TIMELY GARDEN TIPS FROM

OVER THE GARDEN FENCE

July 16, 2005

How thankful we are for the much needed rain this week! Although rain amounts varied, most neighborhoods received enough to relieve drought conditions for many plants. My dad would have called it a "million dollar" rain. Local farmers, a "crop saver" or "manna from heaven". No matter what we called it, the recent rains were truly a blessing. Irrigation keeps our lawns and gardens alive, but can't compare to a good soaking rain. Every garden I've seen is now performing better because of adequate moisture.

With soil moisture levels up, we are presented with a unique opportunity for summer planting. Perhaps now would be a good time to rip out those overgrown plants around the foundation of your home. If so, take a few snapshots before you begin your project and some after old plants have been removed. Take measurements of the area, then come to Wedel's for some free expert advice. One of Wedel's twelve Michigan Certified Nursery Specialists will be glad to help you plan and select new landscape plants that will give your home an up-to-date appearance. Remember, good landscaping adds more value and enjoyment to your home than any other project.

If you've noticed a few dull spots in your landscape that could use a pick-me-up plant, consider filling those locations with some showy ornamental grasses. There are many different colors, sizes, and heights of ornamental grasses for loads of exciting garden and landscape possibilities.

To accent a corner, or as a background for a perennial bed, Ravena grass, also called hardy pampas grass, would be a good choice. Ravena grass reaches ten or more feet tall.

Maiden grass grows to six feet in height and has a flower head in shades of creamy white to almost pink.

Zebra grass is another interesting choice that grows to about five to seven feet tall by August and has horizontal yellow bars on the foliage.

For great fall color, try Miscanthus Purpuresence, better known as flame grass. Flame grass is four to five feet tall, has cotton-like plumes, and turns a deep red with the advent of the first few frosts of fall.

A new variety of ornamental grass that deserves special attention is Miscanthus Bluttenwonder. Bluttenwonder has exceptionally showy plumes on four to six foot stalks.

Another ornamental grass in the same height range that would be a great addition to a prairie garden, is Heavy Metal Panicum, which has airy blooms on blue-colored four to five foot foliage.

Be sure not to overlook Morning Light. Morning Light has an upright nature and reaches four feet tall with its silvery, fine-textured blades.

There are many ornamental grasses that are great for rock gardens or to mix with other perennials. A few favorites in the dwarf, or accent, variety include Hamlin, Japanese Forest Grass, and Elijah Blue Fescue. Hamlin is about thirty inches tall and has pink wooly seed heads in mid-summer that last almost all winter. Japanese Forest Grass is great for partial shade and grows ten to fifteen inches tall. Elijah Blue Fescue grows to about one foot high with its spiky blue mound of leaves.

Wedel's carries twenty-four varieties of ornamental grasses to liven up any landscape or garden with their interesting foliage and plumes.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get the most enjoyment from your flower and vegetable gardens for the balance of the summer.

Flower thrips are very active now on many flowering plants, preventing blossoms from opening completely. Roses, dahlias, and gladioli are some of the thrip's favorites. Control thrips with sprays of Systemic Insect Control.

Look plantings over closely for red spider mite damage. Marigolds, impatiens, roses, euonymus burning bush, juniper, locust, and many other plants are exhibiting light brown foliage because of mite damage. Red spider mites can be controlled now with sprays of Systemic Insect Control.

Examine lilac shrubs now for mildew on the foliage. Lilacs suffering from white mildew-covered leaves can easily be cleaned up. An occasional spray of Funginex will keep your lilacs clean and green all summer.

Large holes in plant leaves? Flowers half eaten? Slugs are no doubt the culprit. Areas that receive frequent irrigation are sure to be infested with slugs. Favorite fare of slugs is hostas, dianthus, petunias, marigolds, dahlias, and impatiens. Control slugs now with Bug-Geta Plus bait pellets.

Almost every day, homeowners bring diseased samples for identification of myrtle, ivy, and pachysandra ground cover plants into Wedel's diagnostic center. Ground cover plants that are most often disease-infected are those that receive too much irrigation. Ground cover beds seldom need to be irrigated more than once or twice a month. To revive your groundcover beds, prune out all diseased stems and leaves. Spray pachysandra and myrtle plantings with Thiophanate fungicide, keep soil pH at 5 to 6, and fertilize with Tree Tone every October and May.

Many black raspberry plantings are infested with anthracnose, cane blight, and leaf spots. After the last picking, prune out and destroy all of this year's fruiting canes. Spray Pyrethrin and Liquid Copper and fertilize with Plant Tone. Be sure to pick up a free raspberry spray schedule at Wedel's diagnostic center.