It is a rare gardener who has never experienced an
”
oopsie.
”
What’s an
”
oopsie
”
? It’s a a gardening mistake
– sometimes fatal, sometimes just disgusting.
An
”
oopsie
”
is connected to things like your pruning shears wrongly used,
the lawn mower carelessly maneuvered, or Roundup thoughtlessly
sprayed. Then you, the gardener, says,
”
Oops, I shouldn’t have done that!
”
It is a rare gardener who has never experienced an “oopsie.”
What’s an “oopsie”? It’s a a gardening mistake – sometimes fatal, sometimes just disgusting.
An “oopsie” is connected to things like your pruning shears wrongly used, the lawn mower carelessly maneuvered, or Roundup thoughtlessly sprayed. Then you, the gardener, says, “Oops, I shouldn’t have done that!”
The most recent “oopsie” in my own yard happened just last week. My son-in-law generously offered to mow the lawn, which was out of control thanks to all the recent rains. As he mowed along, he thought, “Oh, I’ll just run over these odd plants alongside the driveway.” And then he cut down my entire wildflower bed, which was just about ready to bloom. Goodbye, California poppies. Hello, mulch.
This got me to thinking about other kinds of “oopsies:”
– Seedlings disguised as weeds can confuse even the most experienced gardener. Bean seedlings, emerging radish tops, and all kinds of flower seedlings can be mistakened for tiny weeds. Sow seeds in fresh soil that has been carefully weeded before (not after) planting. It helps to mark a row of seeds with a length of string anchored at both ends. If the mystery plant is growing beyond the string area, then it’s likely a nutrient-stealing weed.
– Probably pruning shears are the biggest cause of major “oopsies.” It’s so easy to make a mistake by trimming off flowering stems before bloom instead of after, or nipping away at growing tips on fruit trees, or cutting roses long after the dormant pruning season has past. If you are not sure about the right timing and the correct cuts, invest in a good pruning book. It’s OK to hold the pruning book in one hand and the shears in the other hand as you make your cuts. Trees and shrubs are fairly forgiving over careless cuts. They may be naked of flowers or fuit this year, but will make a surprising recovery next year. Just don’t repeat the “oopsie” more than one season.
– Some leaves and flower heads should be cut off after blooming. Others need to be left in place to assure next year’s flowers. For instance, when daffodils and hyacinths finish blooming, their leaves should be left in place to replenish the bulbs for the next bloom season. California poppies, cosmos and other self-sowing flowers will happily spread their seeds around for another season. But rose blooms need to be cut away and so do summer annuals such as petunias to assure more flowers. If you’ve pulled out the poppies or cosmos before they’ve scattered their seeds you’ve committed an “oopsie.”
– Roundup and other herbicides work, but they also cause an awful lot of “oopie” grief. The problem with these products is drift, meaning they can drift to valuable plants. Since they kill anything they touch, using Roundup and the like should be done with absolute care. If you are spraying weeds that are growing near other plants, have someone hold a piece of plywood between the good plants and the bad ones to form a protective barrier. Spray early in the morning before the wind comes up. Better yet, just hand-pull the weeds and skip the spray.
An “oopsie” isn’t necessarily fatal, but it sure can hurt.
Plant a Row for the Hungry:
Gardeners are hovering somewhere between the last of the winter vegetables and the start of the summer produce, but that doesn’t mean Community Pantry hasn’t seen its first Plant a Row for the Hungry donation – lemons.
“Our first donation was 121 pounds of perfect lemons,” says Mary Anne Hughes, Pantry director. “As people work with their citrus trees, I expect to see more.”
The Pantry is located at 30 Airport Ave., Hollister, and is open weekdays to receive donations. For more information, call 831-637-0340.
Garden Club Roster:
A dedication to flowers is the reason for Morgan Hill Flower Lovers’ Club. The group, celebrating its 81st year, meets the first Wednesday of each month except July and August.
“As a group we enjoy the sharing of knowledge of all plants, focusing on the protection of native plants We include field visits and garden events,” says club member Margaret Sandoval.
Newcomers are always welcome to the gatherings at Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road. For more information, call 408-779-4350.
