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Savvygardener.com
March 1, 2000
Click Here for Ryan Lawn & Tree

Lions, Lambs, and Lawns...

It is hard to believe that March is here. What will the weather hold for us? Will it be stormy and windy or will it be calm, mild and beautiful.  It feels a lot like a lamb coming in.  Is the lion only a few weeks away?  Stay tuned...

With Spring upon us I am super pleased to announce our first local sponsor - Ryan Lawn & Tree.  We've been using Ryan Lawn & Tree for our own lawn for two years now and can't say enough about them.  We believe that gardening is a local activity and we certainly promote the use of Kansas City-area businesses for your lawn and gardening needs.  We hope to eventually have all or most of our sponsorship needs filled by good Kansas City companies.

For some inspiration and a handy checklist check out Larry Ryan's feature article, "Spring Chores - A Gardener's Opportunity" on our website.
~ Shelly               


Simple Seed Sorting
Starting more than three or four different varieties of seed indoors can get confusing if you're not organized.  To keep from missing the start date for any of your seeds you might try our simple procedure:
  • Organize your seed packets in piles based on the number of weeks before "last frost" to start them indoors.  This should be indicated on the seed packet.
  • Pick the date which you feel safe calling "last frost".  We use the first full weekend in May (May 6th this year).  For more on this see "The Truth About Last Frost" in our February 16 issue.
  • In our example we are now nine weeks from the weekend we will transplant our seedlings.  That means that by this weekend we will have already started any seeds that indicate starting dates nine weeks and higher.
  • For the remainder of your seeds secure them together in their respective groups with a rubber band.
  • For each group attach a sticky note with the date of the weekend they need to be started.
  • Place the packets front-to-back, in order by starting date, in a small box.
  • Each weekend remove the packets at the front of the box for starting.  Next weekend's seeds are now at the front and awaiting your return in seven days.

What's Hot on the Hotline...
The Kansas State Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners operate a popular "Hotline" for area gardeners.  We are pleased to be able to provide our readers with the answers to the "Hotline's" most common questions.

This week the "Hotline" has been busy with calls about protecting spring blooming bulbs.  Our famous "yo-yo" weather inspires many Hotline calls.  A frequently asked question concerns spring bulbs which insist on springing up early.  "Will they be killed by a sudden return of freezing weather, and is there anything we can do to slow them down?"

A. Once they are up, they're up!  The good news is that daffodils, tulips, crocus and most other spring bulbs may be nipped, but should recover and bloom later.

Precautions at bulb planting time may minimize the effects of alternate warming and freezing, including "heaving" out of the ground.
  • Plant bulbs at the depth and at the time recommended. This varies with the kind of bulb, and is usually found on the package or is available from the seller.
  • Apply protective mulch carefully, don't overdo.  Two inches should be plenty in most cases.
  • Once the plant emerges, the new growth may be protected by a light layer of straw or some other mulch.

For more on the K-State Horticulture Hotline click here.


Ssssavvygardeners and Ssssnakes...
Last weekend my daughter Morgan called from a friend's house excitedly explaining that she and her pals had spotted three snakes in the yard and were hunting for them (and, I am confident, secretly hoping to fail in their quest).  It seems a little early for snakes but they enjoy this mild weather as much as we do.  Should you happen across a snake in the grass resist that urge to beat it to a pulp and try to remember how beneficial snakes can be.  First of all, understand that in the Kansas City metro area you are unlikely to stumble across a poisonous snake.  Poisonous or not however you are better off just leaving snakes alone.  Believe me they are not interested in approaching you.  They are interested in eating insects, and some do a fantastic job of keeping mice, moles, and other rodents at bay.

A Really Savvy Symposium...
Wow - the first word that comes to mind after Saturday's symposium.  Hats off to Friends of Powell Gardens and The Garden Center Association for bringing us some very enthusiastic speakers.  After absorbing so many great gardening ideas you feel as if you can conquer any piece of property.  The first thing I told Kevin was, "We're putting the house on the market so we can move to the country to have our very own prairie meadow!"

I was really impressed by the talent of each speaker.  What was really great is that each one had a very unique style.  We are writing a full review of the symposium and will post it on the Savvygardener.com website when it's completed.

Finally...
"I never cast a flower away,
The gift of one who cared for me—
A little flower—a faded flower—
But it was done reluctantly."    Caroline Anne Southey, poet, 1786-1854



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