garden.together.com 415.820.1623... e-mail me about me .... beginners .... design .... detailing .... ethics .... links .... pruning .... water conservation .... photos.... .
iexplore above: native poppies and achillea front non-native blue salvia in a Sacramento installation. Tips for June 2008 Time to ‘green up’ your garden and get it ready for summer: Irrigation Reevaluate your layout, check for leaks and clean filters, switch out sprays for drip line. Established plants suited for this climate need less irrigation, some don’t want any summer water once they’re established. You may be able to cut back on how much water you’re using by removing unneeded emitters or shortening watering time. For containers, read on. Compost If you don’t have a compost bin, get one. There are many options, you can buy or make one simply. Pots Take advantage of drainage trays as reservoirs during the summer, but be careful not to have plants sitting in water (see this month’s green tip)		a natural method Urban Gardening. Nature’s Rules. a garden for everyone... well planned and well tended green space nurtures the senses, cleans the air, provides the perfect backdrop for your next party. From the smallest window boxes to sprawling yards, your gardens enhance your home. And to get the most from your garden, why not enlist some help? I have been putting gardens together since 1997. To learn more about how I can help you get more out of your garden, take a stroll through gardentogether.com. I'll explain, among other things: my mission statement so you'll know what drives my work garden detailing how it can rejuvenate your garden soft edge pruning why I prefer it over common 'hard edge' techniques water conservation how to have a garden and still do your part to preserve this resource pests why I won't use pesticides and why going organic is the best my background and how only a little bit of space started me on my way. So, whether you decide it's time to get your garden together, or you'd like someone to garden together with, give a call so we can discuss your needs and ideas. Dean Ouellette 415-820-1623 garden_together@hotmail.com News Say no to LBAM spraying! There are many things wrong with this proposal, but ask yourself, would you let a stranger spray an under tested pesticide on you, your children, your pets? Visit www.cassonline.org and www.LBAMspray.com Vacation Time I’ll be out of town from August 5^th through August 19^th. Green Tip for June, 2008 Container tips Good pot mates: if you’re mixing different species in the same container, choose ones that have the same water and sun requirement. Drainage trays: use them to store watering overflow, but also be sure to keep plants from becoming waterlogged. The tendency in summer is to water more, but it’s also possible to drown plants which don’t have a chance to dry out between waterings. Check the level of water in your drainage trays just before you or your automatic system waters. When a pot still has a full tray of water, either cut back on watering, or add a wick connecting it to another pot that is dry.