GARDEN MAINTENANCEGARDEN MAINTENANCE

My Garden Is All My Garden Is All Planted.Planted.

Now What?Now What?

WateringWatering Garden near a water sourceGarden near a water source

FaucetFaucet Rain barrelRain barrel HoseHose Soaker hose Soaker hose SprinklersSprinklers Watering canWatering can Aqua cones, jugs, pails Aqua cones, jugs, pails

Water. . .Water. . .

Deeply Deeply In the morning In the morning The soil not the plant leavesThe soil not the plant leaves Gently to protect seedsGently to protect seeds New plants until establishedNew plants until established

Water deeply. . .Water deeply. . .

1” per week (if no rain)1” per week (if no rain) Once per week. . .Once per week. . .

deeply, not deeply, not dailydaily

Fertilizer. . . Adds essential Fertilizer. . . Adds essential nutrients to the soilnutrients to the soil

Only if soil test indicatesOnly if soil test indicates Before planting, between rows or Before planting, between rows or

around individual plantsaround individual plants

Most Community Gardens . . .Most Community Gardens . . .

. . . are organic.. . . are organic.

Sabathani is organicSabathani is organic

Find out YOUR community garden Find out YOUR community garden rulesrules

What does “organic” mean?What does “organic” mean?

Not using Not using syntheticsynthetic commercial commercial chemicals in your garden (such chemicals in your garden (such as fertilizer, pesticides, as fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides or herbicides).fungicides or herbicides).

Attract and maintain beneficial insects. Attract and maintain beneficial insects. Choose your plants to fit your garden Choose your plants to fit your garden

environment & climate. environment & climate. Use organic materials (compost) to Use organic materials (compost) to

amend the soil. amend the soil.

OrganicOrganic

Organic fertilizer:Organic fertilizer:

Blood MealBlood Meal

Fish EmulsionFish Emulsion

Composted ManureComposted Manure

Non organicNon organic

Commercial chemicals such as Commercial chemicals such as

Miracle GrowMiracle Grow

ThinThin

Veggies need room to growVeggies need room to grow Crowded veggies make no veggies at allCrowded veggies make no veggies at all Correct spacing on seed packet Correct spacing on seed packet Grit your teeth and pullGrit your teeth and pull Seedlings can be transplanted (lettuce) or Seedlings can be transplanted (lettuce) or

eaten (beet tops + roots)eaten (beet tops + roots)

Exception to thinningException to thinning

4X4 planting—spacing to be4X4 planting—spacing to be

discussed at garden demodiscussed at garden demo

Keeping it tidy. . .Keeping it tidy. . .

Mulch. . .Mulch. . . Mid-June around growing plants Mid-June around growing plants Eliminate weedsEliminate weeds Keep soil cool and moistKeep soil cool and moist

Mulch typesMulch types Dried leaves & grass clippingsDried leaves & grass clippings Seedless strawSeedless straw Compost or composted manure Compost or composted manure Shredded newspaperShredded newspaper Fabric or plasticFabric or plastic

WeedWeed Weeds use up soil Weeds use up soil

nutrients and nutrients and waterwater

Pull before they’re Pull before they’re too big, but big too big, but big enough to get hold enough to get hold ofof

Weed between Weed between rows or in rowsrows or in rows

Anything you didn’t Anything you didn’t plant is a “weed”plant is a “weed”

Also remove. . .Also remove. . .

Over ripe fruit (e.g., 2’ zucchini!)Over ripe fruit (e.g., 2’ zucchini!) Plants that “bolt”Plants that “bolt”

Spotting troubleSpotting trouble Walk it dailyWalk it daily Pick off bugs under leavesPick off bugs under leaves Remove leaves with powdery Remove leaves with powdery

mildew or wilt/blightmildew or wilt/blight Remove diseased plantsRemove diseased plants Detect other problems earlyDetect other problems early

PinchPinch

Herbs: Pinch new growth to Herbs: Pinch new growth to encourage branching and fullnessencourage branching and fullness

Pinch before it flowersPinch before it flowers Cut back the flowers if Cut back the flowers if

it does flowerit does flower

StakeStake

We’ll demonstrateWe’ll demonstrate

Harvest & EnjoyHarvest & Enjoy

Pick when ripe/readyPick when ripe/ready

Fall Clean-up CountsFall Clean-up Counts

Pick up fallen fruitPick up fallen fruit Compost healthy Compost healthy

plant materials plant materials (city)(city)

Pull and trash Pull and trash diseased plantsdiseased plants

Leave a few Leave a few tomatoes to seedtomatoes to seed

Prepare for next year!Prepare for next year!

Save seeds (cool, dry indoors)Save seeds (cool, dry indoors) Plant 2Plant 2ndnd crop extensions (lettuce, crop extensions (lettuce,

spinach, radishes)spinach, radishes) Turn under mulch and add compostTurn under mulch and add compost Plant ground coverPlant ground cover

Help. . . I have bugs!Help. . . I have bugs!

Think. . .Think. . .

