What did you do in the garden today?

Pick a bud facing in the direction you want the branch to grow. Cuts must be angled so water pools away from the bud. Not too steep of an angle or you'll cause the branch to die off to the next bud. Do not leave too much stem above the bud and don't cut directly against the bud. Just a little bit above.

I was always taught to not take more than a third of a plant at once unless you know otherwise. Certain plants can deal just fine with heavy cutting.

Clear any suckers and watersprouts. Remove rubbing branches. Clear much of the interior of trees so light reaches fruit.


I was bad with one of my apple trees and had let two leaders keep growing for a several years after planting because it was so scrawny. That came back to bite me this last summer when it fruited for the first time. Deer came in and broke one of the leaders at the weak crotch. I had to carefully wrap it back into place and put up a support after cutting it back some. It had healed up nicely when I took off the wrap yesterday. Then I cut it off at the appropriate spot. Few more years and you won't know there was anything there.

We have an older, rather bland, apple tree growing with the crapapples. I should have thought about this before, but I think I should try bud grafting some nicer apples onto it.

I still need to go prune the blackberries. The thornless are doing really well now. Too many Himalayan blackberries though. Have a ton that need chopped back.

With this forecast, think I could just go ahead and sow my spring garden seeds now. Maybe my cabbages with start growing again, they are all still alive

I planted peas today. I'll do the other planter tomorrow

I planted peas a couple days ago - for the second time. I never saw a sprout - but there was a chicken in that pen and I think he got 'em. Or - they never came up. The seed is old. But, with a gardener's eternal optimism I re-planted.

Way to cold for peas here in southern IL but time is on my side.

I was pruning trees today. Look who I found. He says a lot about our weather. I'm watching the cottonwoods since I need to pick buds so I can make Balm of Gilead. Have to send buds down to Mom's friend as well.

He's so cute!

Trimmed down the grass and roses that covered the comfrey beds last year. This will give the comfrey the chance to outgrow the grass and smother it since the grass doesn't do well in shade.

Looking at getting a bladed high wheel trimmer. My back can't handle the hand trimmers very well even with the harness.

@Hinotori what kind of comfrey? I have Bocking 4 started up again. Had some and the chickens totally ate every speck, dug the roots. Bought more & have them in containers right now to transplant in Spring. Will keep them away from chickens & goats until they are well established this time. Looks like I'll be ordering more crowns, too. No patience! These are doing well, protected on South side of my house with cover for now, in a cold frame.