Plant Transvaal daisies (aka Gerbera daisies) now through April. New varieties are freer blooming and have a wider range of colors than older types. Gerberas are easy to grow in pots or the ground but need good drainage; place in sun to partial shade.

When planting in the garden, take care to bury all the roots but not the crown (the place where the roots join the leaves). They will rot if planted too deeply. Allow gerberas to dry out slightly between waterings.

Be sure to protect them from snails and feed often with a complete fertilizer such as Dr. Earth Organic 7 All Purpose Fertilizer.

Throughout history, herbs have played a major role in the health and well being of mankind. Every society on the planet, past or present, has discovered the value of herbs for culinary and medicinal purposes. Especially now in the 21 st century of "designer" pharmaceutical preservatives and artificial flavor enhancements, we see a strong trend toward the natural flavoring and medicinal purposes of herbs. No matter how small or large your gardening space, you have room for an herb garden. Start with a sunny spot in the ground; add a good organic soil amendment like Gardner & Bloome Harvest Supreme, —or plant in pots, using a good potting mix such as Kellogg Potting Soil.

Be sure to provide adequate water, and fertilize as necessary. Now comes the fun part. Start with a good selection of culinary herbs such as basil, thyme, mint, rosemary, oregano, sage, dill, coriander, fennel, marjoram and parsley. Use your culinary herbs to flavor fish, meat, chicken, soups and salads.

Your medicinal collection should include chamomile, lavender, aloe, echinacea and lemon balm. Medicinal herbs are great in teas to help ease headaches, toothaches, tension and stomach pain. Always check with your doctor first to be sure herbal remedies are all right for you.

Herbs also provide a great way to scent and decorate your home in dried arrangements, potpourris and sachets. Some great herbs for this are: sweet basil, lemon verbena, sweet marjoram, lemon balm, scented geranium, rosemary, thyme and mint. For use in sachets and potpourri, dry the herbs first, by tying sprigs together with a string and hanging in a warm, dry place. Place the dried herbs in a fabric bag, tie with a string or ribbon, and hang them in your closet or tuck them in a drawer.

And there's nothing like an herbal bath with fresh herbs. Lavender is traditionally for relaxation, and rosemary to soothe aching muscles and joints; try mint or a mixture of oregano, sage, and thyme to boost your energy. Simply put about a half of a cup of fresh herbs in a muslin bag (pantyhose will also work), tie tightly, and hang it directly under the faucet as you are running the bath. You can also use the bag as a 'scrub bag' to scent your skin.

In your garden, herbs can be planted in beautiful patterns of color, texture and size, or combine them in containers with roses, fruit trees and perennials. Come in and we'll show you how. The world of herbs opens up a world of possibilities...discover them today!

Herbal Recipe – Pesto Genovese

Here is an excellent sauce for potatoes, rice or pasta:

• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 spinach leaves
• 1/3 cup grated Pecorino cheese
• 1 tsp. fresh marjoram
• 1 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp. fresh parsley
• 1 cup pignoli or other nuts (optional)
• 3 garlic cloves

