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July 2, 2003

Slowing Down For Summer...
So far, summer in the garden has been pretty painless. With an occasional rain shower here and there most everything is pretty well watered. I am thankful for our heat and drought-tolerant plants - especially as the temperatures are soaring into the 90's. The pots on the other hand are something that I watch closely and water when needed (almost daily). I will say that I could be dead-heading more but have not been too interested. I can't believe I said that but it is true. I do have my waning moments when the garden is just not a priority. I think the intense heat has something to do with it. 

Lucky me!  I have always wanted a cedar potting bench, so Kevin designed and built one for me over the weekend. Of course I haven't used it for potting yet but have been busy trying to decide how to make it functional. Where to hang the tools, what type of cool containers to put potting soil and compost in, what types of pots and watering cans I want sitting on it, etc... All the necessary items to fancy it up. I am enjoying putting things on and around it. It is kind of like decorating a room. Wouldn't you agree?

Have a safe and patriotic Independence Day!

~ Shelly  

Dogs And Cocoa Bean Mulch...
A reader recently contacted us with a warning about cocoa bean mulch and its potential poisoning effects on dogs and other pets.  We did some sleuthing and, sure enough, there's potential for harm.  According to the Animal Poison Control Center of the ASPCA, cocoa beans naturally contain the stimulants caffeine and theobromine.  Dogs are highly sensitive to these chemicals and low doses can cause mild gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain); higher doses can cause rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures, and death.  For example, eaten by a 50-pound dog, about 2 ounces of cocoa bean mulch may cause gastrointestinal upset; about 4.5 ounces, increased heart rate; about 5.3 ounces, seizures; and over 9 ounces, death. 

Source

A Slimy Situation...
A common sight on turf during the humid days in spring, summer and fall is slime mold.  Slime mold is a primitive organism sporting large numbers of small gray, white, or purple fruiting structures, called sporangia, on the leaf blades.  Affected areas are often from several inches to about one foot in diameter.  During wet weather, the fruiting structures may appear slimy.  As the structures dry out in hot weather, they become ash-gray, and break up easily when touched.  Homeowners often are concerned that this is a disease organism that will kill the grass.  Actually, slime mold feeds on bacteria, other fungi and dead organic matter.  It simply uses the turf as a structure on which to grow.  However, slime mold can damage turf by completely covering individual leaf blades and interfering with photosynthesis.  Chemical control of slime molds is not necessary.  Use of a broom or a heavy spray of water often is sufficient to dislodge the otherwise harmless mold.

Source

Cucumber Care...
When it comes to harvest time remember that cucumbers have a very short "vine storage time".  Under warm, humid conditions, fruits on the vine may remain in prime condition for less than 12 hours.  For the best tasting cukes, pick them early and often.  Once picked they can be stored for up to two weeks at 45°to 50°F and 95 percent relative humidity.  Lower temperatures may cause chilling damage, and higher temperatures encourage yellowing.  Yellowing is also accelerated if cucumbers are stored with tomatoes or apples.

Source


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Soapy Suds For Garden Bugs...
We get lots of inquiries about safer alternatives to chemical insecticides.  An old and popular favorite worth consideration is insecticidal soap.
  Not to be confused with personal or household soaps, insecticidal soaps are made from the salts of fatty acids, components of the fats and oils found in plants and animals.  Upon contact with an insect the fatty acids disrupt the structure and permeability of the insect's cell membranes enabling the cell contents to leak from the damaged cells, causing the insect to die.  This rather morbid process is only effective against soft-bodied pests like aphids, thrips, whiteflies, leafhoppers, mealybugs and mites.  

Because they work on contact only, insecticidal soaps should be applied when conditions favor slow drying like the early morning hours with dew coverage or in the early evening.

In some instances insecticidal soaps could cause burning of sensitive plants.  Most insecticidal soaps include a list of susceptible plants on the label but if you're uncertain simply test it on a single leaf.  If damage is going to occur it will likely happen within 24 hours. 

West Nile Returns...
Lots of news reports lately about the reappearance this year of West Nile Virus in the Kansas City metro.  Mosquitoes of course are the carriers of the disease.  Savvygardeners can do their part to reduce mosquito populations by eliminating breeding grounds.  Common, but often overlooked, breeding areas include standing water in flower pots, watering cans, bird baths, buckets, and barrels.  Emptying these items twice a week should prevent any mosquito eggs from fully developing.  For more prevention tips you can check out the Center for Disease Control's site.

 


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What's Hot On The Hotline...
The past five years have seen a steady increase in interest and enthusiasm for Clematis, an amazingly versatile and rewarding genus of vines and herbaceous shrubs.  In the first quarter of the 20th Century in the United States, Clematis ran a close second to roses in popularity with American gardeners!  If you love clematis or just want to learn a bit more about these beauties check out this week's What's Hot On the Hotline...

Fear Of Fungus...
Late afternoon and evening lawn watering should be avoided like the plague, or at least like a fungus.  The right combination of darkness, warmth and humidity can lead to lawn diseases that may be hard to recover from.  A good rule of thumb is that when the night-time temperature plus relative humidity equals 150 or more the conditions are right for an outbreak of turf fungus.  We were victims of this several years ago and trust me, you do not want a bad case of lawn fungus!

Finally...
"What is a weed? I have heard it said that there are sixty definitions.  For me, a weed is a plant out of place."

~ Donald Culross Peattie, 1898-1964, Botanist & Author

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