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NEW PRODUCT!
Hoedag culti-dag
See buy page for more information on our new tool
Winter is upon us!
Tips for Your February Garden
Did you think you were off the hook with gardening because February rolled around?
There are still a few chores to be done. Take advantage of any nice days to get a jump on pesky weeds.
There are still a few chores to be done. Take advantage of any nice days to get a jump on pesky weeds.
Gardeners miss their gardens when the weather is cool, but we also enjoy the rest. If you’re dreading the long winter, the good news is there’s still more to do.Roses and perennials need an extra measure of protection over the winter months. You don’t need to do anything special.
Instead, use what you’re given. When snow blankets the ground, scoop it up and place it on top of your roses and perennials to offer more insulation to the plants. Also your tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants have melted from the frost and most of your perennials have gone dormant .If you haven’t already, pull out any remaining annuals that have faded. Many annual flowers will readily re-seed themselves. Sometimes this is a good thing. Sometimes it’s not..Remove fallen leaves and branches from your roof and gutters, and prune trees so that the limbs are at least ten feet from your house. Pick and discard fruit mummies and remove any insect traps .
Instead, use what you’re given. When snow blankets the ground, scoop it up and place it on top of your roses and perennials to offer more insulation to the plants. Also your tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants have melted from the frost and most of your perennials have gone dormant .If you haven’t already, pull out any remaining annuals that have faded. Many annual flowers will readily re-seed themselves. Sometimes this is a good thing. Sometimes it’s not..Remove fallen leaves and branches from your roof and gutters, and prune trees so that the limbs are at least ten feet from your house. Pick and discard fruit mummies and remove any insect traps .
Show care to your compost pile.
If you compost, you can run over dead leaves with a lawnmower before dumping them into your compost bin. Chopping this material up will speed up the composting process, ensuring that you have a nice steaming pile of good stuff for your spring garden. If you’ve had problems with scales, whiteflies, borers, or a or a sever aphid problem it’s better to skip the compost and just discard material from infested plants.
What NOT to Compost:
Not only will these items cause problems in your garden, but they also can make your compost smell bad and attract animals and pests. Avoid these items for a successful compost pile:
What NOT to Compost:
Not only will these items cause problems in your garden, but they also can make your compost smell bad and attract animals and pests. Avoid these items for a successful compost pile:
- Anything containing meat, oil, fat, or grease
- Diseased plant materials
- Sawdust or chips from pressure-treated wood
- Dog or cat feces
- Weeds that go to seed
- Dairy products
Don't forget tool care and maintenance.
Take care of your tools – clean the dirt off your tools and sharpen them before storing away for the winter. Restore or replace handles if needed.
Also see page titled: Tool Care and Maintenance.
Also see page titled: Tool Care and Maintenance.
February is also a time for planning
Whether you live in the North or South, February is a good time to pore over garden catalogs and get your orders in so that you will be ready to go come spring. The time you take to plan for what you want to grow, where you want to grow them, and how you’ll grow them will lessen the work you’ll have to do in the spring. Draw up your garden plan for the new season! Make a check list here's an example:
- Check your vegetable and flower seeds and then order the seeds you need this month before things start selling out.
- Check your supplies, including seed-starting mix and organic fertilizers, and replenish as needed.
- Near the end of the month is time to weed the asparagus and strawberry beds and then feed the plants and add to the mulch.
- Cover any root crops still in the ground with an extra layer of mulch in freezing weather.
- Remove yellowing leaves they are no use to the plant and may harbor pests and diseases.
- Prune out old growth from blueberries, blackcurrant bushes, gooseberries and red currants to maintain productivity.
- You can experiment with growing potatoes in containers, under cover for a very early crop
- Push back any plants that have “heaved” out of the ground because of freeze-thaw cycles.
- Rake heavy snow off shrubs as needed to minimize permanent damage.
- Cut back old foliage from ornamental grasses before growth begins – clip them to within a few inches of the ground.
- Cut down the old stems of perennial plants like sedum, yarrow, and daylily, being careful of any new growth.
- Remove faded flowers from winter pansies to prevent them setting seed.
SEED STARTING INSIDE
- check any leftover seeds and make a list of what you need before ordering, then order seeds and plants early to avoid substitution.
- Start seeds of pansies, dusty miller, begonias, snapdragons, delphiniums, and other hardy perennials indoors under lights.
- At month’s end, start seeds of onions, leeks, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower indoors under lights.
Seed storing tip
Humidity, in particular, is death to seeds. As living things, seeds are perishable, particularly if not kept cool and dry so take the time to store your leftover seeds in a cool, dry place. I've heard of many gardeners having success with stashing their leftover seeds in the fridge, first sealing in zipper bags with the air squeezed out, then placing the bags in a sealed plastic box.
Review 2020, Revise for 2021
TOP PRIORITY: Take a mental spin through your 2020 garden, or review notes or photos. If you didn’t make/take any, resolve to keep records in 2021. List anything you want to do more or less or just plain differently, to keep in mind before catalog-induced temptation.
TREAT YOURSELF: to a new garden notebook or journal
TREAT YOURSELF: to a new garden notebook or journal
Hoedag tools are not just for gardening
Going camping?
Don't forget to bring along your hoedag tools!
Clear or clean up your favorite trails.
Don't get flooded! Divert the water away from your campsite.
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Build a fire pit.
Use your hoedag tools to level a spot for your RV, tent or utility trailer.
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Story from a customer
Story from a customer..
Our Granddaughter, Sydnie putting our Hoedag tool to good use! Sydnie recently graduated from Western Washington University, Bellingham WA with a degree in micro biology. Until a job 'crops up', she is helping around the farm, keeping things tidy. The vegetables in the greenhouse are getting a lot of attention, too...her space!
Our Granddaughter, Sydnie putting our Hoedag tool to good use! Sydnie recently graduated from Western Washington University, Bellingham WA with a degree in micro biology. Until a job 'crops up', she is helping around the farm, keeping things tidy. The vegetables in the greenhouse are getting a lot of attention, too...her space!
*Congratulations goes to Judy! You have won the hoedag culti-hoe. Thanks for sending in your photos! We loved seeing our customers using the hoedag garden tools. Hope you enjoy your new tool. This time it's on us.
How to use Hoedag Garden Tools.
Before Starting any Job be sure your tools are clean and in good working order!
How It's Made
Manufacturing Process
Manufacturing Process
Humor Corner
First off Lets get a smile on your face!
A little garden joke just for you!
What is a weed you might ask? A weed is a plant that has mastered nearly every survival skill known to plant except for learning how to grow in rows! (laugh)
A little garden joke just for you!
What is a weed you might ask? A weed is a plant that has mastered nearly every survival skill known to plant except for learning how to grow in rows! (laugh)
We love to hear from our customers!
email your pictures, videos and comments to: colemanmetalworks@gmail.com
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