March Gardening Chores 2025

 

Florida Flame Azalea is available as stock. Check the link below

In March the weather teases gardeners into believing spring is almost around the corner, with lots of continuous sunny and warm days. During this time of year, the weather is very unpredictable for planning and the weather is like a roller coaster, one day it’s nice and sunny, then the next day it’s cold and rainy.  As gardeners we get antsy, we want to get out in our garden and play in the dirt. But we know better, the last average frost date is still a month or two months away, depending on your gardening zone. This is when we can start planning for this year’s spring garden. Spring is a good time to check out new gardening books. There are three gardening books I would like to recommend Southeast Style Gardening, Gardening for the Butterflies, and Grow Fresh Air. The books are for sale on the Hibiscusandmore.com website. The books can help you plan your garden for spring.

March Gardening Chores

As we patiently wait for spring to arrive, we can start preparing by starting seeds. Start spring flowers and vegetables from seeds indoors. It takes about 6 weeks to get strong seedlings. To make starting seeds easier several horticultural companies have designed and marketed seed germination kits. The kits can be bought at local nurseries, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and online. There is a kit that includes 2 grow lights, seedling heat mat, growing tray, base tray for excess water, 2 vents on the cover, garden tools, and plant labels. This kit is just one that was listed on Amazon that I found.

Spring is a good time to prune your shrubs and vines. Just be aware that some plants bloom on new growth where as other plants bloom on old growth. When in doubt prune after flowering.

March is the last month recommended to prune Roses to half their original size. After pruning rake up last year’s mulch and replace with new mulch. This should be done especially if your roses had black spot because the black spot spores are lying dormant on top of last year’s mulch. Fertilize with Bayer Advanced Rose Fertilizer after pruning and apply once a month. Click Here for More Information on Roses.

Prune back Holly shrubs that have gotten too large. If needed, you can prune back to 4 feet or higher, but if the holly shrubs are 10 to 15 feet you can do the pruning in stages until you find the height that you like.

Flowering shrubs such as Winter Honeysuckle, Quince, and Forsythia can be pruned after flowering.

Is your Liriope looking at little tattered? The leaves can be cut either with a weed eater or your lawn mower set on its highest setting.

Trim back deciduous grasses before the grass breaks dormancy.

Add fresh layer of mulch on all trees and shrubs to prevent weeds. To prevent future weeds from growing add pre-emergent weed preventer on top of the mulch. Check the label to see how often you need to re-apply for continuous protection.

Fertilize winter flowering annuals with a blooming type fertilizer. Water in all granular type fertilizers.

Lawns should have lime at least yearly. Have you limed your lawn lately? Use 40 pounds per 1000 square feet.

Fertilize Pecan Trees with a fruit tree fertilizer and water in well after.

Fertilize shrubs with a shrub and tree fertilizer and water in well.

Need to divide your perennials? When the leaves start to show you can divide and plant elsewhere in your garden. Use a mixture of SuperThrive and Recharge, professional strength microbial superpack as a root stimulator for best results after planting.

One of the best times to plant fruit and nut trees is in early spring. Nurseries have a good selection of these trees in spring, but hurry the selection usually goes fast.

Peach and Apple trees need to be sprayed with a fungicide recommended for fruit trees, and spray the trees while the blossoms are on the tree.

Check for scale insects on Camellias and Euonymus. Spray with a horticultural oil, if you detect the insects.

All photographs maybe purchased as fine art prints at HibiscusandMore.com  

Cheryl Ann Meola Art

Butterfly Gardening

Houseplants - Grow Fresh Air

Need floral stock photography?

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Cheryl+Ann+Meola

https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/210785031/Cheryl

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this newsletter are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated or copied.

 

 

 

 

February Gardening Calendar 2025

 

February Gardening Calendar 2025

Trees and Shrubs can be planted now. This is the best time to plant Nut Trees, Fruit Trees, Shade Trees, and shrubs. By applying a combination of Super Thrive and Recharge by Real Growers instead of a root stimulator will get your newly planted trees and shrubs established much faster. Prune Apple and Pear trees after bud break in February, wait until mid-March for Peach trees. Spray fruit and nut trees with a horticulture grade dormant oil before bud break. Remove stakes, trunk wraps, and guy wires from trees planted 18 months ago. 18-24 months is the average time you need to keep the guy wires. Prune when pruning fig trees save the horizontal branches, they are the branches that produce fruit. Is your Burford Holly overgrown? Now is a good time to severely prune back. Burford Hollies can be prune back to 12 to 18 inches. Butterfly bushes can be pruned back by ½ the original height. You will be rewarded with bigger blooms this summer.

