First off, there was a major typo in my last column. Poinsettias are NOT poisonous and I am going to BUY one this year to test my skill of keeping it alive all year. I am not in any way, shape or form going to try and build a poisonous poinsettia. Also microbial activity is at its lowest when the soil is below 65 degrees so most fertilizers are not absorbed and are merely run-off pollution. Whew! I do want to add, though, I still love my editor!

Jan – Feb is the ideal time for heavy pruning. I pruned my ash off last weekend all the way down to the scaffold branches and my roses look like gnarly woody fingers sticking up out of the dirt. It’s funny with roses, when you think you’ve ruined them is when you’ve most likely masterfully pruned them. I’d like to go on and tell you a lot about stick grafting (kind of like creating your own tree) however, the entire process would be more than two whole columns worth of writing and that would only cover the 101 version for beginners. However, if this is something you’re looking into trying, take extreme caution when chilling hours or dormant refrigeration is required either for grafts, or bulbs etcetera. Do not store in a refrigerator or the like that fruit has recently been stored in because stored fruit releases ethylenegers which could cause the buds to abort. In short though grafting: a root stalk, - the chosen part of the plant or tree that the plant will grow from and the scion: - the chosen part of the plant or tree that does the growing and bud production: are cut opposite each other positioned together as one to form a union and the top grows from the bottom. This is one way of creating true dwarf, semi dwarf, dwarf or ensuring standard size trees. Have you ever seen a fruit tree with more than one variety on it? In the nursery right now even we have variety trees in cherry, plum, apple and pear. They’re kinda cool. It’s like having four or five different trees in one. And this is accomplished by grafting several scions (selected branches with buds) to one root stalk (the bottom trunk of the tree with the roots). Many fruit or berry plants and trees need to be planted along with another similar tree for cross pollination to ensure fertility and a productive harvest, however, these variety cultivars are self fertile. Great choice if only one tree is to be planted.

To clean our cutting and shearing or pruning tools, it is good to use a bleach solution of 1:9 water and soak or wipe tools in between each different bush or shrub, etc. This will eliminate cross contamination of disease or infestation. During dormancy, such evidence may not be visible to our eye and that one rotten apple will ruin the whole barrel! Speaking of rotten apple, my neighbor Shawn (yes Martin) being too cheap to buy a $.99 fuel stabilizer ran empty all of his power equipment the other day therefore prompting me to remind y’all to do the same if tools will be stored. Most of y’all ain’t gonna be such a cheap-o, so the stabilizer is on aisle one!

Before I bash em’ too bad I want to thank him for sharpening and tightening my chainsaw chain while I was at work the other day. I didn’t even ask or hint, that’s just the kind of sweet caring cheap-o neighbor he is. I love em. Anyway my lawn is greener than his, so apply some super green with 5% iron.

Valentine’s Day last year I suggested giving live plants or bare root roses as a gift, possibly even planting it for the loved one. Such an awesome turnout of readers/customers came in. I was blessed to help customize such gifts. One man bought an orchid, a pretty orchid pot and some food. We arranged it together with a book on orchid care. I still see him and she was thrilled. Another lady brought in a basket and we had fun filling it with bulbs, bulb booster (food) a garden book and some gloves. She did this for her mom and they planted them together on Valentine’s Day. She (they) came and shared how happy they were that they did that and how fun and beautiful it still is. So keep that in mind. The price of fresh flowers that are going to die or half the price for year after year, and the priceless gift of love from time spent solely on and with that loved one. Finally how precious life becomes when two hearts join as one. A prince finds his princess and they’re Kingdom rejoices. Congratulations C.J. and Jeanna. May the Lord bless you, keep you, and may His face shine upon your marriage to live happily ever after.

Aloha Everybody

P.S. Have fun in Maui