DC Urban Gardeners

Seed Exchange this Saturday with Super Speakers

I'm actually excited about the 3rd Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange. I don't even grow seeds anymore but I attended last year and it was great.  Not just the exchanging of seeds but the unveiling of the Garden Photo Contest, and talks by:

• Gene Sumi of Homestead Gardens, formerly gardening educator for Behnkes Nursery
• Janet Draper, horticulturist-in-charge for the Smithsonian's Ripley Garden
• Mark Smallwood of Whole Foods

WHERE:  Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD
WHEN:  Saturday, January 26, 12:30 to 4.
DETAILS: Here they all are, in PDF.Download WG-SE2008.pdf

Posted by Susan Harris

Calling all Community Gardeners

One of the great functions of DC Urban Gardeners is pulling together gardeners of all stripes across the city (and area).  As part of that mission, we're trying to establish a community gardener caucus of sorts so that we can work together and share our knowledge (and maybe tomato seeds) to strengthen the community of community gardens in this city.  We can also identify issues that DCUG may be able to help us with. 

We're also trying to develop a complete information base on the city's community gardens - Who has space? Who has a waiting list? Who can a new resident talk to?  Where do you get your topsoil?  Wouldn't it be great if by this spring we all know where the other gardens in this city are?

Any Community Gardeners on this list - please drop me a line and let me know where you garden who you are and who (if anyone) coordinates your space.

Thanks!  Just respond in a comment.
Posted by Mandie Yanasak.
Photo by Christa Carignan of Calendula and Concrete

Free Talks at Behnkes Nursery Every Saturday

Here's the schedule for the FREE talks given at Behnkes Nursery in Beltsville on Saturdays in January through May, starting tomorrow.  The topics covered are everything from organic techniques to attracting wildlife to every possible plant group, houseplants, and more.  The address is 11300 Baltimore Avenue (Route 1), maybe 5 miles north of the beltway.  I've attended many Behnkes winter lectures and always been pleased by the quality of the presentations, though sometimes saddened that they don't attract more people. 

Maybe the problem is their website.  Do you notice anywhere on the home page a mention of the lecture series or a link to find out more?  It's only to be found by clicking GardeNews and browsing in there.  And don't think I haven't suggested that they promote their lectures prominently on the home page because I have.  They always agree, then nothing changes.  I care because this has been my favorite plant source for 30 some years and they came close to going out of business a couple of years back.  It could happen again if they don't get a tad more business savvy.

Posted by Susan Harris

Mulch and Mulching, with Local Source Info

Time to compile more super-useful information, gang.  Please add to this article any details about particular mulches and especially about good local sources for it.  You can contribute by leaving a comment below or emailing me.  Posted by Susan Harris

Gardeners agree that mulching bare ground and around plants is THE single most important thing they can do to create low-maintenance, healthy gardens. (Gardening guru Paul James calls it "the greatest labor-saving gardening product ever invented.")  It's right up there with choosing the right plants and watering adequately.   

Why

Oh, where to start?  What's not to like about something that does all this?

• Suppress weeds
• Prevent drying out of soil
• Prevent erosion
• Reduce compaction of soil
• Moderate soil temperature
• Prevent mud splatter on plant and hard surfaces, like your house
• Add nutrients to soil, plus enable the soil to better use soil   nutrients from any source
• Increase the populations of earthworm and beneficial soil microbes.
• Make gardens look well kept and amenable to planting - like gardens.   

When

• Every year, when soil has warmed, which is midspring in most of North America, earlier in hotter places.  Gardeners in cold climates often do their mulching in the fall, however, to prevent soil heaving through the winter months of freezing and thawing. More mulch can be added in the spring, as needed.
• AND immediately after disturbing the soil, especially for planting  something. 
• AND to cover bare ground at any time.