors from R.I. Lampus Co. Learn how to install retaining walls, patios and sidewalks. An onsite demonstration is planned. Bring measurements with you.
The Boyce Road Gardeners invite you to join them by renting a plot at Boyce Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair. Registration will be held at the Boyce Middle School, Boyce Road, on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The plots are 40 by 40 feet and rent for $8 a season, plus a $5 membership fee. Gardeners need not be residents of Upper St. Clair.
Kathryn Jolley Madej, a master gardener and owner of Garden to Table ... and More Shop in Canonsburg, will speak on "Connecting with the Past -- Gardening in the 1840s," at 8 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. For more information or to register for a garden plot, call Phyllis Kender at 412-221-3118.
The Allegheny Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society is sponsoring the 2001 annual national meeting of the North American Rock Garden Society at the Sheraton Hotel, Station Square, April 25-28. Activities include guided trips to local wildflower areas, workshops, lectures and visits to public and private gardens. A judged plant show is scheduled, as is a book sale and river boat banquet cruise. On April 28, the plant show and sale, the book sale and the art exhibit will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To take part in the entire meeting, registration is $245 for society members and $270 for nonmembers (with $25 of it applied to a one-year Rock Garden Society membership). For more information or to register, call Gloria Schneider at 724-935-1867.
