Savvygardener.com Update 3/22/00
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March 22, 2000

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Feature Articles
~ Seed Starting Indoors
~ Spring Chores
~ Seed Starting Tomatoes

Books We Love
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~ Ryan Lawn & Tree
~ Earl May
~ Missouri Organic Recycling

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Spring Has Officially Sprung!
Well the first day of Spring has finally arrived.  It sure is a beautiful palette outside.  Green lawns, bright yellow forsythia, different colored daffodils and soon the tulips will open.  Wow, isn't spring great!  Now the fun really begins.  I have several projects on my slate and designing and planting a new garden is the top one on the list.  I have chosen Ryan Lawn & Tree as my contractor and look forward to them starting.  Second on my list is making sure that all of the seeds we planted live until I can transplant them outside.  That might be a tough one.  My cats are looking at my new seedlings as if they are a salad bar at Shoney's.  The list continues and I look forward to tackling every project with much enthusiasm, after all gardening is work but it's supposed to be fun not drudgery!

Savvygardener.com veterans will notice that we've re-designed our newsletter and website.  We've finally incorporated our cool logo and added some brighter colors.  Thanks to graphic designer extraordinaire Larry Miller of Creative Retail Solutions for the logo design.  We're still tinkering with the design so there may be more changes to come.

Look for welcome spring rains the next couple of days.  The temperatures seem to be getting more seasonal and should start their steady climb as spring progresses.  Frosts are still possible however so don't get started too early.  And remember not to work wet soil.  Patience.
~ Shelly               

A Berry Sweet Project
Did the warm weather two weeks ago make you think of homemade ice cream with fresh strawberries?  If you have a strawberry patch you will want to start removing protective mulch when slightly yellowed leaves appear.  Just clear enough mulch for the plants to grow through.

If you want to start a strawberry patch you can do that as soon as the soil can be worked.  There are several varieties to consider, each with benefits and drawbacks.  The K-State extension service has a fine article on growing strawberries.  You will need "Adobe Acrobat" to read it in your web browser.  If you have Acrobat already click here to read the article.

Hydrangea Hues
A Savvygardener recently wrote for advice on making her white hydrangea turn blue.  While it is possible to change the color of pink or blue hydrangeas a truly white (and beautiful) specimen is destined to stay that way.

For pinks and blues however it is a matter of soil pH.  Generally speaking it is an alkaline soil that promotes blue coloration and acidity that promotes pink and red.  If you already have blue and want to change it to pink simply add lime or superphosphate to the soil until a pH of 7.5 or greater is reached.  To make your pink hydrangea turn blue you will need to acidify the soil to a pH of 6.5 or lower.  This is achieved by adding a tablespoon of aluminum sulphate to the soil each week for about a month.  In either case you can start the process now to achieve the color change this year.  Keep in mind that the plant's age and variety affects its ability to change color.  Don't expect perfection without a few years of trial and error.

What's Hot On the Hotline
This week's hot topics on the Johnson County Extension Horticultural Hotline include lawn care advice on:
  • The use of pre-emergent to prevent crabgrass.
  • Fertilizing blue grass and fescue lawns.
  • Bagging (or not bagging) grass clippings.
Follow this link for the scoop on these hot topics.

Time For a Tune Up?
Grass cutting season is just around the corner and you can count on us to give you the best advice for cutting a Kansas City lawn through the season.  It all starts with your mower and now is the time to make sure it's in tip-top shape.  You will need to make sure the oil and air filter are changed.  A new spark plug may also be necessary.  Above all make sure your mower blade is well sharpened.  A sharp blade cuts grass neatly and in a manner that is good for the the lawn.  A dull blade by contrast tears the grass making it look ragged and will also cause the grass tips to turn brown or gray.  If you usually take your mower to a repair shop or retailer for an annual tune-up do it now before they get too backed up with other customers.

Tomorrow's Tomatoes Start With Seeds Today
Tomatoes are one of the greatest edible pleasures we take from our garden each year.  Even gardeners who profess to not growing any vegetables find themselves with one or more tomato plants in a sunny spot.  Avoiding the "is it a fruit or a vegetable?" argument we offer a timely feature article, "Seed Starting Tomatoes" by Holly Kuhse Director of Early May's Seed Department.

A Weekend Treat...
Don't miss the Kansas City Flower, Lawn and Garden Show this weekend.  It starts Thursday the 23rd and runs through Sunday the 26th at Bartle Hall. You will find lots of local companies there including our newest sponsor, Missouri Organic Recycling.  Follow the link to their site for show hours and details about their exhibit.

Books We Love...
Several weeks ago we picked up "Midwest Gardener's Handbook" at Earl May and promised to review it.  We are happy to recommend this book as another source of good gardening advice targeted to gardeners in our region.  Our review is available on our website.

Finally...
"For, lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land."  Song of Solomon 2:11,12

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