Annuals cool season annuals can be planted, pansy, violas, sweet alyssum, pinks, stocks, snapdragons. Cool season annuals will provide lots of color until end of May or June. These annuals can be planted in the soil or containers.

Perennials trim back all the brown. This month is a good time to divide all perennials, if necessary. Apply a fresh layer of mulch.

Roses Prune back rose bushes to about 18 to 24 inches. The best time to prune is between February 14 – 22^th. Rake any leaves still on the ground underneath your rose bushes and give a fresh layer of mulch. If you had any black spot last year it is very important to rake the leaves and throw away the leaves and give a fresh layer of mulch. For more information on roses and rose care Click Here.

Lawns apply a pre-emergent to your lawn to prevent dormant weed seeds from germinating during the growing season. Most pre-emergents last about 3 to 4 months.

Vegetables cool season veggies like lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, asparagus, elephant garlic, garlic, snow peas, spinach, and strawberries can still be planted. To get a head start on your spring garden start thinking about starting your spring vegetable garden from seeds now. Organically grown Lettuce image below left. ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2012. Organically grown Tomatoes image above left.  

Ornamental Grasses can be pruned back to 12 inches. Liriope that is looking a little be draggled can be trimmed back, too. Prune back before the grass comes out of dormancy.

Houseplants In the winter months houseplants usually don’t require as much water as in the spring and summer months indoors. The reason is that the houseplant do not receive as much sunlight because of shorter and more cloudy days associated with the winter months.  Water with a houseplant fertilizer one half strength and turn your plants a ¼ to a ½ turn every week. By doing this the plant does not grow towards the light. For more information on Houseplants and their care purchase my book sold on Hibiscus And More. https://www.hibiscusandmore.com/product/grow-fresh-air Purchase here on the link provided.

Need more gardening advice? Ask your Questions Here. Follow our BlogSpot for current sales, daily specials, and sound gardening advice. Simply click on Join This Site Link under Followers. Sign Up Is Free. 

All photographs maybe purchased as fine art prints at HibiscusandMore.com  

Cheryl’s Fine Art Photography is on Merchandise Greeting Cards and more

Cheryl’s gardening books are featured below and may be purchased at HibiscusAndMore.com

Butterfly Gardening Book

Houseplants- Grow Fresh Air Book

Landscape Gardening Book

Need floral and Botanical stock photography?

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Cheryl+Ann+Meola

https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/210785031/Cheryl

Photography and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2012. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2012. Texas Certified Nursery Professional #1282.

Gardening Valentine's Gifts for your Sweetheart

Valentine’s Gifts

Hearts for your sweetheart. Surprise your special Valentine with artistic hearts, flowers that never fade with fine art prints. Valentine’s Day is Friday, February 14^th. To ensure delivery by Valentine’s Day order by February 3^rd. Fine art prints take 10 to 14 days to process. Order early for Valentine’s Day delivery.

Hibiscus and More has Gardening Books for Plant Lovers and Gardener Valentines.

Valentine Jigsaw Puzzles Lover Featuring Nature Photography.

Valentine Nature Photography Lover.

Reusable grocery-tote bags featuring nature photography.

Single Greeting Cards $4.95 Send your Valentine a personal message for Valentine’s Day.

Rockin’ Ribbons Happy Valentine’s Day #2.  Click to Order.

Rockin’ Ribbons I Love You – Red #1.  Click to Order.

Rockin’ Ribbons I Love You – White #3.  Click to Order.

Giclee Fine Art Prints: You are my Sunshine, Pink Kisses and Texas Bluebonnet. Prices start at $24.95 to $199.95.

6x8 Nature Photographs Dark Pink Cosmos and Pink and Dark Pink Cosmos $9.95.

 

January Gardening Calendar 2025

January Gardening Calendar

Start planning for Spring. January is the perfect month to start planning your garden for the current year. As a refresher for last year’s thoughts, ideas or plants you were thinking about purchasing, dust off your gardening journal to see what changes or additions you want to make this year. A garden is always evolving.

