Timely Tips from Over the Garden Fence
You can catch George Wedel on Over the Garden Fence, 9:05 am Saturdays on AM 590 WKZO.
And return here each week at www.wedels.com for the latest in Wedel's timely tips.
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TIMELY GARDEN TIPS FROM OVER THE GARDEN FENCE JULY 13, 2002 God blessed most areas of Southwest Michigan with a much-needed rain last Monday evening. The moisture arrived just in time to save the local field crops from disaster. We gardeners were given a few days reprieve from the daily watering routine we had become accustomed to of late. Experienced gardeners will make the most of the rainfall by irrigating before the soil dries again. Annual flower and vegetable plantings will lose valuable growing time with stop-and-go, wet-and-dry soil conditions. Get the most from your planting and tending efforts by maintaining steady soil moisture levels all summer long. Another note about soil moisture levels: even though gardens and field crops certainly benefited from the recent rainfall, there is still a landscape plant crisis. Drought conditions still exist in non-irrigated landscapes. Ornamental trees, shrubs, and evergreens that are of any value at all need to be irrigated at least every two weeks. Watering now is much more economical than replacing plants this autumn. Some gardeners, when looking forward to a vacation and leaving their gardens, cringe with the thoughts of what their lawn and gardens will look like when they return. Pre-planning and help from a neighbor or friend can soothe many concerns. Pre-vacation planning and care will assure that the needs of your prized plants will be met while you are away and will be ready to provide continued enjoyment upon your return home. · Move outdoor planters, hanging baskets, and houseplants to a single location near a water source. Choose a north or east location that provides afternoon and evening shade and is out of the wind. Grouping plants together will make it easier for your “plant sitter”. · Since you’ll be gone, why not pinch back any plants that have the habit of becoming “leggy”, such as petunias, coleus, and dahlias. Nipping back top growth and buds will encourage more compact plants that will bloom better upon your return. Another important tip is to fertilize all container plants with Schultz Bloom Plus soluble plant food just before leaving. · It’s a fact that weeds in the vegetable garden will grow faster when you are away on vacation. So weed your vegetable garden thoroughly and apply Preen Weed Preventer just before leaving. Invite your “plant sitter” the privilege of picking all the green beans and tomatoes. This will promote more blooms and fruits for your return. · Water all container plants, lawn, and flower and vegetable gardens thoroughly before leaving. Add mulch, if needed, to garden beds to retain moisture, control weeds, and keep soil temperatures cooler. · Set mower at highest setting to conserve moisture. Ask your plant caregiver to irrigate the lawn twice a week with ½ inch of moisture each time. · Deadhead most annual flowers in full bloom or past bloom, pinching off dead flowers keeps the plants from developing seed heads and going dormant. Dahlias, petunias, and lantana particularly appreciate this. The more often you pinch them back, the more flowers they will produce. · I think the best instructions for your houseplant caregiver would be the following: identify location of all indoor plants on a diagram. Ask that soil moisture needs be checked by touching the soil. Never allow plants to stand in a saucer of water. Check every houseplant for moisture needs twice a week. · Help your friends to help you by leaving written instructions for them. Group plants that need like care and label them appropriately with “water every third day” or “water only when soil is dry to the touch”. A word of caution; a willing caregiver is important, but even more important is the type and timeliness of care, so choose your volunteer carefully. · Now, “take off!” and have a great vacation! When you return home, I hope your garden, lawn, and landscape plants will look great. The following tips on summer rose bush care are from the American Rose Society. People who are busy trying to help their roses survive the hot, dry summer should remember that the most important thing you can do for your roses is to provide them with an abundance of water. It is most important to water your roses every day early in the morning. If your soil drains well, exceed the “gallon per day per plant” rule if you can. Soak the soil around the roses to ensure that the feeder roots are adequately drenched. You can expect your roses to lose some foliage, it’s natural for roses to shed their bottom leaves to favor the newer, upper growth. During periods of extreme, sustained heat and very little rain, don’t expect a heavy summer bloom. The grounds staff at the Rose Center get up early in the mornings to begin “rose hydrotherapy” for many of their 460 varieties of roses. When temperatures are in the 90’s, some “tender” roses need tender loving care. “Rose hydrotherapy” means overhead watering of bushes early in the morning by use of a direct flow nozzle, then going back over selected bushes using the shower mist setting. This will provide moisture and will help to get rid of spider mites, those pesky little bugs that thrive in this kind of warmth. Although overhead watering of roses is not something we normally recommend, it works well in extreme weather conditions. For healthy rose bushes, remember to spray Orthenex every ten days to two weeks to prevent and control insects as well as mildew and black spot diseases. Japanese beetles have begun their annual feast on many garden and landscape plants. Peak adult activity and feeding damage will be between July 15 and August 15. Favorite trees and vines include linden, crabapples, grape vines, raspberry plants, mountain ash, purple leaf plum, roses, red-leafed and variegated cultivars of Norway maples, canna lilies, and Amelanchier (serviceberry). These plants can be protected from skeletonizing damage with insecticide sprays. Early treatment before feeding damage becomes severe will greatly improve control because beetles are attracted to trees by the volatiles releases from injured leaves. Unfortunately, in outbreak areas, nothing seems to provide protection for more than four to seven days. Homeowners can use Sevin, Orthene, or Pyrethrin sprays. Gardeners may also want to consider using a neem oil product or insecticidal soap for an all-natural choice. Neem products will repel beetles, but will not kill them; soap sprays will kill beetles if the spray wets them. Soap and neem sprays will only be effective for one to two days. Black vine weevil and strawberry root weevil adults are now out. Watch for semi-circular notches on the edges of leaves, where the weevils have fed. Plans most often damaged by root weevils are rhododendron, strawberry, euonymus, and arborvitae. They are active at night, so you can also check with a flashlight after sunset. The most effective treatment for black vine weevil is two foliar sprays of Orthene, ten days apart. George Wedel |
Timely Tips
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09/21/02 |