By Jennifer Fairfield
(Publisher’s note: This is part one of a two-part series. The second part will publish tomorrow.)
My apologies for not getting the newsletter out in January – I came down with an upper respiratory bug, and couldn’t think from one side of my head to the other. So, you really were better off not having to read anything I might have written. And with the temperatures we had at the beginning of the year, who was thinking about gardening anyway?
February Featured Garden Product: Bird Feeders
Bird Feeders – February is National Bird-Feeding Month, so this month, let’s talk about bird feeders.
There are a number of different types of bird feeders available, and the type you want depends mostly on the type of bird you are trying to attract. Many smaller birds are “clingers” – which means they can easily cling to just about anything.
Most larger birds are “perchers” – they need something to sit, or perch, on when they eat. To attract the largest variety of birds in your yard, you want to provide a variety of different feeders. some of the most common types of feeders are:
Tube – Depending on the style, can hold different types of seed, including Nyger thistle, sunflower in the shell, shelled sunflower, peanuts, or seed mixes. These feeders generally attract smaller birds.
Hopper – These are also sometimes referred to as “house” type feeders. They often have are enclosed, doing a better job of keeping out the elements. Most medium and small birds can feed at hopper feeders, which make them a great option for attracting a variety of birds.
Suet – These feeders are made specifically to hold suet or seed/nut combination “cakes” that are great sources of protein and fat for you birds – just what they need to survive Michigan winters.
Tray – Also called platform feeders, can be used to attract some of the medium and larger birds, along with birds that generally feed on the ground, including the cute little Dark-eyed Junco that comes “south” to spend the winters with us. Different styles can be hung, attached to the top of a pole or post, or even attached to your window.
Would you believe that tomorrow, we will technically be half-way between winter and spring? I say technically, because that’s only according to the calendar. We do live in Michigan, and Michigan tends to decide when spring is going to show up with little regard to the calendar most years.
So, don’t count your crocus too soon. But while we’re waiting for those crocus to pop up out of the ground, we can still be doing some garden-related things:
House plants/indoor plants
Had I had the ability to think last month, I would have told you to make sure your House plants/indoor plants are getting as much sun as possible. Fortunately, it’s not too late. Moving your plants to a south-facing window or putting them closer to other windows can help them get just a little more sun than they otherwise might at this time of year.
Just don’t let them touch the glass, as it can be far too cold for most plants. Also, clean off any dust that has accumulated on leaves of your indoor plants so they can take better advantage of what sun they do get.
Clean out any pots you might be planning to use for repotting of house plants or for outdoor container gardening this spring and summer. It’s a really good idea to disinfect your pots before using them again, to be sure they are not harboring any bacteria that could harm or even kill your plants.
Do this task now so the pots will be ready to use when you’re ready for them. Use a 1 to 9 ratio of bleach to water and a wire brush to be sure to get all the leftover dirt, and then thoroughly rinse the pots to be sure to get rid of the bleach.
If you are going to start plants indoors to put into your garden in the spring, make sure you have everything you need – seed starting mix, pots, working lights, heating mats, etc. It’s much easier to do get whatever you may be short on now, than to find out you’re missing a critical element when you are ready to get started.
Start planning your gardens now. Having a plan makes it a lot easier to be sure you have gotten what you need – not just seeds and plants, but also supplies such as frost protection blankets, plant supports, and fertilizers.
Things to do indoors this month:
Go through seeds leftover from last year – many of them will still be good for planting this year. Once you’ve figured out what you have, determine what you need and go get it.
If you wait too long, you may not get the varieties you want. Besides, going through the seed packs at your favorite garden store is a great way to forget about winter for a little while! We already have some of our seeds in, and the rest will be in next week. There are even some new varieties coming in that I’m looking forward to trying out in my gardens this year.
If you are starting your own rosemary, do it now. Rosemary is extremely slow to get going, so needs to be started in early to mid-February in order to be at a size for transplanting out into your garden in spring.
Starting perennials from seed can be an inexpensive way to get a lot of plants. Starting them indoors early gives them more time to get to transplanting size, and you have more chance of getting blooms the first year. Most other plants don’t need to be started until sometime in March, but check the packet of the seeds you are considering to be sure when they should be started.
(Part two will publish tomorrow.)
