Soil is the root of the issue
Matt Hickman portrait courtesy Mother Nature Network
Research indicates that 80% of all plant problems relate to poor soil. Most soil we work with in the home garden is considered “disturbed urban soil” and it often contains only 2% (or less) organic matter. According to the Perennial Plant Association herbaceous perennials require a minimum of 5% organic matter for optimum growth. Organic matter can improve drainage in clay soil and increase water and nutrient holding capacity in sandy soil. Research has also show that organic matter can increase plant growth by anywhere from 20-100% while maintaining higher than average survival rates. How does your soil stack up? Now is the time to test your soil and amend it to create a living soil that will help you be successful without synthetic chemicals. But all amendments are not created equal. Learn more about soils in my first book The Well-Tended Perennial Garden ( Chapter 2 Bed Preparation: Insurance for Success) and click here to read Matt Hickman’s blog from Mother Nature Network “The First Amendments” and view my video on “Improving Garden Soil”.
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As plant nerds we all go through different plant fetishes. I’ve been through numerous “species obsessions” including the Geraniums, the lilies, and the Dianthus just to name a few. And currently I’m into Carex in a big way. But I’ve been in 
love with poppies (both annual and perennial) for about as long as I can remember. I even have a history of “smuggling” poppy seeds into the USA in my “unmentionables”J when returning from a year and a half of work/study abroad 28 years ago. The best germination success of annual species, for the home gardener in colder climates, seems to occur when the seeds are sown directly in February or March when the ground is free of snow. Also to ensure success I’ve learned to order fairly large quantities of seeds—one small 
packet just doesn’t cut it. I’m talking about getting ¼ lb. or even 1 lb. of seeds when available. I sow seeds of California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Red Corn Poppy or Flanders Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), and Bread or Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum) about the gardens in any available space. It is harder to find large quantities of opium poppy so it may require numerous smaller packets for best effect. A great source for seeds of poppies is Wildseed Farms www.wildseedfarms.com. Also remember to allow poppies to go to seed once you’ve got them established in the garden. You can even cut off the mature seed pods and spread them about in the desired location. Good luck with these gorgeous plants.
Are you staying fit this winter in preparation for all the hard work you’ll face this spring? How’s that 6-pack? And I’m not talking about a six pack of pansies or am I? Now is the time to be strengthening those abs, backs, arms, and legs to avoid aches and pains or worse an injury this spring. Consider working out with me and my triathlon coach Troy Jacobson on the “STRENDURANCE” DVD. It’s an effective and fun progressive program that can be modified to fit any fitness ability. And the sessions are only 20-30 minutes so they will work into your busy life—no excuses—I even demonstrate proper technique at the beginning of the DVD. Go to 
Over at the Garden Rant blog, they’ve launched their first ever “short fiction” contest….99 words or less. (now that is really short!). 
One of the great things about writing garden books is the opportunity to meet gardeners from all over the world as I travel to do lectures and book tours. Although my books have been covered by media outlets in many different places, it is especially nice to pick up my hometown paper and read an article like the one that appeared today in the Columbus Dispatch. If you’d like to read it, 
Mike is the legendary voice of Chicago gardening and I will be on his radio show (820 on the AM dial) at 1pm Central (2pm Eastern) Get details at 
