Winter Wisdom

Brought to you in cooperation with the Kansas State University Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners.   Each week we feature interesting topics for winter reading.

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Week of 1/6/03

To get the New Year started off right, we’d like to recall some opinions we have expressed before about ordering plant material by mail, and about the importance of watering grass and plantings in times of prolonged drought.

During the long winter days, a particularly enjoyable activity for many gardeners is planning ahead for the next growing season.  Commercial growers and nurseries compete for our attention and our available funds by supplying us with a seemingly inexhaustible flood of catalogs and offers promoting plants they hope we will find irresistible.  All of this represents a sizeable potential investment, and it is wise to consider any selections we may make, carefully.  This includes having some knowledge of the firm with which we may be dealing, and with their general reputation and the experience of other gardeners with them.

At this point, I’d like to say an unsolicited word on behalf of local suppliers of trees, shrubs, and other plants.  There is much to commend dealing with local merchants in addition to the obvious benefits to the local economy.  You may already be acquainted with them and the quality of their offerings. To you as a gardener, it’s of prime importance that the plant material you purchase be in the best possible condition.  At local vendor locations, you can see what you are getting, its condition, and how it has been cared for.  You will also avoid additional cost and possible injury to the plant from shipping and handling.

When you select from a mail-order source, deal with an established firm, and one which does not make extravagant claims for “miracle” plants like hardwood trees that grow fifteen feet a year, year in, year out!  The material from the vendor should also contain cultural information, particularly in terms of hardiness zone, and moisture requirements.  They should also list the botanical name of the plant, not the sometimes highly variable common name of the plant alone.  With this knowledge, you can positively identify the plant so you may easily research it if additional information is required.  Relying solely on common names is risky because they often vary from one grower or region to another.  On the other hand, correct botanical designations are universal. Incidentally, your local supplier should also be able to give you detailed cultural information, as well as the correct botanical name. If they don’t have it, have them look it up.  It will be a beneficial exercise for them, if they don’t already know!

By taking these precautions when ordering through the mail, on-line, or buying from a local establishment, you will help level the playing field, as it were, and give yourself the distinct advantage of starting with sound, healthy plant material suited to our local growing conditions, which will provide you with an optimal chance of success.

Unfortunately, we find ourselves again in a period of prolonged drought.  Many sources have suggested the importance of getting out the garden hose when temperatures are above freezing to give cool-season grass lawns a good soaking of one to two inches every 10 to 14 days.  It is natural for these grasses to go dormant during the late fall and winter, but added water may prevent damage to plant roots and crowns.  When you finish watering, be sure to disconnect the hose again.  Don’t forget the evergreens, especially the broadleaf evergreens like Hollies, Azaleas and Rhododendrons!  They will benefit from a thorough watering whenever possible.

Articles submitted by Bill Latimer, Johnson County Extension Horticulture Assistant and Dennis Patton, Johnson County Extension Horticulture Agent.

2001 - 2002 Winter Wisdom Archive
2000 - 2001 Winter Wisdom Archive

* Winter Wisdom is an information service of the Kansas State Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners.  Research-based responses are provided by Extension Master Gardener volunteers weekdays from March 1 through October 31, from 9:00 am to 4:30pm .  To telephone, call (913) 764-6306 or visit the Extension Office at 13480 South Arapaho Drive, Olathe, Kansas.  Visit their website at www.oznet.ksu.edu/Johnson 

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