Start looking at seed and garden catalogs. January is a good time to start planning this year’s design features and plants. Seeds and new introduction plants sell out quickly. Don’t miss out and wait, try to order your seeds or reserve your plants soon. Reserving your plant purchase guarantees the plant will ship at the proper time for planting in your USDA zone.

Seed starting Kits. Growers recommend starting the seeds indoors in a bright location to get a jump start to spring. There are seed starting kits which are advertised as seed starter germination kit or seed starter greenhouse kit. The kits usually feature a tray, growing media disks, and a cover for the tray. The kits are an excellent choice to start growing your seeds before spring. Some kits even include a warming matt to get a faster germination rate. 

Bare Root Roses will be arriving soon at local garden centers. Prepare planting beds by digging an area 3 feet wide by 12 inches deep for each rose. Soak bare root roses in a mixture of Super Thrive and water for 24 to 48 hours before planting. Local nurseries will also have available roses in peat pots. Peat pots are biodegradable and can be planted directly in the ground. Don’t take the plant out of the peat pot. Before planting make a slit a quarter of the way down and around the pot four times. This action helps the peat pot degrade faster and also lets the roots start growing outside the peat pot. For more information on Rose Care Click Here.

Do you want to keep your Poinsettias all year? Once the temperature is 40 to 50 degrees you can place your poinsettias outdoors and in the shade. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Start fertilizing in March. After the blooms (bracts) start fading or turning green trim the plant.

Deciduous Trees and Shrubs the structure of the trees and shrubs can be easily seen this time of year. Prune all branches that rub or cross each other. Trees and shrubs can be planted now. Plan to plant on a warm day when the ground is not frozen. When the weather warms for a week or longer, and then the temperatures drop into the twenties, cover Camellias and Gardenias nightly until the temperatures are above freezing. The last week in January prune Pear and Apple trees, and Grape vines.

Vegetable Garden till the soil, if the ground is dry. This preventative measure helps to eliminate weeds, insects, and nematodes. Most vegetables can be planted in the garden after the last freeze date in your area.  Don’t have room for a vegetable garden, but would like to grow your own vegetables? All vegetables can be grown in large planters. The recommended planter size for vegetables is 16 inches or larger. In fact, that is how I grow my vegetables each season. For more information on Spring Vegetable Gardening Click Here.

Prune Pampas Grass and all other ornamental grasses down to about 12 to 24 inches. Prune Lantana and Cannas down level with the soil. Shape Crepe Myrtles and Altheas and remove old seed heads.

Annuals water winter annuals like pansies, violas, ornamental cabbage and kale, after a hard freeze. This helps to rehydrate the annuals faster. Water outside container plants before a hard freeze, too.

Houseplants check for insects. Insects like mealy bugs, scale, spider mites are more likely to infest your plants during the winter months. Spray with a horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, and make sure you spray underneath the leaves. Turn your houseplants a quarter to half turn once a week. This prevents leaning of your houseplants. I turn mine once a week when I water my houseplants.

Need more gardening advice? Follow our BlogSpot for current sales, daily specials, and sound gardening advice. Simply click on Join This Site Link under Followers. Sign Up Is Free. View Current Blog Post Click Here.

All photographs maybe purchased as fine art prints at HibiscusandMore.com  

Cheryl’s Fine Art Photography is on Merchandise Greeting Cards and more

Butterfly Gardening Book

Houseplants - Grow Fresh Air Book

Landscape Gardening Book

Need floral and Botanical stock photography?

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Cheryl+Ann+Meola

https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/210785031/Cheryl

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this newsletter are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated or copied.

©Cheryl Ann Meola

 

From Soil to Success: Key Steps for Starting and Profiting from a Small Farm

Image via Pixabay

Starting a small farm can be both a rewarding lifestyle choice and a smart business venture. Whether you’re driven by a passion for sustainable agriculture, the appeal of working with your hands, or the potential for profit, building a successful small farm requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. With the right approach, your small farm can thrive as both a source of personal fulfillment and a profitable business.

Boosting Your Business Savvy with an Online Degree

Boosting your business acumen is essential for turning your small farm into a profitable venture, and earning an online business degree can equip you with the tools to succeed. A business degree allows you to develop valuable skills in accounting, business strategy, communications, and management—critical areas for running a farm efficiently. Online degree programs offer the flexibility to balance full-time work with your studies, making it easier to gain the knowledge you need without disrupting your daily responsibilities. If you’re interested in expanding your expertise, consider exploring online business degree options to take your farming business to the next level.

