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Randy's Lakeview 
Nursery & Bulk Supercenter

The one-stop-shop for
all your landscaping and gardening needs...
www.rlnbulksupercenter.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 16, 2004

Rain, Rain, Go Away...
OK, enough already! It is Wednesday afternoon and well, it is raining! For the most part my gardens are quite happy. I do however have four red-twig dogwoods that are more than a little droopy. Too wet. I have pulled the mulch away from their bases so that they might get a chance to dry out - if the rain stops. What they really need is a few warm, not too hot, dry days. (The kids and I too!) Too much rain, not enough rain... the trials and tribulations of a gardener. I keep reminding myself that the rain will stop and summer will arrive with a vengeance. I won't have to wait much longer. The Summer Solstice arrives Monday, June 21st, the longest day of the year. Hopefully it won't rain all day!

Our new patio and waterfall project is coming along nicely. How exciting it is to have something new to plant around. It is still a bit premature to be planting but I have several ideas of things I would like to experiment with. I have never had the opportunity to work with water plants so I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge in an area that has become so popular. I have to say that the sound of water gently falling over some rocks is quite soothing.

~ Shelly  

When Good Mulch Goes Bad...
There's bound to be a few Savvygardeners out there that had a pile of mulch delivered just before all this rain began.  If you didn't get your mulch covered be careful. Hardwood mulch can become a real problem if left too long in a damp pile.  Not only does it smell bad once it "sours" it can adversely affect plants that it comes in contact with.  Symptoms look like fertilizer or pesticide burn or water stress.  Damage can be severe enough to actually kill plants - yikes!  Depending on the extent of the injury, plants are often able to recover.  Savvygardeners should water affected plants during hot, dry periods to prevent further stress. 

Mulch that has soured can still be used if it is "mellowed" before application.  Simply spread the mulch in shallow layers and allow it to air out for several days until it no longer smells.  It may also be helpful to water the mulch before application to wash away any toxic substances.

Fruit Dropping, Branch Propping...
Don't be alarmed if tree fruit is dropping this time of year. It's just Mother nature's natural thinning process designed to prevent excessive loads.  Just in case the branch loads remain too heavy you should thin remaining fruit by hand or prop up heavy branches to avoid breakage.  Most fruit should be spaced 6 to 8 inches apart on a branch.

Source

Onward Onions...
Your onions should be growing rapidly and enlarging about now. Onions have a pretty shallow root system and need regular watering and fertilizing to keep growing.  A light application of fertilizer or compost along the row will keep them growing vigorously.  Don't be alarmed if you see a fair amount of the onion developing above the soil line.  This is normal.  When tops begin to get weak and fall over, onion bulbs are about full grown.  At this point, you can break over tops to encourage the necks to dry.  After a few days dig them up to keep bulbs from getting sunburned.  Allow your onions to dry with the tops attached for 1 to 2 weeks before cutting the tops, wiping (not washing) any excess soil from the bulbs, and placing them in a cool, dry location for storage (or eating).

Source

 


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Is That A Volcano In Your Garden?
When mulching try to avoid creating "mulch volcanoes" at the base of your trees.  Unfortunately it is quite common to see trees mulched in this manner - a ring of mulch that gets progressively deeper as it approaches the trunk.  While this is better than no mulch at all, Chris Starbuck at University of Missouri Extension advises us that there are some real problems to consider:

  • When mulch is placed more than about 4 inches deep, roots tend to "migrate" up into the mulch during rainy periods or when the area is irrigated.  Then, when drought conditions occur, the plant may come under severe stress because many of its roots are growing in a material with much less water holding capacity than real soil.
  • The surfaces of the mulch volcanoes can become hydrophobic due to fungal activity and will act as very effective umbrellas, shedding water to the surrounding turf.  This could easily kill a young tree by depriving it of much needed water.
  • Other possible problems with mulch volcanoes are promotion of fungal canker diseases by constant moisture around the lower trunk, stress from poor gas exchange by the cells in the bark and damage from rodents that may take up residence in the volcano.

Source

Boil, Boil, Weeds In Trouble...
Many gardeners are looking for alternatives to chemical herbicides.  Here's an option: If you're just trying to rid your driveway and sidewalk of weeds and grass try some boiling water.  Pour it directly on any plants you wish to eradicate.  They are not likely to survive.  

Please note that this alternative to chemicals is not without its own risks.  Hot water is dangerous in its own right and must be handled carefully.  Make sure you don't spill any on the plants you want to keep either!

 


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What's Hot On The Hotline...
Gardeners and horticulturists alike may share with pride in the celebration of the centennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. During their 1804-1806 exploratory expedition of the territories included in the Louisiana Purchase, both gentlemen and their entourage recorded data and in-depth information regarding the flora and fauna they encountered throughout the length of their journey. Do you know which two flowers were named for these famous Americans?  Find out in this week's What's Hot On the Hotline...

A Cut Above...
The next few months will likely be very taxing for your fescue or bluegrass lawn.  Long, hot and humid days, with little rainfall can make even the greenest lawns wilt.  While it's probably not possible to keep your turf looking perfectly lush and green all summer you can prepare it for the heat by raising the cutting height of your mower.  Fescues and bluegrass should be cut at a height of 3 to 3½ inches.  Determine your mowing frequency by cutting no more than one-third of the blade height with each cutting.  This means cutting when it reaches 4½ inches or so.

Finally...
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."

~ John Burroughs, Author, 1837-1921

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