My small basil farm
Include a basket (or three!) of basil on the deck, where three hours of sun seem to be enough for leafy herbs like basil, dwarf dill, and parsley.
Making a Garden
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Snowdrop sighting
I dearly love snowdrops, and some years a heavy snowfall flattens them. I’ve put some upside-down buckets over them to protect them from the weight of snow. This looks absurd and, of course, snowdrops are meant to stand in snow, but I’m emotionally invested in these little bulbs.
Pruning Japanese wisteria
Japanese wisteria is a rampant woody plant that requires pruning twice a year in late winter and late summer to encourage flower buds. If your wisteria is a roiling mass of long stems, you’re facing a large and ultimately satisfying job with loppers and secateurs.
Forcing spring branches
When forcing spring branches, use the younger branches of woody plants which usually carry the most flower buds, and appear more round and puffy than the slimmer leaf buds. When forcing spring branches, cut a cross with a sharp knife or secateurs into the bottom inch of each stem to encourage water uptake.
Dwarf vegetables in containers
Growing container dwarf vegetables requires conscientious watering if you expect good fruit quality. I use soilless mix amended with extra vermiculite.