AVON-BY-THE-SEA — The Avon Garden Club welcomed Rutgers Master Gardener Bob Magovern to its monthly meeting and enjoyed his presentation on how to prepare gardens for spring.
“I think everyone had a lot of great questions and I think everyone was interested in the presentation,” said Avon Garden Club President Kathy Walton. “Hearing something like this makes everyone want to go out into their own gardens and take a look and do a little bit of pruning. I learned some things and definitely have some things to do.”
Mr. Magovern opened the presentation by explaining how to do all of the things a gardener might have failed to do in the fall. This includes spring cleaning and removing dead plants as well as pruning. While most gardeners are nervous about cutting back most of their outdoor plants, Mr. Magovern assures them not to worry.
“Sometimes when leaves start on the top of the shrub, the branches underneath get precious little sun, so they start growing out from under the plant,” said Mr. Magovern. “The branches keep trying to stretch out, so it is time to get rid of it. Don’t think you are hurting the plant when you do this.”
According to Mr. Magovern, the plant expends a lot of energy to try and extend its small and weak branches to find the sunlight. By cutting back those branches, the energy can be redirected into the growing of the healthy, sturdier branches at the top.
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