Gardening-Advisor Sept 2005

What's in this Issue:

#2 Lynne's Backyard Gardening Tips

#3 New Gardening Product of-the-Month

#4 Odd & Strange Gardening News

#5 Great Plant of the Month

#6 Invasive Plant of-the-Month

#7 Garden Pest of-the-Month

#8 Feedback - Anonymous

#1 Master Gardening Tips

Fall Gardening & Preparation

As fall draws near it is time to begin thinking about what needs to be done to your plants, flowers, tress and shrubs to make sure they are winter ready. This is when you plan for the next spring by preparing your garden, protecting plants, maintaining gardening equipment, among other things.

There are different reasons for interest in Fall Gardening.

{1} You really want to grow some veggies, plants or flowers in the fall.

{2} You are preparing bulbs, seeds and perennials for the spring.

{3} You are protecting your garden over the winter.

{4} You are cleaning up & setting the stage for a fresh start next spring.

Depending on what country you live in (and what specific region within your country) changes in seasons occur at different times, rates, and manners. You can consult such maps as the USDA Pant Hardiness Zones Maps, or other worldwide reference guides to determine your exact climatic conditions.

The great thing about treating your gardens on a regional basis is that you can know what to plant when. It all varies and eventually you’ll reach the time of the year to “Put Your Gardens to Bed”.

Obviously if you are in a “warm winter climate” you have different planting options in the fall and winter than a person living in “cold winter climates”. Neither is better than the other, just different in you’re your approach for outdoor gardening activities.

Some of the specific fall gardening activities that are good include:

• Dividing your perennials
• Transplanting trees & shrubs
• Planting your bulbs
• Preparing your lawn for the winter

Other Plant & Flower Over-Wintering Tips Include:

• Choose a sunny or partial shade area
• Soil must be moist
• Enrich soil with plenty of organic matter
• Make sure there is good drainage for your plants
• Insulate roots with mulch around plants base

Fall Gardening Checklist

Master Gardener - James R. Cannon

More Detailed Fall Gardening Checklist:

There are many different goals and activities you can choose to undertake as fall approaches. Your can go from doing nothing to a full scale work-over of your gardens. To help you think of the many possibilities read the following list of potential activities:

{1} Prepare your gardens soil

{2} Fertilize plants and flowers as recommended

{3} Apply dormancy fertilizers to shrubs, trees, vines and ground cover

{4} Add any mulch for winter protection to all plants, trees and shrubs

{5} Rake and remove fallen leaves and debris

{6} Remove Annuals damaged by frost and other causes

{7} Replace spent annuals

{8} Plant and put mulch around hardy annuals

{9} Divide and transplant your perennials

{10} Cut back spent perennials and biennials

{11} Transplant roses

{12} Plant bare-root roses

{13} Plant bare-root trees, shrubs, ground covers and vines

{14} Dig and store tender bulbs

{15} Plant spring bulbs

{16} Sow seeds for your succession plantings

{17} Clean and sharpen tools and store in safe dry places

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Why is this an issue? There are several factors beyond pure temperatures that go into whether a plant or flower will grow and thrive in a particular region. Other important things in addition to temperature affecting plant growth are:

• Heat
• Rainfall
• Frost
• Sunlight & length of day
• Altitude
• Soil Types (including pH levels)
• Day time temperatures
• Micro-environments
• Others…

#2 Lynne's Backyard Gardening Tips

Perennial Hanging Baskets

Use a variety of perennials to create a hanging basket that you can use from year to year. Last year I used Lamb’s ears, Lantana, Johnny Jump-Ups and added an asparagus fern in the spring when I was ready to hang up my baskets for immediate impact.

Try to vary the flowers bloom time so that you can have instant color and then color all summer. You can add whatever annuals you like once you have the basic perennials established.

In the winter, I just put the baskets right in my flower garden so that they would be in their natural environment. In the spring, I just picked off the dead leaves, pulled out what soil I could, added new soil, planted a few annuals and hung them up. The Lamb’s ears were already nice, as well as the Johnny Jump-Ups.

By the end of the second season, you will probably need to remove some of the plants and plant elsewhere (maybe a perennial flower box). Make sure you fertilize as usual during the growing season. I found that because they were perennials, I did not have to water my baskets everyday because they were already adapted to dry conditions. I tried to choose ones that were basically drought tolerant.

