As winter tries to creep in there are still a few gardening chores that need to be done. If you haven’t planted the last of your perennials and shrubs you need to get that done this week. At least you do in NW PA.
photo credit: cliff1066

It’s also important to cover garden areas and around plants and shrubs to protect the ground. If the frost gets into the ground too deeply around newly planted plants, shrubs and trees the frost will either damage the roots or raise the plant out of the ground. A ground cover will also keep the soil moist and soft and help with earlier plantings for the next garden season.

Compost, straw, and mulch are some of the best ground covers for the winter. I use compost around plants that need a boost of nutrients, straw around established plants, shrubs and trees. Mulch is used more for older trees and problem areas in the yard.

Here are a few ideas for getting ground covers for free or very cheap.

• Make you own compost from grass clipping, straw, leaves and table scraps.
• Call your local township for free leaves.
• Mulch can often be found for free at parks, from tree companies or local townships
• Farms often have old straw or damaged bales that they will give to you or sell for a discount.

It’s always nice to save money for landscaping and gardening when you can. It’s money you can use for new plants and other landscaping plans.

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Canning food gives you the opportunity to keep your garden produce for later use, to save money and to know the food you put on your table is as chemical free as it can be.

Canning is easy once you have done it several times but you must always use care to make sure your end product is properly canned. Improper canning can lead to food that spoils or contains bacteria.

The following series of you tube videos will show you different types of canning and how to store you garden produce safely.

I grew up in a family that canned produce and there is nothing better in the winter than fresh produce from your garden. We also have family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generations and holidays are special with recipes from these canned vegetables and fruits.

Tags: proper canning techniques, why can your own vegetables and fruits, you tube canning series, home canning techniques

I recently bought blackeberry plants for the back yard. I have a large wild blackberry patch on top of the hill but it’s 3/4’s of a mile from the house and for a quick handful of berries it’s nice to have a small patch in the back yard.

By growing your own blackberries you will have fresh berries on hand for several weeks and  you will know exactly what chemicals on on your fruit. I use no chemicals on my plants. I believe in chemical free food whenever possible.

How to plant blackberry plants 

There are two main types of blackberries: erect and trailing. The erect variety will take less space, the trailing take more room. You will need to decide which variety to purchase according to the size of your berry patch. Purchase your blackberry plants from a reputable nursery to ensure they are certified as disease free. I also look for blackberry plants that have fewer thorns.

Next pick a planting area in your backyard garden that gets full sun. The area should also contain soil with good drainage. Poor drainage will kill the roots on your plants and slowly kill the plants.

Make sure you weed the area well when you prepare the soil for planting your blackberry plants. This will help control weeds later on.

Plan the space between blackberry plants according to the type of plant you purchase. Leave about 4 to 6 feet between erect variety plants. Trailing varieties have long canes and need 4 to 10 feet of space between each. For both varieties, leave 8 to 10 feet of space between each row of plants. To get an idea on how to properly space the plants I lay them out on the soil and make adjustments for spacing and rows.

Dig out a hole just big enough to hold the blackberry plant’s roots. Set the root system into the hole and cover securely with soil. Water the blackberry plants as soon as they are planted. This will to help set the soil over the roots and prevent air pockets in the soil. I also lay mulch between the rows to make taking care of the plants faster and easier.

Blackberry plants will benefit from being trimmed in the early spring. Pruning removes dead and diseased canes and allows more sun to get to the healthy canes and fruit.

Blackberries are rich in anti-oxidants, fun to pick in the early morning and have that great rich flavor that reminds me of summer and country living.

Tags: selecting blackberry plants, planting blackberry plants