As I’ve written many times, my calendars, both old and new, help me be a better gardener. As we have noted before, the UMass Extension Garden Calendars provide daily gardening tips, hints, reminders and information for our Northeast growing conditions.
Each month features: An inspiring garden image; daily sunrise and sunset times; phases of the moon; plenty of room for notes; and low-gloss paper for easy writing.
Produced at UMass in Amherst for more than 25 years by the staff of the UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program, the 2018 Calendar highlights “Insects to Look for in Massachusetts.”
Popular with gardeners, the daily tips are found to be highly useful.
The following are just a few examples of the daily messages that I’ve enjoyed in the past:
-To produce berries, female winterberry plants require a male winterberry, like ‘Raritan Chief’ or ‘Jim Dandy’, planted nearby.
-Photograph the landscape throughout the year.
-A study has shown that women who garden and do yard work are less likely than joggers and swimmers to get osteoporosis.
-Raised beds are a great way to grow vegetables, flowers and herbs if the location does not provide adequate drainage.
-Trees and shrubs will usually grow well without the addition of soil amendments, such as peat moss, etc.
-Remember to plant your plants at the correct depth and not too deep. Among other things, planting the roots too deep will deprive the roots of the oxygen they need to survive. Planting too deep is often a major cause of tree failure.
And then there are the additional listings of UMass Extension resources for home gardeners such as the “Garden Clippings” newsletter, various fact sheets, soil testing info, and the USDA’s plant hardiness map, not to mention the beautiful photographs to enjoy throughout the months.
Photos submitted by the public are now being accepted and may earn a spot in the 2019 Garden Calendar. Submissions will be judged by the calendar team at UMass Extension. Winning photographers will be credited in the Garden Calendar and will receive 5 free calendars.
The 2018 calendar costs $12. Bulk pricing is available on orders of ten copies or more. Shipping is free on orders of 9 or fewer calendars through November 1. For more information, be sure to visit www.umassgardencalendar.org.
Happy Gardening!
(We thank UMass Extension for permission to quote from their Garden Calendar.)