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April 23, 2003

One Part Rain, Two Parts Sun...
How about this spring?  Just a little over 2½ inches of rain here in Westwood since last Thursday.  Everything is so healthy and green!  Does it get any better than this?  More rain in the forecast starting tonight.  It is putting a damper on our soccer schedule but I must admit that I am thrilled that we are receiving the opportunity to play a little catch-up in the precipitation category.  Kevin and I took advantage of yesterday's beautiful weather and did some planting.  Perfect timing.  We allowed ample time for the ground to dry out and the digging began!  To think that we could receive more rain, really giving those new plants a good soaking, well what more could a gardener ask forLife is great as a gardener!

Don't forget The Kelly Gallery's Spring Event this Saturday, April 26th from 10 AM - 2 PM.  Kevin and I will be there to mingle and chat about gardening so bring your questions and your wallet.  A trip to The Kelly Gallery would not be complete without meandering through The Barn.  It's full of home and garden decor items, so reasonably priced you'll want to leave with lots!  For those of you who have never been to the Daniel's place allow some time to tour their gardens!  One word describes them best - spectacular!  Also, watch for me on KCTV 5 Saturday morning between 8:30 AM - 9 AM talking about The Kelly Gallery!

Oh yeah.  I promised some garden pictures.  Here you go...

~ Shelly  

Bulb Boosters...
Depending on micro-climates, planting depth, and variety your spring bulbs are at various stages of growth right now.  Our daffodils are done and tulips are done but we continue to see great displays in progress all over town.  What you do with the plants after the flowers are spent is crucial to next year's growth.  Bulbs use their foliage to acquire and transport nutrients necessary for future growth.  If you cut or remove the foliage too early you will starve the bulb and consequently reduce its chances for strong growth next spring.  Cut the stems back as you would if you were cutting them for a vase.  Leave the foliage alone until it has withered on its own.  Only then should you clear it from the garden.

Do Not Disturb...
If you plan on growing vining fruits and vegetables like cucumber, cantaloupe, summer squash, and watermelon make sure you start the seeds indoors in peat pots.  These vining plants don't appreciate having their roots disturbed and the peat pots make it possible to effectively transplant them.

Wet, Wait...
I'm loving all this rain.  Remember what April showers bring in May... But right now garden soils may be wet, and you've got planting on your mind.  Although you may be tempted to work that wet soil, remember that there are some serious consequences.  Soil structure can be destroyed, forming large clods that take weeks or months to break up with natural weathering.  Use of a rototiller 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.

Preventing Peony Problems...
Peonies are sometimes attacked by Cladosporium in early spring. This fungus causes small reddish brown spots on the leaves that may coalesce to form larger spots.  If it spreads to stems, it may cause them to die and turn black.  Applying a fungicide containing copper to the emerging growth when it is a few inches high can prevent this problem.  The fungus will be much less likely to infect the developing tissues, and your peony foliage will have a much better chance of looking good throughout the season. If your peonies are routinely plagued with this disease, you may want to consider planting a newer variety that is more resistant to the disease.

Source

The Division Decision...
Division is a necessary chore in maintaining most perennials.  A few plants never like to be disturbed, and should not be moved or divided; Aconitum, Baptisia, Dictamnus, Eryngium, Helleborus, Limonium, and Papaver are good examples.  Most others will need division every three to four years or so.  You'll know it's time to divide when a dead center forms in the crown area with a ring of plants around it; blooms are fewer and smaller; or growth simply appears crowded. 

A general rule is to divide the plant in the non-bloom season.  Midsummer bloomers should be divided in spring when plant growth is two to three inches in height.  Fall bloomers are divided in late August or early September when plants are semi-dormant and temperatures are showing a cooling trend. 

Use a spade to dig the clump and cut off divisions.  If you don't want to divide an entire clump, divisions can be cut from the edge of a clump using a spade and trowel.  Some plants have tough, thick root systems that are a challenge to divide.  Hosta, Hemerocallis, and Astilbe fall in this category so don't be discouraged if you find the going a little tough.

Source

A Clean Break...
Speaking of peat pots...When transplanting flowers and veggies to the garden make sure you break off the rims of your peat pots just below ground level.  Any portion of the peat pot sticking up above the soil surface will wick away moisture and deprive your plants of much needed water.  That would be a shame considering how hard you worked getting them this far!

 


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What's Hot On The Hotline...
Many gardeners are finding that prolonged drought conditions over the past two years have had their affect.  This is particularly true with those who are used to relying solely on rainfall to provide adequate moisture for lawns, shrubs and trees.  If this sounds familiar you will want to read this week's What's Hot On the Hotline...

Dealing With Dandelions...
We're getting lots of e-mail asking about weeds (especially dandelions) in lawns.  Keep in mind two things:

  • Dense healthy turf is the most effective weed control. Proper mowing, fertilization, and irrigation will go a long way in controlling weeds.
  • Fall is the best time to control weeds.

That being said you can spot-apply broad spectrum herbicides to lawn weeds.  These can include traditional chemicals or alternatives like Bradfield's Horticultural Vinegar.  Either way, be careful where you spray.  Drifting herbicides are going to damage or kill the plants they touch.

Finally...
"The great challenge for the garden designer is not to make the garden look natural, but to make the garden so that the people in it will feel natural."

~ Lawrence Halprin, Architect

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