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April 19, 2000

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Three Bears, Sinister Squirrels, No Rain...
This is the time of year that really makes a gardener happy! Like Goldilocks' porridge the weather is not too cold or too hot. "Just right" you might say.  The garden starts to take shape and its potential is limited only by imagination. When I wake up in the morning my first thoughts are of the garden and how much time I will be able to spend in it today. Am I the only one to find this past time so addictive?

As excited as I am all is not perfect in the Marsh garden. We have encountered a small problem - actually several of them, all furry. The ubiquitous squirrels in our neighborhood have decided to nibble on every new plant we have put in the ground. Yes, the squirrels are quite a nuisance and I am losing my patience with them. We have a couple of ideas (one is probably illegal) and a product which has been sent to us for review that I will probably try because I am becoming desperate.  I will keep you posted and if I find something that works I'll let you know.

We're getting lots of messages from Savvygardeners and we're doing our best to answer them promptly. Both Kevin and I enjoy reading everything that comes in and we certainly want you to continue writing to us. Listening to you helps us make a better newsletter!  Don't forget about SavvyChat.  The activity there has been promising and I've seen some really good advice dispensed by other Savvygardeners.

As we go to press thunderclouds are looming over the metro. We are in desperate need of rain. Keep watering diligently and remember to soak, not lightly water, thirsty plants.

~ Shelly               

Debutante Party for Transplants...
For Savvygardeners who were able to successfully start some flowers or vegetables indoors from seed it may be time to plan their "coming out" party.  Based on your plant's cold tolerance you will need to pick the date when you plan to permanently relocate it outdoors.  Tomatoes for instance are not friends with cool weather and really need soil temperatures at 60 degrees and above to really do well.

Once you've picked the magic date (and there may be as many dates as there are plants) plan a "hardening off" schedule.   Remember these plants have had the benefit of consistent temperatures, regular light, and no wind in the comfort of your home.  It's a different world out there in the wild and wooly garden.

About two weeks before permanent relocation you should stop fertilizing and place your plants outdoors for an hour or two.   Each day increase the time outdoors by an hour.  (I know this is impossible for working gardeners, just do your best.)  The trick is to acclimate your plants to the bright sun, wind, and varying temperatures gradually.  Don't panic if they look a little wilty during this process - they're going through a bit of shock.

Once they're in the ground give them some starter fertilizer and begin a regular water and fertilizer routine.


House Plants Still Need a Safe Haven...
If you brought plants indoors for the winter and are anxious to put them outside again be careful.  You should really wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees before permanently returning plants outside.  Moving them outdoors too early will probably shock them into a state from which they might not recover.

Wait for Zoysia to Wake Up Before Feeding...
If you have warm season grass like zoysia you will want to refrain from fertilizing until it's past dormancy and active new growth has begun.  Fertilizing while the grass is still brown will only benefit the weeds.  Yuck.

If you have zoysia, or think you want some, we recommend reading Establishment and Care of Zoysiagrass Lawns from the University of Missouri Extension.


Rose Tips by Al Karsten
There's lots to do for our roses now and in the coming weeks.  Check out The Glory of Roses by our rosarian Al Karsten.

Cold Soil Means Slow Growth for Tomatoes...
On a recent trip to local nurseries we saw a number of really big tomato plants for sale (some even had fruit!).  The temptation to buy some and get them in the ground can be overwhelming.  Don't jump the gun!  Tomatoes (and peppers for that matter) need soil temperatures of at least 60 degrees for proper growth.  And that's the rule of thumb for seedlings, not nearly mature plants.  By waiting for soil temperatures to reach 60 degrees you are ensuring that as the plant grows it will benefit from the warmer soil and warm nights as the season progresses.  It is this weather that tomatoes and peppers really love.

What's Hot on the Hotline...
Do you love lilacs?  I sure do.  A couple of small cuttings brought indoors make the whole house smell like spring!

This week's hot questions on the Johnson County Extension Horticultural Hotline involve lilacs and their care. 

You will find these fragrant Q and A's here.


For Graceful Forsythia Prune Judiciously
As spring flowering shrubs fade you may want to prune them back a bit.  Before cutting back your forsythia however you might want to think about the shape you are looking for.   In my mind forsythia looks best when its branches are long and arching.  Cutting back all of the branches will cause your shrub to be more "ball-like" in shape.   If that's the look you want then have at it.  For graceful arcs cut back only the older branches and cut them back close to the base of the plant.  Think about removing 1/4 to 1/3 of older mature shrubs.
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Finally...
"Die when I may, I want
it said of me by those who
know me best, that I always
plucked a thistle and planted
a flower where I thought a
flower would grow."   Abraham Lincoln

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