The Bruce Company Blog

Late May is usually a gardener’s favorite time of year! Every yards looks a bit like Munchkinland in technicolor. This spring’s weather has certainly delayed almost everything. So we find ourselves looking forward to a stellar June.

It’s almost June and by the end of the month, many a gardeners’ most hated day of the entire summer will soon be here – the annual emergence of the dreaded Japanese Beetles. Not much has changed for treatment of adult beetles, but there are a couple of really good options for controlling the grub stage.

“Don’t knock the weather. Nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change.” These words are can certainly be applied to the weather this spring. The roller coaster temperatures have had gardeners vacillating between the urge to get tomatoes in the ground and the scramble to dig up floating row covers from the back of the garage.

Gardeners are not the kind of folks who enjoy being cooped up in the house all winter. When the weather finally breaks, and plants begin to emerge from dormancy, it’s understandable that we are eager to greet every new shoot and admire every swelling bud. But, we can also be quick to pass judgment on the viability of our plants. Sometimes, too quickly.

The ups and downs of this spring’s weather has us all reeling. One day it’s sunny and 70 degrees and we are over the moon, popping in pansies and wondering when the tomato plants will be ready. The next temps barely make it to a drizzly 50 and we’re back in the doldrums.

No matter how long the winter actually is, it always takes forever to end and now that it seems spring has finally sprung, gardeners will be making their lists and checking them twice. Since the outdoor chores that must be done conflict with more pleasurable activities, it may be hard to know where to start.

First things first. Make sure that you have the proper tools for specific jobs and that they’re sharp and in good working order. Bypass hand pruners and secateurs are best for branches that are ¾-inch or less in diameter. If the branches are bigger, up to 2 inches, it’s time to go for loppers.

There are good reasons to grow vegetables from seed. There are so many more choices when you’re buying seeds. Ordinarily, the Garden Center has 50 varieties of tomato seedlings on order. If you look at seeds though, you can chose from 124 cherries, currants, slicers and pastes. Another important reason to grow your own is that you are in complete control of how your food is produced, from soil to fertilizers to pest control.

Remember March 1st? Calm winds. 52 degrees. Definitely lamb weather! And the forecast for the 31st doesn’t look particularly lion-like. Though early spring weather is fickle, we count on April to be a more golden month. Don’t you find yourselves looking for any excuse to be outdoors in the early spring sunshine? It feels as though everything alive is aching to stretch- length of the days, leaves on the trees, germinating seeds.

After a few seasons on your deck or patio, your outdoor furniture may begin to show some wear and tear. Especially if you aren’t doing regular maintenance. No matter the material, good quality pieces are manufactured with outdoor use in mind but remember that stain-resistant does not translate to stain-proof.