The last time my lazy self posted a blog, it was the dead of winter and I listed my New Year’s resolutions and talked about protecting my precious hostas by using bobcat urine.  The hostas are showing above the ground, although still small.  Yesterday, I strengthened my resolve, and got out the bobcat urine.  Using gloves, I bravely opened the bottle.  Yes, I had to sniff to see how awful it really smelled.  Truth be told, I’ve smelled worse.  It was like a cat litter box which had been neglected far too long.  I dipped wooden popsicle sticks into the bottle, then poked them in the ground very near the hostas.  My hostas are now protected (I hope).

I’m looking for a small spray bottle to “refresh” my popsicle sticks and treat the ground around the hostas.  We’ll see how it goes…I’ll let you know.

An experiment I tried last fall seems to have worked well:  I planted a hosta in a large, deep plastic pot and kept it outside all winter.  The pot was set up against the house and under the eave.  Its leaves appeared much earlier than the hostas planted in the ground and it looks beautiful.  I’m definitely going to plant more hostas in pots.  Less weeding, no opportunity for the voles to eat them and setting so close to the house, I’m guessing (hoping) the deer will pass it by.

This winter, the cherry laurels didn’t die all the way to the ground, but some of the south-facing leaves did turn brown.  This time, we’d had a good hard rain, so they were well watered and there was no snow cover, so it shouldn’t have been sunburn  – but sunburn is still my best guess, since the damage occurred on the south side only.  I’ve read suggestions to cover them for the winter with burlap bags to prevent the leaf kill.  I’m not sure I’m up to collecting multiple burlap bags and wrapping the cherry laurels each fall.  Maybe I can wrap one or two as another experiment and see if the covered ones fare better than the exposed ones.

I’m also trying to make my gardens look less like a tangled jungle.  I’ve pulled a bunch of small weeds, laid down fertilizer and pre-emergent herbicide in all but one bed.  We need to make another run to the store to pick up more fertilizer.

My next big project is to take out Autumn olives which have sprouted over the last couple of years.  I use clippers or loppers, depending on the size of the trunk, then carefully spray the cut stump with glyphosate herbicide.  Just a dab on the cut stump usually is all it takes.

Finally, we’re really looking forward to going to Hasting Plants to gather our plant and flower selections for this season.  We finally finished the last terraced bed and I actually will be able to grow plants in full sun!  WOW!  That will be a real learning experience!

Until next time, enjoy the lovely weather and this gorgeous Spring!

Stay Green, Good Friends!