Are You a Pruner Abuser???

By Paul Rodman

Let me preface this by hoping that you do as I say, not as I do.

I think we all can agree that one of the most valuable tools that any serious gardener can have is a good pair of hand pruners.

I’m no exception; I’ve owned a pair of Felco number two pruners for close to 20 years.

They’re made of high quality Swiss steel, and I think the most important feature is that ALL of the parts are replaceable. Why is this important you ask?

Hand pruners are made to cut stems and branches no larger than your baby finger. Well. I can beat that, I’ve cut wire, garden twine, tin cans, plastic milk jugs, and branches almost as large as your wrist, (this is accomplished by using 2 hands and exerting as much pressure as a automotive stamping press).

But you know what? My Felco’s take a licking and keep on cutting. (Thank you John Cameron Swayze and Timex).

This is not to say that there aren’t other good brands of pruners available. 

The key issue is once they’ve had it they are finished, kaput, toast etc. I don’t know of any others who parts are replaceable.

So, what does this all mean? I’ll probably continue to cut wire, tin cans, plastic and no telling what else. Midway through through the summer I’ll buy another blade and my pruners will be as good as new.

The author receives no compensation for his endorsement of Felco pruners.

Ready- Set- Go!

By Paul Rodman

The forsythia is in bloom, so what, you may ask? In this part of the country the forsythia bloom sets off a flurry of activity for gardeners. When this occurs in is a fairly accurate indication that the soil has warmed to about 50 degrees and the daylight has lengthened to set about growth in most perennial plants.

It is a sign that you should begin to prune and fertilize roses. I have about half of my 60 or so roses completed. You should prune and fertilize hydrangeas as well.

I have some lettuce planted and will follow with onions as soon as the soil dries out a little.

I also want to get my tomato garden tilled as well as a plot in a community garden that I will farm this year.

I have a couple of straw bales aging in the garden. I want to expand my straw bale growing this season. I will have several here at home as well as a church garden and the community plot. This is an excellent method in which to grow vegetables in a small area.

Most of the straw bale crops, tomatoes and cukes will be donated to a local food pantry.

The tomatoes under lights in the basement as well in the greenhouse are growing well and before long it will be time to begin to harden them off. As a matter of fact we had a day last where the temperature reached d80 degrees. I set a flat of tomato plants out on the deck for a few hours to get some natural sunlight. After bringing them back indoors under the grow lights they experienced a growth spurt unlike anything I’ve seen before.

I want to try a method for staking up my tomatoes this year called the "Florida Weave”. You string garden twine between posts. The tomatoes are attached to the twine and you keep adding twine as the plants grow taller. Take a look at this practice on You Tube. Go to You Tube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRohHQ7mMBw 

After all of the anticipation, the 2013 gardening season is under way; let’s hope the weather cooperates so that we can get-er-done!

Diary of An Impatient Gardener

By Paul Rodman

Mother Nature is messing with my head! After being stuck indoors for over 5 months this gardener is ready to get my hands back into the soil. Old Ma Nature doesn’t want to cooperate.

She threw us a bone a few weeks ago with a couple of 70 degree days; but then quickly retreated back to the near freezing temperatures.

Usually by this time of year I have the garden tilled and some lettuce and onions planted. I went out last week to till a raised bed and found frozen soil 3-4 inches deep.

As I check the future forecasts we get a couple of nice days and then the mercury seems to retreat to its old habits.

But I do believe that Mom Nature is about to surrender, yesterday I saw the slightest twinge of yellow peeking out of some forsythia. My rhubarb has finally broken through the soil with is burgundy and green leaves beginning to show.

Could it really be? Spring has finally arrived and this winter worn gardener can finally begin to work the soil, pull the weeds and be content for a few glorious summer months.

I sure hope so.

Confessions of a Gardener Pack Rat

I guess I finally have to admit that I’m a garden pack rack, or perhaps to be PC I should call myself a garden tool hoarder.

I’m a portable gardener, besides our gardens at home; I garden at a couple of other locations. I have to tote all of the necessary tools and equipment to the various gardens. I do this by means of a canvas riggers bag as well as the gardener’s briefcase a 5 gallon plastic bucket.

The other day while fighting off a case of severe cabin fever I decided to go out to the garage and clean out and organize my garden totes.

What I found was embarrassing to say the least. Do I really need 5 pairs of scissors, 6 screwdrivers, 6 knives of various sizes, 5 trowels, 4 spools of garden twine, 3 pairs hand pruners, 3 tape measures, a pair of channel locks plus 2 other pairs of pliers and an assortment of hose repair fittings.

In my defense over a 7 or 8 month gardening season it’s easy to accumulate “garden stuff”. You keep adding for various tasks while it seems like nothing is ever removed.

My garden totes are many pounds lighter today, and I pledge to keep them that way (yeah right) for the duration of the 2013 gardening season.

Welcome to Garden Guy's Blog

My name is Paul Rodman, the Garden Guy, and this is my blog.

 I’m a gardener and I will be sharing my gardening experiences as well as tips on gardening and home food preserving.

I’m an advanced Master Gardener with over 5500 volunteer hours in the Master Gardener program. I’m President Emeritus of the Master Gardener Association of Western Wayne County Michigan and presently serve as co-chair of the Wayne County Extension greenhouse.

April 1^st marks the ninth anniversary since I became the garden columnist for the News Herald newspaper in Southgate, Michigan. The column its called Dig It in which I share gardening news and answer questions from gardeners throughout Wayne County. The News Herald also sponsors a spring and fall plant exchange in which local gardeners get together to trade plants. The M’s Master Gardener Association also conducts an heirloom tomato sale at the spring event.

I also write gardening articles for Dave’s Garden.com on a variety of subjects.

Stay tuned as we are coming into the peak gardening season in Southeast Michigan, I’ll have a lot of information to share with you.

March 23, 2013.