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March 13, 2002

The Nose Knows...
We still have seven days until spring arrives but if you were out enjoying the weather on Wednesday you probably felt a lot like I did - spring must already be here!  Not only because the weather is warmer but because when I walk around my yard there are so many signs.  Bulbs everywhere, the grass is starting to green up and some spring flowering shrubs are starting to bloom.  I wish that I could capture that special smell of spring.  Many people have tried but few have succeeded.  Why you might ask?  It is because they have left out a very important ingredient - the essence of dirt.  Ah yes, that great smell of dirt that finds its way to your nose.  You don't even have to be close to the ground to smell it.  You can step outside and catch a strong whiff of it in the air.  Now that is a smell worth remembering!  Romantic don't you think?

Thanks to all of you Savvygardeners who braved the very cold conditions Saturday and ventured out to The Kelly Gallery.  Kelly did a terrific job fixing up The Barn so that it was warm and cozy inside.  She has added several new pieces to her collection of garden ornaments as well as home decorating accessories so if you didn't get a chance to visit on Saturday you will want to stop by soon.  Great prices on beautiful pieces!

I am going to be a guest on The Gard'n Wise Guys gardening show this Sunday the 17th from 7:00 - 8:00 AM so tune in to WDAF 61 Country on your AM dial to listen to some great gardening advice.  Also don't forget that Family Tree Nursery is having their Grand Spring Opening this weekend.  Kevin and I will be there Sunday from 11- 3 PM.  We will be in one of the greenhouses so look for us!

~ Shelly  

St. Patrick Was A Gardener, Wasn't He?
While it's traditional to plant potatoes on St. Patrick's Day Savvygardeners should be aware of two assumptions made in setting this date.  First, that your soil is consistently 45 degrees or higher.  The recent warm-up means sunny locations should be ready.   

The second assumption is that the soil is dry enough to be worked.  Working in overly moist soil can make a mess that will be hard to correct later.  How can you tell?  Grab a handful of soil and squeeze.  If it holds together like clay it's too wet.  If it crumbles like a cupcake it's ready for planting.

Watch the weather and your soil closely.  You really want to get those 'taters planted between now and the end of March.

The Old Heave Ho...
Temperatures have been on the rise and a well deserved thaw in the soil may be a permanent thing soon.  Scout around your garden for signs of recent heaving -  the forcing of shallow-rooted plants out of the soil due to the freezing and thawing of the ground.  Don't tamp the plants or the surrounding soil as this may overly compact the soil.  Simply give them a gentle push back into place.  

Time For Tomatoes?
A quick check of our Seed Starting Calendar reveals that it's time to start seeds for those warm-weather vegetables like tomatoes and peppers.  Tomatoes can be found in many, many gardens.  Why not yours?  If you need some help getting started just read Seed Starting Tomatoes written for us by the good folks at Earl May Garden Centers.

 


Come Join the Party!

Presenting Family Tree Nursery's 7th Annual 
Open House and Spring Flower Show "Garden Party" 
March 15th - 17th in the greenhouses at the Overland Park Garden Center, 8424 Farley.


 Savvygardener.com's Kevin and Shelly Marsh will be on hand Sunday the 17th from 11- 3PM.  
Don't Miss Out!

 

 

Gettin' Wiggly With It...
Here's something to look out for.  According to K-State Research & Extension if you have mounds of soil in your lawn that make it hard to mow, nightcrawlers may be the cause.  A telling characteristic of these bumps is their random spacing rather than a "run" that is characteristic of mole digging. 

Nightcrawlers are large worms usually 4 to 8 inches long or longer.  They belong to a group of earthworms known as deep-burrowers.  The deep-burrowers build large, vertical, permanent burrows that may reach as deep as 5 or 6 feet.  Nightcrawlers pull plant material down into their burrows which can be fed on later.  The bumps you see on top of the ground are called "middens" and are a mixture of plant residues and castings.  The burrows can have a significant positive effect on soil by opening up channels for water and air to penetrate.  Roots also like these channels due to the ease of penetration and the nutrients found in the casting material lining the burrow. 

So, nightcrawlers actually help the soil but may make it difficult to mow.  Getting rid of the middens will be difficult.  Rolling the lawn while the middens are soft may help temporarily, but mounds will be rebuilt when nightcrawlers become active again.  Also, there are no pesticides labeled specifically for nightcrawler control. 

Savvygardeners will want to protect these nightcrawlers due to their positive effect on soils.  Pesticides that have no effect on nightcrawlers include diazinon, Dylox (Proxol), and Oftanol.  Dursban and malathion may be slightly toxic while Sevin, Benomyl, copper sulfate, and the arsenicals (MSMA, DSMA) are extremely toxic.  Avoid using the latter group while nightcrawlers are active.

Source

 


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What's Hot On The Hotline...
Warm weather and late-winter precipitation have many Savvygardeners thinking about lawns.  Hotline calls indicate a need to know more about fertilizers and herbicides.  Our experts take on those topics in this week's What's Hot on the Hotline...

Now Cut That Out...
So, you think it's too early to cut the grass?  Not the ornamental grass!  In early spring before new growth begins you should remove the previous year's foliage to promote earlier and more healthy growth.  Use hand clippers, a weed whacker or other power equipment to cut your grasses back to within 3 to 5 inches of the ground.  While you're at it take a look at the centers of the plant clumps.  If the center of the clump shows little or no growth, it should be divided.  Separate and replant the vigorous growth on the outer edge of the clump.  Stand back and watch them grow!

Source

Finally...
"flower arrangement: 
just two yellow daffodils, 
the first to bloom"

~ L.A. Davidson, The Shape of the Tree

 

 

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