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August 30, 2000 | ||
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Small Victories... | |
Last
week I spoke about everything we did wrong in the garden this
summer. This week I'd like to touch on a couple of things we did right.
One in particular is the drip irrigation system we installed in the new
garden. Without it the garden would probably be dead by now.
This highly efficient and effective means of watering has made a sometimes
difficult chore virtually hassle free. I highly recommend one - in
fact we will probably install one in the front garden next spring.
Something else that has been particularly nice is the birdbath. Our dining room window has a view of our "side garden" so while dining we are often treated to a bird splashing around happily or several birds chatting amongst themselves and taking an occasional drink. The whole family finds this very entertaining. Another area of attraction has been the butterfly bush. Numerous butterflies and a hummingbird or two have found their way to the sweet nectar. Their only nemesis are the boys retrieving their nets from the garage in hopes of catching one. So far they have been unsuccessful but they continue to try. The heat is here to stay! I have decided to try reverse psychology! Maybe if we keep talking about it, "it" will go away! Things could be worse. We could all live in Texas! I am going to think positive! Stay cool! |
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~ Shelly |
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You Say Cicada, I Say... |
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If
you're brave enough to venture out in the evening heat these days your
ears will no doubt be overwhelmed by the din of cicadas. Cicadas
leave lots of people puzzled so we dug up some dirt on these noisy
critters:
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Mums The Word... |
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Mums
are a gardener's best friend in the fall. As the latest blooming
flowers they provide color and beauty to a garden that has otherwise been
worn out for the season.
When choosing mums from your local retailer buy healthy looking plants that have been taken care of - no broken stems, wilted leaves, etc... Plants with existing blooms will be limited in their ability to provide much more flowering. Those with buds about to bloom will provide you with flowers into the fall. We usually buy several plants in bloom for immediate gratification and quite a few more that we expect to bloom over the coming weeks. What a great exclamation point at the end of the season! |
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A Truly Clean Cut Job... |
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When your plants fall victim to disease one of the first courses of action is the removal of the diseased portions. Careful! The same pruners that you use to cut away diseased foliage can then transfer the disease to otherwise healthy plants. It is generally recommended that a one in ten solution of bleach and water be used to disinfect pruners. Rather than keep a bucket of solution nearby try mixing the solution in a small spray bottle. Carry it with you and spray your pruners after each cut. | ||
Rose Tips by Al Karsten |
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The recent weather has been a real challenge for rose gardeners. September should offer lower temperatures and more agreeable weather but the transition from summer to fall calls for special rose care. Al Karsten shares his September tips here... | |
Coming Soon To A Garden Near You... |
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Just
about the time this heat wave subsides Savvygardeners will have to be on
the lookout for another problem - powdery mildew. Powdery
mildew generally coincides with cool nights followed by warm days - a lot
like a Kansas City September. The presence of a white, dusty mildew
on infected plant parts makes powdery mildew easy to diagnose.
Plants that commonly show signs of powdery mildew include lilac, viburnum,
crabapple, phlox, rose, zinnia, begonia, and turf. It can occur on
leaves, stems, buds, and flowers. It tends to be most common in
shaded areas and in sites where plants are crowded and air circulation is
poor.
A number of measures can be taken to control powdery mildew:
Fungicides may be applied at the first signs of disease. Read the fungicide label to be sure the product is labeled for the plant in question. The use of fungicides is generally not warranted for woody plants that show powdery mildew late in the season. By that time the leaves have served their purpose for the season and will soon be dropping. |
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What's Hot On The Hotline... |
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Having survived the onslaught of assorted fungi, insects and tree squirrels, many tomatoes seem reluctant to bear fruit or ripen. Callers are asking, "What's going on?" Answers in this week's Hotline... | ||
Give The Lawn A Breather... |
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Whether
you're seeding, overseeding, or leaving well enough alone you should
consider core aerating your lawn in the coming weeks. Core aerating
is an effective way to provide a channel through which air,
fertilizer and water can enter the soil. This channel, cut through
the thatch layer and into the soil, helps reduce soil compaction, increase
root growth and redistribute soil on the upper surface of the
thatch.
Make sure your soil is prepared for the aeration process. It should be sufficiently moist so that the coring machine can penetrate. Rule of thumb - If a screwdriver can be pushed by hand 3 inches into the ground, the soil is about right. Don't soak it though. Soils that are too wet will clog the hollow tines of the aerator and prevent core removal. Once finished you will have a lawn covered with somewhat strange looking soil cores. Leave them on the lawn to create a more favorable environment for breakdown of the thatch layer by naturally occurring soil microbes. |
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Finally... |
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"To
pick a flower is so much more satisfying than just observing it, or
photographing it... So in later years, I have grown in my garden as many
flowers as possible for children to pick."
- Anne Scott-James - British Author |
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