Summer/Fall Client

We have just secured a summer and fall job on Lyons Lane. Our client has a home in Montana. They will be away six months. We will be providing summer watering and maintenance and general upkeep. And in the fall we will help with trimming, moving some plants and working on this great property, so that when our client returns they will find it in great shape. It’s our pleasure…….

The Garden Contessa  

“Jack-in-the-Pulpit” – How To Grow

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is a unique plant with an interesting growth habit. The structure that most people call the jack-in-the-pulpit flower is actually a tall stalk, or spadix, inside a hooded cup, or spathe. The true flowers are the tiny, green or yellow-tinged dots that line the spadix. The entire structure is surrounded by large, three-lobed leaves that often hide the spathe from view. In late summer or fall, the spathe falls off and the flowers give way to decorative wands of bright red berries. About Jack-in-the-Pulpits Jack-in-the-pulpit wildflower is native to the lower 48 states and parts of Canada. Native Americans harvested the roots for food, but they contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause blisters and painful irritations when eaten raw. To safely prepare the roots, first peel them and cut them into small pieces, then roast them at a low temperature for at least an hour. Growing jack-in-the-pulpit is easy in the right location. They grow wild in woodland environments and prefer a shady spot with moist or wet, slightly acid soil that is rich in organic matter. These plants tolerate poorly-drained soil and make great additions to rain or bog gardens. Use Jack-in-the-pulpit in shade gardens or to naturalize the edges of woodland areas. Hostas and ferns make excellent companion plants. How to Grow Jack-in-the-Pulpit There is not much involved with growing Jack-in-the-pulpit plants. Plant container-grown Jack-in-the-pulpit plants in spring or plant corms 6 inches deep in fall. Plant seeds freshly harvested from ripe berries in spring. Plants grown from seeds have only one leaf the first year and it takes them three or more years to come to flower. Caring for Jack-in-the-pulpit Wildflower As easy as growing Jack-in-the-pulpit flower is, so is its care as well. The plant’s survival depends on a moist, organically rich soil. Work a generous amount of compost in to the soil before planting and fertilize annually with additional compost. Use organic mulch such as bark, pine needles, or cocoa bean shells, and replace it every spring. Jack-in-the-pulpit plants are seldom bothered by insects or diseases, but are very attractive to slugs. Hand picking, traps and slug baits are the easiest ways to deal with these pests. Place hiding places, such as boards and upturned flower pots, in the garden as traps and check them early in the morning. Drop the slugs in a bucket of soapy water to kill them. Read the label on slug baits carefully and choose one that won’t harm children pets and wildlife. Knowing how to grow Jack-in-the-pulpit in the garden is a great way to enjoy the plant’s unique appearance throughout the season.

The Garden Contessa

Contessa Gardening Today

“THE MORE YOU GARDEN,
THE MORE YOU GROW”

Stone Patio/Paver Clean- Up

How do you clean weeds and unwanted growth (such as dandelions) from in between your stones/pavers.

Prepare a solution of :

1 gallon of white vinegar

2 tbsps Dawn Detergent

1 cup of salt

Mix very well in a bucket. Our advice is to use a plastic water bottle to pour it between the stones. Be generous. Apply on a very sunny and dry day. Preferably with no rain arriving the next day. You may need to apply twice, but it definitely does the trick. And it’s safe. Even helps with unwanted mossy and slippery areas. It’s easy and quick.

The Garden Contessa

703-548-1882

Reviving/Creating Weed Free Beds

Our current gardening project required some work in our clients “garden beds.”  This client likes leaving the late Fall leaves in their beds. They like to encourage a habitat for bugs, crawling creatures, larvae and in general, providing a blanket for these species. It’s a great idea actually if you can deal with looking at very full leafy beds all winter. But in the spring with all the wind and rain your yard and your beds start producing WEEDS. Impossible to get at them under all the winter “cover.”  So they hired me to clean up the yard and the beds.

So here’s my recipe for weed free beds:

Collect black and white newspaper. Quite a lot actually.  Purchase ordinary topsoil, about $3.00 per bag.  Then rake and weed your beds. Now place the newspaper down, a couple pieces thick. Then cover the newspaper with a generous amount of topsoil. One inch thick if you have enough. Press down with your garden goulashes. Wait two weeks. Magically the carbon in the newspaper combined with the deep dark and organic rich topsoil will give you new beds/ with no weeds, and no new weeds for a very long time. And when you go to plant or dig it’s magic. You will discover that there are no new weeds at all, and your newspaper has disappeared. 

Questions?  Please do-call us. It’s plain and it’s very simple. It just works. And you have used no harmful weed killer.  It’s economical and eco/friendly.   

Happy Weed Killing!!!!

Penny,  The Garden Contessa

703-548-1882

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mt Vernon – Online workshop

Mt Vernon Gardening Workshop

mountvernon.emlnk1.com/lt.php

Online FREE workshop tomorrow. We are getting closer to flower pot/container time. Please, as you wish, take advantage of this great workshop. Enjoy!

The Garden Contessa

Clean Up – post heavy winds

As you can see we had a “wild wind” event yesterday with our vehicle while visiting a new client in Delray. but nevertheless all is now cleaned up and we are moving on with our day. Mother Nature has given us one of the most beautiful spring seasons but she can give us some twisted events also.

We are gardening and doing a “clean up” today after yesterday’s heavy winds. Our client is right on Valley drive near a heavily wooded area. Lots of limbs and debris hit their property. If you have yard clean up and work that requires putting your yard back in order we will be happy to take a look.

Enjoy this beautiful weekend.

The Garden Contessa

Serving Parkfairfax Residents with all your gardening needs. FREE first consultation by appointment. Call Contessa today at:

Phone:  703-548-1882

See our Ad in the April Forum Newsletter

 

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Contessa Gardening Today

We trimmed back dead growth on this 30 year old lLilac. It should be a bush not a tree. Right now it’s at least 20 ft tall. Years of neglect have made it so tall that you cannot even reach the fragrant blossom stems. But if you walk up close you can smell it just fine. We’ve done the research and when this blooming season ends,  we are cutting it down to waist high. It wants to be a “bush” not a tree. Nevertheless the blossoms came after we did some spring manicuring. They smell so sweet. And although once we trim it back, it will take 2 to 3 years to mature into a “full bush” and blossom again. The wait will be so worth it. We are saving bushes and trees and plants – one at a time. Our community is worth it.

Have a wonderful day out there….gardeners!!!!

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