TIMELY GARDEN TIPS FROM OVER THE GARDEN FENCE

June 12, 2004

What a great week we were given for enjoying our gardens. Every living thing in the garden and landscape is experiencing an explosion of growth. Never have perennials been larger or brighter, trees shown more growth, blooming shrubs more laden with flowers, and grass been more green. What a great time for green thumbers!

School is out for the summer and most folks are shifting into summer gear. We will have even more time to enjoy America¹s number one outdoor activity ­ gardening. Adding to the many reasons gardening is so popular has been the spike in gas prices. Gardening is so convenient; it¹s right at home, we don¹t have to make reservations, and it can be as intensive or leisurely as we desire. Gardening is healthful. Gardening improves our environment. And gardening is a way to lower your gas and auto expenses. It¹s only a short drive to Wedel¹s Garden Center to pick up enough plants and supplies for a great garden weekend.

As we walk through our gardens this morning, let¹s be on the lookout for these opportunities to keep our gardens green and growing.

--> Depending on what fertilizer was used in April and just how much rain your garden, lawn, and landscape received during May, additional feeding may be necessary. If your lawn is slightly off color and not showing strong growth, feed now with long-lasting Lawn Pro Super Turf Builder. If any perennial flowers look anemic, give them a shot of water-soluble Nursery Select Garden Growth Food. Give all of your container plantings a weekly feeding of water-soluble Nursery Select Container Growth Food. Rhododendrons, holly, and azaleas will have healthy, chlorotic-free foliage if fertilized every June and October with Holly Tone.

--> Be aware of the many plant diseases that are so prolific this year. Leaf, stem, and root damaging plant diseases get off to a great start during rainy spells. Check perennial and annual plants carefully and apply the appropriate disease control.

--> Insects are also very active this week. With rising temperatures, red spider mites are active on spruce, arborvitae, locust, juniper, roses, marigolds, hibiscus, and many other plants. Control mites with Ortho Systemic Insect spray, Horticultural Spray Oil, or Pyrethrin-Canola Oil spray. Slugs seem to be everywhere. If there appears to be more holes in the leaves of your hostas, dahlias, strawberries, cabbage, and other valuable plants, flowers, or vegetables, the culprits are most likely slugs. Control slugs with Bug-Getta pellets.

--> Warm, wet weather promotes the growth of unwanted fungi in lawns, gardens, and mulched areas. After raking, if these nuisance pests continue to reappear, spray the affected area with Consan fungicide. Toad stools, Fairy Ring, algae, and foaming slime can all be suppressed with Consan fungicide spray.

--> This week¹s MSU Plant Alert bulletin suggests that this is the week to spray ash trees to protect them from the Emeral Ash borer. Spray ash trees twice with Sevin now and again in early July. Valuable ash trees should have a yearly application of Systemic Tree and Shrub Insect Control placed at the base of the tree trunk in early October for twelve-month protection. Yearly feeding of Tree Tone in October is also important.

--> Juniper scale is now active. Check all spreading and upright Junipers for little white scales on the needles. If present, use a spray combination of Horticultural Oil mixed with Malathion for good juniper scale control.

--> Green two-lined plant bugs are feeding on a host of garden plants, causing circular brown spots on leaves. Geraniums, Blue Mist Spirea, chrysanthemums and viburnums are the first choice of plant bugs. Control two-lined plant bugs with a 10% Permethrin or Take Down spray. Rose chafers will be emerging very soon in most landscapes. In areas where rose chafers are abundant, watch for feeding on crabapple, mountain ash, roses, peonies, and a host of other flowers. Control rose chafers with a spray of 10% Permethrin.

--> Elm leaf beetle larvae are feeding on elm leaves now. Control elm leaf beetles and larvae with a spray of Sevin.

Fresh dug potatoes, just-picked sweet corn, sweet juicy tomatoes from your own garden. If May weather short-circuited your vegetable garden plans, there is still time to plant and have a good harvest. At Wedel¹s, we have a good supply of short-season sweet corn, green beans and other vegetable seeds as well as potato sets, herb plants, tomatoes and other vegetable plants. Don¹t miss that home-grown taste; plant some veggies today.

Let¹s talk now about pruning evergreens. Pruning is often a touchy subject; many gardeners feel that pruning involves some sort of mystique and is better left unmentioned and undone. Unfortunately, plants keep right on growing and if not pruned regularly, they soon loose ornamental value.

All too often, a plant with a mature spread of fifteen feet and a mature height of eight feet is planted where available space allows for a five-foot spread and a height of three feet. Then for the next decade or two, it is butchered to keep it within bounds and it adds little to the value of the landscape. The first point in discussing pruning is the suitability of the plant for the location. If a plant is destined to overgrow its location, don¹t prune it; replace it. Always consult with Michigan Certified Nursery Specialists for expert information on plant selection.

Junipers, yews and arborvitaes may be pruned freely. The best time is May through August. Junipers, yews and arborvitaes that have not received proper pruning when young and now are overgrown, will survive a severe pruning but will take two to three years to recover. Before this is done, replacement should be considered. When heavy pruning is called for, be sure to fertilize plants with Tree Tone fertilizer to encourage new growth and to achieve the desired shape.

Long-needled evergreens such as pines, spruce, and fir should be pruned in June or early July. Long-needled evergreens are normally only pruned when young so branches will be closer together and the tree will be more balanced. Never prune back beyond the current year¹s growth on pine, spruce or fir.

Concerned about water use and the time it takes to irrigate? Consider investing in a Rain Drip drip watering systems are the most efficient way to deliver moisture with the least amount of waste. At Wedel¹s, we stock an extensive selection of drip irrigation products including low-flower landscape sprinklers, in-line drip and spider drippers, drip-a-long lines for flower and vegetable gardens, soil soakers for trees and shrubs, pot and container drip systems, soil soakers and many parts. Save time, money, and water with a Rain Drip garden or landscape drip irrigation system.