Mother Natures Fountain of Youth

Perennials Introduction:

Perennial flowers can grow and bloom for several years. Some have shorter lives of only 3-4 years. In the fall these flowers die but the root system stays alive through the winter. In the spring you are rewarded because the flower grows new leaves from its roots and the cycle continues.

Advantage of Perennials - They do not have to be planted every year. Once you do the work of getting them established they will reward you for years.

Disadvantage of Perennials - Many perennials only flower for a few weeks each year. Imagine the heartache if you planted an entire garden with perennial flowers that all bloomed & died in that same 2 week period.

Planning Your Perennial Garden

Your goal should be to plant a variety of perennials that will bloom at different periods throughout the entire growing season. This will allow you to have a beautiful garden all the time.

#3 Product of-the-Month September 2005

Lesche Digging Tool

New York Firemen and other clean-up personnel were using a variety of imported hand tools to help dig but had poor results with tools breaking and bending. A local Fireman from Long Island was having great success with the Lesche Digging Tool which did not break or bend under the heavy stress loads. The result was the eventual order of over 1,200 tools.

The ultimate digging tool...does the job of trowel, knife and tiller. It is used for landscaping, metal detecting, camping and nursery use. The list could go on for users of this well-designed tool. Razor-sharp serrated teeth along edge of blade quickly cuts through roots, weeds, vines and sod. Use the knife blade on the other side for cutting burlap, weed mat or twine. Blade is welded to the handle at a right angle to give you better leverage when prying and digging up hard packed soil. An alloy steel blade is heat treated and tempered for long edge life and resists rust. Included with this great product is a Cordurra nylon belt holster to safely carry the tool at your side. It also has a very comfortable vinyl handle for a sure grip.

Specifications of Tool:

Specs: Item #48 Blade length: 7" Width: 1- 3/4" Overall length: 12" Weight: 6.4 oz.

For 42 years now, W.W. Manufacturing Co. has been creating custom made quality products for the nursery and landscaping industry. Known to most as the King of Spades or Lesche Products, W.W. Mfg. has set the industry standard in design and quality for spades and rakes nation wide. With a Five Year No Breakage Guarantee offered on their spades, this truly makes them the "The King of Spades."

W. W. Manufacturing Co., Inc.'s founder, Walter Lesche, emigrated from Germany to the United States of America in l952 where he worked in the welding and machine shop of the world's first frozen food processing plant. While working there he began establishing himself in the local agricultural/horticultural community as an innovative problem solver. This reputation followed him when he began his own business, Walt's Welding, out of his garage in the mid-l950’s. It was here and in future years, working closely together with growers, that the seeds of many of his later innovations and inventions took root.

In l964, Walt’s Welding moved to its current location and later became known as W. W. Manufacturing Company, Inc. In the late l970’s, Walter began development of a spade with a replaceable blade and non-breakable all-steel handle, which he later patented. This is the KSC-S, the spade with the connector handle and the replaceable blade; “replace the blade, not the spade.” This spade was unique in that it came with an unconditional five-year guarantee against breakage. The production of this spade led to the development of over two dozen other spades and shovels in what came to be known as the “The King of Spades” product line. In the early l990’s Walter introduced the Dura Rake™, an all-steel, welded garden rake made from aircraft alloy steel for lightness and heat treated for strength and durability. As with the spade, the rake was also field tested with local nurserymen and landscapers.

In addition to spades, the complete product line has grown to almost one hundred different items such as shovels, rakes, nursery carts, custom tracking wagons and other tools for the horticultural and landscape industries. There is also a specialty line of digging tools for the hobbyist. In effect, then, W. W. Mfg. Co. today is a perfect example of the traditional American immigrant legend: Walter Lesche came to the USA penniless, unfamiliar with the English language, but through hard work and ingenuity created and sustained an ever-growing business that contributes to American know-how for individuals and in the gardening and landscaping profession.

Website for W.W. Manufacturing Company is: www.wwmfg.com

#4 Odd & Strange Gardening News

Corpse Flower

The Corpse Flower is native to Sumatra, an island in the Indonesia. It thrives at the edges of rainforest near open grassland. This flower grows well under a thin canopy to get both the benefits of the rainforest as well as sunlight. Also, there is enough space for the plant portion to grow 20 feet high, 15 feet across, and 170 pounds in weight.