Strengthening Resilience with Diversification

Diversifying your farm is key to enhancing its resilience and profitability. By expanding beyond a single crop or product, you can mitigate risks associated with market fluctuations and unpredictable weather. This approach provides financial stability through multiple income streams and optimizes the use of resources like labor and equipment. For example, machinery used seasonally can be repurposed or rented out, maximizing its utility. Additionally, diversification encourages sustainable practices such as crop rotation and integrating livestock, which improve soil health and ensure long-term viability.

Leveraging E-Commerce for Growth

Exploring e-commerce platforms can significantly boost your farm’s ability to sell directly to consumers, extending your reach beyond local markets. Establishing an online presence allows you to meet the growing demand for local and sustainable food. This digital shift expands your customer base and enables personalized delivery options and efficient payment processes, enhancing customer relationships and increasing revenue. Embracing e-commerce is a strategic move to ensure your farm’s growth and sustainability in the modern marketplace.

Navigating Financial Support

Starting a small farm can be financially challenging, but exploring grants and financial assistance programs can significantly ease this burden. These grants offer a substantial financial boost without the need for repayment, unlike traditional loans. By prioritizing beginning farmers and small-scale operations, these programs increase your chances of securing funds. Although federal grants are highly competitive, more opportunities might be available at the state and local levels, where programs often support farm management and innovation.

Engage Your Community with Farm-Based Learning

Transforming your farm into a center for community education can significantly enhance local engagement with sustainable agriculture. By hosting interactive workshops and tours, you provide hands-on experiences that connect people to the origins of their food. These activities educate and bridge the gap between urban and rural lifestyles, fostering a deeper appreciation for diverse farming practices. By integrating educational elements into your farm, you create a vibrant hub of knowledge and community involvement, supporting both environmental sustainability and local food systems.

Maximizing Efficiency with Precision Agriculture

Integrating precision agriculture into your farming practices can boost productivity while conserving resources. By using technologies that allow for the precise application of fertilizers, pesticides, and water, you ensure each plant receives the necessary nutrients at the optimal time, reducing waste and enhancing growth potential. This approach cuts input costs and conserves vital resources like water, which is crucial in areas facing scarcity. Leveraging real-time data and GPS-driven automation, you can tailor planting and irrigation strategies to specific field conditions, leading to healthier crops and increased profitability.

By embracing these strategies, your small farm can flourish as a profitable and sustainable business. Education, financial planning, diversification, and technology each play a pivotal role in securing your farm’s future and ensuring its enduring success.

Discover the beauty of tropical botanicals and nature photography at Hibiscus and More, where you can find exquisite fine art prints and expert gardening books to transform your space into a vibrant oasis.

Investment Opportunity

Proposal for Website Upgrade Funding

Dear Bloggers,

I hope this proposal finds you well. I am reaching out to request funding to support crucial upgrades to my website, Hibiscus And More. Here is a link to the website that will be redesigned, https://hibiscusandmore.com/  These upgrades are essential to enhance user experience, improve performance, and drive business growth.

The primary objective of this proposal is to secure funding to cover the costs of upgrading my website. The total amount required is $35,000. However, I want to emphasize that any amount you are willing to support will be greatly appreciated and accepted. Your contribution will play a significant role in helping me achieve my goals.

The proposed upgrades include:

1. Website redesign: A modern, responsive design to improve user experience and increase engagement.

2. Infrastructure upgrade: Enhanced server capacity and security measures to ensure faster loading times and protection against cyber threats.

3. Content creation: Development of high-quality, engaging content to attract and retain visitors.

4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimization of the website's structure and content to improve search engine rankings and drive organic traffic.

The upgraded website will provide numerous benefits, including:

1. Increased revenue: Improved user experience and search engine rankings will drive more traffic and sales.

2. Enhanced credibility: A modern, professional website will strengthen our brand's reputation and credibility.

3. Competitive advantage: The upgraded website will enable me to stay ahead of the competition and establish myself as industry leader.

This is the Repayment Plan:

For any amount contributed, I propose a repayment plan with a competitive interest rate. For example, if you contribute the full amount of $10,000, the repayment amount would be $4,000 within one month, with a 40% interest rate. However, this repayment plan is flexible, and we can discuss a mutually agreeable terms based on your contribution.

