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August 18, 2004

New Chapters...
This is a big week for the Marsh family. Our youngest son Jake started first grade leaving Kevin and me kid-less during the day. There was a time when I thought that day would never come. Now that it is here I am saddened by the fact that I am no longer needed on a minute by minute basis. I hope to take this new found time to renew some old friendships, help out in the kids' classrooms and yes, spend more time in the garden. I am beginning a new chapter of my life and I am looking forward to it's rewards and challenges.

A big thanks to all of the Savvygardener's who turned out to either compete in or watch the Tastiest Tomato contest. We had a great time and let me just say that all of the tomatoes were delicious. A special thanks to Family Tree Nursery for hosting the contest and to those crazy Gard 'n-Wise Guys, John Bruntzel and Jan Olson for helping us choose the tastiest tomato. If you were not able to enter in this year's contest don't worry. The Tastiest Tomato contest is an annual event so you have until spring to decide what type of tomato you will grow and enter in next year's contest. Congratulations to this year's winners!

I guess summer is finally here (or back). The heat index was 100°F today and it was a bit unpleasant outside this afternoon. I worked in the garden this morning while it was still reasonable. I cut back tired looking perennials and did some basic garden clean up. I sure am getting tired of looking at the same old flowers. It's time for me to transition the garden and I will do so in the next week or two with mums and pansies. Soon fall will arrive and the summer palette will have faded. The fall colors will bring new life to the garden and I can't wait!

~ Shelly  

The Hole Story...
Don't know about you, but we've seen an extraordinary number of small holes appearing in lawns lately
(photo).  Not coincidentally we've also seen (and heard) an increase in dog-day cicadas.  Here's the story:  The holes are caused by cicadas emerging from underground for their final "molt".  After emerging they will climb trees, fence posts or any other convenient place and attach themselves with their claws. Soon after, the exoskeleton will split down the middle of the back, and the adult will pull itself free, leaving the shell behind. Adults live for five to six weeks during which time the eggs are laid for the whole process to begin again.

Garden Toppers...
If you have a vegetable or annual garden that is normally empty in the fall and through winter you should consider planting a green manure crop there at the end of this growing season.  The name green manure is given to any crop which is grown only to be tilled back into the soil.  As it rots, the nutrients in the crop foliage and roots will be taken up by the next crop planted in the same place.  Green manures from the legume family, such as peas, beans, and clovers, have an added bonus - nitrogen-fixing bacteria living around their roots can draw nitrogen from the air and convert it to a form the plant can absorb.  This nitrogen will then be available to subsequent crops.

Green manures also act as "cover crops" protecting the soil from compaction and erosion caused by wind and rain, as well as reducing the extent that weeds take over bare soil.

Well Rooted Evergreens...
Early fall is a good time to plant a balled and burlapped (B&B) evergreen tree.  The key here is "early".  Because evergreens transpire (lose moisture) throughout the winter months, fall planting of B&B evergreens should be done in September to allow time for the roots to become established before the ground freezes.  The trick is to make sure your newly planted evergreen has enough moisture in its roots to weather some dry spells when the ground may be frozen.

Another consideration - If you leave the cloth burlap around the roots do not leave any sticking above the ground as it may wick away moisture and dry out the root ball.  After planting, mulch around the plant to a depth of 2-4 inches.

source

 


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Drinks For The Droopy?
Just because your plants are droopy at the end of a steamy hot day don't immediately assume that they need to be watered.  It may be that there is adequate moisture in the soil but your plant's roots just can't keep up with the needs of the leaves.  If the soil is already moist you are better off letting the plants catch up on their own overnight.  If they're still droopy in the morning give them a drink.

Honk If You Have Hornworms...
Tomato hornworms are serious garden pests.  They like to eat the leaves of tomato plants and will do so completely to the mid-rib of the leaf.  Fortunately they can be dealt with without drenching the entire plant in pesticide.  The trick is early detection and removal.  While it's hard to see a green caterpillar on a green leaf the black droppings from the caterpillar are a bit more obvious.  When you see the droppings look closely for the caterpillar and remove it immediately.


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What's Hot On The Hotline...
On the last day of July this year, the Johnson County K-State Extension Master Gardeners joined with the staff of K-State to host an Open House and Field Day at the newly improved K-State Horticulture and Forestry Research Extension Center in Olathe. The all-day event featured lectures and conducted tours aimed to give the public an in-depth look at the research trials conducted there with turf grass, ornamentals, flowers and vegetables.  Learn more in this week's What's Hot On the Hotline...

Oh Say Can You Seed?
Yes you can!  The best time to start new cool-season grass seed is late summer/early fall.  Considering the trend toward lower-than-average temperatures this summer you may want to get started soon.  Seeding this time of year takes advantage of warm weather for proper seed germination while allowing the new turf to thrive as the temperatures cool into fall.

Finally...
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant."

~ Robert Louis Stevenson, Writer 1850-1894

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