cohan1/ A bit of #gardening yesterday- I was going to dig dandelions in a #RockGarden , did a few but decided it was time to remove some self-sown wild spruce seedlings and especially a Tamarack /Larix laricina, as those are not common in the gardens (wetland species, weird that it showed up in a gravel and clay bed!) and I wanted to move it while there is a better chance of keeping it alive (the larger they are, less percentage of root I will get) #Alberta #BorealForest #weed #September
2/ In the end, I found 14/15 saplings, all spruce but that one tamarack. After the first few larger ones 20-30cm +/- a foot, I was tired of trying to dig the shovel into rocks and gravel (limited success anyway) and the smaller ones were mostly pulled out, with not much difference in root volume (all poor) -- I've removed many in the past though, with a good survival rate. These were all potted up, we'll see how they are next year. anyone need #bonsai or #windbreak starters?
3/ (I have lots of well established potted saplings from past removals in various beds).
I dug up some mostly rotted wood debris/sawdust from my wood cutting area and potted them all up in old pots. Bonuses: a #native Viburnum edule, which was loose where I was collecting the soil (common here) and a #VolunteerSeedling Viola front row (more next post)
#NativePlants #repotting #BuildingSoil #Soil
I dug up some mostly rotted wood debris/sawdust from my wood cutting area and potted them all up in old pots. Bonuses: a #native Viburnum edule, which was loose where I was collecting the soil (common here) and a #VolunteerSeedling Viola front row (more next post)
#NativePlants #repotting #BuildingSoil #Soil
4/ This Viola was growing right behind where the pots are sitting in previous post, under a large spruce tree in front of Mom's old house. I had pots of hybrid Violas there for mom years ago, and seedlings still appear here and there. I'll put the pot somewhere potential seeds might find a good place to grow.
5/ A couple of #GardeningTips / observations in this :
1) #WildPlants don't always/only grow in habitats where they *must* grow (wet/dry sun/shade soil types etc)- they grow where they can compete successfully with other plants. In the altered environment of yards and gardens, they may compete out of their normal habitat, like the Tamarack- grows wild in wet places- popping up in this warm spot with stone and clay (though prob always some moisture at least a few inches down)
1) #WildPlants don't always/only grow in habitats where they *must* grow (wet/dry sun/shade soil types etc)- they grow where they can compete successfully with other plants. In the altered environment of yards and gardens, they may compete out of their normal habitat, like the Tamarack- grows wild in wet places- popping up in this warm spot with stone and clay (though prob always some moisture at least a few inches down)
6/ more observations
2) when plants are in their happy zone ecologically- temps, moisture, etc-- and maybe the communities of #SoilBiota they live best with?? they can be very adaptable- spruce seedlings here appear on any soil left for a short time-clay, gravel, my wood ash pile, pieces of wood, stumps, etc- which is why I was comfortable plopping them into mostly decomposed wood waste/rotted leaves/sawdust etc (others have gone into clay, gravel mix or used houseplant soil etc)
2) when plants are in their happy zone ecologically- temps, moisture, etc-- and maybe the communities of #SoilBiota they live best with?? they can be very adaptable- spruce seedlings here appear on any soil left for a short time-clay, gravel, my wood ash pile, pieces of wood, stumps, etc- which is why I was comfortable plopping them into mostly decomposed wood waste/rotted leaves/sawdust etc (others have gone into clay, gravel mix or used houseplant soil etc)
7/ last #GardenTips
if you live in a cold winter climate as I do (perhaps other kinds of harshness-- heat, drought, extreme sun) transplants like these will need some extra protection- major root loss, so I will keep them moist till freeze up, they will be mostly out of direct sun, and over winter-as for all small pots here- they will be sunk into/surrounded by soil/mulch, leaves whatever to prevent freeze thaw separate from the surrounding soil mass.
if you live in a cold winter climate as I do (perhaps other kinds of harshness-- heat, drought, extreme sun) transplants like these will need some extra protection- major root loss, so I will keep them moist till freeze up, they will be mostly out of direct sun, and over winter-as for all small pots here- they will be sunk into/surrounded by soil/mulch, leaves whatever to prevent freeze thaw separate from the surrounding soil mass.