Those that wait until the season is upon them before making preparations for growing flowers and plants, seldom has any worthy of the name.

The disappearance of the horse on American farms has increased accidents among farmers. Studies have shown that in the olden days, when the horse got tired and needed rest, the farmer rested, too. Nowadays, with an untiring tractor, the farmer often overworks. Under the strain of fatigue, he becomes accident-prone.

For $10, get a set of flowering trees from The National Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org). Each set includes two each of flowering dogwood, goldenrain tree, flowering crabapple, Washington hawthorn, and American rosebud. Each seedling is between 6 to 12” and is guaranteed to grow or the tree will be replaced.

Is your lawn getting enough water? After watering or a rainfall, poke an 8-inch long screwdriver into the lawn. If the lawn has enough water, the screwdriver will go in easily and at least up to 6 inches.

Plant lettuce in small batches. If planted all at once, you will have one big crop. Instead, try “succession planting” and each week during the growing season, plant a three to four foot long bed (or transplant 6 new plants). This will provide you with a constant supply of lettuce throughout the Summer and Fall.

Create a focal point in your garden. Group three to five shrubs around a tree. Choose ones that compliment the tree when it is at its seasonal best. To get an idea on what to plant, when your centerpiece tree looks its best, drive through residential neighborhoods or visit public parks and make note of other plants that look good at the same time. Do not rely on plants in bloom at a nursery. They may have been forced to bloom off-season.

Plant low-growing and dark ground cover with taller, lighter colored blooming flowers

Aspirin can help keep your plants healthy too. In regular doses (every two months) both indoor and outdoor plants grow more and have fewer fungus and pest problems. Aspirin prevents plants from producing a substance that hastens aging and wilting. To make one gallon of the aspiring solution simply dissolve one regular strength, uncoated aspirin tablet in a cup of warm water. Discard one-quarter cup of the solution and then enough plain water to make a gallon. Water plants liberally every two months.

Grow the prettiest Irish wildflowers the easy way. QVC offers an amazing seed mat infused with 20 types of wildflower seeds. Simply unroll the eight-foot by 18-inch mat and place, cover with a bit of compost, and water liberally. Watch as the seedlings start sprouting in four to eight weeks. It can be easily cut to fit your garden. Call QVC at 888.345.5788 and order Item # H52139. Cost f the item is $23.47 plus shipping and handling.

TOOLS FOR LITTLE GARDEN TASKS

Need a smaller version of your fork or trowel to transplant those tiny seedlings and tend to small houseplants? Contact Lee Valley Tools at 800.871.8158 or on the web at www.leevalley.com and order your set of two seven-inch long stainless steel tools. The cost is only $11.95

Also from Lee Valley Tools, get everything you need to do a thorough soil test (10 tests) before you plant. Test for pH (acidity/alkalinity), nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Create a chemical snapshot of your soil and adjust the soil to your purposes. Cost of the complete kit is $24.95

Try growing these new tasty and colorful vegetable this year and liven up the dinner table.

Orient Express
This slender, Asian-style eggplant has a glossy, dark-purple skin and a tender delicate flavor. The Express only takes 58 days to mature and because they stand up to cooler weather, you can sow earlier or grow crops later into the Fall. Contact Johnny’s Select Seeds at 800.854.2528 or at www.johnnyseeds.com. Seed packet cost is $2.60.

Renee’s Caesar Duo
You can grow red and green romaine lettuce from a single packet of seeds! Caesar Duo can be picked at baby- or full-size. Like all lettuces, it prefers consistently cool and moist weather to thrive. Renee’s Garden at 888.880.7228 or at www.reneesgarden.com.

Window Box Roma
This tomato plant is bred to produce heavily in pots and deck or patio planters. Roma are meaty and best suited for sauces. They mature in just 70 days and require at least one-half day of sunlight each day. Select Item #1921P from Veseys at 800.363.7333 or www.vesey.com. Seed packet cost is $2.95.

F-1 Papaya Pear Hybrid
This golden-yellow summer squash is shaped like a papaya (similar to a light bulb) and matures in only 40 days- much faster then other squash. A semi-bush plant, it requires only four feet of width to grow. If the fruit is picked when three inches long (two to three inches wide), the plant will continue to bear fruit until the first frost. Park Seed Company sells their seed packets for$1.95 and can be reached at 800.213.0076 or at www.parkseed.com.

E-1 Kinbi
These golden yellow, blunt-tipped carrots add a distinctive look without sacrificing flavor. They can reach up to seven inches in length and mature in seventy-five days. Johnny’s Select Seeds (800.854.2528) or on the web www.johnnyseeds.com. Seed packets cost $2.40.

Control outdoor pests before they emerge with pest- and plant-specific horticulture sprays. These sprays contain refined petroleum oils and can be used safely while the plants are dormant. The sprays suffocate pests while they are in their egg stage. They are most effective against aphids, mites, psyllids, leaf rollers, many types of scale and most types of webworm. Spray plants thoroughly and be sure to mix only enough spray needed. Discard unused spray appropriately. Do not store leftover spray for later use

Don’t leave freshly pulled weeds on the ground for too long. Some can develop seeds even after they have been pulled up and start germinating all over again.

To kill off black ants, mix a 50-50 solution of white sugar and Borax. Pour on the ant trail inside your house and outside (in dry weather). This will rid you of them and their nest.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR POTS

Whenever choosing a pot, make sure it has proper drainage. Based upjn the size of the pot, this may mean that multiple holes will be required.

Always wash pots out before reusing them. Use this pot rejuvenating solution:

Scrub them well, rinse, and let dry in the sun for a day or two before planting in them.

Before using clay pots, soak them thoroughly overnight before adding any greens. Planting in a dry pot, the porous clay will suck all of the water out of your potting soil.

If you live in the warmer Southern climate, choose lighter-colored pots. They will absorb less heat then darker ones and help keep the plant’s roots cooler.

If you live in the chilly Northern regions, try lining your pots with bubble wrap

For a new look, paint the just the rims or raised patterns on your favorite pots, leaving the rest its original color.