TIMELY GARDEN TIPS FROM

OVER THE GARDEN FENCE

March 25, 2006

Want to make a dramatic difference in your flower garden this summer? To increase the number of summer garden blooms, begin planting now. Some summer bloomers can be planted now in the garden while others can be planted in pots now.

Summer bulbs, such as calla lilies, begonias, dahlias, and caladiums have some of the most dramatic flowers and foliages in the summer garden. They're very easy to grow, but they're also very sensitive to frost. In fact, experienced gardeners call them tender bulbs. But tender bulbs respond incredibly well to little tough love. Wake them up early and get a jumpstart on summer by potting them up indoors. It's easy to do. This simple head start will afford you weeks more color from your bulb flowers in the summer garden. Most summer blooming flower bulbs and tubers are available now and should be started indoors about April 1st. Choose clean containers with drainage holes. Good drainage is essential. Use two-thirds Fertilome High Performance Container Soil mixed with one-third perlite and a handful of Osmocote for perfect drainage, root growth, and excellent growth.

Place bulbs and tubers in the soil mix. Different types of summer bulbs require very different planting methods. Some are planted barely covered with soil, others deep, others laid in horizontally, some concave side up. For specific details related to planting depth and positioning, check with the staff at Wedel's. After planting, soak soil with Fertilome Root Stimulator.

Warm, humid settings are optimal for growth. Keep soil moist, but not wet. Keep near a sunny window. As day time temperatures increase, I move my potted summer bulb plants outside for the day and return inside if frost is predicted. Usually by May 20th the threat of frost is past and your plants will be ready to set outdoors for the summer.

Ready for your selection at Wedel's are twenty varieties of dahlia tubers, six varieties of calla rhizomes, taro elephant ears, begonia tubers, Peruvian daffodil and, due in next week, several varieties of cannas.

We use many of the summer flowering bulbs in our garden each year, but what I really enjoy the most is the color afforded in the many containers we have on our deck, patio, and special feature areas in our landscape. Dahlias, taro, and cannas are especially showy all summer long in containers.To increase the number of blooms, I place Osmocote 19-6-12 All-Season Plant food once a season on the soil surface around each flower and soak the soil and foliage every two weeks with Bloom Booster water soluble fertilizer. Well-fertilized container and garden plants are much happier and produce many more flowers.

Is it time to apply crabgrass control products? No! Applying now, long before germination time, jeopardizes having all-season crabgrass control. The best time to apply lawn crabgrass preventer is when soil temperature is above fifty degrees at a two-inch depth. I make my application of Scotts Lawn Pro Crabgrass Preventer between April 20th and May 1st, and have always enjoyed excellent results.

If, when you are doing lawn chores, you notice moss in the lawn, now would be a fine time to control it. Moss grows well in cool, damp weather and can be killed easily with one application of Scotts Moss Control. After moss has died back, bring in a core soil sample to Wedel's for analyzing. If soil conditions are not corrected before planting the needed grass seed, the moss will return.Many folks who have shady lawns find that the grass has a tendency to thin out. This is often because the soil is too compact, which prevents grass roots from penetrating the soil and also provides an environment for moss to grow. Bring in a soil sample and we will test to see if there is a need for gypsum. Gypsum is an excellent material to add to heavy soil yearly to keep it soft and friable. This will allow the grass roots to grow deeper and encourages a thick turf that will repel moss.

Now that the snow is off the lawns, winter mole damage is very evident. If your lawn looks like a war zone with mounds of soil and tunnels throughout, I would suggest quick action. First, level the raised areas; a lawn roller will be very helpful. Next, spread Dylox for 24-hour grub control. Then spray lawn with Repellex Mole Repellent. This June, apply Grubex for 12-month grub control. A spray of Repellex Mole Repellent each October and May will keep moles out of your yard and gardens.