TIMELY GARDEN TIPS FROM

OVER THE GARDEN FENCE

MAY 10, 2003

The recent rains have turned our world green! Green, green, beautiful green! After a long winter of brown and white, what a joy it is to be surrounded by spring green. I think, at times, we take for granted the importance of green in our lives. The green dressing of leaves, mosses, and grass in our surroundings is truly a blessing from God. Just think how dull our landscape would be without green. Green trees provide the needed background for effective landscaping. Green perennials and shrubs provide contrast and support the other colors in our gardens. Lush green lawns are the foundation for the entire landscape - tying all the elements of the garden and landscape together. In addition to the beauty of green foliage, we should be thankful for the great fresh air it helps provide. There are many facts that encourage a better appreciation of healthy green lawns, shrubs, and trees. These plants produce the oxygen that we all need, they cool the atmosphere, reduce noise pollution, trap airborne dust, pollen, and other pollutants, they act as a natural sponge to filter water, and very important is the roll plants play in curbing soil erosion.

There is no better season to access the positioning and care of the green elements of our landscape. Are background trees placed where they will be most effective? If not, remove them and plant new trees. Are all ornamental shrubs performing as expected? If not, spring is planting time for them also.

Don't overlook the nutrient needs of your trees and shrubs. Just because they might be established plants doesn't mean that they don't need to be fed. Yearly feedings of all trees and shrubs with Tree Tone will help keep them help keep them healthy and growing.

How did your lawn look last summer? Was it thin and weedy; did the brown spots outnumber the green areas? Improve turf grass soon before the hot weather sets in. If you would like help greening up your surroundings, check with the professionals at Wedel's Nursery, Florist & Garden Center. Our Michigan Certified Nursery Specialists, Lawn Pros, and Master Gardeners are available to assist you.

So far this spring, I'm sure most gardeners would rank the spring growing season very high. Magnolia trees have blossomed well. Crab and Redbud tree blooms are truly beautiful this year, woodland wild flowers have lasted very well, and tulips, daffodils, and other spring flowering bulbs have been outstanding. The wonderful spring weather also affords us "green thumbers" a long, nearly perfect planting season. Ideal temperatures and adequate moisture levels have been a boon for those folks that have wanted to install new lawns, trees, shrubs, evergreens, vines, ground cover plants, fruit trees, berry vines, and perennial flowers. Those who have planted already are seeing great results from their labors.

As the super spring weather continues, let's look at some great opportunities to help your lawn, garden, and landscape look its very best.

When shopping for a new flowering tree for your landscape this spring, be sure to consider the new and improved varieties of flowering crabs at Wedel's Nursery. The varieties we now offer are leaf disease resistant. We also sell varieties that will never bear fruit and many that have small fruits that seldom fall off and will attract wild birds in the winter.

Many early flowering tulip, daffodil, crocus, and hyacinths have finished blooming. To help spring flowering bulb plants develop a good flower for next spring's enjoyment, be sure to remove all spent flower stalks now. Then soak plants and soil with Schultz Bloom Plus plant food now.

As garden soils dry and garden rototilling can continue, many folks will be planting vegetable plants and seeds. While waiting for soil to dry, why not kill off all the weeds? A few days before tilling, spray Kill-Zall to eliminate all grasses and broadleaf weeds. A clean start will make garden maintenance much easier this summer. When planting vegetable gardens, be sure to incorporate Plant Tone in the soil. Working Plant Tone into the root zone of flower and vegetable plantings will add to plant vigor, blossom, and fruit production.

The "green thumber's" frost-free date for this part of Southwest Michigan is May 15. experienced gardeners are weather-wise - they will plant their above ground planters and pots now and cool-tolerant plants and seeds in the garden. Snapdragons, petunias, and alyssum are examples of annual flowers that can be safely set in the ground now. Peas, potatoes, lettuce, radishes, cabbage, broccoli and onions are vegetables that can be set out now. Don't succumb to the desire to enjoy the early blooms and fruits of summer by planting plants that require warm soil. Wait a week to ten days to plant sweet corn, beans, squash, melons, tomatoes, begonias, impatiens, zinnias, cockscomb, and other warm season plants.

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned not to prune winter-damaged plants until it was evident just how far back they had died. Now that we're getting new growth on many plants, it's time to prune off winter-damaged stems and leaves. Prune back to green growth and then fertilize. It is so important to fertilize winter-damaged plants to restore them to good shape and good health.

Eastern tent caterpillars are now active on cherry, plum, cotoneaster, and other susceptible plants. Control tent caterpillars with a spray of Ultra-Safe Spinosad.

Folks with pine tree plantings in their landscapes should be on the lookout for the annual pine saw-fly larvae hatch. These are the little fellas that strip the needles of Scotch, Austrian, and red pine. A spray of insecticidal soap, Sevin, or Pyrethrin will control pine saw-fly larvae.

In many of our landscapes, we find it difficult to keep plant foliage green, regardless of how much fertilizer we apply to various plants such as roses, clematis, rhododendrons, hollies, azaleas, and pin oak. Consider using Ironite. Ironite is a granular material chocked full of natural minerals. This product will help plants to develop stronger, deeper root systems and help plants fight against diseases and, of course, give our plants excellent green color. Ironite contains not only nitrogen, but calcium, magnesium, sulfur, cobalt, iron, manganese, and zinc. These are micro-nutrients that plants many times are desperate for and are seldom available in conventional fertilizers. Replenish vital trace elements with Ironite.

Established roses are beginning to show good growth and should be sprayed to control black spot, mildew, and insects. Spray roses now with Orthenex for healthy, disease and insect-free rose plants. Roses are ready for their second spring application of Espoma Rose Tone. Fertilizing with Rose Tone now will assure better blooms in June and July.

This is a great time to kill broadleaf weeds in lawns. The very best broadleaf weed control is Weed-Out Trimec Lawn Weed Control. I always add a spreader sticker to the spray for an even better kill. Remember, when using a turf weed control, always be sure there is adequate soil moisture. Spray when winds are calm because any drift can kill valuable plants.

Now, if these projects aren't enough, a visit to Wedel's will surely inspire you. There are more blooms to dazzle both new and experienced gardeners than any other time of year. And don't forget to buy your favorite mother a flower for tomorrow - her special day.

George Wedel