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June 30, 2004 |
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Weather
Wonders...
I was out in the garden today,
dead-heading some ageratum. Feels a bit humid, feels like rain.
This weather thing has become a bit wacky. Not only are we
experiencing much cooler temperatures than
normal but much wetter conditions as well. Two good reasons why
my gardens are looking a bit abnormal. Crazy to think that July
1st is tomorrow and my black-eyed
Susan's are just now starting to bloom. The weather has the
gardens and me in a sort of "not quite
sure what to do mode". I am spending an awful lot of time trying
to control powdery mildew, brown patch and other moisture related
diseases. Too much mulch, not enough
mulch - Ugh! Can you hear my frustration? Perhaps it is a good
time to go on vacation. I will simply hand over my gardening
responsibilities to Mother Nature and let her worry about things
for awhile. Sounds like I should heed the advice that I am
offering in my inspirational quote.
For the
most part our
Patio Makeover is complete. We've added some pieces of
interest here and there and are still deciding on what it is we
want to plant. It sure is a cool place to hang out. Listening to
the sound of water falling gently over the rocks is quite
soothing. I am so glad that Roye finally convinced us to add a
water feature to our landscape. Something I highly recommend.
Attention
all of you tomato growers! The Tastiest Tomato contest date
will be announced soon!
~
Shelly
Plan for Halloween By Planting
Pumpkins Now...
Want to grow a perfect pumpkin for your very own jack-o-lantern
this year? It may sound like a long way off but depending on the
variety you want to grow you need to get your pumpkins planted
now for carving on Halloween. Typically pumpkins mature in 90 -
120 days. Check your seed pack to determine your pumpkin's
specific days to maturity and work backwards from October 31st.
Remember
that these things get big. Allow 8 to 10 feet between rows and
place seeds every 2 feet in the row. When fruit begins to appear
it's time to start protecting the pumpkin from rot. Try placing
a barrier under ripening pumpkins to lift them off the soil. A
material that doesn't trap water will be best.
Oh, Deer...
Gardeners that live near open parks and other "nearly wild" areas
are often plagued by deer. Deer damage to plants is both costly
and frustrating. While tall fences remain the most effective way
to keep deer away they are not always practical. Some
gardeners have had success with plantings that don't attract deer
(or even repel them). The Missouri Department of Conservation produced a
list of these plants and it can be
seen here...
A Pinch In Time...
Chrysanthemum growers use chemical sprays to increase
branching and to dwarf the plants, so the plants are short in the
garden center but will be taller the next year in our gardens.
To have shorter, well-branched plants, remove the growing points
once or twice during early growth. Pinch them back when the
plants are about 6 inches tall to induce branching. When the
branches are 6-8 inches long (about mid-July), remove their tips
to induce more branching. This procedure may seem drastic, but
the results will be bushy, well-shaped plants that flower
abundantly.
Many old
garden sayings have a grain of truth to them. The axiom
"Pinch mums until the Fourth of July" may help you remember how
to care for yours.
Source
The Big Chill...
Don't be
surprised if your tomatoes and peppers are off to a slow start.
These popular veggies tend to favor warmer weather than we've
been experiencing lately. Lack of consistently warm weather means
that their root growth is probably not what it should be.
It might actually help to remove any mulch from around the plants
until temperatures get more normal. This will allow the
soil, and the plant roots, a better chance to warm up in the
daytime sun.
Bud,
Not Buddy...
One of the most common pests of petunias is the budworm
caterpillar. These small green worms appear in late June and July
and feed on the flower buds, making small holes in the
buds and the leaves. You won't often see the worm itself.
Instead, you'll see the droppings, which
resemble small, black seeds.
Because of their size, removing them by
hand may not be practical. If you are so inclined,
Dipel, Thuricide, Talstar and Scimitar are reasonably effective
insecticides. Sevin and Diazinon aren't effective, because
budworms have become resistant to them. If left unchecked, the
presence of the caterpillars will cause your
petunias to stop blooming.
Source
Tell Your Friends About
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What's Hot On The Hotline...
Plants traditionally have three kinds of names: the common
name; the botanical or scientific name taken from classic Greek,
Latin or Arabic sources; or vernacular names that commemorate the
plant’s discoverer, grower, or hybridizer. In the case of the
last kind, the names are tailored to conform to the basic
grammatical rules of the Latin language.
You'll find more on the roots of "Gardener's Latin" in this
week's
What's Hot On the Hotline...
A Cut Above...
Unless these milder temperatures continue,
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... "He who cannot rest
cannot work; he who cannot let go cannot hold on...." ~
Harry Emerson Fosdick, Author, 1878 - 1969 |