Masters say March has its own set of rules for successful gardening
My husband, Rusty, says March is the ugliest month of the year, and I have to agree. All over town, most yards look as bedraggled as ours, and it's still too cold to do much about it.
"Lots of luck this weekend," said Ed Schuckert, a Sun City resident and longtime member of the McHenry County Master Gardeners. "We're supposed to be getting snow and rain again."
"Depending on the weather, you can do pruning or, if you've got ornamental grasses, you can start cutting them back."
Grasses should be topped off about 6 inches from the ground, he said, and tied together with twine before cutting so they don't blow away.
"You don't want to prune evergreens at this time of the year," Schuckert advises. "I prefer not pruning maples until June or July, because they bleed sap. It won't hurt the tree, but it makes a mess."
It's OK, he says, to prune other deciduous trees in April, but be careful not to tromp around the yard too much.
"The ground is dried out now, and you get a lot of compaction. You don't want that in your growing areas."
It's also a little early for lawn fertilizers or herbicides, which should wait a few more weeks.
"Right now, everybody gets real antsy and wants to do things, but you've got to be patient," Schuckert insists. "It's better to wait a little while because we might get another frost. Leave your plants covered for a little while longer."
He should know. Schuckert is one of several Huntley residents who have completed the intensive training required to become a certified "Master Gardener." Administered by the University of Illinois Extension Service, the program is offered once every two years to a select number of candidates in each county. The next class starts in January 2009, and applications are accepted now through Aug. 31.
For information, call the McHenry County Extension Service at (815) 338-3737 or visit http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mchenry/mg. In Kane County, call (630) 584-6166 or visit http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/kane/mg.
From May until September, Sun City's Master Gardeners will be at the Prairie Lodge each Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon to answer questions and offer gardening tips. This free service is not limited to Sun City residents.
Schuckert to speak: Schuckert will speak on pruning techniques at the Huntley Area Public Library's 'Senior Coffee' program, 10 a.m. to noon April 28 at the National City Bank building on Route 47. Registration starts April 14 and, with limited space, this free program is expected to fill up fast. Call (847) 669-5386 or visit www.huntleylibrary.org.
Gardenfest 2008: Registration is open now for McHenry County College's "Gardenfest 2008" from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 5. Co-hosted by the University of Illinois Extension Service and McHenry County Master Gardeners, the day-long series of workshops includes topics such as native plantings, shade gardens, fertilizers, tree care, roses, vegetable growing, and many more. The cost is $35 per person, or $15 for MCC students. Call (815) 455-8697 or visit www.mchenry.edu/gardenfest.
Go native at MCCD: The McHenry County Conservation District has two adult programs planned this week to get you thinking about spring. "Native and Natural Landscaping," will be held 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Prairieview Education Center in Crystal Lake. Learn to landscape using native plants that are good for the environment.
• On April 5, "Wildlife Neighbors" looks at interaction between people and wildlife in suburban areas. Are coyotes dangerous? Are there rattlesnakes here? What if you find a baby animal? MCCD staffers will answer these and other questions from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Glacial Park, north of McHenry. A separate wildlife program for children will be held at the same time.
• You can "Meet the Invaders" at 7 p.m. April 10 at MCCD's Prairieview Education Center in Crystal Lake. This adult program identifies invasive plant species and shows you how to keep them out of your yard. Information and registration for all MCCD programs may be found at www.mccdistrict.org, or call (815) 338-MCCD (6223).
Egg hunt this Saturday: Due to last weekend's snow, the Huntley Park District has rescheduled their annual 'Egg Hunt' for Saturday at Deicke Park. The event for children ages 2 to 8 starts at 10 a.m., with a separate hunt for special needs children at 10:30 a.m. For details, call (847) 669-3180 or visit http://www.huntleyparks.org.
NIU Jazz: The Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble will appear at Huntley High School at 7 p.m. April 4 in the Performing Arts Center on Harmony Road. Nationally known trombonist Robin Eubanks will be featured, and the Huntley High School Jazz Band will perform an opening set of pop-jazz classics. Tickets are $12/adults, $10/students, available at http://www.district158.org/pac or call Jamie Ballew at (847) 659-6515.