Send A Postcard!

Bookstore  
Magazines 
Gardening Catalogs

Site Search
Contact Us
Submit A Tip

Feature Articles

Rose Tips
What's Hot... 
Nuisance of the Week
Turf Tips...
Winter Wisdom
Gardener's Glossary 

Books We Love
Great Products
Web Resources
Event Calendar

Local Sponsors

Subscribe

Tell A Friend

Privacy Pledge

April 2, 2003

Perfect Weather For...Patience
The past couple of days have been blustery and warm. Feels a bit like June.  June, April... it is a good thing that we have calendars!  I have been busy doing the remainder of my fall clean-up.  I am still cautious about uncovering everything knowing that Mother Nature will surprise us again with one of her late spring cold snaps.  I am however uncovering bulbs that are pushing through the mulch and the blanket of leaves that have kept them warm all winter.  I am also allowing my perennials to have some breathing room as well.  I am trying to keep myself busy with clean up and organizational-type things so as to take my mind off planting.  Boy, that's a chore in itself.  I must admit that it makes me borderline crazy.  I will try to remain patient and wait for the first weekend in May, then the planting frenzy will begin!  

It's that time of year when Kevin and I will start making the rounds to our sponsors helping to promote business.  Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 26th from 10 AM - 2 PM at The Kelly Gallery.  Those of you who have joined us the past two years know that this is an event you won't want to miss.  Kelly & Mark Daniels have created a piece of paradise on their property in Stillwell, Kansas.  Some of you might have had the opportunity to read about Kelly, her business and her gardens in last year's June issue of Midwest Living.  Seeing is believing!  Check out Kelly's website and note some of the new services she is offering!  Tell all of your friends and join us for a delightful time. Garden tours and browsing through The Barn for that perfect garden or home decoration.  It doesn't get much better than this!

~ Shelly  

Welcome to Zone 6?
You heard it here first!  It looks like the Kansas City metropolitan area is going to be designated as a Zone 6 USDA Hardiness Zone.  We have been considered a Zone 5 in years past (albeit a warm Zone 5 based on our experience).  While none of this is official yet we know that the USDA and the American Horticultural Society have been in the process of updating the current map which was originally published in 1965 and updated to it's current version in 1990.  In a telephone interview with us, Kim Kaplan, spokesperson for the USDA, indicated that the changes "...reflect real weather (not climate) changes that have been recorded over the past 10 years."

A new interactive national zone map will accompany the official announcement and should be available in the next six weeks or so.  We'll keep you posted.  In the mean time we suggest not doing much different than in years past, though those of you that feared purchasing plants labeled for Zone 6 can probably now do so with more confidence.

Just remember that hardiness zones are guidelines, not rules.  What grows successfully in your garden has as much to do with good gardening practices, micro-climates, and plant quality as anything else.  

Are You A Good Host?
Sometimes gardening is a lot like hosting a party.  Plants, like party guests, need to be steered toward others that will enjoy their company.  The practice of companion planting, growing vegetables in proximity to helpful plants, has become quite popular over the years.  Here are some of our favorite matchmaker tips:
 

Keep 'Em Covered...
Gardeners anxious to get their yard and garden chores done in spring may be tempted to remove the mulch from their strawberry beds in March or early April.  A portion of the strawberry crop may be lost, however, if the mulch is removed too early in the spring.  Removal of the mulch plus several days of warm weather may encourage the plants to bloom before the danger of frost or freezing temperatures is past.  Temperatures of 32°F or lower may severely damage or destroy open flowers.  Since the first flowers produce the largest berries, a late spring frost can drastically reduce yields. 

To reduce the chances of frost or freeze damage leave the mulch on until the plants show signs of growth.  Periodically examine the plants under the mulch during periods of warm weather in the spring.  Remove the mulch from the strawberry plants when about 25% of the plants are showing new growth (it will be white or yellow in color).  Rake the mulch to the center aisles between rows.  If there is a threat of a frost later in the season during bloom, the mulch can be lightly raked back over the plants.

Source

The Great Divide...
Dividing perennials is important for the garden and the soul.  The garden benefits because many perennials become overcrowded and need to be thinned out once in a while.  The gardener's soul benefits because it provides an opportunity to share our garden treasures with other gardeners who will go on to expand their beauty.  

Don't divide the wrong plants!  Before you start take a look at our handy guide When to Divide Perennials in our Features section.

What's Hot On The Hotline...
The question of hardiness zones seems to be of continuing interest to Hotline callers.  In addition to the hardiness zone changes being proposed by the USDA there are also heat zones to consider.  Appropriately, you can learn more about gardening heat zones in this week's What's Hot On the Hotline...

Zoysia Zzz's...
If you have a zoysia lawn it is still dormant and you should not be applying any fertilizer to it.  Any fertilizer added now will just feed the weeds and they're overfed as it is.  Be patient.  You should be able to fertilize your zoysia lawn in about six weeks.

Finally...
"When bright flowers bloom
Parchment crumbles, my words fade
The pen has dropped ..."

~ Morpheus

© 1999-2003 Savvygardener.com, Inc. All rights reserved.  If you wish to copy, transmit, or otherwise duplicate any of the material from our website please ask us first.  Thank you.