Horticulture Report

Kalmia microphylla_Mountain LaurelPlant Name: Kalmia microphylla
(Note: The kalmias are very poisonous!)

Common name: Alpine laurel, Bog Laurel, Swamp-laurel, Western bog-laurel
Plant type: Dwarf Shrub
Height:   6-24 inches
Bloom Time: May – September
Flower Color: Pink to Rose Purple
Exposure: Sun to part shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, humus, acidic soil, low nitrogen
Water Needs: Average to Wet
Attributes: Native, Alpine

Habitat: Forested Meadows, Subalpine, Alpine, Wetlands
USDA Zone: 2-8

Tool Talk

~The following tools are used & recommended by Ashland Garden Club Members~

Hori Hori Knives Japanese Hori Hori Knife –Used for weeding, digging, cutting roots, dividing perennials, removing plants from pots. Unbelievably versatile!

 

Nejiri Gama Garden Hoe.jpg Nejiri Gama Garden Hoe (Japanese garden hand tool) Narrow end pushes deep into the soil helps with weeding, planting seedlings, aerating the soil, making seed trenches, and breaking up clods & soil.

 

Hand Plow Ho-Mi DiggerHand Plow Ho-Mi Digger (short-handled) A Korean tool that’s an all-around hand-digging tool, useful for planting, weeding, rock-removal and finding irrigation lines.

 

Sheep Shears – Large long blades are useful for clipping & trimming small shrubs .

Long Handle Gardening Fork Dividing perennials, digging out trees, shrubs & perennials, Easier on the back when using long handle as leverage.

Garden Bucket Caddy Slips into a plastic bucket and holds garden tools.

Flexible Buckets – Great for hauling weeds, plants, hand tools around the garden.

Felco 7Felco Pruners – Pruning, quality pruner, replaceable blades & parts, easy to sharpen. Right or Left handed offered.  Felco 7: Is a ergonomic heavy duty pruner with a spinning handle,  great for people with a arthritic thumb.

 

Florian Ratchet Pruner Ratchet-cut mechanism increases hand strength, prunes branches up to ¾ Inches in diameter, has a Lifetime Warranty. Right or Left handed offered.

 Kneelon Knee padsKneelon Knee Pads – Flexible, Waterproof, durable, machine washable.

 

 

circlehoe.jpg CircleHoe– For weeding & cultivating close to plants.

Hoop Hoe, Stirrup Hoe, Action Hoe – All Similar hoes for weeding around plants.

 

Winged Weeders – For weeding, cultivating, edging, aerating and making furrows.

Balling Spade – Ideal for cutting deep and slicing through roots.

potlifterPotlifter – Lifts 250 lb – Saves your back when lifting pots or rocks. Also sold: Pro Potlifter for lifting 350 lbs.

Yard Butler Rotary Cultivator or Garden Weasel Cultivator (collapsible handle available) – Weeds, aerates, detachable center tines work between plants & rows.

Leaf Luster Digital Soil Thermometer – For measuring soil temperature for germination and transplanting

 Leaf Luster Soil Tester – Contains tests for ph, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels.

Rapitest PH Meter – easily checks the pH level of your garden soil and potted plants.

Mico-tip Pruners – aka Floral Pruners- For deadheading & pruning smaller plants & flowers.

Fiskars Softough Mico-Tip.jpgFiskars Softough Mico-Tip Pruners- Awarded the Arthritis Foundation Ease-of-Use Commendation for a design that is easy-to-use for people with arthritis or limited hand strength.

Roto Digger Auger- Uses: Planting bulbs, bedding plants, seedlings, deep water aeration, fertilizing trees & shrubs.

Corona AC 8300 Sharpening Tool – 5-Inch super carbide file for sharpening straight edge tools.

 Fiskars Softouch Weeder (7060) – Ergonomic weeder with forked tip cuts deep to remove weeds by the root.

Corona Clipper Razor Tooth folding sawCorona Clipper Razor Tooth – 10″ Folding Pruning Saw – Sturdy, easy to use, easy to store. Lifetime warranty.

 

Tru Temper Miniature Shovel – For planting bulbs and weeding.

Tru Temper Narrow Garden Fork – D-handle – For digging and mulching.

Yard Butler RKT-1000 Rocket Weeder – Pull weeds from the roots, organic weed control, ergonomic handle, ejector button pops off the weed-keeping your hands clean.

Gardex or Garden Home  Leaf Scoops-  Multi-purpose hand-held leaf scoops.

 

Planting Poetry

Rhonda Nowak, Master Gardener, English Composition teacher at Rogue Community College and garden writer for the Mail Tribune, gave an informative talk Monday on how to plant your container gardens with poetic flare.

Read her Literary Gardener blog here…
http://blogs.esouthernoregon.com/theliterarygardener/

Horticulture Report: Verbascum

Southern Charm

Plant Name: Verbascum (mullein hybrid)
Cultivar: Southern Charm
Plant type: Perennial
Height: 2 ft
Bloom Time:Late Spring to Mid-Summer (then again in the fall)
Flower Color: Pastel Rose to Ivory
Exposure:Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Normal to Sandy
Water Needs: Drought tolerant once established
Attributes: Large 1.5” showy flowers, deer resistant, two bloom times , Silvery Foliage
Note: Does not self-sow
Uses: Cutting garden, Perennial Garden
USDA Zone: 5-9

Tool Tune Up

Annual Tool Tune Up
Free event (donations will be accepted)
Hosted by Karen Taylor & Gregg
Where: Talent Homestead – 2209 Talent Ave, Talent, OR
When: Sunday, March 6th
Time:   Noon to 4pm (drop by any time between those hours)

What to bring:
Tools to be worked on
Parts that need replacing (like handles, or blades)
Non-alcoholic drinks
Snacks (for yourself or to share)
Ear plugs for hearing protection (noisy equipment)
Limited safety glasses on hand, so bring your own if you have them.

Workstations will be set up with:
Sand paper, Files, Grinders, Wire wheels, Sanders, Walnut & Sesame Oil for handles.
There is also a welder for minor repairs that need to be welded (steel only).

See you there!