On April 6th, 2019, the weather was nice and I got out and worked around my garden.

Pruning:

Elderberry

I prune my European elderberry (Sambucus nigra) trees in my front yard garden. I removed one three years old branch from each tree and left another 3 years old branch. I removed younger branches that grew toward the wrong directions. Some of the branches I left are very tall (about 8 ft.). I left them so that I don’t reduce too much the production and I would prune these branches the following year. Elderberry tree produces more fruit on 2 years old branches. Pruning any branch older than 3 years old keep the tree young with more growth from the ground. I didn’t prune my American elders (Sambucus Canadensis) in my back yard as they are in their second year.

Black Currant (Ribes ussurienses)

I removed most of the branches that are in their third year. These branches have darker bark compared to the branches that grew last year. Last year grow on these branches that I removed, TI cut them especially the one that are pencil size, I cut them to foot long and planted them in my garden. I made sure more than one bud are in the ground. The root would grow around the bud area.  I did it three year ago and last year as well. The one from 3 years ago is budding up already this spring.  It leaves out last year as well but didn’t branch out. I would see how they grow would be this year.

I spotted one that I propagated last year. It is budding as well. Not all that I dig in the ground that grow but IU have some success. These fruit trees are expensive to purchase. Once I have one, I tend to propagate it if it can propagate through cutting. I like hard wood cutting propagation method. I cut the branches (one year old) in early spring and make a whole where I want the tree to grow and put the branch in it with at least 2 buds in the ground and close the dirt on it. It would stay there the whole year and bud the following year if not in the current year.

Grape

I pruned my seeded Concord Grape vines short to about 2-3 feet. One way to propagate grape is to cut the removed vines the one that grew last year to one foot length and push them in the ground making sure at least one bud is in the ground. I have done it last year but didn’t need it this year. So far that is the only variety that is doing well in my garden. It produced a lot of grapes for the first time last year (when it was 3 years old) despite the similar pruning. I have many seedless grape vines going in their third year this year but they didn’t grow vigorously as the seeded Concord grape last year. Grapes grow on one year old vines. So I prune mine so that they don’t occupy too much space.

Rosa Rugosa

I removed all branches that are more than one year old leaving the branches that grew last year. They started to bud out.

Blackberry

I removed the canes that are two years old leaving the canes that grew last year.

Some can touched the ground and rooted. I cut them off. Three year ago, I encouraged that and last year in spring I dug all the rooted canes and planted them along the fence in my garden. This year, I didn’t need to propagate them again.

Other Fruit Trees

Apple, Pear, Pach, Apricot, Meldar, Goumi (Elaeagus multiflora), American Persimmon, Pawpaw, White Currant (Ribes sativum), Red Currant (Ribes sativum), Honney Berry, Raspberry, Sweet cherry, Sour Cherry, Plum tree, Quince tree, fig, Aronia berry (Aronia melanocarpa), Strawberry, Alpine Strawberry, Wild Blueberry, Blueberry, Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbrellata)

I didn’t prune them.

Some of them like Goumi and Autumn Olive are nitrogen fixers. Goumi produced a lot last year. Autumn Olive didn’t. But I am glad to have both in the garden.

After pruning my fruit trees, I cut sunchokes or Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) branches to the ground. I tried to dig few out but found very few which I replanted at one end of my property. Something ate them in the ground.

I cut the dead branches of asparagus and laid them on the bed.

I planted some seeds: Garlic chives, arugula, and wild arugula.

I spotted more grow in the garden:

Red vein Sorrel is growing.

Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is growing.

‘Big Top’ Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) started to leaf out.

Victoria Rhubarb is leafing.

Garlic planted two years ago and not harvested last year are growing well.

Strawberry is growing.

There are some plant growing in the garden and I don’t know what they are the moment.

Parsnips and few carrots are coming back.

Egyptian onion and chives are growing well already.

Broad-Leaved Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) is growing.

 

Black currant, White currant, Honey berry are breaking dormancy.

 

Last year I sowed some seeds and they didn’t grow. I don’t know if they would this year. Included are Caucasian Mountain Spinash (Hablitzia tamnoides), Watercress (Nasturtium officinale), Claytonia, Mache, Purslane, and some herbs: Borage (Borago officinalis), Fennel, Hyssop (Hyssop officinalis), Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis), Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Calendula (calendula officinalis), and Lavender.

My spring cleaning in the garden was about pruning my fruit trees and cutting dead branches off my root crops. I left everything in place as mulch. I removed green bean vines off the fence and dropped them in the garden as mulch. I took big branches of elder berry to the side of the property.

I cleaned my front yard the part I don’t garden on and took the dry mulched my back yard garden with the leaves. I strengthen my fence hoping not to have bunny in the garden this year.

I love my way of gardening. It is simple and suit my busy schedule.