Humming Gardens

Did you know that blueberries were called “star fruits” by indigenous peoples because of the five point star shape that is at the bottom of the berry. ⁠
⁠
Blueberries thrive on sulfur. Crazy, right?! It's a good time to apply sulfur around your blueberry bushes in order to lower that pH in the soil. This will enhance the overall production of the plant, so you can expect more fruit. It is best to test your soil first to determine if the current levels are sufficient or if sulfur is actually needed. Expect best result when your soil's pH level is between 4.5 and 5.1. ⁠
⁠

Here is sustainable tip: No need for herbicides, use mulch instead. Mulch retains moisture, allowing for gardens to reduce the amount of watering needed. It also suppresses weeds, allowing you more time to spend what you love doing rather than picking pesky weeds. Like taking a Sunday hike, or enjoying a fresh cold hefeweizen. ⁠
⁠
I recommend using a 2-4 inch layer of mulch for the best results. Most use a thin layer but that only provides a fresh look, and does not harvest the benefits that mulch is intended to provide. I prefer fine hemlock, because it has a natural look. ⁠
⁠

It's time to train your apple and pear trees. ⁠
⁠
Let's be real: It's complicated. Here are some best practices to get the most fruit out of your tree and have a plentiful harvest:⁠
-Prune young trees very lightly ⁠
-Prune mature trees more heavily, especially if they have shown little growth⁠
-If your trees have more upright branches, try a technique called limb bending. Use spreaders or weights to bend the limbs carefully into a more horizontal position. Remember to be gentle so the limbs don't break⁠
⁠
Just think of all the apple pies and pear crisps in your future!⁠
⁠

Happy National plant-a-flower day! With the first day of spring only 8 days away, there's no better time to pot up some primroses or plant some pansies in the garden. ⁠
⁠
Not much of a flower person? No worries! Still take advantage of the day and pot up some herbs for your kitchen that will thrive in the remaining cooler spring days. Try oregano, sage, thyme, lemon balm, mint or chives, which can also be incorporated outdoors later in the spring and summer. ⁠
⁠
Happy planting!⁠
⁠

Hi friends! Come check out my new webpage. Also, if you have hired me, please feel free to leave a review on my review page. Thank you!

www.humminggardenspdx.com

Humming Gardens Humming gardens Make your garden hum! Portland-area garden & landscape designer. Sustainable & eco-friendly.   services Naturescapes Design Naturescapes allow people and nature to coexist with landscaping. Explore options such as humming bird gardens, pollinator gardens, native plants, and many mo...

Time to prune your raspberries!
My raspberries are all done bearing fruit...
This year's bearing canes will not produce any fruit next year, that is why it is time to clean them up.
It is pretty easy to determine which ones are old and which ones are new: the old ones are brown and dried up (even though they still might have some green foliage on them) and the new ones are a light, crispy green.
Just chop the brown ones as close to the ground as possible.
At the same time I pull out some new runners if I don't want them at a particular spot and re-pot them to give a way to friends and family