Horticulture paradise

Sure, there's the seemingly unending drip and drab of rain drops, the slate gray skies that rarely lift and the creeping moss that sets up shop in October and overstays its welcome come June. Never mind the parade of slugs and other slimy critters that find comfort in the Northwest most months of the year.

Even though yards and gardens typically look peaked during these months, that all changes come spring, as the plants, trees and flowers begin to show life and green thumbs return from hibernation ready to start planting.

Despite the climate and microclimates, the Puget Sound region is, according to garden-nursery owner Steve Smith, "a horticulture paradise."

The underpinnings of a garden that will thrive and survive starts literally from the ground up, says Smith, who co-owns Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville with wife Pauline.

Whether you are an experienced gardener or a new bud, start with dirt if you want to see green.

"My sage advice: The first year, don't spend a penny on plants," Smith says. "Put your money in soil. Get your ground prepared. Then the plants are the fun part. If you spend the time to get the soil in good condition, you can grow just about anything."

Advice for the green thumb


Got a gardening conundrum? A thorny problem with your rose bushes or a rhododendron run amok? Help from a master gardener could be just a phone call away, courtesy of the horticultural program at the WSU Snohomish County Extension office at McCollum Park, 600 128th Ave., Everett.

The staff: horticulture experts with the WSU office diagnose plant problems and help home gardeners identify and manage weeds and pests. Additionally, they offer a training program for master gardeners who, as volunteers, staff and maintain demonstration gardens.

The gardening clinic: and hotline (425-357-6010) was started as a means for the public to get answers to gardening questions directly from a person in the know so they could make informed decisions based on sound science, says Sharon Collman, extension educator in horticulture and pest management. "Not that we have science behind every answer, but we do utilize long years of experiences of the master gardeners tempered by the latest research and knowledge of specialists," she says.

The office: walk-in clinic and phone line are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the winter months and

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the spring and summer.

More information: 425-338-2400, . www.snohomishwsu.edu/garden.htm.

A good way to test your soil for moisture content is by digging out a chunk with a shovel — if the tool has trouble penetrating the earth, it's likely too dry; if the shovel returns a heavy, wet mud, it's too moisture-laden. Good soil, Smith says, should break apart with ease.

Once the soil is ready, next come the foundation plants and shrubs, what Smith refers to as "the bones."

While the natural inclination — particularly after a long and dreary winter — is to imbue a bare area with lots of pretty flowers, Smith recommends starting with the hearty fundamentals like grasses, trees and shrubs.

Ornamental grasses — not the kind you need to worry about mowing — come in all colors, including deep golds and rustic browns, and are a popular choice for adding texture and interest. Creeping ground covers like the five-leaf Akebia are hearty and do well in this area, as do perennials like virbunum and Juncus.

A good starter perennial that isn't demanding is the Euphorbias, Smith says. For color, there are the popular pansies and tulips, but Smith likes buttercup winter hazel, which sprouts pale yellow bell-shaped blossoms that add a burst of interest to any garden.

Another popular choice to add color is primroses. Most nurseries also offer several types of dwarf shrubs, which are a practical approach to enhance, but not overwhelm, a space.

Other perennials that do well in this region (and are friendly even to the verdant gardener): the evergreen New Zealand flax, which is recognizable for its long, grass-like blades; helleborus — an early blooming, shade-friendly plant that features buttercup-like flowers in shades of sweet lavender or milky white — and Heuchera, a lively ground-cover plant that comes in myriad shades.

"Get your shrubs and trees, the 'bones' in, then do the tapestry — the fun stuff of perennials, annuals and garden accessories," Smith says. For those who drift toward roses, nurseries in the region offer many varieties.

With so many choices, a stroll through a nursery or your favorite neighborhood garden store can be especially daunting to the new gardener.

