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August
1, 2001
Did I
Mention The Heat?
So, shall we start with the weather? Hmmm, same song
second verse. Hot, Hot, Hot!!! Now that I have that
out of the way let's talk about something cooler.
Water. I know that all of you Savvygardeners are being wise
when it comes to watering. Remember, the best time to water
is in the morning. Water deep and for a long period of time
instead of shallow for a short period of time. Do not
over-water! Remember to look for the "special
signs" we talked about in last
week's newsletter especially with regards to the
lawn.
A follow-up
from last weeks dead squirrel story: We just found a
dead bird as well! I am now concerned that someone has inadvertently
poisoned them. It is one thing to have a few dead squirrels
but I certainly do not want to see the bird population
affected. I am starting to inquire around the neighborhood
to see if anyone has put down any Diazinon or Dursban. Used
improperly these pesticides are really dangerous! (One of
the reasons we use NaturaLawn). This
might be a more serious situation than I thought. Yikes!
Put
Saturday August 11th on your calendar! A Flower
Extravaganza you won't want to miss. Over 1,600 types and
varieties of flowers growing side by side located at the K-State
research farm. For more details click
here...
Check out The
Kelly Gallery and The
Sweet Onion's specials pages for some savings on ornamental
iron. It's a great time to pick up some great pieces for
great prices.
Last but
not least; stay cool! This heat can be dangerous so be
savvy about when you are out working in the garden.
~
Shelly
You Say
Cicada, I Say...
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:
- The dog-day
cicada is what we hear this year and virtually every year.
- It is
related to the 17-year cicada (last seen in K.C. in 1998) and
is usually found on oaks, maples, and other mature,
well-established trees.
- Dog-day
cicadas appear during the long, summer days of July and August
hence their nick-name.
- They have
two to five-year life cycles but their broods overlap and
therefore seemingly appear every summer.
- Dog-day
cicadas are larger than 17-year cicadas and have brown-black
bodies with whitish highlights and green wing margins.
- Dog-day
cicadas do not ordinarily cause much damage though they are
a bit unattractive.
- The
17-year cicada will not be back in our area until 2015 but dog-day
cicadas are likely every summer.
Fertilizer
Facts...
Savvygardeners that want to use organic fertilizers need to
know some important numbers. While most commercial
fertilizers conveniently provide the guaranteed N-P-K analysis
(percentage of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium respectively)
right on the bag, organic fertilizers are often supplied without
this information. The table below is a good guide to help
you understand the N-P-K percentages in several popular organic
fertilizers.
| Material |
Nitrogen
(N) |
Phosphorous
(P) |
Potassium
(K) |
| Cow
Manure, Fresh |
0.5 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
| Cow
Manure, Dried |
1.3 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
| Horse
Manure, Fresh |
0.6 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
| Feedlot
Manure, Fresh |
0.7 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
| Feedlot
Manure, Dried |
1.3 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
| Hen
Manure, Fresh |
1.1 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
| Hen
Manure, Dried With Litter |
2.8 |
2.8 |
1.5 |
| Wood
Ashes |
- |
0.8 |
5.0 |
| Cottonseed
Meal |
6.0 |
3.0 |
1.0 |
| Bonemeal,
Steamed |
2.0 |
22.0 |
- |
Remember
that organic fertilizers are not concentrated (like Miracle-Gro,
etc...) and greater amounts will be required to be effective.
Bulbs
That Bloom In Autumn...
The savviest of Savvygardeners know that there are a number
of autumn-blooming bulbs that really perk up the fall garden and
landscape. Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) also known
as meadow saffron, mysteria, or naked boys produces pink to
lavender crocus-like flowers in the fall and there is no foliage
present when the plants are in bloom. Dark green leaves
will emerge in the spring, remain until summer, then turn yellow
and die to the ground. After which, the flowers magically
appear in the fall again.
Colchicums
should be planted immediately after purchase or delivery in
August or September or they will start to bloom in their
packaging. Plant the corms in clumps, 2-3 inches deep in
well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Pretty!
Turf Tips by
Chris Karcher...
August means the dog days of summer are upon us. Maybe
they should call them the "grub days" as well.
Grubs are going to be your biggest lawn concern over the coming
weeks. Make sure you're ready for them by reading August
Turf Tips...
Thump
Goes The Melon...
Watermelon growers probably have some pretty big fruit by
now. You don't want to harvest your melons too early!
Just check for these tell-tale indicators of ripeness:
- The
underside ground spot turns from whitish to creamy yellow.
- The
tendril closest to the melon turns brown and shrivels.
- The rind
loses its gloss and appears dull.
- The melon
produces a dull thud rather than a ringing sound when thumped.
What's
Hot On The Hotline...
have you ever noticed how good looking gardeners are?
It's probably from all the healthy exercise we get doing our
gardening. More and more, gardening is being recognized as
a significant exercise activity. Find out what sports and
other activities gardening compares with in this
week's What's
Hot on the Hotline...
Honk If
You Have Hornworms...
Tomato hornworms are serious garden pests. They like to
eat the leaves of tomato plants and will do so completely to the
mid-rib of the leaf. Fortunately they can be dealt with
without drenching the entire plant in pesticide. The trick
is early detection and removal. While it's hard to see a
green caterpillar on a green leaf the black droppings from the
caterpillar are a bit more obvious. When you see the
droppings look closely for the caterpillar and remove it
immediately.
Finally...
"hot
August night;
scent of crushed lantana leaves
thickens the air" ~
Trilby |
