WONDERFUL IDEAS FOR RECREATING DYING TOWNS

I saw this article this morning in the NY Times.

Detroit has lost much of it's population over the last few decades. There is a ton of open space in the city. Here's what they are proposing to do with it. It sure makes sense to me!

Check it out!

Reimagining Detroit as Grow Town - NYTimes.com

BRINGING HERBS INSIDE

I had a question about this and thought others of you might be interested in how to go about planting herbs inside for winter cooking.

After you dig up a few healthy looking sections of the herb, rinse off the leaves AND the roots to get rid of any unwanted critters that may be clinging to the plant.

Mix some potting soil (NOT from the garden) with some soil-less planting medium like vermiculite in a clean pot, and plant your newly cleansed herb in the pot. Keep the "soil" damp, but not soaked; put it in a sunny window and enjoy it throughout winter!

DEALING WITH SPRING BLOOMING BULBS

There are those of you who are looking at a bag of bulbs and wondering what to do now. OR, you have a bed of bulbs that are so overcrowded they need to be divided. OR you just want to have a few more bulbs around the garden and you are unsure of how to take what you already have and plant some of it elsewhere.

Here is a link for Ohio State University Extension Service that gives you all the information you might need. Good luck!

GARDENING CHORES FOR NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

Now's the time to plant paperweight narcissus, hyacinths and amaryllis (indoors) for beautiful color and aroma on New Year's Day!

If you've had enough freezing days to render the ground hard,
begin to mulch roses and other shrubs, etc.

Putting wire guards on the bases of tree trunks will prevent mouse
damage.

Wrap plants in burlap for winter protection. Do NOT use plastic!
They can't breathe any better inside plastic than you can.

If you haven't fertilized your lawn or garden yet, now's the time!

Use anti-desiccant to prevent loss of water during the long winter, if you haven't already.

It's a good idea to be sure your power equipment works properly. Now is the best time to take them to the shop for repairs and upkeep.

Wrap the trunks of smaller trees with plastic wrap, or wire mesh to protect them from rodents.

Add leaves and the last bits of cut grass to the compost.

Cover your compost heap or bin with plastic to keep the nutrients from being leached out from winter rain and snow.

Water your trees and shrubs until the ground freezes.

As you do that, check them for diseased foliage and remove it. Remember anything diseased should go into the garbage, NOT the compost.

If you have any left over bulbs, for goodness sake PLANT THEM NOW!!! (Assuming you live where the ground is still soft enough to plant!)

Are you going to have a live Christmas Tree? Dig the hole now, then cover the hole and the dirt you removed, so you can easily plant it when the time comes.