April
24, 2002
Amazing
April...
April is sure setting the pace for a terrific spring!
We have received much needed rain and even though the weather has
been a bit unpredictable it still has given us a chance to get to
the garden to do what we do best - toil in the soil. Make
sure you use some caution when planting after a good rain.
You certainly do not want to ruin a healthy plant by planting it
in a soil that is too wet. Make sure the soil is crumbly
like cake before doing any sort of planting or work.
I am amazed at how the perennials that we planted last year are
returning with such vigor (various
garden photos). Most of them have already doubled in
size so it will be interesting to see them next year.
Listen to me, I am already talking about next year's garden and I
have not even begun to get things in place for this year. I
am sure that Kevin will attest that I am always way ahead of
myself, sort of like putting the cart before the horse.
Isn't there a saying that gardeners are great visionaries?
I would prefer visionary as opposed to crazy.
For those of you who are crazy about peonies, Bannister
Garden Center is gearing up for the Peony Festival starting
in May. I spoke with peony expert Neva Mistretta and she
told me that their will be plenty of peony blooms the whole month
of May. The Peony Festival normally kicks off around the
first week of May but due to the recent fluctuation in
temperatures the peonies might be ready earlier than later.
Check Savvygardener.com for the latest information. If you
would like to learn more about Bannister Garden Center and the
Peony Festival tune in to the Gard'n Wise Guys radio show this
Sunday April 28th from 7-8 AM on 61 Country WDAF to hear peony
experts Tony & Neva Mistretta.
Don't forget our upcoming events. The
Sweet Onion's "Spring Blast" is Sunday May 5th and The
Kelly Gallery's "Gardens in Bloom" is May 11th.
Two events you won't want to miss!
~
Shelly
Bulb
Boosters...
Depending on micro-climates, planting depth, and variety your
spring bulbs are at various stages of growth right now.
Most of our daffodils and tulips are done but we continue
to see great displays in progress all over town. What you
do with the plants after the flowers are spent is crucial to next
year's growth. Bulbs use their foliage to acquire and
transport nutrients necessary for future growth. If you cut
or remove the foliage too early you will starve the bulb and
consequently reduce its chances for strong growth next spring.
Cut the stems back as you would if you were cutting them for a
vase. Leave the foliage alone until it has withered on its
own. Only then should you clear it from the garden.
Wet,
Wait...
I'm loving all this rain. Remember what April showers
bring in May... But right now garden soils may be wet, and you've
got planting on your mind. Although you may be tempted to
work that wet soil, remember that there are some serious
consequences. Soil structure can be destroyed, forming
large clods that take weeks or months to break up with natural
weathering. Use of a rototiller is especially damaging in
soils that are too wet. A gentle spading will cause the
least soil damage but is still a risky proposition. It is
better to delay planting a few days or weeks than to try to till
wet soils.
Healthy
Houseplants, Healthy Home...
Since it's too wet to garden outside let's turn our attention to houseplants.
Did you know that houseplants are
making your home a healthier place? Over a decade ago
NASA scientists discovered that plants are capable of removing
volatile organic compounds (VOC's) from the air. The
gases most often studied include formaldehyde, benzene, xylene,
toluene, ammonia, acetone, methyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, and
trichlorethylene. The plants listed below (in no particular
order) are proven effective in this arena:
- Palms (Chrysalidocarpus,
Rhapis, Chamaedorea, and Phoenix)
- Fern (Nephrolepis)
- Corn
Plant and Dragon Tree (Dracaena)
- Rubber
Plant and Weeping Fig (Ficus)
- English
Ivy (Hedera)
- Peace
Lily (Spathiphyllum)
- Florist
Mum (Dendranthemum)
- Gerber
Daisy (Gerbera)
- Dumb
Cane (Dieffenbachia)
- Schefflera
(Brassaia)
- Orchids
(Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis)
- Spider
Plant (Chlorophytum)
- Philodendron
(Philodendron)
- Arrowhead
Plant (Syngonium)
- Pothos (Epipremnum)
- Dwarf
Banana (Musa)
- Chinese
Evergreen (Aglaonema)
Source
The
Division Decision...
Division is a necessary chore in maintaining most perennials.
A few plants never like to be disturbed, and should not be moved
or divided; Aconitum, Baptisia, Dictamnus, Eryngium, Helleborus,
Limonium, and Papaver are good examples. Most others will need
division every three to four years or so. You'll know it's time to divide
when a dead center forms in the crown area with a ring of plants
around it; blooms are fewer and smaller; or growth simply appears
crowded.
A general
rule is to divide the plant in the non-bloom season. Midsummer
bloomers should be divided in spring when plant growth is two to three inches in height.
Fall bloomers are divided in late August or early September when plants
are semi-dormant and temperatures showing a cooling trend.
Use a spade
to dig the clump and cut off divisions. If you don't want to
divide an entire clump, divisions can be cut from the edge of a
clump using a spade and trowel. Some plants
have tough, thick root systems that are a challenge to
divide. Hosta, Hemerocallis, and Astilbe fall in this
category so don't be discouraged if you find the going a little
tough.
Source
Do Not
Disturb...
If you plan on growing vining fruits and vegetables like
cucumber, cantaloupe, summer squash, and watermelon make sure you
start the seeds indoors in peat pots. These vining plants
don't appreciate having their roots disturbed and the peat pots
make it possible to effectively transplant them.
A Clean
Break...
Speaking of peat pots...When transplanting flowers and
veggies to the garden make sure you break off the rims of your
peat pots just below ground level. Any portion of the peat
pot sticking up above the soil surface will wick away moisture
and deprive your plants of much needed water. That would be a shame
considering how hard you worked getting them this far!
What's
Hot On The Hotline...
The recent rains and warm wind brought up the Hostas and
the number of Hotline contacts as well. This week our calls
and visits topped 60 a day for the first time this season.
For a sample of some of the most frequently asked questions (weed
control, canker worms, and more) check out this
week's What's
Hot on the Hotline...
Two
Blades Are Better Than One...
No matter how good your mower is the quality of the cut comes
down to the sharpness of its blade. If you're like most
people you never get around to sharpening the blade during the
spring and summer cutting season. Probably because you
don't want the mower out of service while the blade is sharpened.
We solve that problem by keeping two mower blades. That way
a well sharpened second blade is always ready to be swapped into
service.
Finally... "Science
has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as
a sunny spring day." ~
W. Earl Hall, Writer, 1897-1969 |