"There are a lot of people who get very overwhelmed with too much information and often not much time. Gardening isn't a passion for them yet, just a chore," says Sharon Collman, extension educator in horticulture and pest management at the WSU Snohomish County Extension office at McCollum Park in south Everett. "So what I tell them is to start real slow. Mow the lawn even if it is weedy. It's like a fresh haircut and makes things look better."

Public gardens


Several public spaces in Snohomish County offer gardens that are ripe for inspiration. Here are a couple where a home gardener can find his or her muse:

Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens: 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett. The first seeds of what are today flourishing gardens and an arboretum at Everett's Legion Park were planted more than 30 years ago. The outdoor space is a haven for seasoned and nascent gardeners alike to learn more about different plants, shrubs and trees and how they can work together in harmony. The arboretum and gardens are open until 10 p.m. daily.

The Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens association offers a closer look at some of the region's best private gardens with its Gardens of Merit tour, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 23. The event also will feature activities and entertainment at the arboretum, including a plant sale, raffle and tours and demonstrations, until 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 and will be available at various retail locations beginning June 1, or online at www.evergreenarboretum.com. While visiting the gardens is free, memberships help with the year-round maintenance of the arboretum and gardens. An individual membership is $20 annually. Information: 425-257-8597, www.evergreenarboretum.com.

Jennings Park Garden: 7027 51st Ave. N.E., Marysville. This serves as a demonstration garden for the WSU Extension master gardeners program but also is a popular go-to place for a slice of serenity amid an urban landscape. The garden features seasonal and permanent garden beds and a slew of ornamentals, flowers, vegetables and herbs and fruits. There also are theme gardens, including an English-cottage garden design; rose gardens; and an area dedicated to drought-tolerant and Northwest native plants. The garden at Jenning's Park is open year-round for self-guided tours; volunteers are on hand to answer questions and discuss techniques and garden challenges, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and Fridays andSaturdays, May through September. Information: 425-338-2400.

And be creative with the space you have to work with. Know your sun and shade spots. For troubleshooting, general gardening questions and inspiration, look to a gardening expert at a nursery — many are certified horticultural professionals — or ask questions of a master gardener through the WSU Extension program, which offers advice on everything from plantings to pest and weed control.

A common issue that can befall the new and veteran gardener alike is water control.

What often defines the difference between a garden that flowers and one that fades is too much or too little of a good thing.

"In most of the Puget Sound region, if you aren't having success with your garden, it's probably related to water," Smith says. "If a plant is wilting, the initial reaction may be to water it more, when in reality it might need the opposite. When people come into the nursery, we try to get them to understand the whole water and plant relationship," he continues, "without getting into plant science 101."

Typically, a good rule of thumb is to keep the ground moist but not waterlogged, and check that the water is penetrating to the roots. After watering, Collman recommends digging a hole with a hand trowel to see how deep the water penetrates.

"It's surprising that even after it rains around here, you can kick up dust under the mulch," she says.

If the soil is clay, Collman suggests digging a hole to pour water in and then wait an hour or so to see if it drains. Another option for an area with poor drainage is to create a berm, or mound bed, so the plant is above the soil.

Once the soil and water are optimal, it's time to get planting.

Kerry Hollinger, a retail manager at Sunnyside Nursery, says it's helpful to have a plan for your space before you start making garden selections. Ask yourself what you want to achieve with your garden. And don't be deterred by limited space.

Planting small — with containers or pots — is a one way to ease into gardening and lessen the intimidation factor. Containers offer a controlled environment and are a practical way to get in touch with your inner horticulturalist, even if you live in a condo or apartment.

"Most people don't need to start with a huge garden until they know what and why they are doing it," says Collman.

Once the weather breaks and the dreary days are supplanted by sun and warmth — typically April or May — people start thinking about enhancing or changing their garden spaces. This, Smith says, often leads to impulse buys of flowers with a short shelf life. Instead, look to the plants and shrubs that will look as good in January as they do in July.

"You don't have to spend a fortune" to make an impact, says Smith. "There is no excuse for a boring yard."