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June
12, 2002
Feast Or
Famine...
I guess we can't complain about not getting enough moisture.
Kevin's family lives in Maryland and they are in dire need of
rain. In fact they are experiencing drought-like conditions
with rationing orders in place. So I guess we should
consider ourselves lucky. There does however come a
point in time when a gardener needs a few dry days so that
she can work in the garden and finish planting annuals that were
purchased long ago. I have been nursing them in the
containers in which they were purchased and so far with the added
rainfall they are getting along just fine. I am
anxious to get them in the ground so hopefully I will be able to
plant them soon.
As for the
rest of the garden I have been out in the mud trying to steadily
dead head. I actually enjoy dead heading. It gives me
a sense of accomplishment and it also allows the plants to
continue their blooming cycle. I have dead headed all of my
dianthus (what a job that is) and the second round of blooms are
just now setting on. All the while we are moving along with
our Front
Yard Makeover. The weather has not been as
cooperative as we'd like but it's looking good.
How would you Savvygardener's like to hop in your car and join
Kevin and I for a road trip. On Saturday, June 29th we are
headed to Moncrief's
Greenhouse located south of here in Baxter Springs, Kansas.
We are loading up the van with the kids and a picnic lunch and
are making a day of it. We would love to have you join us
in a caravan to visit one of our newest sponsors. There
will be more details in following newsletters as to where we will
meet and the time we will be leaving. Join us! A
savvy time will be had by all!
~
Shelly
Is That
A Volcano In Your Garden?
When mulching try to avoid creating "mulch
volcanoes" at the base of your trees. Unfortunately it is quite
common to see trees mulched in this manner - a ring of mulch that
gets progressively deeper as it approaches the trunk. While
this is better than no mulch at all, Chris Starbuck at University
of Missouri Extension advises us that there are some real
problems to consider:
- When mulch is placed more
than about 4 inches deep, roots tend to "migrate" up
into the mulch during rainy periods or when the area is
irrigated. Then, when drought conditions occur, the
plant may come under severe stress because many of its roots
are growing in a material with much less water holding
capacity than real soil.
- The surfaces of the mulch
volcanoes can become hydrophobic due to fungal activity and
will act as very effective umbrellas, shedding water to the
surrounding turf. This could easily kill a young tree by
depriving it of much needed water.
- Other possible problems
with mulch volcanoes are promotion of fungal canker diseases
by constant moisture around the lower trunk, stress from poor
gas exchange by the cells in the bark and damage from rodents
that may take up residence in the volcano.
Source
Fruit
Dropping, Branch Propping...
Don't be alarmed if tree fruit is dropping this time of year.
It's just Mother nature's natural thinning process designed to
prevent excessive loads. Just in case the branch loads
remain too heavy you should thin remaining fruit by hand or prop
up heavy branches to avoid breakage. Most fruit should be
spaced 6 to 8 inches apart on a branch.
Source
Give 'Em
Room To Breathe...
Just
because your plant is wilting don't assume it's due to lack of
water. Plants can wilt from lack of oxygen too!
Soil can become over-compacted and cause root systems to
suffocate. The problem is often made worse by assuming the
plant is thirsty and adding water unnecessarily.
Improving the
soil for better air and water circulation is easy. Simply
add peat moss or other loose organic material in and around the
root area of your plants. Everyone will breathe easier!
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In support of
the local gardening community Savvygardener.com is pleased
to offer
special rates on web sites for your garden club
or other non-profit organization!
Click
Here For Details!
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Tomato
Temptations...
Anxious tomato lovers (like me) need to resist the temptation
of over-fertilizing our tomatoes too early. You just want them to
grow, grow, grow don't you? Well, it's best to wait until the
first signs of fruit appear before really applying that
fertilizer. This will help ensure a stronger more productive
tomato plant.
Dividing
Daylilies...
One of the reasons we love daylilies is their fuss-free
nature. Generally they don't need to be divided as often as
many other perennials. However if you want to increase the
number of your favorite cultivars you may want to divide them
once in a while. Savvygardeners should be able to get four
new plants from a healthy, 4-year old daylily. Divide them
immediately after flowering, and replant them right away.
Boil,
Boil, Weeds In Trouble...
Many gardeners are looking for alternatives to chemical herbicides.
Several weeks ago we reviewed horticultural vinegar as
a viable alternative to Round-Up and other non-selective
herbicides. Here's another option: If you're just trying to
rid your driveway and sidewalk of weeds and grass try some
boiling water. Pour it directly on any plants you wish to
eradicate. They are not likely to survive.
Please note that this alternative to chemicals
is not without its own risks. Hot water is
dangerous in its own right and must be handled carefully.
Make sure you don't spill any on the plants you want to keep either!
What's
Hot On The Hotline...
A cool, moist spring often gives way to sudden increases in
temperature, and before we know it, summer is upon us. The
combination of heat and lingering humidity provides ideal
conditions for the growth of fungus and fungal diseases of turf,
vegetables, ornamentals, shrubs and trees. When there's a
fungus among us worried gardeners want to know what to do.
Find out in this
week's What's
Hot on the Hotline...
Stay Sharp...
Now would be a good time to have your lawn mower blade
sharpened. Sharp blades keep your grass healthy and good
looking. A dull blade leaves brown, frayed tips on your
turf and is not particularly good for the overall health of the
lawn.
Finally...
"The
actual flower is the plant's highest fulfillment, and are not
here exclusively for herbaria, county floras and plant geography:
they are here first of all for delight." ~
John Ruskin, 1819-1900, Poet |
