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June 21, 2000 |
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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! |
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~ Shelly | ||
Are Botanicals Better Than Chemicals? |
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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:
Botanicals are not perfect. Keep in mind:
As with all poisons Savvygardeners should follow directions and warnings carefully when handling botanical pesticides. |
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Summer's Here, Time To Plant For Fall... |
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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? |
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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... |
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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... |
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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:
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What's Hot on the Hotline... |
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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? |
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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. |
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Finally... |
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"I'd
rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck."
- Emma Goldman, 1869-1940, American anarchist |
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