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Gardening

TV's fertile ground for tips on gardening

By MARY COLLISTER
Published December 30, 2005

The end of the holiday season is in sight. Perhaps now you have more time to devote to your landscape. In previous columns, I have offered ways to garner gardening knowledge: the Internet, books, the Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Service, the University of South Florida Botanical Garden and fellow gardeners. One source I have yet to explore is television.

I don't know why I haven't mentioned gardening shows before, since when I do watch television, it tends to be The Learning Channel, Discovery Channel or Home and Garden Television (they have most gardening shows). I'll touch on a few of the shows I like to watch. For their times and stations, check the St. Petersburg Times television schedule.

I like HGTV because its schedule lists The City Gardener, Curb Appeal, Gardening by the Yard, Ground Breakers, Landscape Smart, Landscape Solutions, Landscaper's Challenge, Outer Spaces, Rebecca's Garden and Weekend Warriors, which is usually a home remodeling project but sometimes includes outdoor renovations.

When viewing a show, I often see just one or two elements of the entire project that I might use in my yard or suggest to someone else when helping with a design. Many times the designs are outrageously expensive, but don't let that discourage you from watching. In addition to design clues, you may pick up knowledge on plant care or new ideas about using hardscape in your yard.

It is important to realize that many of the shows are filmed in areas far removed from Florida's climate; so many of the plant materials used are not appropriate for our area. You can still get an idea about size, shape, color and texture of plant materials and then look for plants with similar characteristics that are hardy in Tampa Bay.

If you are new to our area, you'll quickly discover that Florida gardening is much different from any other area in the United States and you'll become quite adept at making substitutions.

Also, when you are watching these shows, pay particular attention to the design - the shape and flow of the beds, the use of walkways and garden art, and any solutions to your problems.

Some problems often addressed in these gardening shows include screening the unsightly (to include garbage cans, pool equipment, unsightly view of a neighbor), integrating a play structure into a well-designed back yard, landscaping around an in-ground pool, and sharing a back yard with pets. You'll also see almost every material you can think of, and many more, used as fencing.

The host of Gardening By The Yard, Paul James, in his light-hearted manner offers many organic-type solutions to pest and disease problems along with the more traditional solutions. His main goal is to have a well-maintained, functional yard with little maintenance.

This is something that many of us pursue. The show is full of common sense, easy solutions to many of our dilemmas.

With the motto "Get those hands dirty," you would expect lots of practical solutions from Rebecca Kolls' Rebecca's Garden. And she does offer tips and informative how-to segments that will encourage you to play in the dirt. She often tours and shares the world's best gardens with her viewers. This show is a great source of ideas and food for our garden dreams.

Another show I find helpful is Curb Appeal. This show uses designers, but most of the designs are ones that can actually be implemented by homeowners. In fact, the homeowners help complete the renovation. The designers are tasked with getting the most of your home's exterior appearance. It encourages you to look at your home with a fresh eye toward upgrading and updating the look. Rick Spence hosts the show.

Each of the listed HGTV shows offer tips, how-to segments and the final results of projects which may encourage you to make some changes in your yard. Whether you need a break from your labors, inspiration or just enjoy seeing beautiful landscapes, these shows offer all that and more.

Aside from gathering ideas and making mental notes on upcoming projects, there is not much that has to be done right now in your yard. Keep the leaves raked from the grass, raking them into the planting beds as a mulch. If you have only a few leaves, cut them up with your mower and leave them in place.

Weeds, as always, can be removed. They are opportunistic and, if ignored this time of year, will strike with a vengeance in the spring. Plan ahead to apply a pre-emergent weed killer in late January or early February to your lawn. Mowing has been curtailed but don't let your grass get too long as this will also encourage the growth of weeds.

If your grass appears brown and dry, it may be from the cold, lack of water, or just a natural dormancy. But if the brown has a tinge of red, the grass probably has a fungus. If so, spray with a fungicide twice during the next two to three weeks. The cold weather won't kill the fungus and fungus can kill a lawn fairly rapidly.

Clean out your tool shed or garage. Look closely at all your tools. Replace or repair as needed. The correct tool in good shape will help make your landscaping chores easier. This is a good time to overhaul power equipment. Change oil and filters and sharpen blades. If anything is not functioning correctly, take it in for repair now.

Wipe your metal tools, including rakes, shovels and hand tools, with oil. Lightly sand the wood handles with fine sandpaper and rub with a protective oil or stain. Make sure your tools are stored away from moisture so they don't rust. Cleaning tools after each use will increase their life span. Get rid of duplicates or tools you don't use.

Mentally improving your landscape and physically preparing your tools for the spring will put you ahead of the garden season. Take the time to do this now while continuing to enjoy your winter garden.

TOWN 'N COUNTRY GARDEN CIRCLE: The monthly meeting of the Town 'N Country Garden Circle will be held Wednesday at the Town 'N Country Recreation Center, 6019 Hanley Road, next to Webb Middle School. There will be a presentation titled "Hassle-free House Plants," as well as planning for the third annual tour of gardens, on April 23. New members are welcome. Call (813) 884-3462.

[Last modified December 29, 2005, 08:40:09]