IPMIPM

(Integrated Pest Management)(Integrated Pest Management)

Get to know your gardenGet to know your garden

Know beneficials: lady bugs, praying Know beneficials: lady bugs, praying mantis, bees mantis, bees

Know harmfuls: cut worms, squash Know harmfuls: cut worms, squash borers, cabbage loopers, slugs, borers, cabbage loopers, slugs, mildew, blightmildew, blight

Identify problemsIdentify problems Leaf damageLeaf damage

o Holes—chewing insectsHoles—chewing insectso Wilt—fungus/virus/bacterialWilt—fungus/virus/bacterialo Discoloration--nutrientsDiscoloration--nutrients

Dealing with DiseaseDealing with Disease

Prevention is bestPrevention is best Choose disease resistant plants/seedsChoose disease resistant plants/seeds Buy healthy plantsBuy healthy plants Save seed packets and labelsSave seed packets and labels Keep clean: remove fallen leaves, Keep clean: remove fallen leaves,

vegetables and diseased plantsvegetables and diseased plants Mulch at baseMulch at base Don’t touch garden plants after smoking!Don’t touch garden plants after smoking!

Decide when to interveneDecide when to intervene

Don’t panicDon’t panic One pest is not a problemOne pest is not a problem Target specific harmfuls only, not all Target specific harmfuls only, not all

insectsinsects

Pest BustersPest Busters

* Blast of water (aphids) * Blast of water (aphids) * Collars at base for cutworms* Collars at base for cutworms* Hand pick and squish bugs (borers, slugs)* Hand pick and squish bugs (borers, slugs)* Crushed egg shells (slugs)* Crushed egg shells (slugs)* Boards on ground (slugs)* Boards on ground (slugs)* Sluggo (non-organic), diatomeceous earth (slugs)* Sluggo (non-organic), diatomeceous earth (slugs)* Row covers and netting (moths/borers)* Row covers and netting (moths/borers)* Bt * Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) (Bacillus thuringiensis) (caterpillars)(caterpillars)* Insecticidal soap (mites)* Insecticidal soap (mites)* Pepper sprays (critters)* Pepper sprays (critters)

Pesticides: Pesticides: Used to kill or Used to kill or control pests or reduce damagecontrol pests or reduce damage

Insecticide: for insectsInsecticide: for insects Herbicide: for weedsHerbicide: for weeds Fungicide: for fungusFungicide: for fungus

Pesticide use:Pesticide use:

Match pesticide with pest!Match pesticide with pest! Follow the label. . . it’s the LAWFollow the label. . . it’s the LAW

Timing of use—read label for Timing of use—read label for correct correct stage (insects)stage (insects)

Amount—too much is not a good Amount—too much is not a good thingthing

Buy small amountsBuy small amounts Mix small amounts—use it up!Mix small amounts—use it up!

Rules for SabathaniRules for Sabathani

Organic gardenOrganic garden No chemical. . .No chemical. . .

Herbicides (weed killers)--RoundupHerbicides (weed killers)--Roundup Insecticides (bug killers)--OrthoInsecticides (bug killers)--Ortho Fertilizers—Scott Miracle Gro, etc.Fertilizers—Scott Miracle Gro, etc.

More later. . .More later. . .

Attract natural predatorsAttract natural predators

Welcome birdsWelcome birds Beneficial insects—lady bugs, Beneficial insects—lady bugs,

praying mantispraying mantis Frogs, toads and lizards, oh my!Frogs, toads and lizards, oh my!

If it’s not one thing. . .If it’s not one thing. . .

it’s another!it’s another!

CrittersCritters

Wascally wabbits!Wascally wabbits!

Rabbit fenceRabbit fencePinwheelsPinwheelsRepellent spraysRepellent spraysCats!Cats!

RaccoonsRaccoons

Big, tough and hungry. Big, tough and hungry. . .. .

omit habitatomit habitat

Other crittersOther critters

Squirrels: impossibleSquirrels: impossible Chipmunks: small and fast!Chipmunks: small and fast! Deer: not in the city, thank goodness!Deer: not in the city, thank goodness!

Plant extra and share!Plant extra and share!

OrOr

Don’t plant what they like!Don’t plant what they like!

And then there’s And then there’s Mother Nature. . . Mother Nature. . .

. . . And Mother Nature rules!. . . And Mother Nature rules!DroughtDroughtWind Wind HailHailLate Spring frost (cold weather Late Spring frost (cold weather crops)crops)

Early Fall frost (pick and cover)Early Fall frost (pick and cover)

Keep a journalKeep a journal

Make notes:Make notes: Date of planting/seedingDate of planting/seeding Date of harvestDate of harvest Rain fallRain fall Problems/pestsProblems/pests Garden layoutGarden layout Failures/successesFailures/successes

Your garden. . . Your garden. . .

What’s next?What’s next?Digging in. . . Digging in. . .

[Insert instructions for next class [Insert instructions for next class which is demo in garden]which is demo in garden]

How to get help!How to get help!

MG’s here every Sat.MG’s here every Sat.

May 24 – August 30 (not July 5)May 24 – August 30 (not July 5)

9 - noon9 - noon Call Terry: 612-596-2130 (for call Call Terry: 612-596-2130 (for call

back) back) MG Hotline: 612-596-2118 (for call MG Hotline: 612-596-2118 (for call

back)back)

Thanks. . .Thanks. . .

Let’s play in the dirt!Let’s play in the dirt!

Developed by Hennepin County Master Developed by Hennepin County Master Gardeners. All rights reservedGardeners. All rights reserved..