For all its grandeur, the actual flower only stays for 2 days on average and then disappears for another 1-3 years.

The cause of such horrible smells are due to the flower’s odor chemicals which are still being studied. More than likely there are sulfurous chemicals present that are also responsible for the smell of rotten eggs. It’s also noteworthy that the smells come out in waves. One minute there is the smell of rotting fish or animals and the next is the aroma of rotting pumpkins.

#5 Great Plant of the Month

Lantana Flowers

There are many colors of Lantana including white, yellow, purple, pink and orange and even red. Some varieties are spreading such as the yellow and some are small bushes like the purple and white and then some are very large like the orange and pink (up to 6’ high). Golden yellow and the orange seem to come back the most vigorous the next year. The other varieties come back but are not as showy. One golden yellow plant can cover a 4’ section in one season.

For those of you looking for a flower to add to your butterfly garden, this festive plant is a must, it will be covered all day long with butterflies, bees, and even hummingbirds.

Propagation of lantana is by seed or cuttings taken in the summer months. This tropical plant is killed back to the ground at 28 degrees F, but will gladly come back in the spring. There are different theories on cutting back the dead stems in winter. I have tried all of them and for me it doesn’t seem to matter, they always come back. The theories are: Cut back before the first freeze, cut back after the first freeze and don’t cut back until spring for fear of water getting into the hollow stem and freezing the roots. As with most gardeners, their way is “the way”, but you’ll just have to try for yourself to establish “your way”.

#6 Invasive Plant of-the-Month

Purple Loosestrife

Purple Loosestrife is one of those flowers that is considered a “Weed” because it is so invasive everywhere it gets established. It is actually a wetland (perennial) herb that grows from 6-8 feet in height. It does best in the following places:

• Sunny wetlands
• Around ponds and ditches
• Wet prairies
• Along streams
• Moist fields and pastures

Purple Loosestrife is a problem because of it’s aggressive growth ability. A single plant can produce up to 300,000 seeds which are distributed by animals, water, and wind. In addition to seeds production, Purple Loosestrife reproduces by cuttings and offshoots as well. It has a persistent tap root and spreading root stock that turns into thick & woody roots as it matures.

This plant is so aggressive that it crowds out native plants that are used as food for wildlife. To make matters worse, it can destroy marshes and wet prairies and completely choke off waterways. This is why control measures must be taken before too much damage has taken place.

Purple Loosestrife was introduced to North America from Europe in the early 1800’s in ship ballast. It was also brought in to be used as a medicinal herb as well as a decorative ornamental plant. When you see a field of Purple Loosestrife you’ll admit it is beautiful despite its invasive nature.

No native herbivores or pathogens in North America are known to suppress this plant. Best ways to control Purple Loosestrife is by physically cutting (by hand or mechanically) or by use of herbicides. There is another method that is being looked at that would make use of native control measures. Since this plant is from Europe that’s the natural place to look.

There are insects native to Europe including a root-mining weevil and a leaf-eating beetle that are natural enemies to Purple Loosestrife. Attempts are being made to introduce these to some North American areas to test the results. They both work to kill the plant in these ways:

* The root-mining weevil lays eggs into the stem of the Loosestrife and the developing larvae work their way down into the roots where they feed extensively on the root tissue. Also, the adult weevils feed on newly formed leaves.

* The leaf-eating beetles affect the plant by feeding on the newly formed leafs while their larvae feed on the buds, leaf, and stem tissues.

Benefits of Purple Loosestrife:

First of all, it’s a beautiful flowering plant that does come back year after year. Seriously, if you have an area that is barren or flooded a lot this could be an interesting answer if kept under control.

Beekeepers consider the late season flowers of Purple Loosestrife as a good source of nectar and pollen for bees over-wintering. A field full of Purple Loosestrife would guarantee a field full of beneficial bees.

There have been medicinal uses for purple loosestrife that date back to the 1st century. Tonics and potions made from Purple Loosestrife have treated ailments including bleeding (internal & external), healing of wounds & ulcers, and dysentery.

