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Shrub Pruning Calendar
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~ Dividing Spring Blooming Perennials
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March 5, 2003

The Pendulum Swings Into March
23º today 47º tomorrow.  What are we gardeners to do?  After all, it is March 5th and the first day of spring is just a short 16 days away.  I guess yesterday's weather was a reminder that when living in the Midwest anything is possible.  So for now we wait until we are somewhat confident that this nasty winter weather is behind us.  When is it really safe to plant for spring?  Kevin and I always use the first full weekend in May as our play it safe date.  It has worked well for us in the past so we will continue going forward with this logic.  For now I will settle for potted pansies and wait patiently for the green flag.  I will also continue to educate myself by attending seminars and open houses.  March is a great month.  There is always so much going on for us gardeners.  So don't give up hope because soon we will be able to garden daily (and happily) with the sun shining down upon us.

A big thanks to all of you current Savvygardener.com subscribers who stopped by to visit us at our booth at the Johnson County Home & Garden Show (many of your photos are here).  Another thanks to all of you new subscribers!  Kevin and I are really encouraged by the new subscribers that signed up at the show.  We thank all of you for supporting us.  Don't forget to tell all of your friends, family and anyone else that will listen about Kansas City's best gardening resource! (Click here to tell a friend!)

~ Shelly  

Care For Climbers...
Many Savvygardeners wrote in appreciation for the Shrub Pruning Calendar we just published.  We'd like to point out that climbing roses are not part of the calendar because of their different pruning requirements.  Keep in mind that many climbers bloom on new growth and if you prune in early spring, you are cutting off the spring blooms.  There's really no reason to prune a climber unless it's getting out of control of its growing habit.  If warranted, cut out only dead canes - or wait until after the first blooms in the spring , then prune back. 

Just Can't Wait...
If you are just dying to do something in the flower garden try sowing the seeds of asters, bachelor buttons, calendulas, delphinium, dianthus, larkspur, and snapdragon.  These hardy annuals should weather the remaining cold days and get your flower garden off to an early start.  As insurance against really cold weather you can always sow smaller quantities at weekly intervals.

Gentle Grooming Promotes Early Blooming...
As the snow melts and depending on specific microclimates you will soon see adventurous bulbs pushing through the ground - especially snow drops, crocus, and early daffodils.  Keep an eye out!  Matted leaves and dead grass left over from fall may create a barrier to these upstarts.  Help them a little by gently raking away any debris and allowing the foliage and flowers to break through the soil more easily.

Don't Miss Family Tree's
8th Annual Open House and Spring Flower Show:

"Trial Gardens"
March 14 through 16, 2003
Overland Park Family Tree Nursery
913-642-6503

Friday 9:00 - 8:00
Saturday 9:00 - 6:00
Sunday 7:00 - 5:00

Join Jan & John The Gard'n Wise Guys for
a live broadcast starting Sunday at 7AM!

Click here for the
Coupon of the Month

 

 

Digger Delay...
If you've walked through your garden recently you know that soils are wet, wet, wet.  I know you are tempted to start working that wet soil, but there are some serious consequences to consider.  Digging in the dirt now means soil structure may be destroyed, forming large clods that take weeks or months to break up with natural weathering.  Use of a roto-tiller 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.

Crown Jewels...
Once the soil is suitable (see above) you may be thinking about planting some asparagus crowns.  Don't dig too far down when planting them.  Yields improve dramatically when crowns are set at a depth of 5 to 6 inches - not the commonly advised 12 inches.  Contrary to the standard practices of deep planting and not harvesting for up to three seasons, recent studies show that harvesting shallow-planted asparagus after the first year boosts yields 40 percent over three years.


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Winter Wisdom...
All the talk about pruning shrubs has our Winter Wisdom staff thinking about the flowering shrubs that thrive in the Kansas City area.  They're not just thinking, they're writing.  You'll find out lots about popular flowering shrubs (and the correct pronunciation of Weigela) in this week's
Winter Wisdom...

Head 'Em Off At The Pass...
Though cultural practices are the most effective crabgrass controls, herbicides are often necessary to really get the job done.  Crabgrass can be controlled through an application of a pre-emergence herbicide between mid-March and mid-April.  The herbicides available on the market have been shown to be very effective crabgrass controls, but often control suffers when the product is not applied correctly or when the lawn is not maintained properly.  When using pre-emergence herbicides, keep in mind: 

  • Maintain a healthy dense lawn. 
  • Closely read and follow all label recommendations.
  • Apply the herbicide accurately and uniformly over the lawn. 
  • Apply the herbicide early because they will not affect crabgrass already germinated.  Early would be mid- March in the greater Kansas City area.
  • After application, apply enough water to move the herbicide off the leaf blades to the soil surface for maximum control. 
  • Do not apply these products over newly-seeded areas or try to seed into areas where these products have been recently applied.

Source

Finally...
"We need spring. We need it desperately and, usually, we need it before God is willing to give it to us."

~ Peter Gzowski, Spring Tonic

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