It's time for planning, planting

PROVO — Back fence gossiping isn't so bad when the subject is gardening.

"Learn what your neighbors are doing successfully and do that," said Meredith Seaver, assistant horticulturist with the Utah State University Extension Service.

With the coming of spring, it's time for home gardeners to clean up their yards and begin to plan and plant for the coming season.

"Clean up plants from the fall that have died back," Seaver said. "Garden with a plan so the (the plants) look like they belong there."

While cleaning up vegetable gardens and flower beds, take a handful of soil and squeeze it. If the soil balls up, it's too wet, she said.

"The soil needs to be loose, so wait. You will ruin the soil if you work it when it's too wet," she said.

The soil will dry in hard clumps if worked too early. It's best to wait until the soil falls apart.

In the vegetable garden know the right time to plant certain vegetables. Right now is the time to plant peas, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and root vegetables such as carrots and radishes. Wait until May to plant vegetables like tomatoes and peppers.

Watering gardens and landscaped grounds has become more of a science as technology has improved. The Central Utah Water Conservatory District will give homeowners rebates of certain conservation products that save water, said David Ferguson, manager of Conservation Sprinkler Supply in Lehi.

Rebates are given on selected products purchased in Utah or Salt Lake counties from now until Oct. 15, said Nancy Hardman, conservation program coordinator. Big-ticket items, like high-tech clocks, have rebates from $100 to $150. The rebates on pressure regulators and sprinkler heads are still being finalized, she said. Rebate forms can be picked up at sprinkler supply stores and online at www.cuwcd.com/rebates. The little-known program is beginning its third season. Last year the budget was about $50,000, but only about $5,000 was rebated.

Rebates are available for the following:

• Irrigation control or clock with built-in weather station access or soil moisture sensor.

• Weather station access or soil moisture sensor as an add-on to an existing irrigation control or clock (rain sensors are not included).

• Pressure regulator for irrigation system and-or pressure-regulating heads.

• Low precipitation stream-spray nozzles that replace older style sprinkler spray heads.