Out Around the Barn

I enjoy my garden and my flowers during the Spring and Summer months and consider myself as having a fairly decent “green thumb”.  So when the winter months come along I get a little sad.  I am still learning the ins and out of horticulture so whenever I read or hear about tips to help with your plants I take notice of them.

One tip that I have always tried to do every Spring, once the weather starts to warm and the new growth begins, I start to clear away all the dead foliage and let the air breathe.  It is almost the same in the fall; clear away all the dead foliage and run a garden rake over the ground to break the top soil.  I then add some compost, which I make, around the plants for nutrition. 

By making my own compost, I know what is in the soil and I know that my plants are healthy.  One tip is to make sure to allow air to flow through the compost for it to receive air and water so it can heat up.  You can do this by using a pitchfork to allow the soil to breathe.

I then would cover with fallen leaves and leave throughout the cold months.  I just recently discovered that I had done this step wrong.  According to  new information that I have obtained, all steps should be done as mentioned above but do not mulch until after the first freeze.  I was surprised by this so I asked questions.  I found out that by waiting to mulch after the first freeze it will actually protect the plant from serious damage and it will return year after year, we are talking of perennials here.  The reason was described to me like this; by waiting when the first frost comes the sugars and nutrients that exist in the plant above the ground will return to the root for storage, then when you do mulch it will keep the plants from freezing and protects the bulb underground until it is warm and ready to grow once again.  Also, if using leaves to mulch with; Oak or Beech are best because their leaves are stiff and will allow more air flow.  Straw and salt marsh hay is also good mulches to use.

Another tip is to trim away excess foilage with my garden pruners in early fall by doing this most plants will grow back stronger and fuller.  I do this on my Clematis and roses.  I try not to trim too short, you can always check in the Spring for dead foliage that needs removed when new growth starts.  I also trim my grapevines and my blackberries and restructure any parts of the trellis that needs repaired for the new growth.

I do mow off any remaining strawberry plants and cover them with a thick layer of straw and remove come Spring. 

These are just a few tips that I hope can help you out in your gardening endeavors.

It is soon to be garden season and we will be getting out our tools to begin our Spring cleanup and garden preparation. 

It is never good to put tools away dirty.  They can rust and that shortens their life span.  One way that I have always cleaned my tools is to wash them and spray a little bit of cooking spray, a cheap farm supply, on them before  I store them for the winter.  This will keep them from rusting and will be ready to use come Spring. 

I, also, found a way to remove rust and that is to brew a pot of black tea, remove dirt from tool, submerge in the liquid and let set for couple of hours.  Be sure not to submerge wooden handle.  The tea’s tannic acid will remove the rust.  Rinse and dry before use.  If your tools are stored correctly then when Spring comes you can shorten your time by using them right away and not having to clean then before using.

Happy Gardening!

In todays economy we have to make use of all the things that we already have on hand.  We just cannot afford to go out and buy new stuff and put it on our credit cards anymore so we must improvise.  It is amazing what you can find around the barn, house or yard that you can make use of.

On of the things that we have started getting a lot of use out of is a drop sided wagon.  (Look in the background of the above picture in the doorway of the barn, and you will see our wagon.)  If and when we need to haul several buckets of feed at once but really don’t need the truck or tractor, it comes in very handy.  A bale of straw or hay fits in it just perfect and you can pull it with you right into the barn.  This little wagon can go places that other equipment cannot even fit into.    It has rubber tires and maneuvers well.  Having a bad back, it has became one of the farm supplies that I cannot do without.  It saves me from having to carry feed out to the cattle because I can just load the buckets and pull them out to the feeders  in the wagon, unload and dump.  The stress and strain is no longer a problem.

Another item I have made use of is a hard rubber water trough.  I placed it up next to the house under a downspout and now collect rain water in it.  I have discovered that by using rain water on my seedlings and plants  in my green house is better for them than city water with all the chlorine.  I bottle it in milk jugs and plastic bottles and store it to use for my house plants all year round.  It really works great.   Even in the winter, I’ll fill the jugs and keep my supply stocked.  I only have a problem if it freezes. 

Look around, see what you can use out of all the things you already have.  You may be surprised.

