This week's gardening tips from the Savvygardener

 

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June 29, 2005

Hot Sun, No Fun...
What a surprise it was to have a bit of rain yesterday. It wasn't much but I sure liked the way it fell, slow and steady. I also had my sprinkler running at the same time. I took advantage of the rain and cloud cover to really give everything a good soaking. Yesterday was such a nice reprieve from what we have been experiencing for the last two weeks. It is going to be another scorcher today with temperatures close to 100. Sure does feel like August.

We have had several e-mails asking about watering and whether they are watering too much or not enough. Last week's newsletter was dedicated to watering so if you missed it check it out. It has some great rules of thumb to follow when the weather is hot and humid and rain is scarce. Remember also that if a plant is drooping it may not necessarily be thirsty. My black-eyed Susan's always look like they are thirsty during the late afternoon. Once the sun goes down they pop right back up and look fine. Don't be fooled by the plant, pay attention to the soil.

If you are in the mood to plant there are a lot of good bargains out there. I know Family Tree Nursery and several other garden centers are slashing prices to move stock. Now is the perfect time to purchase some plants you wanted before but just didn't buy. Planting now is fine you will just want to be diligent about watering. I highly recommend using a root stimulator to help stimulate good root growth. What not give it a try?

~ Shelly  

Hey Bud, Get Outta' Here...
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

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 is best.

Seen Any Spittlebugs?
The spittlebug derives its name from the white, frothy" spittle" the nymphs produce. Adults are large, black leafhoppers about 1/3-inch long with two red stripes that go crosswise across the back. The eyes and abdomen are bright red. Though the nymphs resemble the adults, they are smaller and wingless. Color varies from yellow to white to orange, but the eyes are always red.

Spittlebug nymphs suck plant juices like aphids, but they remove so much water and carbohydrates that excess fluid is produced. They cover themselves with this fluid and then produce the spittle by bubbling air from the tip of the abdomen into the liquid. The spittle mass helps protect the nymphs from drying and from predators.

Spittlebugs normally do not achieve high enough populations to cause damage. If they do, forcefully hosing the plants several times should achieve the level of control needed.

Source

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...

 


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Timely Tomato Tips...
Tomatoes are growing vigorously now.  However, the end of spring and the onset of hot, dry weather can lead to several problems in tomatoes.  Tomatoes that experience early vigorous growth often drop some blossoms during the transition to summer weather.   Don't worry.  New blooms should develop rapidly to replace the fallen ones.  

Also, tomato plants may be subject to leaf curl where the leaves roll up from the edges.  This is a short-term condition that develops as the tomato is trying to reduce it's leaf surface to allow the roots to develop.

Source

Beware Brown Patch...
Brown patch is showing up all over the area - including our front yard! This turf disease is favored by warm night temperatures and extended periods of leaf wetness. If you go outside in the morning and the lawn is covered with dew and the temperature is in the high 60s and above, it means that conditions are right for brown patch. During severe outbreaks, the fungus may invade the lower leaf sheaths and crown and kill plants. But in most cases the turfgrass can recover from brown patch. This recovery may take two to three weeks depending on weather.

Unfortunately there is no way to eliminate brown patch from a lawn as it will persist indefinitely in the soil. In almost all cases, the limiting factor for brown patch development is the weather. Although you can’t eliminate the fungus, cultural practices – especially irrigation – can help control it.

  • Don't water in the evening; instead, water early in the morning. This will help decrease the number of hours the leaf tissue remains wet and susceptible to infection. The frequency of irrigation is not as important as the time of day you do it.
  • Don't overfertilize, and certainly don't fertilize when brown patch is active.
  • Make sure your seeding or overseeding rates are not too high.

Source

A Cut Above...
By the look (and feel) of things 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...
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like falling leaves."

~ John Muir

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