Visit
Our Website
Previous
Issues
Buyer's
Guide
Tell A
Friend
Bookstore
Magazines
Gardening
Catalogs
Site
Search
Contact
Us
Submit
A Tip
Feature
Articles
Rose
Tips
What's
Hot...
Turf
Tips...
Winter
Wisdom
Gardener's
Glossary
Books
We Love
Great
Products
Web
Resources
Event Calendar
Local
Sponsors
Subscribe
Unsubscribe
Address
Change
Tell
A Friend
Privacy
Pledge
|
 |
August
7, 2002 |
|
What A
Relief...
I hope that all of you Savvygardeners had the opportunity to
take advantage of the cooler temperatures on Tuesday and
Wednesday. I know that I spent some quality time in the
garden catching up on tasks: dead heading, weed pulling and just
some good ole fashion piddling in the garden. Things that I
had put off due to the extreme heat. Boy did it feel great
to just leisurely move at my own pace, not worrying about whether
or not I was going to be scorched by the sun. Now that
is what gardening is all about!
I spoke with a Savvygardener reader yesterday from Tonganoxie and
we were discussing the horrible drought problem they are plagued
with. If we don't receive some rainfall soon we might find
ourselves in the same boat as some other cities who have received
less rain than we have. It is time that we all take notice
of the ways we are watering and the extra things we can do to
help conserve water. If your plants are not already mulched
please do it now! This will cut down on the amount of
watering you have to do and will also keep moisture in the ground
longer. If you need to find out more on how to and apply
mulch and what types are good to use, refer to our feature
article All
About Mulch.
Although the weather has not necessarily been favorable for fall
planting it is time to start thinking about just that. This
past weekend Kevin and I walked around our gardens making a list
of plants, shrubs and other items we want to add to the gardens.
Of course it was a long list and we will start shopping soon to
get a jump on the fall planting crowd.
Make sure
you stop in and see our sponsors. I know they are all
working extra hard, making sure that their garden centers
are in tip-top shape and ready for all of us Savvygardener
planters.
~
Shelly
Beat The
Heat...
Today's unexpected break in the weather was a real
treat. It's still early August however and that means
several more weeks of pretty hot weather. Exposure to too
much hot weather can be dangerous. Here are some tips to
help you beat the heat :
- Tasks
that occur outdoors in sunny areas should be done in early
morning or late afternoon whenever possible, not during the
midday heat. Most watering, pruning, dead heading, etc., is
better for plants when done in early morning. Many chemicals,
especially insecticides, are better applied late in the day
when the wind is down and beneficial insects are not present.
- Allow
yourself to acclimate to the heat slowly. Over a period of a
week or two, gradually increase the amount of time spent in
hot, still areas or in direct sun.
- Be sure
to stay hydrated, drinking as many liquids as possible. Don't
wait until you are thirsty to have a drink, as thirst is an
indicator that your body is already dehydrated. Water is
preferred, except when heat cramps occur (then drink a lightly
salted beverage like a sports drink). The water's temperature
should be cool, not cold.
- Though
tempting, do not work in the yard in a tank top or without a
shirt due to the potential for sunburn and skin cancer. Wear
loose fitting, light colored clothes. Keep the fabric content
high in cotton to aid sweat evaporation. Neckbands, headbands,
wristbands, visors, and hats can increase evaporation to keep
the body cool.
- Lastly,
take frequent breaks to reduce the amount of time spent in the
sun or heat. After working for an hour, take a break to cool
down and have a drink in the shade to reduce the build up of
heat stress on your body.
Source
A
Perfect Pear...
Unlike some crops, pears are usually best when ripened off
the tree. You don't want to wait for the fruit to turn
yellowish before picking. Instead, harvest pears when the
color of the fruit changes from dark green to lighter green and
when it is easily twisted and removed from the spur.
Don't
Miss This One...
Every year the K-State Horticultural Research Center has a
wonderful open house. It's being held at the Research
Center this Saturday. It's a wonderful opportunity to see
hundreds of different cultivars of flowers, fruits and
vegetables. Many are plants that won't reach the market for
several years (or at all depending on the results of the tests
and trials). We'll be there! You should be there
too! Click
here for more information...
Growin'
Garlic...
Garlic is a cook's best friend. Home-grown garlic
is an extra special treat. Making sure your garlic is
harvested correctly is simple but important:
Garlic should be harvested when the foliage begins to
dry. Using a garden fork or shovel, carefully dig the bulbs
with the foliage still attached. Dry the garlic
on an elevated wire screen or slotted tray in a warm,
well-ventilated location for 3 to 4 weeks. When properly cured, cut off the dry foliage ½
to 1 inch above the bulbs, trim off the roots and
brush off any loose soil. Place the bulbs in a mesh bag and
store in a cool (32 to 40°F), dry (60 to 70% relative humidity)
location. Properly cured and stored garlic should keep for
6 to 7 months.
Source
Nuisance
of the Week...
Cicada Killer Wasps are probably the most menacing looking
winged creatures in your garden this time of year. These
jumbo-size wasps lumber around scaring many a gardener with their
presence. Looks can be deceiving however. Find out
some interesting facts including why there's little to fear as we
feature Cicada
Killer Wasps as our Nuisance of the Week.
What's
Hot On The Hotline...
Despite the hot
weather, Hotline volunteers continue to receive an average of 50 some
telephone calls or visits each day. Beyond the to be
expected interest in watering suggestions for lawn and garden, many are
concerned with mites and insects, bagworms and grubs, and are looking ahead
to lawn renovation and reseeding in September. Our hotline staffers
address pesticides in this
week's What's
Hot on the Hotline...
Don't
Bag That Shag...
You've heard it before but now there's even more evidence to
support returning grass clippings to your lawn. According
to research by the University of Connecticut:
- Clippings
recycle 50% of the available nitrogen back to the lawn.
- Clippings
contribute to organic matter accumulation and increase
earthworm activity.
- Leave the
clippings on the lawn after it is cut.
- Clippings
do not contribute to thatch accumulation.
Savvygardeners
should only remove grass clippings when infrequent mowing has
produced large piles of clippings, which can smother the grass.
Source
Finally...
"And
it never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about
the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of
the dry years. It was always that way." ~
John Steinbeck, "East of Eden" |
|
