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April Showers,
Blooming Flowers... I am happy to say that the bulbs we planted last fall are magnificent! We are getting to reap the rewards of our hard labor last autumn. I remember all of the time Kevin and I spent on our knees thinking that we would never finish with all of the planting. We tried some smaller tulips this year and I must say that they are the cutest. They are about 12" tall, orange with yellow tips (photos next week). We have never planted any of the smaller varieties before and I must say that I am enjoying them immensely. If I were a bit more savvy I would tell you the variety but my memory fails me. I remember putting the tag somewhere, (I thought in my gardening journal) of course it is nowhere to be found. I just hate it when that happens! Make sure to join us Saturday, April 26th at The Kelly Gallery for their Spring event. The hours are 10 AM - 2 PM. Come and tour Kelly's gardens, find that perfect something for the home or garden or better yet, get a jump on purchasing Mother's Day gifts! We'll see you there! ~ Shelly
Debutante Party for Transplants... Once you've picked the magic date (and there may be as many dates as there are plants) plan a "hardening off" schedule. Remember these plants have had the benefit of consistent temperatures, regular light, and no wind in the comfort of your home. It's a different world out there in the wild and wooly garden. About two weeks before permanent relocation you should stop fertilizing and place your plants outdoors for an hour or two. Each day increase the time outdoors by an hour. (I know this is impossible for working gardeners, just do your best.) The trick is to acclimate your plants to the bright sun, wind, and varying temperatures gradually. Don't panic if they look a little wilty during this process - they're going through a bit of shock. Once they're in the ground give them some starter fertilizer and begin a regular water and fertilizer routine. Made In
The Shade... Several years ago we converted the shadiest part of our property from struggling lawn to hopeful shade garden. It's looking much better, thank you. If you have a shady spot in need of a makeover check out our most recent feature Gardening in the Shade. Just about everything you need to know about shade gardening is there.
Just
Like Starting Over... To stay on top of this process Savvygardeners will rejuvenate one-third of the flowering shrub every year. That way none of the branches are ever any older than three years.
Circular
Logic...
Longer
Life for Lilies... Find a sunny spot in the garden to plant the bulb. Remove the plant from its container and loosen the roots. Plant the bulb a few inches deeper than it was in the container and cover it with soil. Water thoroughly and fertilize with an all-purpose garden fertilizer. For the remainder of the season water and fertilize as you would your other garden plantings. Don't be alarmed when the top withers and dies. New shoots will emerge and may flower in July or August. Understand that lilies are not normally winter-hardy in the greater Kansas City area (last winter would probably have been a welcome exception). To improve your chances for success, mulch them with 4 inches of straw or leaves in the fall. With luck you will have new flowers again next June!
What's Hot On The Hotline... Two
Blades Are Better Than One... Finally... ~ John Updike, Author |
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