Safety first and you will be helping your kids for years to come.  Keep the tools sharp and respect that sharpness is the best advice I can give.  Then to learn proper technique.  Never reach farther than is safe, always know what will happen to the branch that you cut (so it doesn’t land on you) and be careful where your non too hand is so you don’t cut it.  Do you have any additional tips?

My girl friend and I will be visiting the sculpture at the De Young museum in Golden Gate park soon.  In many ways pruning is sculpture too.  I like to think is that way including the fact that it is living and will soon be sprouting out and in some cases get pretty big.  Pollarding is pretty radical but causes quite a show in ornamentals like Mulberry and Sycamore.  I just learned about stooling of smoke bush last year.  Forty years pruning and who would a thunk.  It makes for nice foliage but no flowers.  Actually pretty nice.

A sliver of the moon, the plum blossoms open and Venus rising.  What better timing for pruning.  Even if the tree is starting to push buds, it is still work as usual to get the clean up done.  I have been pruning apples, japanese maples, pears and lots of ornamental trees and shrubs the last few weeks. What are you working on?

1. Water the seedlings every other day until they are big enough to transplant into the ground (about four inches high with plenty of roots).
2. Dig up a garden plot in a sunny place adding about four inches of compost.  Demonstrate with adult tools but provide smaller tools for young people.  If this is a new garden plot try to dig at least eight inches down.  If it is easier to dig then go twelve inches.  This gives new roots plenty of room to grow. If kids get bored that is ok. They can bring compost, plants, and the hose to the site while you finish digging.  I like to start the first plot at about six feet by six feet.

1. Start some radish, lettuce and Swiss chard seeds in a paper towel folded in half and dampened with a little water.  Keep it warm but not hot, and keep it moist.  In a few days to a couple of weeks the seeds will sprout.  This is an opportunity to teach your children about how seeds hold the life of the plant in them, sending down roots to reach the soil and leaves, up to find the light.
2. Once you have seedlings it is time to learn about soil.  Buy some potting soil or compost and sift it with a colander or wire basket.  This will create a medium about the texture of rice that is ideal for new seedlings.  Fill small paper cups or used milk cartons with this mix and punch three holes in the bottom for water to drain out.  Plant one seedling in each cup by holding the leaf and lifting it carefully off of the paper towel.  Try not to touch the stem of the seedling because it is so fragile it will crush with the slightest touch.

Children take to gardening like they take to play.  After all what is more fun than playing in the dirt, pulling things out of the ground, breaking sticks, planting seeds, playing with the hose and picking and smelling flowers?

Over the next few blog posts I will be giving tips on gardening with kids. It is one of the most rewarding practices I have done.  Even though I don’t have any children myself.

I like to visit Half Moon Bay nursery where they play opera music all day long. I heard a long time ago that opera or classical music helped plants grow.  I read a book called “The Secret Life of Plants” back when I was in High School and this book told of amazing things plants could feel including music.  To tell the truth, I don’t really know if it helps, what do you think?

What I do know is that it is a lit nicer shopping for flowers with music playing.

I have been asked to marry a couple (I am also a minister) this week down at the beach. If the mouth of the creek opens the party will have to move the wedding to someplace else because they won’t be able get across.  In any case, more than just plants are flowering.

The smoke at the fire station got my attention today.  The guys were burning off the scrub under the trees adjacent to the station.  With the weather drizzly it was perfect timing for clearing.  The road crew was working on branch pruning, chipping and clearing scrub. If asked I tell clients this is the perfect time of year (between showers) to do clean up, and burning.  Be sure to get a permit if you need one.

Around here (Pescadero California) the rains mean the end of fire season, the opening of the marsh to the sea and planning for spring.  Bulbs are in the nurseries and the winter cover plantings are coming in any time.  What this means is that savvy gardeners are shopping and planting.  I like to plant a few pots with semi exotic bulbs like colchicum or crocus and overplant them with primula malicoides for color until the bulbs come up.  This way I get a bit of planting in with a minimum of back ache and a surprise right after the holidays when the first bulbs appear.