May 24, 2000 |
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Savvygardeners in Training... | ||||||||||||||||
While
pulling weeds (the never ending job) last weekend my four-year-old son
Noah wandered up and asked, "Mom, what are you doing?" and I
replied simply, "Pulling weeds." He asked if he could
help. I stopped to think for a moment (Hmmm, if I let him into the
garden what will he step on?) I finally decided to let him
help. It is so funny to think that I hesitated for even a
moment. Like his older sister Morgan, Noah is always eager to help
in the garden. Morgan however is nine and she has a better understanding
of what is a "keeper" and what is a weed. Once he stepped
on sacred ground I began to explain to him how important it is to pull
only the weeds and not the flowers. He was so cute. He would
pull a plant, hold it up and say "Mom is this a weed?" I
would answer yes and he would be so proud that he had pulled a weed and
not a flower. It was so nice to have such a special little helper in
the garden. I must remember to have faith in my children, teach them about
taking care of the earth and the things that are growing on it and they
too will become Savvygardeners!!
We seem to have a small bug in SavvyChat. Some of the headers are getting mixed up. We are working diligently to try and find just the right insecticide. Please bear with us while we try to remedy the problem. Water, water, water. Stay on top of it because if you don't your garden will be down and out! |
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~ Shelly | |||||||||||||||||
Timely Tomato Trivia |
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It's
time to plant tomatoes if you haven't already done so. The soil has
warmed nicely and the nighttime temperatures are creeping upward.
Just for fun we compiled some tomato trivia:
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Thirsty Turf Tips... |
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The
recent heat and dry weather are just previews of what we Kansas City
gardeners face every year. Unfortunately for
many of us our lawns are near the peak of their beauty and will face some
rough times as the heat and humidity descends upon us. One of the
most important ways to keep your lawn as healthy as possible is a good
watering program. Our friends at Ryan Lawn & Tree suggest the
following guidelines depending on temperatures:
These amounts are approximate. Zoysia and fescue need less water than bluegrass. Important: Do not water after 4 pm if nighttime temperatures are expected to be above 65 degrees. Watering under such conditions may encourage disease. This happened to us about five years ago and we basically lost our lawn. You have been warned. |
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For Trees That Have Been Through Hail and Back... |
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Some of us got walloped by a hail storm on Sunday. 'Tis the season and every thunderstorm has the potential to bring hail with it. Savvygardeners know that hail can cause considerable damage to trees, especially those with thin bark. Ned Tisserat, Plant Pathologist for the Cooperative Extension Service at the K-State Research and Extension Horticulture office explains the problem. "Hail may strip the bark off trees or provide entrance points for canker and shoot blight diseases. Thyronectria canker of honeylocust, perennial canker of peach and Sphaeropsis tip blight of pines may increase dramatically following a hail storm. A fungicide application immediately following a hail storm is sometimes warranted. However, the application should be made relatively soon after the injury (within a few days). Unfortunately, in most cases fungicide applications are made well beyond the point they will do any good." | |||||||||||||||||
Common Scents from Uncommon Plants |
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Imagine a plant whose varieties mimic the scents of Rose, Apple, Lime, Coconut, Cinnamon, and much, much more. Well there are hundreds of varieties of scented geraniums available and each has a different fragrance. Take full advantage of them by strategically placing the plants on your deck or patio where family and friends will casually brush against them. Each encounter will trigger a release of fragrance, filling the area with a delightful aroma. | ||||||||||||||||
Vegetables to Plant and Harvest... |
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Here
are some vegetables that you can plant now and over the next several weeks:
Some Savvygardeners will probably be harvesting the following now and for several more weeks:
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What's Hot on the Hotline... |
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Things are really heating up on the hotline. A season high 91 calls were received last Monday. Lots of callers were concerned about wilting and scorching on the new growth of otherwise healthy-looking trees. If you have seen this at home click here for advice. | |||||||||||||||||
Don't Steal Food from Hungry Bulbs... |
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By now the foliage left over from your tulips and daffodils is looking a bit ratty. Try to put up with it a little longer - it's still feeding the bulb for next Spring's growth. When the foliage is yellow-brown you can proceed to remove it. Just give a gentle tug and it should break free. | |||||||||||||||||
Finally... |
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"I
have never had so many good ideas day after day as when I worked in the
garden."
~ John Erskine |
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