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June 30, 2004

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.

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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.

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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

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