Isn’t this beautiful?  Winter is just around the corner, are you ready?  I’m not ready for the cold and snow but I do believe I am ready for a break.  As much as I love and enjoy my gardening, I am ready to settle down to a little rest. 

I was  dissappointed with my garden harvest this year, we had way too much rain in the Spring, and three plantings later my garden began to grow.  I had tomatoes early and was really looking forward to a good crop, well that was a flop.  After August, with the weather being so cool, the plants lacked the heat they needed to produce.  My bush and pole beans done well for a fews weeks and then they quit producing.  The squash and zucchini did not do well at all and my peppers only produced half of what they did last year.  Since September we have had below normal temps and my 2nd (Fall) planting was doing well until it decided to fr0st last week.  Now we are done.

I was getting frustrated at worrying all the time if my plants would produce and what I could do to save them.  Now all I have is about seven tomato plants that I saved and put in my greenhouse for the winter.  I am hoping that I can, at least, have a few tomatoes throughout the winter months.  Cleaning the leftover debris of vines and old plants  out of the garden now take precedence in getting everything ready for Spring.

Now that we are at the end of gardening season, the garden tool caddy, tool organizer, tools, lawn mower, wagon, tomato stakes and bean and cucumber supp0rts will all be put away.  I keep out only the few tools that I need for my flowering plants and tomatoes.  All of these plants are in pots so my small hand tools are all that is needed and a  bucket for watering.   

Each year I learn something new to try in my garden.  Last year I started my own herb garden and it has worked out really well.  Being diabetic I have learned a whole new way to cook with herbs and growing my own is inexpensive and healthy.  This year, I mastered growing potatoes in tiers of tires.  That was great!  They did well.

I kept a journal this year of all that I planted, what location, the dates they were planted, what fertilizer, if any, was used,  and how they produced.  Also, I kept track of any problems, such as changes in the leaves color and growth period.  This will help me next year in planning my new garden. 

Looking forward to a new planting season after a much needed rest.

Fall has arrived and we are preparing for the winter months ahead.  Now is the time to clean and winterize your tools and equipment.  One thing that I have learned is to not put tools away with dirt on them.  I never considered that a problem until it was pointed out to me several years ago. 

I didn’t realize that I could prevent my tools from rusting over the winter months just by doing about 30 minutes of cleaning and maintaining in the fall. 

For garden tools, shovels, pitchforks and the like, wipe them clean of dirt and mud and then wipe them down with vegetable oil or cooking spray.  This will keep them clean and rust free.  Waterers and feeders that are not in use during the winter months need cleaned thoroughly, dried and put away in storage until needed.  The best way to clean these are to wash them down, if not able to immerse them, with hot sudsy bleach water and then rinse well and let air dry. 

The same pertains to bridles, saddles, harness and reins for your horses.  If not maintained during the times of non-use, they can grow mold and become dry and brittle.  It is advisable to clean them well and use a product like Leather Therapy to keep them in good shape at least every six months.  Depending on use of your equipment, you may need to do it more or less.

This process goes for just about anything that you store for several months at a time.  Just like my Lawnmower tractor and wagon that I pull behind it to do yard work.  I clean them, wash them down and then store them in the shed or barn out of the weather.  This keeps them in good condition and ready for use come Spring.  This also applies to heavy farm equipment such as tractors, hay wagons , hay racks, combines, disks, brush hogs and etc.

Just a little maintenance in the Fall saves a lot of work in the Spring.

Autumn is a busy time for farmers. While the arduous task of planting is but a distant memory, harvesting the fruits of one’s label can be equally taxing. I like to spend as much time outdoors as possible before the harsh winter winds and blowing snow relegate me to a few months of indoor living. In addition to the harvest, fall is also the optimal time to do last-minute household repairs and home-improvement projects.

Whether I’m out working in the garden, cleaning the rain gutters or just fixing up a dilapidated board in the front porch, I like to keep my tools close at hand. It saves me countless trips to the garage, which in turn gives me more time to get crucial chores accomplished. A portable tool organizer is easily one of the most valuable garden accessories, as it can be attached to a handcart and pushed along like a portable work bench.