It is still early spring in the North Country and snow is falling is some parts of the region today, so don’t plant anything in your garden yet.Cooperative Extension Horticulturist Amy Ivy said now is a good time for spring cleanup chores. Gardeners should concentrate on loosening things up: lightly rake the thatched lawn and smooth out winter molehills. You can gently remove mulch and clean up any remaining winter debris, but Amy warned ready-to-go gardeners not to plant anything until the ground temperature reaches 50 degrees, usually in late April. [full story]

Lilacs, spirea, forsythia - all those shrubs and bushy things that make flowers can benefit from some judicious cutting back. Not all benefit in the same way, from the same techniques. It depends.Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy begins to sort out which likes what, and how to make cuts that help rather than hurt. Next week: hydrangeas. [full story]

The warm, sunny weekend was like the "go," after weeks of ready, set. . . and wait. Yard work may not be everyone's answer to cabin fever, but for eager gardeners it's a start. Step one, according to Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy, is the clean up.After a series of mini ice storms, lots of yards are littered with limbs and branches. Shrubs are bent and broken. Cleaning all that up comes first, and is a good opportunity to plan for step two: pruning.Over the next couple weeks, Amy will lay out a rational plan and techniques for these spring chores. [full story]

March has to be one of the tougher months for North Country people: zero degrees one night, cold rain the next day, then a brilliant sun and breezes that could feel warm if they weren't drifting over the lingering snow pack. But there are some compensations, like maple syrup, and the signs of coming spring begin to add up.Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy listens closely for seasonal bird songs and watches twigs and shoots for signs of spring. She has a recommendation for bringing a little springtime into the house too: cut young branches for forcing. Birch and tamarack are a couple favorites. [full story]

Strawberries are the easiest fruit crop for a home gardener to take on, according to Cooperative Extensions' Amy Ivy. Now is the time to order plants for this spring, but there is a critical choice to make, between "June-bearing" and "day neutral." Amy sorts out the pros and cons of each, and shares some varieties to look for and a warning against varieties labeled "ever-bearing." [full story]

Asparagus sounds too good to be true: a low investment that produces long-term high returns. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy shares the basics of this spring staple, including why and what to order for timely delivery, how to plant, and tips on managing weeds. [full story]

Try growing something green, that is. All you need is a carrot, a saucer, and toothpicks. Or a sweet potato, an avocado pit, or maybe a clove of garlic. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy talks about rooting all these vegetables in water or potting mix. An inch of carrot top (eat the rest) set in a saucer of water will produce a ferny jungle of green. And a small sweet potato suspended in a glass of water will quickly produce a showy vine. Experiment! [full story]

Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy has shared the how-tos of starting seeds at home over the last few weeks, including tips on equipment, timing, and techniques. Today, seeds finally take the stage, and buying seeds means ordering from a seed catalog.The first questions is, which one? Catalogs are many and various. Some come with glossy pictures of fantastic looking harvests. Maybe too good to be true? Amy says she looks for catalogs that offer lots of information about the variety and how best to grow it, along with the pictures. [full story]

Last week, horticulturist Amy Ivy talked about the second thing you need to start seedlings indoors: the right containers. Today: step 3, which plants you need to start indoors and when you should do that. Amy explains which plants do best when they are started indoors from seed, when to start the seeds, and when to plant the seedlings outside in the garden. [full story]

Last week, horticulturist Amy Ivy talked about the first thing you need to start seedlings indoors: proper lighting (and a little warmth).Today, step 2: the right containers. Save those plastic blueberry boxes from the supermarket, or cut a milk carton in half the long way and punch holes in the bottom. It isn't hard or expensive to outfit your set-up with something that works, but you need to follow some simple rules on size, drainage and cleanliness. [full story]