Garden Gate March/April 2022

Spring’s almost here! Once that calendar turned over to 2022, did your excitement about gardening start building? Mine did. Big garden projects always seem so doable in late winter with the entire growing season stretched out in front of you. And have you noticed that vegetable beds seem much bigger when they’re empty? This may explain the tub of unplanted seeds in my cupboard. It’s hard to resist those enticing descriptions of things you’ve never grown before, whether or not you have room for them! Although it may be several weeks before you can do a lot of work outdoors, you don’t have to wait to start gardening. If you’ve never been much for seed starting (I confess, I haven’t), our project on page 16 may be just the help you…

GREAT IDEAS FROM SMART GARDENERS The fragrant flowers of lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) make a lovely addition to a planter in a shady spot. Claire dug up a clump just as it was about to bloom and combined it with a six-pack of pink impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) that she got for $1. After the lily-of-the-valley’s flowers faded, the impatiens filled in with season-long color. Claire Meglino, NY DIY birdhouse hole protector John Wachowicz, TN You can purchase hole protectors specifically made to prevent squirrels from chewing the entrances to your birdhouses. Or you can easily make them. John uses two brass flat corner braces to form a close-fitting diamond shape around the opening. Though you can find corner braces in many different sizes to suit your needs, John found that 2 3/8-inch corner braces fit best…

Hostas have no problem holding their own in the shade garden. But there are lots of other shade-tolerant plants that make excellent companions. By adding their own contrasting colors, shapes, heights and textures, these plants accentuate the simple elegance of hostas’ handsome foliage. They can also add months of seasonal interest to lower-light areas. Pairing hostas with other low-maintenance perennials—especially those that pack a floral punch—is an easy way to add variety and sophistication. LIGHT CONCERNS There are more than 2,500 named hosta cultivars available, with leaf colors and variegation ranging from blue to chartreuse; flowers range in color from white to lavender, and some are even fragrant. In general, yellow, chartreuse and gold hostas tolerate part sun without losing their vibrant color. While these hostas do need some sun, they…

WHAT I USED: • 16-in. LED grow light strips (4) • Wire shelf (22 in. long x 12 in. wide) • 7/8-in. cup hooks (4) • 12-in. #200 chain (4 lengths) • 1-in. 17-gauge S-hooks (4) • Wire cutter and pliers • Drill and /8-in. drill bit Think you don’t have a space to start seeds? Or maybe you tend to forget to check on them. Solve both problems by starting seeds in your kitchen. This hanging shelf makes it easy to keep an eye on them, and you can even use the sink sprayer to give them a drink. All you need is a light, a shelf and some chain. THE LIGHT If you already have a fluorescent fixture installed under the cabinet, you’re in business. “Daylight” spectrum fluorescent bulbs work great for growing seedlings. Better yet, swap…

LED grow lights provide specific light spectrums plants respond to. Many can be found at garden centers or online for less than $75. Here are a few types to consider: LED Grow Light Fixture Traditional-styled fixtures with an attractive housing appear less industrial and are often sized for under-cabinet installation. Look for one with multiple settings: Blue light for vegetative growth, red for flowering, and white for everyday lighting in case the other spectrums are unappealing in the kitchen. LED Grow Light Strips Thin grow light strips like the one used in this project can be inconspicuously mounted under a cabinet. Get a set that plugs in end to end with multiple spectrum settings and an integrated timer so you can have it on for as many hours a day as you like. LED Tape…

Why have just a butterfly garden when you can have a pollinator garden? A pollinator garden has so much more than a few nectar flowers for adult butterflies. It invites these butterflies to lay eggs on specific host plants for its caterpillars to eat and it includes flowers whose nectar and pollen can feed bees and other insects. Wouldn’t you like to have a garden buzzing with this much activity? Lenora Larson is on a mission to demonstrate that you can have a beautiful and functional garden, all while inviting wildlife to share your bounty. She’s a Master Gardener and active local chapter member of butterfly and native plant societies and maintains a 2-acre North American Butterfly Association-certified garden on her 27-acre property, Long Lips Farm, in rural Paola, Kansas. The…