Blend to a smooth paste. Yield: ~1-1/2 cups

• Choose a spot in full sun that is not hit by overhead sprinklers.
• Dig the ground deeply and mix in a generous layer of organic soil amendment such as Gardner & Bloome Soil Building Compost.  Add a complete fertilizer recommended for annual flowers, according to package directions, and mix it into the top 6 inches of soil.
• Use the garden hoe to make a dike of soil 3 or 4 inches high all the way around the seedbed; it will hold the water in when you irrigate.  Rake the seedbed level. (If you can, install a drip system that will water the bed at ground level — drip systems make water basins unnecessary.)
• Pour some seeds into the palm of your hand.  Grasping them one by one place each seed right where you want it to grow, in a continuous diamond pattern all over the bed or drift. (As for all bedding plants and ground covers, alternate the rows when planting so that the plants grow all over, evenly, rather than standing like soldiers in foursquare rows.)  Follow the directions on the package as to spacing.  (Large varieties should be spaced about 12 inches apart, small varieties about 6 inches.)
• Cover the seeds very lightly with about 1/4 inch of soil- zinnias need light in order to germinate- and pat it down gently.  (If you're planting in clay soil, cover the seeds with potting mix rather than soil so they won't have to break through a hard crust.)
• Mist the seedbed thoroughly after planting.  Continue to mist it at least twice daily ( more often if it's hot and dry) until the seeds germinate.  (Covering the bed with a floating row cover can help keep the seeds damp and speed germination in hot, dry weather.  After seeds have germinated, take the row cover off.)
• Sprinkle the ground with granulated cutworm bait containing Sevin or diazinon.  (If using a row cover, sprinkle on the bait before covering the bed.)  Bait again a week or two later.
• Once the zinnias are up and firmly rooted, stop misting and start irrigating with the drip system or by putting the hose on the ground inside the dike.  (Aim the hose into a sideways flower pot to break the force of the water.)  A good rule of thumb for zinnias is: Always water zinnias on the ground, never overhead, or you'll ruin the foliage.
• When the plants are 3 or 4 inches high, start watering them more infrequently and deeply until you're applying 1 to 2 inches of water per week, depending on your soil and climate zone.
• To encourage branching, pinch out the first flower bud on each plant or pinch above the third set of leaves.
• Pick and deadhead zinnias throughout the summer.

Most gardeners have stocked up their garages with all sorts of products to save their plants from natural enemies like hungry insects and overpowering weeds. What many gardeners don't know is this: even more important than defending against enemies is to see that plants get what they need for photosynthesis, especially water. Watering is an art, because under-watering causes water deficiency and over-watering can cause roots to rot.

These problems are easily kept in check with only a few simple steps:

Follow Mother Nature's lead — if you have a desert plant, the soil it lives in may not need watering for days at a time. If the plant is in a fairly moist climate in the wilderness, it will need to be watered more frequently. Avoid being too generous, because the leading cause of plant death is not insects or diseases but simple over-watering.

Get your hands dirty — test the soil with your finger, starting at the top for a moist-climate plant and pushing further in for a plant from a more arid climate. It is recommended to feel most plants about an inch below the surface of the soil. If the soil is moist to the touch but does not wet your finger, the water amount is correct.

Get a can that works — watering cans are especially vital in the care of indoor plants. The best watering can to use is one with a long neck. This is especially important if you have a plant that generates a lot of foliage. The best water to use is tepid water — not too warm or too cool.

Use good soil — sandy soil will let the water rush away, while clay-burdened soil will hold water too long, causing root rot.

Keep your weeds in check — frequent weeding will reduce competition among plants for the moisture in the soil.

Ready your plants for the daytime — water in the morning, to fortify your plants against the hot sun. Using mulch is another good defense. Mulch will keep the soil from taking too much sun and evaporating all the water, as well as helping to keep weeds down.

By Tamara Galbraith

Although spring brings much hope and rebirth to the outdoors, it can be a stressful time for many gardeners. There is so much to do, and -- even with the longer hours that Daylight Saving provides -- seemingly never enough time to get it all done.

So, here are some tips for organizing your garden chores without wearing yourself out:

• If you start getting overwhelmed with how much needs accomplished in your landscape, take a deep breath and grab a pencil and paper. Make a list of everything that has to be done. Then, rank the chores by importance. Will a plant die in the next day or two if it doesn't get watered? Then by all means, do that first.
• If it seems like every single part of your landscape needs worked on, split the chores up into geographical sections. For example, if your bed of roses needs to be weeded AND fertilized AND watered AND sprayed for aphids, force yourself to stay focused on that area until you've achieved everything that needs to be done.
• Utilize smart gardening tools, accessories and products that help make your time in the garden easier and more efficient. For example, Neem oil is effective and safe as both an insecticide and fungicide.
• For all of you 9-5ers, try to avoid being a "Weekend Warrior Gardener." That is, spread your gardening chores throughout the week whenever possible. An hour here or there will take a big chunk out of your weekend duties, and besides, a bit of gardening is quite relaxing at the end of a long day spent in a stuffy office.