| From the pages of Fine Gardening magazine How to Read a Garden Catalog Mining the wealth of gardening information that arrives in your mailbox each winter  The holidays are behind you, it's a gray winter day, and spring is months away. Like every red-blooded gardener, you've waited impatiently for the new garden catalogs to arrive. Now that they're here, you head for the kitchen table and spread them out. Ah, yes, another new beginning, a chance to have a spectacular border this year, or at least to plant the right stuff in the right place.Most gardeners use catalogs to find plants and seeds that are not available locally. But garden catalogs are far more useful than that. They also provide a wealth of gardening information, and you don't have to order a thing or spend a penny to get it. You can scour them for gardening tips, cultivation information, bloom time, and heaps of other valuable knowledge. In my 20 years of gardening, I've learned to read carefully to get the most out of these catalogs. Information, tips, all for free You probably already receive the big catalogs from companies like Park Seed Co., Burpee's, or Wayside Gardens. These provide lots of useful information, but there are many more catalogs available. Look at Cyndi's Catalog of Garden Catalogs for names and addresses of dozens of smaller catalogs for every gardening interest. To get the most out of any catalog, start on page 1. Check the table of contents, familiarize yourself with the catalog's symbols, and then read the letter from the president. I know, you don't usually read catalogs this way, but the first few pages will give you an idea of what each catalog is all about. You can also find special deals, bonuses, and early order dates. These dates are important since popular plants and seeds do sell out. Pay attention to shipping dates because you'll want to have your garden beds prepared by the time the plants arrive. Next, look for an index. Some indexes will tell you whether plants are annual or perennial, what temperatures are needed for seeds to germinate, planting zones, days to germination, light, moisture, or any special treatment needed, etc. I've learned from experience which companies fill orders promptly and replace faulty seeds or plants when necessary. Once you start reading the descriptions of the plants, look for helpful advice that can save you time and trouble. Many catalogs are full of tips for the careful reader. For instance, I read in the Thompson & Morgan catalog that when trying to grow stock (Matthiola incana) from seed, you can achieve almost 100 percent doubles by discarding all but the palest yellow/green seedlings. When it says "invasive," believe it Descriptive words in garden catalogs can introduce you to a marvel of the gardening world or get you into a lot of trouble. The trick is to learn to read the tiny print. To an impatient perennial gardener, "blooms first year from seed" are welcome words. Usually, perennials will produce flowers the second year and thereafter. It's exciting to plant delphiniums from seed and have flowers in a few months. I also look for plants that are "self-cleaning" (do not need to be deadheaded) and those that are "self-branching" (do not need to be pinched back to make the plant fill out). If you are ordering seeds or plants for a contained border, make sure none is described as a "vigorous grower" (such as Cerastium tomentosum), "spreads diligently" (such as Convallaria majalis -- lily-of-the-valley), "rampant" or "invasive." Invasive plants are great as ground covers but can take over small gardens quickly. The words "diligent," "carefree" and "naturalize" are used to describe plants that have a tendency to self-sow. For some gardeners this is an advantage, while for others the seedlings might not be welcome. I appreciated a suggestion in the White Flower Farm catalog that Achillea 'Silver Queen' could be best used under taller plants because of its tendency to self-sow. Catalogs can also make our gardening chores easier. We can avoid using fungicides and pesticides by choosing plants that specify "disease or insect resistant." Also useful to beginners are catalogs that list plants by common and botanical names. Design a garden with a phone call A new sales technique is appearing in many catalogs: You can find ready-designed gardens offered with the seeds or plants all chosen for you. Well-known garden experts design these gardens, which you can use to achieve spectacular results. Beginners should be aware that the plants in a perennial border will not all bloom at the same time. These gardens are planned so plants bloom early, midseason and fall, with a shifting balance of color in each season. If an annual garden catches your eye, there is a better chance your garden will look like the enticing artist-drawn pictures. I realized how much I missed that bundle of garden treasures in my mailbox one January after I moved to a new home and none of my catalogs followed me; I discovered that they could not be forwarded to a new address. Soon, however, after several phone calls to request new catalogs, they were all back on my doorstep, more welcome than ever.
|
 |
|
Taunton Home | Books & Videos | Contact Us | Product recall information
Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice | Taunton Guarantee | User Agreement | About Us | Work for Us | Contact Us | Advertise | Press Room | Customer Service | Subscriber Alert
© 2012 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
