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February 13, 2002

Running In Circles...
Where do I begin?  I have been trying to catch up ever since we finally had our power restored last Thursday
(Kevin's ice storm photos here).  It seems like the last two weeks have been somewhat of a blur.  I guess that happens when you are not living at your own home.  Kevin and I really didn't get a chance to enjoy being back to the comforts of our home because we spent the entire weekend at the Metropolitan Lawn & Garden Show.  What a great time!  Our feet are still recovering but it was so much fun meeting current Savvygardener readers as well as adding nearly 1,000 new ones.  Thanks to all of you for taking the time to stop by and visit!  Kevin and I are so lucky to have so many gardening friends and acquaintances.  Welcome new subscribers!  I hope you enjoy reading Savvygardener.com.  Please feel free to share it with a friend!

Spring is right around the corner and we have a lot in store for you.  Kevin and I will be featured in the March/April issue of Kansas City Homes & Gardens so rush out and pick one up when it hits the newsstands!  Our good friend, Kelly Daniels of The Kelly Gallery will also be featured in Midwest Living's March/April issue.  This is an article you won't want to miss!  I had an opportunity to preview the feature and it highlights Kelly's accomplishments as an accomplished garden photographer.  It also includes pictures of her beautiful gardens.  Totally delightful! 

We are still buried in tree limbs here in Westwood but the city is working like crazy to clear away the debris.  Our yard is a mess and I must admit that all I can think about is getting out there and picking up every little twig that lays in my yard.  Of course I am still trying to catch up on the laundry around here so for now I am concentrating on the inside and will be exerting my efforts outdoors this weekend when the temps are supposed to be in the mid-50's.  It will be a perfect time to be outside cleaning up.

One last note.... don't forget that special Valentine! Happy Valentine's Day!

~ Shelly  

Terrific Trees...
Last week we gave you some great links to articles about caring for those storm-damaged trees.  But some of those trees are beyond repair and will have to be replaced.  Why not make the best of a bad situation and plant something new and more desirable?  Here are two exceptional articles to get you started...

  • Recommended Trees - Published by the Missouri Department of Conservation these are trees that are recommended by their Urban & Community Forestry experts.  Great descriptions with full color photos.
  • Undesirable Trees - This is great!  Published by the same folks as above but these are the trees to avoid due to brittle wood and structural weaknesses, serious insect or disease problems, nuisance fruits or nuts, or general messiness. Undesirable characteristics are noted in each species description.

Dealing With Damping Off...
Savvygardeners starting seeds indoors need to be aware of damping off disease.  "Damping off" describes the usually sudden destruction of newly germinated seeds or seedlings.  Young plants can be attacked at all stages, before germination (pre-emergence damping off) and after seedlings grow from the soil (post-emergence damping off).  All types of plants including turf, trees, vegetables, and flowering plant seedlings can be affected.  

Several organisms can cause damping off.  Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia are the most common culprits.  These fungi can be found in most soils.  However, appropriate environmental conditions are essential for disease development.  Cool, wet soil conditions are favorable for infection by damping off fungi.  Plants grow slowly at cool temperatures, making them vulnerable to fungal attack.  Also, many fungi prefer moist environments.

The following management strategies can help: 

  • Use planting media free of disease organisms.
  • Avoid setting flats or pots on the ground. 
  • Use good quality seed. 
  • Plant seeds at densities that will allow air circulation and light penetration; and reduce competition for nutrients. 
  • Keep the temperature at a level that will promote plant growth. 
  • Avoid excess moisture. 
  • Use fungicides and treated seeds as available and appropriate.

Source

 


WOW!

The Kelly Gallery is featured in the March/April issue
of Midwest Living magazine!

Click here to see why...

 

 

Reading Roses...
Whether you're giving roses to your sweetheart or just planting some new ones in the garden this year it's always helpful to know what message you might be sending.

  • Red - Love, Respect
  • Deep Pink - Gratitude, Appreciation
  • Light Pink - Admiration, Sympathy
  • White - Reverence, Humility
  • Yellow - Joy, Gladness
  • Orange - Enthusiasm, Desire
  • Red & Yellow Blend - Gaiety, Joviality
  • Pale Blended Tones - Sociability, Friendship

Of course you should feel free to break the rules to accommodate a favorite color.  If your valentine prefers yellow over red we suggest you stick with yellow.

Source

Dursban Details...
The recent ban on the popular insecticide Dursban has many Savvygardeners wondering how it affects them.  Basically we are no longer able to buy Dursban for residential use (though we can continue to use any Dursban we may have on hand).

Savvygardeners who use chemicals in the garden should always use great  caution when handling them.  These are poisons after all.  Dursban is especially powerful stuff and has been linked to blurred vision, muscle weakness, headaches and memory loss after high exposures.  It's especially important to remember that children are at a greater risk for some pesticides for a number of reasons.  Children's internal organs are still developing and maturing and their enzymatic, metabolic, and immune systems may provide less natural protection than those of an adult.  According to the EPA, "There are "critical periods" in human development when exposure to a toxin can permanently alter the way an individual's biological system operates."

This may be a good opportunity for Savvygardeners to research and experiment with alternatives to chemical insecticides.  Send us some of your personal favorites and we will include them in an upcoming issue.

 


Visit The Sweet Onion!

We're officially closed this month but still working in the Greenhouse.  Give us a call if you need something.
We'd love to see you!

Click Here Now!

 

 

Winter Wisdom...
Dealing with those damaged trees remains a hot topic this week.  The hotline experts weigh in with their recommendations for replacement trees - especially for those weak-limbed Bradford pears.  Don't miss this week's Winter Wisdom... 

Appropriate Use Of Force...
One of the great winter pleasures is forcing the stems of certain woody plants into bloom for indoor display.  Three of the easiest are forsythia, pussy willow and flowering quince.  These plants have now gone through enough cold weather to satisfy their chilling requirement and should bloom if given the right conditions.

Choose a day that is above freezing for collecting branches for blooming.  Cut the stems, keeping the stem length to 3 feet or less and place them in a bucket of water.  Once you have all the branches you want, bring them into the house and soak them in warm water for several hours to ensure that the stems and buds are fully hydrated (a bathtub works well for this).  Next, place them in a container that has a warm preservative solution and place them in an environment with high humidity and plenty of light.  Floral preservatives accomplish two functions; they prevent bacterial growth in your water and provide nutrients and energy for the life processes of the plants.  

Normally, forsythia will take about 9 days to flower, quince will require between 12 to 20, and pussy willow needs from 5 to 15 days.  The time required will vary depending on your indoor conditions and how late in the winter the branches were collected with less time being required for later collections.  Most woody plants will remain in flower for about a week before the blooms start to fade.

Source

Finally...
"Alone with myself 
The trees bend to caress me 
The shade hugs my heart"

~ Candy Polgar, Poet

 

 

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