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May 15, 2002

A (Dry) Sigh Of Relief...
OK, as promised, this week's issue is a day early.  We will resume normal (Wednesday night) publication next week.  On with the show...

When Sam Parker and I went out this morning for our walk the air was so brisk that I could see my breath.   You know what though?  I didn't care that the middle of May is upon us and I was walking the dog in my winter attire.  I was just so relieved that it wasn't raining!   How great it was to see our long lost friend the sun.  It sounds like we are going to get a generous two to three dry days of this much needed sunshine.  Then more rain on Thursday and Friday.  If we have a combination of warmer weather and a nice southerly breeze, we might just get a chance to plant a few things before the next round moves in!  Be cautious when planting though.  Make sure the soil is workable and not too wet.  I know that I am starting to sound like a broken record (remember records?) but if you plant while the soil is too wet you could be setting yourself up for misery down the road.

I must say that we had a terrific time at The Kelly Gallery this past weekend.  The turnout was great (photos) and even though it sprinkled on us and there was a little bit of mud, everyone still enjoyed the serenity of the gardens.  What a place!  Every time I go out there I am amazed at how beautiful it is.  A big thanks to everyone who braved the elements and a bigger thanks to Kelly and Mark Daniels for allowing us to tour their gardens.

Kevin cut the grass this evening which was a good thing considering it looked like we were living in the jungle.  Oh that spring grass!  It is hard to keep up with when we are getting so much moisture.  I had a discussion with another Savvygardener at The Kelly Gallery on Saturday and we were talking about how great our bluegrass is in the spring but how horrible it will start to look in July and August.  Of course we both battle with a lot of shade so there really isn't too much we can do.  I guess the saying is true that sometimes the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

~ Shelly  

It's Not Too Late!
Do you feel like spring is slipping away from you?  Just a few weeks ago it seemed like we had all the time in the world to plant.  But day after day of rain seems to have stripped away all that extra time.  Don't panic!  There's still plenty to do.  In fact if you hurry you can still sneak in the following: lettuce, onions, spinach, beets, chard, carrots, parsnips, radishes, turnips, shallots, chives and parsley.

Bonus!  Now that soil temperatures are up it's also a great time to get your tomatoes and peppers in the ground if you haven't already done so.

A Fungus Among Us...
Don't be surprised if you head outside and find a yard full of mushrooms.  Where do these things come from?   Although wild mushrooms tend to make their appearance just about any time in woodlands they're more likely to appear in lawns following several days of wet weather which have been preceded by weeks of dry weather.  We've got dozens in our front yard (photos).

Mushrooms are specialized types of fungi that are important as decay microorganisms, aiding in the breakdown of logs, leaves, fallen branches, and other organic debris.  This important role of mushrooms results in recycling of essential nutrients.  In the vast majority of cases mushrooms are not parasitic on lawn grass and won't cause any disease problems.  Just wait for a prolonged change in the weather and they will wither and disappear providing additional organic matter to your soil.

We're Cookin' Now...
If you are a cook as well as a Savvygardener one of the great joys of summer is stepping outside to pick or cut fresh herbs for preparing a fine meal.  In addition to their obvious use in foods herbs are great additions to most gardens because they are generally pest resistant, smell great, and many are a joy to behold.

Conveniently, most herbs have similar growing habits and requirements.  Because their essential oils are much more concentrated under cool growing conditions you will want to locate them in a cool but sunny area which receives at least 4 to 6 hours of full sun each day. Areas exposed to the morning sun are better than those areas with mid-day and afternoon sun.

If you didn't start any herbs from seed buy some healthy looking plants from your favorite plant source.  However anise, coriander, dill and fennel aren't too fond of being transplanted.  Sow their seeds directly in the garden.

For a list of over 30 herbs and specific details about growing them check out "Growing Herbs" in our Feature Article section.

A Clip In Time...
The proper time to prune continues to vex many gardeners.  This time of year can get confusing because some shrubs are flowering, some are done, and others are still getting ready.  Here's the deal:

Shrubs that flower in the spring are normally pruned immediately after flowering.  Examples of these types of plants include forsythia, Vanhoutte spirea, flowering quince, lilac and mockorange.  Though pruning during the dormant season does not harm the health of the plant, the flowering display will be reduced.  Shrubs that bloom on current season's growth or that do not produce ornamental flowers are best pruned in late winter to early spring.  Examples include Rose-of-Sharon, Bumald Spirea and Japanese Spirea.

There are three basic methods used in pruning shrubs:

• Thinning is used to thin out branches from a shrub that is too dense.  It is accomplished by removing most of the inward growing twigs by either cutting them back to a larger branch or cutting them back to just above an outward facing bud.  On multi- stemmed shrubs, the oldest canes may be completely removed. 
• Heading back is removing the end of a branch by cutting it back to a bud and is used for either reducing height or keeping a shrub compact.  Branches are not cut back to a uniform height as this will result in a "witches-broom" effect.
• Rejuvenation is the most severe type of pruning and is normally done during the dormant season.  It may be used on multi-stem shrubs that have become too large with too many old branches to justify saving the younger canes.  All stems are cut back to 3- to 5-inch stubs.  This works well for spirea, forsythia, pyracantha, ninebark, Russian almond, little leaf mock orange, shrub roses and flowering quince.

Source

Cutworms Collared...
Cutworms can be a real problem for gardeners setting out transplants.  Protect newly transplanted plants with collars.  Simply cut strips of cardboard 2 inches wide by 8 inches long and staple them into a band.  Place this collar around the plant stem and press it about 1 inch into the soil.

What's Hot On The Hotline...
Ever want to sneak inside some of the area's wonderful private gardens?  Now's your chance to see what's beyond those garden gates and without being sneaky about it!  The Extension Master Gardeners of Johnson County Kansas are hosting a garden tour of some truly wonderful gardens.  Find out more in this week's What's Hot on the Hotline...

Water Wisely...
Everyone wants a long term weather forecast.  I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that summer will be hot.  Rain may be scarce also.  Don't say I didn't warn you.  You can get your garden and lawn ready now by starting a routine of deep and infrequent waterings.  You see, deep watering promotes the development of a deep, extensive root system.  Frequent, light watering by contrast promotes shallow rooting.  Your deep-rooted plants will be much better prepared to survive a hot, dry summer because they will be able to reach more moisture located deep in the soil. 

A deep watering once a week should be adequate for fruit, vegetable, and flower gardens as well as most turfgrass.  Think in terms of 1 to 1½ inches of water per week.  Newly planted trees and shrubs should also be watered deeply every 7 to 10 days during dry weather.  Small trees and shrubs usually require watering for 1 to 2 growing seasons while it may be necessary to water large trees for 2 to 3 years.

Finally...
"The wood is decked in light green leaf.
The swallow twitters in delight.
The lonely vine sheds joyous tears
Of interwoven dew and light.

Spring weaves a gown of green to clad
The mountain height and wide-spread field.
O when wilt thou, my native land,
In all thy glory stand revealed? "

~ Ilia Chavchavadze, Spring

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