Final_Tool_logo_trans.gif (11123 bytes)

 


June 21, 2000

Visit Our Website
Previous Issues

Site Search
Contact Us
Submit A Tip

Readers' Comments

Feature Articles
~ Seed Starting Indoors
~ Seed Starting Tomatoes
~ Lawns & Trees Can
   Coexist
~ Summer-Flowering Bulb
   Care
~ Drought-Tolerant
   Flowers for KC
~ Peonies - A New Old
   Favorite
~ Growing Herbs
~ Worm Composting
~ When to Harvest
   Vegetables

Rose Tips

SavvyChat
   On-Line Gardening Forum

Books We Love
Great Products
Web Resources

Local Sponsors
~ Earl May
~ Missouri Organic
   Recycling
~ Bannister Garden
   Center

Subscribe
Unsubscribe

Privacy Pledge



Click Here for Great Soil and Compost!

Taking Solace In The Solstice... 
Well it is finally summer!  Funny how the last day of spring was one of the wettest!  So what lies ahead?  More rain, heat, drought?  Probably a little of all of those.  We do know one thing for certain - the days will now become shorter.  Boy, is that going to play havoc with my schedule.  I am always looking for more time not less!  Time to polish up the ole' time management skills.

Kevin's mother was in town visiting this last week.  Mary is a Savvygardener.com subscriber even though home for her is Buckeystown, Maryland.  It is always great having her around.  She is a Master Gardener as well as a professional floral designer.  Kevin and I were excited to show her the new flower garden.  She thought it was beautiful and was thrilled that we now have more space to plant.  Mary helped me create a few pots while she was here and also planted my flower boxes.  They all look fabulous!  I feel very lucky to have someone like Mary to lead me down the gardening path.  Her knowledge and expertise will allow me to become even savvier!

By the way, I am reminding each of you that our sponsors are paying the bills for this newsletter.  We are extremely grateful for their support.  Please support them as well.  Also, take a minute and print this newsletter.  Take it with you to your favorite garden supply or nursery and leave it with them.  We need to get the word out to keep this project going!  Thanks!

~ Shelly               

Are Botanicals Better Than Chemicals?
So Dursban will quickly be disappearing from our homes.  Sure there are lots of other chemicals you can use as a substitute but how about natural alternatives?  One option is botanical pesticides, those made or derived from plants.  Botanical insecticides include pyrethrins, rotenone, sabadilla, ryania, nicotine, citrus oil extracts, and neem. 

Advantages of botanicals include: 

  • They rapidly degrade in the environment and are less of a threat to other organisms.  
  • Most may be applied to food crops closer to harvest than other insecticides. 
  • Although they may not kill the pest for hours or days they act rapidly to stop feeding by insects.
  • They generally have low-to-moderate toxicity for mammals.  (Nicotine is a notable exception)

Botanicals are not perfect.  Keep in mind:

  • They must be applied more frequently.
  • They are often more costly and can be difficult to obtain.
  • Although generally less toxic, they are toxic.  Nicotine, in particular, is extremely toxic to humans and other mammals. 
  • Botanicals have not been as thoroughly researched for effectiveness and toxicity. 

As with all poisons Savvygardeners should follow directions and warnings carefully when handling botanical pesticides. 


Summer's Here, Time To Plant For Fall...
That fall harvest isn't far away.  Get ready by starting seeds for broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage.  If possible plant them in a spot where you have not grown these same vegetables for the past year.

Who Are You Calling A Sucker?
What do you call those little shoots that appear on and around your trees this time of year?  Well, suckers are the ones that grow out of the trunk near ground level.  The ones that come out of the trunk or main limbs and grow straight up are watersprouts.  Now that you know what they are called you can proceed to remove them.  Simply cut them as close to the tree as possible with clean sharp pruners.

Don't Put A Chill On Houseplants...

Have you turned on the air conditioning yet?  We succumbed several weeks ago.  Once you've turned on the AC pay attention to your houseplants and where they are located in relation to your air conditioning vents.  If they are directly in the cool draft they could react by dropping leaves or not blooming well.  

An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth A Pound of Tomatoes...
Tomatoes are subject to a number of diseases.  If you're careful you can prevent many of them.  Here are some good preventive measures to keep your tomatoes as healthy as possible:
  • Water and fertilize to maintain plants in a vigorous condition.
  • Avoid fluctuations of too much and too little water.
  • Avoid wetting foliage when watering.  If overhead irrigation is used water early in the day so the leaves dry quickly.
  • Do not work with plants when the foliage is wet.
  • Space plants approximately 3 feet apart.  Adequate spacing allows good air movement and promotes rapid drying of plant foliage.
  • Eradicate weeds.  Mulching around plants can help reduce weed growth and prevent a certain amount of evaporation.
  • Choose wilt-resistant varieties.  Varieties that are resistant to Fusarium and Verticillium usually have the letters "VF" as part of the variety name.  Unfortunately, there are no tomato varieties resistant to tomato blights.
  • If blight occurs remove and destroy infected leaves as they appear.  Prompt removal of infected leaves may slow the progress of the blights.  At the end of the gardening season remove and destroy all infected tomato plants.  Clean up and dispose of as much tomato plant debris as possible.
  • Fungicide applications can help to prevent fruit and leaves from fungal diseases, especially for gardens that have had a history of problems. 
  • At the end of the season, remove as much plant debris as possible and till under remaining debris. This helps reduce the over-wintering of tomato pathogens.

What's Hot on the Hotline...
It seems as if everything's early this year and grubs are no exception.  With summer's arrival grubs can't seem to wait.  Most Hotline callers want to know where grubs come from, how destructive they are to turf, and how they can be controlled.  Find out in this week's Hotline.

We're Still Planting, Are You?
Just because summer is here don't think it's too late to plant flowers!  Annuals can be planted as long as supplies remain in greenhouses and garden centers.  In fact the prices for most flowers are greatly reduced at many retailers.  Some annuals, like marigolds and zinnias, can still be started from seed.  Select early-blooming types like dwarf French marigolds and blooms will appear 6 to 8 weeks after sowing.

Most container-grown perennials can be planted through fall.  However, perennials planted during the summer months require extra TLC.  Make sure they are well watered and have a good layer of mulch protecting their root area.


Finally...
"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck."

- Emma Goldman, 1869-1940, American anarchist

Click Here for Earl May Garden Centers

o © 1999-2000 Savvygardener.com, Inc. All rights reserved.  If you wish to copy, transmit, or otherwise duplicate any of the material from our website please ask us first.  Thank you.