I believe that this investment will yield significant returns and drive business growth. I am grateful for considering this proposal, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this further and answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Questions: call or email 713-545-8480 or cheryl@hibiscusandmore.com

 

Sincerely,

Cheryl Meola

November Gardening Calendar 2024

Blow or rake fallen leaves from lawn areas. The leaves left on the lawn block the sunlight to your grass and will create bare spots. Don’t forget to compost the leaves. Spray each layer with water. Need a composter? There are several composters on the market today, but deciding which one to buy may be confusing to some. Composters are designed for gardeners and home owners with several designs to choose from. Some are designed to be mobile and when the compost is ready the gardener can take the composter to the area where it is going to be used. Other composters are deigned to be stationary. When deciding on a composter think about what you want the composter to do for you. For my information on composting Click Here.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs now and add bone meal to the planting hole. Depending on how south you garden in some spring bulbs can be planted in December. The key to planting spring flowering bulbs is the ground needs to be cool enough so the bulbs remain dormant until spring arrives. For more information on fall bulbs Click Here.

You can save your Elephant Ears, Dahlias, and Caladiums by digging them up now. Let the tubers dry out before storing for the winter. Store tubers in boxes layered with peat moss or vermiculite, then layer tubers on top of your choice of medium. Store boxes in a cool, dry place.

Spring and summer perennials can be pruned back and mulched. After the flowers have faded on Chrysanthemums and Asters prune to 4 inches and mulch. Clean up Hellebores. Trim dead and yellowing leaves. Hellebores grow from the center and by removing the dead and yellowing leaves increases more pups.

To encourage winter songbirds in your garden, get a birdfeeder. It is recommended to use the black oil sunflower seed for most birds. Black oil sunflower seeds make a nutrient-dense snack for birds. The seeds have a higher oil content which translates to more nutrition. The shell is thinner, which makes it easier to break open for the birds. Fill bird feeders with black oil sunflower seeds.

Plant New Shrubs and Trees: Have you been thinking about replacing a few shrubs that just did not quite get established in the landscape, or planting a new shade or flowering tree that you just cannot live without in your landscape? Now, is the time to start thinking about making that purchase? The fall season is an excellent time to add new shrubs and trees to your landscape. This time of year, will let your newly planted shrubs and trees get a head start by developing and establishing new root growth in the soil.

You still have time to plant your winter color such as: Chrysanthemums, Pansy, Viola, Snapdragons, Stock, Cyclamen, Dianthus, Sweet Alyssum, Flowering Cabbage and Kale provide winter color through the spring and should be still available at garden centers. For spring blooms plant Bluebonnet and Poppy seeds this fall. For more information on fall and winter annuals Click Here.

Holiday Plants that you kept last year need to be placed in a dark room during the evening hours for the plants to bloom this holiday season. I remember this gardening ritual when it is time to turn back our clocks; it is time to give holiday plants total darkness until you see buds or bracts forming. Christmas Cactus and Poinsettias are night dependent plants for them to bloom; these plants need several hours of darkness to bloom. The cooler weather also helps in the blooming process. If you purchased new holiday plants, try to place them in the coolest area of your home.

Have you ever tried forcing Paperwhites for the holidays and the stems and blooms became leggy? Here is a link to an article about what to do to prevent the legginess from occurring. Click Here To Read More: http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/cultivation/growing-paperwhites?et_mid=525016&rid=2111517

House Plants that were brought indoors need a ¼ turn to prevent leaning towards the light. To prevent this, turn your house plants once a week. House plants do not need as much water during the winter months, water when the top one inch of the soil is dry. Another way to decide whether to water is if you had several days of cloudy weather check your plants on the normal day you usually check, if the soil feels wet wait a week. Houseplants do not need as much water during cloudy, winter months.

The Blogger, Cheryl Ann Meola, has several Links to share with you featuring her fine art plant photography and merchandise. Click on the links below.

For Gardening Books: Butterfly Gardening Click Here. House Plants Click Here.

Landscape Gardening Click Here.

Fine Art America Portfolio for Prints and Household Merchandise. Click Here.

For Cheryl Ann Meola’s Shutterstock Stock Photography.

For Cheryl Ann Meola’s Adobe Stock Photography.

Cheryl Ann Meola © 2023.

All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this newsletter are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated or copied.

Certified Texas Nursery Professional #1282