January 2008 -- The Frugal Gardener

Hi Everyone and Happy New Year!

As you read this it will be New Year's Eve, 2007. I know I've said this before, but it really surprises me how fast the time is going. I love this time of year for two reasons: traditionally, it's a time when we have a chance to start with a clean slate. It's also the time when new seed catalogs clog our mailboxes.

And seed catalogs are going to be what we're going to look at this month. I'll also give you an idea of how to keep your winter birds happy without encouraging squirrels and raccoons to come to the feeder is well. I'm going to answer part two of Albert M.'s question about keeping foxes out of the garden and your to-do list will include some of the usual suspects: make sure your tools are clean and sharp, dig out the graph paper to start laying out garden beds, and even take a look at your landscape to see what needs to be replaced or what new beds you would like to form and plant.

Let's get to it!

Seed catalogs tend to run the gamut from very plain, simple books in black-and-white printed on newsprint to very slick and designed catalogs.

Let's face it, the catalog that catches my eye the most will be the one that has beautiful pictures or gorgeous artwork. And, these days, catalogs don't stop just at selling seeds or plants. They also sell items you may need for your garden and for gardening in general like boots, hats, aprons in which to carry your tools, seed starting kits and pesticides.

The first seed catalog that hits my mailbox comes in December, just before Christmas. It is the Vermont Bean Seed Company catalog they have a good variety of seeds and plants and their prices are comparable to other manufacturers like Burpee, Spring Hill and Park Seed. Contrary to the name of the company, they do sell more than bean seeds. You can buy garden shoes, flowers and seed starting kits. This year, the cover has a beautiful piece of artwork showing a rattan basket filled with fresh vegetables, a pair of garden gloves and garden snips all sitting atop a wooden table. It's really nicely done.

Another favorite of mine that usually shows up sometime in January is the Burpee catalog. I've been ordering from Burpee for a long time and have found that the quality of seeds and plants is extremely good. Whoever designs the catalog always puts a very attractive picture on the cover and that's really what keeps me tuned in. This year it's a gorgeous collection of tomatoes. Red, yellow, and orange grace the cover. Burpee tends to charge a bit more for some of their items but, since the quality is always there, I don't mind paying a little bit more for their products.

One of my favorite catalogs is Cook's Garden put out by Shep and Ellen Ogden in Vermont. I confess that part of the reason I adore this catalog is because, in past years, they have had woodcut artist Mary Azarian do illustrations for them. In fact, I have a Mary Azarian print in my house and I love the way she illustrates garden themes. Cook's Garden has very high-quality seeds and plants and I would highly recommend them as well.

Spring Hill is also another good catalog company as well as Park Seed.

I also buy seed from the local nursery. If I'm pressed for time I'll look through the catalogs, make a list of the seeds I would like to buy, and then buy them at the nursery. Burpee sells directly to stores like Lowe's and Home Depot and I have bought Burpee seeds at Wal-Mart too. Ferry Morse is another manufacturer that sells directly to garden centers and nurseries. They have a good quality product.

When it comes to catalogs and buying seeds and plants you really need to stick with the most common names unless you've had good luck with other folks. There may be a slew of other catalogs out there that are very reputable and have a good product. I'm just letting you know some of my favorites.

When the weather is cold and snowy (or rainy as the case may be) curl up in front of the fire with a good catalog and dream of your next garden.

Everyone who has a bird feeder has the same dilemma: how to you feed just the birds and not other wildlife?

Matt and I have property that sits in the middle of the woods. We have a feeder on the back deck that I can see from my office window. We also hang suet cake every winter.

This past spring we had a hard time dealing with a mama raccoon who was denning near the house. Now, I understand there are times when my furry neighbors need some help. I'd really prefer it, though, if they didn't take food out of my birds' mounds.

A good friend of mine, Hennie McGonegal, told me about safflower seed. Of course I've cooked with safflower oil but I didn't really think about the seed is being something that was a good option for birds.

Apparently, birds love safflower seed but raccoons and squirrels don't. You can buy the seed in bags where you normally buy sunflower seed and its about the same price.

So, if you're having a problem with raccoons and squirrels at your bird feeder give safflower seed or try. Also, let me know if you know of any other product that birds love but other critters don't.

Not long ago, I received two questions from reader Albert M. in Great Britain. I covered the first one in the December issue and here's the answer to Albert's second question about deterring from his garden.

One of the first questions that needs to be answered is whether Albert wants to take care of this problem organically or chemically. If it's organically, one of the things he can do is make sure that the garden itself is always picked up and that there is nothing attractive for the fox. Foxes apparently dig in gardens just like dogs do and one of the things that can be a good deterrent is having a neat garden.

Also, having a fenced in garden plot will help as well. The fence needs to be fairly high -- at least 2 meters -- and you'll want to plant a portion of it underground and away from the garden to prevent the fox from digging a hole and getting in.

Also, make sure that you don't leave any garbage or compost available for the fox in the garden.

I did some research on the Internet and found something called Pee-Off/Scaredy Cat. It's supposed to be a cat deterrent but apparently works well with foxes too. It's a plant that you interplant in the garden and it's supposed to work. Here's a web site where you can get more information and even order plants if you live in the UK: http://www.angliangardener.co.uk/green_up_your_fingers/unwanted_visitors_how_to_deter_foxes.htm

If you want to do something chemically, there's always Renardine. It's a product that's been around since 1896 and, although I never used it personally, I have heard that it can be quite effective. you'd apply this compound anywhere foxes enter and leave the garden like fences, gateposts or at the base of trees.

Albert, I hope this helps and please let me know if you try any of these techniques.

Decide what you would like to grow this season
Gather seed and plant catalogs and make a list of everything you'd like to buy. Comparison shop between the catalogs and see if you can find the best price
Make sure all of your tools are clean and sharp
Do you have a place in your garden where you'd like to put a new bed? Take time over this winter to map out how big you would like it to be and make a list of materials you may need to accomplish this goal
If you grow roses and live in zones seven and higher, draw a big red circle around Presidents' Day in February. That's when you'll want to prune them back for spring. You'll also want to add a timed release fertilizer to the root system