Ideas SOWING SEEDS OUTDOORS Virginia Krebs Wichita County Master Gardener It's more economical to sow seeds outdoors than to plant purchased bedding plants, and seed racks give you a wider selection of varieties to choose from. Seeds won't give you instant results, however, and your success will be more dependent on Mother Nature. Good soil preparation is the key to a thriving, colorful annual garden. If you have a tiller, you can eliminate hand spading and till the garden to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. Run the tiller across the first rows to break up soil even more. This method works well when starting a new flowerbed. Prepare the seedbed by incorporating organic material such as peat moss, compost, or manure; perlite or vermiculite for added porosity; and fertilizer. Work material in, apply water, and rake smooth; seeds will not germinate and grow in compacted, lumpy or dry soil. Lay pieces of cord or clothesline on the ground to outline a design within the flowerbed. Sow seeds evenly over the ground; cover slightly with soil. Keep moist by watering with a gentle spray from a sprinkler or hose, until strong growth appears. After the seedlings have developed two to three sets of leaves, you'll need to thin them. Carefully remove seedlings so that you don't disturb the others. Leave space between plants. After thinning, remove the cords you used to define the area. Thinning allows your plants to grow to their ultimate size and shape. In a short time, your garden will have a warm array of colors. If you remove the thinnings carefully, you can transplant them to another part of the garden or give them to friends. Label each plant so you'll remember what it is. To help you make choices for next season, record the varieties you've planted and how well they've performed for you. MOSS GARDEN Virginia Krebs Wichita County Master Gardener If you cannot grow lawn in an area because it is too shady and moist, consider converting it into a moss garden. You may already have some moss growing in those conditions. If so, dig up a clump, break it up, and put it in your blender with about a quart of buttermilk. Whir it for a minute and then sprinkle the liquid on the area you want to grow moss. The buttermilk seems to be a good culture base for the moss spores to grow, feeding them and keeping them moist. Place stepping-stones through the area as moss will not take a lot of heavy traffic. You could paint the mixture on stones and statues with a brush. As you paint, remember that moss grows naturally in patches, favors the north side of any object, and takes readily to crevices. If you use this formula in a moist and shady location, you may well have moss in a matter of weeks. Imagine the conversation the Creator might have about this: "St. Francis, you know all about gardens. What happened to the dandelions, violets, clover and the other stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan, with plants that will grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The flowers and seed feed butterflies, bees and songbirds. Instead of waves of color, now all I see are green rectangles." "It's the tribes that settled down there, Lord - the Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great extent to kill them and replace them with grass." "Grass? But it's so temperamental. And it's boring. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing instead of flowers?" "Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn." "The spring rains and cool weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy." "Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it, sometimes twice a week." "They CUT it? Do they bale it like hay?" "No, sir. They pay to throw it away." "Now let me get this straight: They fertilize the grass so it will grow. Then they cut it off and pay to throw it away? These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer, when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work." "You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money for water so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it." "What nonsense! At least they kept some of mu trees - what a stroke of genius those are. Trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and summer shade. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life." "Better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and have them hauled away. After throwing away your leaves, they go out and buy something they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves." "And where do they get this mulch?" "They cut down trees and grind them up." "Enough! I don't want to think about this any more. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for tonight?" " 'Dumb and Dumber,' Lord. It's a very stupid movie about..." "Never mind. I think I just heard the whole story." Felder Rushing