From Fine Gardening August 2019
The Chelsea Chop is a method of pruning that limits the size, controls the flowering season, and often decreases the flopping of a number of herbaceous perennials.”
Read all about it here….
What’s the Deal with the Chelsea Chop?
Cuttings are the most common way on how-to propagate rosemary.
Take a 2- to 3-inch cutting from a mature rosemary plant with a clean, sharp pair of shears.
Rosemary cuttings should be taken from the soft or new wood on the plant. The soft wood is most easily harvested in the spring when the plant is in its most active growth phase.
Remove the leaves from the bottom two-thirds of the cutting leaving at least five or six leaves.
Take the rosemary cuttings, dip bottoms in rooting hormone and place it in a well draining potting medium.
Cover the pot with a plastic bag or plastic wrap to help the cuttings retain moisture. Place in indirect light. When you see new growth, remove plastic. Then, transplant to your new location.
Photos & Article by Carlotta Lucas
Spring is a good time to propagate Rosemary. Two methods used in propagating Rosemary, and they are by cuttings and by layering.
This article explains how-to layer Rosemary.
Choose a long stem that will bend over enough to reach the ground.
Measure to see if you can pin the stem to the ground easily.
Strip away 1/2 inch of bark and leaves on either side of where the pin goes.
Note: An metal coat hanger can be cut to size and use as a pin.
Leave at least 2-3 inches of Rosemary’s leaves at the tip.
Bury the pin and the bared bark with soil.
Repeat process on other stems to make several new starts.
Once new growth appears on the tips on the stems, cut the stem away from the mother plant. Make your cut behind he pinned area, which is where the new roots form. Transplant rosemary starts into a pot, or into a new garden location. Protect from hot sun, and keep moist until established.
Pictures & Article by: Carlotta Lucas
Why & How to make Willow Water
Willow bark contains a natural plant growth hormone called, auxin hormone. You can use this hormone to stimulate root growth on propagation cuttings by making a home-brewed solution called, ‘Willow Water’.
Willow Twigs
First, you collect first-year twigs from any willow species (Salix spp.); these twigs will have green or yellow bark. Older willow growth has brown or grey bark, so don’t use those. The willow leaves are not used, so remove all the leaves from your twigs and toss them into your compost. Take these willow twigs and cut them into 1-inch to 3-inch long pieces. You will need approximately 2-cups of twigs to make ½ gallon of willow water.
Extracting growth hormone from willow twigs:
Steeping Willow Twigs
Method A – Place the 1-inch willow twigs in a container and cover with ½ gallon of boiling water, let them steep for at least 24 hours, then strain the liquid into another container to remove twigs.
Method B– Place the 1-inch willow twigs in a container and cover with tap water. Let twigs soak 48 hours, and after 2 days strain to remove the twigs.
The willow water is now ready to use.
How To Use:
First method: Pour some willow water into a small jar, and then place the cuttings you want to root into the willow water like flowers in a vase, soak the ends overnight. After soaking, plant the cuttings in a propagation medium. Planting medium suggestion is ½ vermiculite and ½ Coir (coconut fiber) or peat moss. Please note: coir is a sustainable planting medium, while peat moss is not.
Second method: Plant the cuttings you want to root in a propagation medium, then use willow water to water these cuttings. Watering the cuttings with willow water twice should be enough to help them root.
How To Store Willow Water:
Store willow water in a jar with a tight fitting lid and keep refrigerated. Label the jar with Contents, Brew Date, and Expiration Date. Willow water keeps for up to two months if refrigerated, but freshly made willow water is more potent, therefore the longer it is stored the less effective it becomes.
Submitted by: Carlotta Lucas
Resources:
Deep Green Permaculture https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/diy-instructions/home-made-plant-rooting-hormone-willow-water/
Garden Know How https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/making-willow-water.htm
After your Christmas cactus has bloomed, re-pot it into a pot slightly larger 
than its current container. Christmas cactus roots can easily rot if the soil is too wet, so the pot must have a drain hole and be planted in a lightweight, well-drained potting mix. You can use potting mixes for cactus & succulents, which are readily available at garden centers, or you can make your own.
Commercially made potting soils can be used for Christmas cactus soil, if they are amended. Choose a balanced pH soil mix without added fertilizers. The soil’s pH should be neutral, between 6.0 and 7.0, not too acid nor too alkaline.
Below are four suggested Christmas cactus soil recipes:
Submitted by; Carlotta Lucas
Keep hummingbird feeders clean to prevent mold and fungus, which can be fatal to hummingbirds. Refill feeders frequently so there is always an adequate supply of nectar for overwintering hummingbirds. Do not prune shrubs or trees near feeding areas in fall so hummingbirds have plenty of sheltered places to perch and rest between feedings. Bring feeders indoors to warm/ defrost and rotate out with other feeders.
Below are some methods to keep the nectar from freezing:
Photo by: Dan David Cook