Tennessee Yards Done Right and A 'River of Daffodils' in the Yard!

From In the Garden

The daffodils are such a joy in the garden. These bulbs reward the gardener with years of beauty and one can't help but to smile when you see all their sunny faces in the garden, or in this case, in my yard.

Speaking of yards, this post is really about the Tennessee Yards and Neighborhoods Program. This is a fairly new statewide program that is modeled after similar programs in Florida and North Carolina. The purpose of the program is to help Tennesseans learn how to have a yard that is in harmony with Tennessee’s native flora, soil and topography.

At it's heart are nine principles that will help make our yards more compatible with nature and better able to-ah how to put it-look good, be more functional, and reduce our water run off and poison use. I think we all want this in our yards and neighborhoods. The nine principles are as follows:

• Right plant, right place
• Manage soils and mulches
• Appropriate turf grass management
• Water efficiently
• Use fertilizer appropriately
• Manage yard pests
• Reduce storm water runoff and its pollutants
• Provide for wildlife
• Protect water’s edge

Did you know the number one source of pollution in our streams and waterways is 'point of source' pollution? That is pollution coming from home use. It is the oil someone dumps down the drain, the sediment running off our properties, fertilizers leaching into our water table and running into our storm drains, and much more. While each of us contribute only a little bit the amount all together is staggering. This program helps to make us all aware of the problem and works with us to find better ways of reducing the pollution in storm water runoff from our yards to protect a precious resource we all need to live, that is water.

The University of Tennessee (UT) is working in conjunction with county extension agents and master gardeners to get the word out and to teach Tennessee residents how to work with their yards in a harmonious way that is beneficial to all. Karla Kean is our local extension agent and she has a workshop scheduled for Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the Civic Hall located at 350 Pageant Lane. The workshop begins at 8:30 and lasts until 3:30 pm. The cost is $35 per individual or $50 for couples. For that $35 you get several goodies, including a certificate for a soil test, a rain gauge and other helpful items for your yard in addition to learning how to do your yard right. The fee barely covers program costs. If you are interested in this workshop give Karla a call at (931)647-5725 or email her at: kkean@utk.edu. She needs to know how many to expect so she'll have the supplies available at the workshop but if you wish to show up that day, I think that will be fine too though the class is limited to only 25 persons so call a head to be sure to save your spot.

In the meantime enjoy my 'river' of 'Ice Follies' daffodils....

in the garden....and a yard done right.

P,S. I'll be teaching a class there about landscape design-think right plant-right place. Come on out and join the fun.

Everyone have a great Easter from all of us here at In the Garden!

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Plant of the Month-March 09

I was out of town this weekend and when I came back on Sunday-spring had sprung! The march of daffodils is so bright and cheerful that it can't help but warm my heart. There can be no other Plant of the Month for March here at Tiger Gardens than daffodils. I was glad spring had popped them all out just in time for my Plant of the Month post, because the red camellia is looking like a mighty strong contender, but of course the daffodils win! The above pictured daffodil is 'Ice Follies'. It is a very easy to grow daffodil, naturalizes freely and is a joy. This is one in my front garden that I had moved here last spring. The move during the growing season set this one and several in the front garden back, but it is okay as they will catch up soon.

Here the other 'Ice Follies' growing in one of the front foundation beds. Next year there should be nice clumps where you see only one daffodil growing. Yes, I know they are planted in straight lines. The front foundation beds do just fine with 'soldiers' growing in them. I have a Cape Cod style house with some straight lines along the sidewalk, I like the effect of the neat line in front of it. I think it gives the effect of a cottage garden with a nice row of flowering plants in front of it. What you can't see, are the muscari also planted with these daffodils. They bloom a bit later. I suspect they'll be in bloom with the pansies that are also lined up here.

Here is the 'Heuchera Garden' area of the Woodland Garden area. These 'Ice Follies' have naturalized beautifully. They look really super growing with the hellebores. You might not notice the hellebores, but they are there near the second clump of these daffodils.

This is another shot of the foundation bed. These daffodils are 'Tete-e-Tete' daffodils. I love this little naturalizers. They just can't be stopped, despite their small stature. Tiger Gardens is also inundated with these daffodils.

And one last picture to leave you with. This is a long shot towards the north in the front yard. To the right is the Roadside Shrub border, the center garden is filled with daffodils and azaleas and other shrubs and flowers, straight ahead is the Northside Shrub border. All are filled with daffodils, and muscari; my two favorite bulbs. To say we are awash in daffodils might be an understatement, as I truly love them and plant them approximately every 3 feet in all directions in all my gardens, and even in the lawn out back. They are not yet in bloom, but I have posted about them before under daffodils.

Daffodils should be planted approximately 4-5 times deeper than their diameter, so about 4-5 inches. I always add a bit of bone meal or bulb booster to the planting hole at planting time and supplement with wood ashes in the spring. Wood ashes provide potassium for the blooms. Potassium is the third number on most fertilizer bags, and is an essential plant nutrient for plants. Use the wood ashes sparingly since they can raise the pH level of your garden. Daffodils are not picky about drainage in my experience here in Tennessee; where we have a great deal of clay soil. Be sure not to cut down or braid the foliage after the plant is done flowering. Daffodils continue to make and store energy for next year's blooms, so they need the leaves. Daffodils would prefer sun, but all of mine are growing under deciduous trees and do just fine in shade. It helps the trees are not leafed out yet too. Just plant properly and enjoy daffodil blooms for many years to come.

This month, instead of just telling you my pick for Plant of the Month in my garden, I'd really love to hear about the plant you would choose for Plant of the Month in your garden. The criteria I use to choose my Plant of the month are pretty simple; I want it to be a great bloomer with a long period of bloom during that month, and easy to grow for anyone. Northern areas may have limited selections but give it your best shot! If you like, a houseplant will work too if there is nothing in the garden. Southern areas will have tons to choose from this month. Additionally, depending on weather conditions this bloom may change from year to year. It has not for me in the two years I've been posting this post, but you never know for 2010. Those camellias were pretty close this year.

So I ask you dear readers, what is your Plant of the Month for March? And if you don't mind, please add in your growing zone, state, country, or region of the world so folks with similar growing conditions or folks in your area who read this blog can identify a good bloomer in your garden that might work in theirs as well. My zone is on the border of Zone 6/7. I live in northwest Middle Tennessee. I will post a link to this post on my sidebar until next month's Plant of the Month comes up on the 10th. What will it be??

in the garden....