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April 3, 2002

Scratched That Itch...
I am excited to say that I finally got my first spring itch scratched.  This past Monday was the perfect day for garden clean-up.  Yes, I know that I am a bit behind but have been hampered by other events.  I am amazed at how many small sticks are lying about.  Kevin will tell you that I am not one to just ignore those little guys.  I pick each and everyone up so that our yard looks immaculate.  It may sound a bit crazy but it is attention to detail that always catches my eye when looking at other gardens or yards.  The day was totally exhilarating!  When I poured myself into bed that night I felt such a sense of accomplishment.  I don't think that I do any other task around the house as rewarding as working in the yard or garden.  After all, how could you possibly compare working outside in the garden to doing laundry?

Don't forget that next Thursday, April 11th is the Earl May Savvygardener.com party where you can receive a 20% discount at any Earl May location.   All you have to do is print off the coupon and the savings is yours.  The hours are from 6-9 PM and Kevin and I will be at the Shawnee store helping you find just the right plants.  Now is the perfect time to take advantage of buying some of the earlier bloomers like dianthus, pansies, snapdragons, primrose and phlox.  Earl May always has a great assortment so I am sure there will be plenty to choose from.  Get out to your closest Earl May and tell them that you are glad that they are a Savvygardener.com sponsor!

I am delighted to announce that Moncrief's Greenhouse is a new Savvygardener.com sponsor.  Located in Baxter Springs Kansas, Moncrief's is known for their great selection and high quality plants.  Kevin and I will be making a trip down soon to check this greenhouse out.  It is always so much fun exploring new places to shop.  How fun it is to throw the kids in the van, pack a picnic lunch and head out for the day to discover a new gardening resource.  I am glad that the kids enjoy it as much as Kevin and I do.  So if you are looking for a day getaway, hop in the car and head to Moncrief's Greenhouse!

~ Shelly  

Longer Life for Lilies...
I hope some thoughtful friends brought you a lily for Easter.  Unfortunately the lily doesn't survive as a houseplant, but it can be transplanted outdoors where it may bloom again this year. 

Find a sunny spot in the garden to plant the bulb.  Remove the plant from its container and loosen the roots.  Plant the bulb a few inches deeper than it was in the container and cover it with soil.  Water thoroughly and fertilize with an all-purpose garden fertilizer.  For the remainder of the season water and fertilize as you would your other garden plantings.  Don't be alarmed when the top withers and dies.  New shoots will emerge and may flower in July or August. 

Understand that lilies are not normally winter-hardy in the greater Kansas City area (last winter would probably have been hopeless).  To improve your chances for success, mulch them with 4 inches of straw or leaves in the fall.  With luck you will have new flowers again next June!

Keep 'Em Covered...
Gardeners anxious to get their yard and garden chores done in spring may be tempted to remove the mulch from their strawberry beds in March or early April.  A portion of the strawberry crop may be lost, however, if the mulch is removed too early in the spring.  Removal of the mulch plus several days of warm weather may encourage the plants to bloom before the danger of frost or freezing temperatures is past.  Temperatures of 32°F or lower may severely damage or destroy open flowers.  Since the first flowers produce the largest berries, a late spring frost can drastically reduce yields. 

To reduce the chances of frost or freeze damage leave the mulch on until the plants show signs of growth.  Periodically examine the plants under the mulch during periods of warm weather in the spring.  Remove the mulch from the strawberry plants when about 25% of the plants are showing new growth (it will be white or yellow in color).  Rake the mulch to the center aisles between rows.  If there is a threat of a frost later in the season during bloom, the mulch can be lightly raked back over the plants.

Source

Are You A Good Host?
Sometimes gardening is a lot like hosting a party.  Plants, like party guests, need to be steered toward others that will enjoy their company.  The practice of companion planting, growing vegetables in proximity to helpful plants, has become quite popular over the years.  Here are some of our favorite matchmaker tips:

Vegetable Group With Keep Distance From
Tomatoes Carrots, peppers, basil, marigold Mature dill, kohlrabi, potatoes
Beans Carrots, cucumber, pea, potatoes, radish, marigold, nasturtium, rosemary Garlic, onion, shallots, fennel, gladiolus
Peas Radish, carrots, cucumbers, celery, turnip Garlic, onion, gladiolus
Carrots Beans, radish, tomatoes, peppers, onion, sage Dill, celery
Cucumbers Corn, tomatoes, cabbage, radishes, dill, nasturtium Aromatic herbs, potatoes

 


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Contain Yourself...
Most of us grow at least a few flowers or herbs in pots - they look great and expand the garden onto decks and porches.  Well, have you ever thought of growing some vegetables this way?  It may sound unconventional at first but container vegetable gardening is perfect for people who have small plots, don't have sunny gardens, or just want to try something different.  Here are some varieties of popular vegetables that are well suited for containers:

  • Tomatoes - Patio, Pixie, Small Fry, Tiny Tim, and Tom Boy
  • Carrots - Little Finger, Lady Finger, Short 'n Sweet, and Tiny Sweet
  • Beets - Burpee Golden, Detroit Dark Red, Gladiator, Little Ball, and Ruby Queen
  • Peas - Little Marvel, Mighty Midget, and Tiny Tim
  • Cucumbers - Bush Champion, Cherokee, Challenger, Patio Pick, and Pot Luck

As always, follow the planting and care instructions provided with your seeds or plants.  Keep in mind that container vegetables will need to be watered more often than those in a traditional garden.   Containers just dry out faster.  Check the soil at least once a day especially when the weather gets warmer.

Better Spreaders...
Whether it's lawn seed, fertilizer, or weed killer chances are you're going to use a spreader for the job eventually.  But what kind?  Drop or broadcast?  Well, there are several things to keep in mind before you pick one.  Generally if both spreaders are of equal quality, a drop spreader will provide better accuracy.  However, a high-quality rotary will be more accurate than a lower-quality drop spreader.  There are these differences to consider as well:

Drop spreaders meter out the fertilizer and drop it directly on the lawn.  A drop spreader is best if:

  • You have a small lawn. 
  • Doing the job as precisely as possible is most important to you. 
  • You don’t mind taking a bit longer to apply products to your lawn. 

Rotary spreaders meter out the fertilizer and throw the granules in a swath up to several feet wide.  A rotary spreader is best if: 

  • You have a very large lawn. 
  • You like to get the job done as quickly as possible.
  • You do not have flower beds or gardens in the middle of your lawn.

Source

 


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What's Hot On The Hotline...
Gardener's are often looking for ways to plant vegetables in relatively small plots.  Raised-bed gardening is a great way to go.  Our Hotline experts tackle the subject in this week's What's Hot on the Hotline...

Zoysia Zzzz's...
If you have a zoysia lawn it is still dormant and you should not be applying any fertilizer to it.  Any fertilizer added now will just feed the weeds and they're overfed as it is.  Be patient.  You should be able to fertilize your zoysia lawn in about six weeks.

Finally...
"When the April wind wakes the call for the soil, I hold the plough as my only hold upon the earth, and, as I follow through the fresh and fragrant furrow, I am planted with every foot-step, growing, budding, blooming into a spirit of spring"

~ Dallas Lore Sharp, 1870-1929

 

 

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