Trimming Ornamental Grasses

It's that time of year when we get out into the garden and clean-up for another season in the garden. I always get the question of when to cut back ornamental grasses, to which I always say now. I prefer to leave the golden foliage up through the winter as opposed to cutting the grasses back in the fall. Either time you will not harm the grasses, it's just a gardeners personal preference. I love their contrast against a new fallen snow or in front of some evergreens.

This spring I have noticed incorrect horticultural practices when cutting grasses back. I have seen grasses not cut back far enough to the ground. I have seen grasses sheared like shrubs. The photo shows the correct way to to trim them back to the ground. Easiest way to trim is a sharp pair of hand pruners or shears. If you have numerous and larger clumps in the garden then electric or gas powered hedge shears make quick work of it.

Spring is in the house!

Last Tuesday afternoon while playing at the neighborhood play set with my son I noticed the 50' long forsythia hedge budding up nicely. Desperate for spring to arrive I took some cuttings from the hedge. They went straight into the vase with water and the past few days I am enjoying the blooms! You can also cut those early flowering daffodils and enjoy inside. It only take a few minutes, saves a trip to the florist, saves you money, does not harm the plants, and will definitely cheer you up. Why wouldn't you do it!

Witchhazels & Philly Zoo

Last Friday we had a family outing to the Philadelphia Zoo. Aside from the cool temperatures we all had fun viewing the animals with unobstructed crowd interference. I had fun viewing the plants, yes the plants. The Philly Zoo was founded as a 42 acre Victorian garden and avid plant aficionados such as myself marvel at some of the older trees. I was amazed at the Ginkgo biloba by the picnic grove area, one of the largest I have ever observed. It was great to see 'Jelena' and 'Arnold's Promise' witchhazels (Hamamelis x intermedia sp.) in bloom. That means spring is steadily approaching and especially this year it can not come soon enough. Read more on the America's First Zoo at http://www2.philadelphiazoo.org/about/AboutZoo.htm/ and keep you eyes open for one of those true harbingers of spring, witchhazels.

Chester County Night School

This spring I will be teaching two short courses geared to beginner gardeners at the Chester County Adult Night School. If you are interested read more here... http://www.chestercountynightschool.org/courses/home-garden.php

I had a great experience two years ago while teaching a four week class on landscape design for homeowners. One of the students had a few drafting classes in college. After recently purchasing a new home she wanted to address the outdoor appearance and through the class she discovered how much she truly enjoyed and missed drafting. She was very good at it too!

Hello blogging community!

And away we go!

Quick introduction to the blogging world. I grew up with the sand between my toes just outside of Ocean City, NJ. I have parlayed my love of the outdoors into a career as a landscape designer for a design build firm in southern Chester County, PA. I will give updates on activities in the garden, exciting projects I'm working on, local gardening events, personal stories, reflections & insights of my adventures along the way. It should be fun!

Photo was shot spring of 2007 at Caswell beach South Carolina. I was intrigued by the lines and shadows.