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April 21, 2004 |
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We're Growing
Now...
How about that rain we had on Tuesday? A real gullywasher
at times but wasn't it great to have a good soaking rain? I am
sure that your plants are as happy as mine. I hope this spring
weather sticks around a bit longer. Now that the daffodils are
gone and most of my tulips (thanks to the heat we had last
weekend) all of my other perennials are really thriving with
these mild days and cool nights. Nothing to complain about here -
just great gardening weather!
How about a
widow or door screen that just
disappears? Our new sponsor, The
Remodeling Center located in Lee's Summit is the premiere
distributor of a product called
Phantom Screens. I was very
impressed by the aesthetic look and quality of this product. What
a great way to add a new look to any home. Their slogan
is "Seeing is Believing" so make sure to
take a
look.
You won't
want to miss out on the Savvygardener Party this Saturday, April
24th at
The Kelly Gallery. Kelly Daniels is well
known for her beautiful photographs taken in and around her
gardens. The gardens are spectacular so join me from 10:00 AM to
2:00 PM. You may come to just tour the gardens or you might
be tempted to spend some money in
Kelly's retail store
The Barn - the perfect place to
find garden and home decor. Hope to see you there!
A special
thanks to all of you who sent notes of encouragement to me about
last week's
troubling incident. I am so lucky to have so many great
gardening friends!
~
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 our tulips are nearly
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.
Clematis Wilt...
The most serious disease of clematis is commonly called
clematis wilt - a stem rot/leaf
spot disease caused by the fungus, Ascochyta clematidina, which
mainly affects large‑flowered clematis hybrids. The symptoms are
very defining and include sudden stem collapse, often just as the
flower buds are about to open. Within just a few days the stems
and its leaves turn black. Leaf veins often develop a purple
coloration. One or more stems of the diseased plant may be
affected or all aboveground parts of the plant can be killed down
to just below the soil level.
Often, an
affected plant will recover after a year or two.
Of course, prevention is the best medicine. Here's how:
- Choose a
favorable planting site with 6 or
more hours of sun daily, rich, well‑drained soil with pH about
7.0, and be relatively open to ensure good air circulation.
- Select the most
resistant plants. Species clematis and/or small‑flowered
hybrids seem to be more resistant than large-flowered forms.
- Keep the clematis
area free of plant debris on a year‑round basis. Take special
care to avoid injury to stem and roots since the wilt fungus
requires a wound to begin its deadly work.
- Avoid damaging
the roots. Do not cultivate the soil around clematis plants and
maintain good mulch.
- Give good
culture. Maintain good growing conditions to keep all clematis
plants as stress‑free as possible.
- In the event that
plants become infected, cut diseased stems just below ground
level and destroy them. Spray any remaining, healthy parts of
the plant and surrounding soil with a protective fungicide such
as myclobutanil.
Source
Growing Groundcovers...
You can trim pachysandra and other low groundcovers by mowing
them with your lawnmower. Set the mowing height at around
three to four inches. This will thicken the groundcover and help
prevent weeds. Be sure to remove the clippings by gently raking.
Boston ivy, English ivy, purple winter creeper, and cranberry
cotoneaster all benefit from springtime trimming.
Source
Phantom Screens
The Screen That Disappears
The Retractable Screening Solution
for Doors, Windows & Porches
Seeing is Believing!
See For Yourself!
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Dog Days
Indeed...
According to scientists at Purdue
University, exposure to herbicide-treated lawns and
gardens increases the risk of bladder cancer in Scottish
terriers, a discovery that could lead to new knowledge about
human susceptibility to the disease. A team of veterinary
researchers including Lawrence T. Glickman has found an
association between risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the
urinary bladder in Scottish terriers and the dogs' exposure to
chemicals found in lawn treatments.
The study,
based on a survey of dog owners whose pets had recently
contracted the disease, may be useful not only for its revelation
of potentially carcinogenic substances in our environment, but
also because studying the breed may help physicians pinpoint
genes in humans that signal susceptibility to bladder cancer.
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!
Tell Your Friends About
Savvygardener.com!
You
Could Win A $50 Gift Certificate
Details...
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What's Hot On The Hotline...
Spring is definitely here and there's so
much to do. Among other things is the care of clematis in
the garden. We are lucky that our hotline experts are also
experts in this quintessential garden beauty. Get those
clematis growing in 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... "They know, they
just know where to grow, how to dupe you, and how to camouflage
themselves among the perfectly respectable plants, they just
know, and therefore, I've concluded weeds must have brains." ~
Dianne Benson, Author |