gardens

***image1***A large yard can be a blessing and a curse.

Sure, it is nice to see the children playing in a safe outside environment or let the dogs run free around the house, but unless the yard comes with a gardener, you may have to exercise your own green thumb.

Some botanically-challenged Americans in Germany are lucky and their landlords agree to take over the yard work. Those who aren’t that fortunate, however, should know at least some basic facts about gardening in order to keep their overseas home from turning into an eyesore.

The German farmer’s almanac defines March 17 as the official beginning of the gardening season. It’s St. Gertrude’s Day, a Catholic holiday celebrating St. Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron of gardeners. Although a warm winter may make it possible to pick up the spade before then, the brunt of gardening work in the German climate doesn’t begin until mid- to late March.

As most German gardens have grass areas, lawn care should be a priority. At the end of a German winter, marked by rain and possibly snow, that care can be summarized in four words: Keep off the grass!

“When the ground is squishy, you should not walk on the lawn because it will solidify the earth underneath,” said Armin Woll, who owns a landscaping business in Kaiserslautern. Once the ground is dry, however, it is important to remove all leaves, twigs and other objects from the grass to avoid decay underneath, he said.

The main gardening task in late winter is the pruning of hedges, shrubs, trees and wintergreen plants, Mr. Woll said.

“Once their buds have started to swell, it is too late for pruning,” he said.

However, don’t get carried away with the shears, he warned: Early bloomers such as Jasmine, Lilac and Forsythias should be spared because, otherwise, you run the risk of cutting off their blossoms.

March is also a good time to plant new shrubs and trees or transplant existing ones, and to sow early spring flowers. You can also plant or sow herbs such as chives, garlic or parsley in a protected area of the garden. If you have potted plants, this is the time to re-pot them and start giving them more water.

As the end of March approaches and night frost becomes less likely, you can start removing any winter protection you may have applied to your plants, Mr. Woll said.

Bird lovers should clean out bird houses that have been used in the past to make them inviting for newcomers.

Apart from those chores, however, your main task right now is dreaming of enjoying your nice yard during the upcoming months.

For more information on gardening, visit www.thegardenhelper.com.