#7 Garden Pest of-the-Month

Slugs - Garden Pest

Slugs are really pretty disgusting little creatures that love to feed on the plants in your yard or gardens. They eat large ragged holes in the leaves of your plants and can also completely consume young seedlings. Slugs go into action and begin feeding early in the spring and will continue to do so throughout the growing season until the first frost.

Slugs have both the male & female sex organs and each carry eggs in their own bodies. They can lay up to 300 eggs at any time but do so mostly in the spring or fall. The eggs come in clusters of 25 and hatch in about 30 days. If conditions are not just right the eggs will remain unhatched until conditions are just right.

In little time these slimy creatures can multiply and become a real problem. Slugs reach adult size in 3-12 months and can live for several years. Although they need substantial moisture, they are survivors and can burrow as deep as 3 feet into the soil to make it through a drought period.

There are many methods for controlling slugs. One popular slug buster is the use of beer. Really, they love the fermentation and will drink, become intoxicated, and drown. And believe it or not, they have a preference in their beers. The top 3 according to a study by Colorado State University are: #1- Kingsbury Malt Beverage; #2- Michelob; #3- Budweiser.

#1- Common Garden Slug: This is a 1 inch dark skinned slug with a light stripe along its side. It likes to borrow into the soil and feed on root crops.

#2- Grey Field Slugs: This slug is grey to tan in color and had dark spots with a light colored belly and a dark streak down the middle. It is about 1-1.2 inches long and prefers lettuce, cabbage, and nearly anything.

#3- Black Slugs: These are large at up to 6 inches long. They have rough bumpy skin, a light colored foot, and are mostly black but can also be brown or red. They prefer tender seedlings and leave more mature plants alone.

Slugs travel by means of a large foot that glides over a trail of mucus slime that is secreted from glands located under their head (sounds like something from a scary movie). The slime produced provides a cushion over rough areas. The slime also acts as a trail marker for the slug so they can return to their favorite feeding and hiding places.

During the daytime slugs seek protection from the sun and heat in cool damp locations including under leaves, stones, boards, flower pots, and other such spots. There are many ways to effectively remove or get rid of slugs from your yard or gardens. Usually a combination approach is best.

A few of the ways to control slugs are:

• Disrupt their slime trails
• Eliminate their hiding places
• Create dry conditions
• Create barriers to entry
• Use of Chemicals (sprays & dust)
• Introduce natural predators
• Use of slug traps
• Hand removal

Slug Control Methods

Copper Strips: For some reason the copper will give slugs a jolt of electricity and repel them. Make sure the strips are at least 2 inches wide for best results.

Hair & Fur: These materials tend to entangle the slugs and eventually strangles them.

Sharp, hard Textures: Lava Rock, Sandpaper, Shingles, Eggshells, Builders Sand, Nut Shells, and Pine Needles. Any hard sharp product that cuts the slugs as they travel.

Certain Plants: Certain plants are slug proof including: Chicory, Azaleas, Basil, Daylilies, Daffodils, Evergreens, Fennel, Foxglove, Garlic, Holly, Mint, Parsley, Pumpkins, Sage, and Sunflowers.

Predators to Slugs include:

* Ground Beetles, Toads, Frogs, Lizards, Turtles, and Garter Snakes.

* Blackbirds, crows, ducks, owls, robins, and others.

Sprays & Dust include:

Iron Sulfate: Kills slugs on contact with a mix of 2 teaspoons of iron sulfate to 2 quarts of water.

Ammonia Spray: Mix 3 ounces of ammonia to 16 ounces of water for the best formulation.

Talcum Powder or Flour: Dust your plants with this.

Isopropyl Alcohol: Mix 8 ounces of 70% rubbing alcohol with 1 quart of water and spray onto plants. Be careful because some plants are sensitive to this.

Slug Traps:

Beer Traps: Put beer into a container and leave out in garden. The slugs will become drunk and drown. Note: Put some escape twigs into the trap so beetles can climb out.

Crop Leaves: Use all sorts of leaves including lettuce to catch slugs and then to dispose of them.

Boards: Use flat pieces of lumber and pull them off each morning by hand.

Slugs are slimy creature that will eat your plants and multiply quickly. Get control of them early to avoid the extra mess and hassles.

#8 Feedback - Anonymous