Garden Tools: tips, resources and reviews for gardeners

As the garden grows, so do the weeds. Act early before the problem gets totally out of hand. At the very least don't let the weeds go to seed. The book Maria Rodale's Organic Gardening (Rodale, 1998) has a chapter on fighting weeds that includes suggestions for getting motivated. The author suggests focusing weeding efforts on just one defined patch per session for a set amount of time. She also reports the best motivator of all is a deadline: invite your friends and family over for a Sunday afternoon barbeque and be amazed at how much weeding gets done in the morning.

What is your favorite rose? Here are a few of the World Federation of Rose Societies "World's Favorite Roses" chosen by a popular vote of the members:

Rose resources:
Online:

• www.everyrose.com - the best online database with photos, sources and gardeners' comments
• www.justourpictures.com - great photos of roses
• American Rose Society

Books:
• The Graham Stuart Thomas Rose Book (Sagapress, 1994) -A revised edition from this late great British plantsman
• Reliable Roses by Philip Harkness (Firefly Books, 2004) - Excellent photos and organized text describe 75 good roses
• Roses for Washington and Oregon by Brad Jalbert & Laura Peters (Lone Pine, 2003) The best 144 roses for the Northwest
• Lois Hole's Rose Favorites (Lone Pine, 1997)- Has all the usual rose profiles and care information, plus lots of fun facts and lore.

In Seattle:
• The Seattle Rose Society meets at the Center for Urban Horticulture (3501 NE 41 Street) on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm (except July and Dec.)
• The Woodland Park Rose Garden, adjacent to the Zoo, is open to the public from 7 am to dusk, everyday. Admission is free.

The popular Butterfly Bush, Buddleja davidii, has proven to be a weed. Found growing in natural areas far from any garden, Buddleja's seeds are dispersed by the wind. Oregon and Washington both list it as a noxious weed.

What is a butterfly loving gardener to do? Try Blue Mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Black Knight' ) as a blue/purple, summer flowing shrub substitute or at least only grow the named Buddleja cultivars or the species Buddleja globosa which may be less of a threat.

As spring returns, so do migrating birds. If you would like to see and hear more birds read Attracting Birds to your Backyard: 536 Ways to Turn Your Yard and Garden into a Haven for Your Favorite Birds by Sally Roth (Rodale, 1998). Roth suggests providing nesting birds with extra supplies, such as yarn, pet hair, dried grass and straw. Watch robins and other birds choose their favorite nest building items.

Identify the birds around your neighborhood with help from Chris Fisher, author of Birds of Seattle and Puget Sound (Lone Pine, 1996).

The Audubon Society has long advocated for the protection and appreciation of birds. Their website has lots of good, informative articles that advise on how to encourage wildlife in the winter garden and the impact backyard feeders make on birds. Research has disproved the fear that feeding birds creates dependency. So don't feel guilty if your feeder goes empty; birds remember how to find food on their own.

Gardeners with a wood burning stove or fire place often wonder whether they can use the ash as a source of potassium. The answer is yes if only wood (and no glossy paper) was burned. Where and how much? That depends. Wood ash raises soil pH, so if you have acid soil use it on the vegetable garden where a neutral pH is preferred, but avoid shrubs that like acid soil, such as Rhododendrons and Camellias. Recommended amounts vary, from a cupful around rose bushes to 20 pounds per 100 square feet for slightly acidic soil. Always work it into the soil. Read more about wood ashes from Oregon State Extension

Leaves of snowdrops (Galanthus) are just now starting to emerge by late December, promising soul-cheering flowers in January. This is one bulb that prefers to be planted "in the green," just after flowering. Look for them at local nurseries in early winter and then plant them under a deciduous shrub, or next to a late appearing perennial like a hosta or peony.

Caring for a living Christmas tree takes more work, but the reward is the satisfaction of planting a beautiful, long-lived conifer. Here are some guidelines for easing the transition from nursery to your home, and finally into the garden:

• Don't keep the tree inside longer than seven days.
• Keep it well watered, but not soaking wet. If the root ball is wrapped in burlap place it on top of gravel in a bucket so that it doesn't sit in water.
• Keep the room inside as cool as can be tolerated.
• Gradually reintroduce the tree to cold temperatures by placing it in an unheated garage for a week or two.
• When you're ready to plant it (and the ground isn't frozen) dig the hole the same depth as the root ball, and twice as wide. Don't add anything to the soil. Remember to water it for at least the next two summers.