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Norfolk Botanical Garden's Gardening Tips
Courtesy of Bill King Courtesy of Shawnaree Smith
Have you seen our tips on WTKR Channel 3? Here for some more for you to try at home.
1 - 10 1. Keeping garden tools clean and in good repair can be a tough job, the constant contact with soil and water makes rust a perennial problem. To prevent rust, try filling a bucket with coarse builder’s sand and old oil. After you use your shovel or hoe, hose it down and stick it in the sand and oil a couple of times before storing it. The sand will get off any leftover soil, and the oil will coat your tool to prevent rust. 2. Make sure mulch isn’t piled too closely around the trunks of your trees and shrubs. Mice, voles, and rabbits love to live in these areas and will chew on the nutritious bark often killing the plant. 3. One of the best ways to keep your garden healthy is to keep your soil healthy. Yearly additions of compost work wonders on the garden. If you don’t compost at home, many stables will be more than happy to let you have their old horse manure. Horse manure is light and fluffy unlike the heavy black cow manure. You can tell if it’s been composted if there is no smell. 4. If your vegetable garden doesn’t produce as much as you would like, build some raised beds. An eight inch deep bed filled with compost and topsoil will greatly increase the productivity and ease of maintenance for your garden. 5. Control of insect pests on houseplants can be tough. If mealy bugs are a problem, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or Listerine to rub over the pest. You may need to do this over a couple of weeks to get rid of them all. Other pests such as aphids and whiteflies can be harder to deal with indoors. Move plants outside and spray the off with a high-pressure nozzle on your hose. Make sure to bring the plants back inside before the evening temperatures begin to drop.
6. Each hurricane season illustrates a few of the biggest problems with improper planting and early maintenance of trees. Many young trees snap off near the base because either the straps holding the root ball together are left tied around the trunk or the tree has been planted too deep. Other trees break where they have been left staked too long and the wires have girdled the trunk. Tree stakes should be removed within a year of planting. If the tree still seems to need staking, re-tie it each year to allow for continued growth and development. 7. Mosquito time is upon us again. Make sure you don’t have any old pots or containers lying around from your spring planting which can hold rainwater and support mosquito larvae. If you have a pond, large or small, put some fish in to help control mosquito larvae. Cheap goldfish from your local pet store will work just fine. Around living areas plant citronella scented geraniums to keep the pests at bay. These lovely foliage plants can grow to almost 3 feet in a season and work well planted in the ground or in pots. For the most effective use of them, plant them in decorative containers so they can be moved to wherever they are needed. 8. Don’t move houseplants straight out to bright sunny spots in the summer. Houseplants need to be acclimated to the harsh glare of the sun. Instead move them into a shady spot and slowly expose them to more sun. Many houseplants like weeping figs can be pruned now and will flush out new growth quickly with the warmth, water, and some fertilizer. 9. Keeping a mower blade sharp will help to keep your lawn looking green all summer. Dull blades leave a ragged edge which turns brown giving the turf a brownish-yellow cast. Use a file regularly on your mower blades to keep them in top condition.
10. To get the cleanest cut on your lawn slow your blade speed down. At high speeds, the blades tend to rip the grass while at lower speeds they cut the turf.
11 -20 11. Watch out for red spider mites. Hot, humid air and dry weather causes these little plant pests to multiply quickly. Look for foliage that is turning brownish or yellowish across its entire surface. Webbing may also be noticeable in bad infestations. If you suspect you have mites, hold a white piece of paper under the leaves and give the foliage a quick shake. If mites are present, you will see tiny dots moving around on the paper. Many plants are susceptible to mites, but some plants that get them often include butterfly bush and dwarf conifers. Spraying with a strong stream of water can reduce their numbers significantly, but best control is obtained from a miticide. Check with your local garden center for recommendations. 12. Once the leaf tips on your spring bulbs have died about 2 inches back, they can be cut to the ground. Don’t cut them early, they are storing up energy for next year. 13. Pinch back your mums and fall asters several times over the early summer for bushier habit and more flowers later in the season. If your annuals are leggy or are growing straight up without branching, pinch them also. This will help them fill out into respectable plants. 14. Hydrangeas are hot now and new forms, colors, and varieties are flooding the market. These old fashioned shrubs have truly entered the 21st century with gold foliaged plants, flowers doubled or edged with white and most excitingly, re-bloomers. These re-blooming varieties flower on new growth so they will continue to flower if they are deadheaded. In colder climates they will also flower even if they are killed to the ground. One of the best is called ‘Endless Summer’ which also appears to have very good fall color. 15. If you like to dry flowers but don’t have the time or space to use silica gel or hang them upside down in a dark room, try this easy method, cut the flowers just before they are fully expanded for best color, lay them flat in a box or other container preferably made of wood or cardboard, not plastic, and put them in the trunk of your car. After about a week they should be well dried and ready to use. Not all plants dry well this way so you’ll have to experiment. Yarrow, hydrangea, and some celosia seem to work well this way. 16. Harvest your herbs often to keep the plants bushy and healthy. Most summer flowering herbs such as thyme and lavender should be trimmed immediately after flowering. 17. New construction can be devastating to existing trees. Trying to remedy damage caused by construction is expensive and often simply cannot be done. Protecting trees before the fact is much more effective. Keep in mind that while damage to the limbs and trunk are the most visible, damage to the roots and soil environment are often the biggest problem. 18. Keep in mind that gardening should be fun. Learn to not sweat it if weeds get a bit out of hand during the dog days of summer. Once the weather cools, the urge to be out in the garden will surface again. Enjoy a hammock and a cool drink in the garden without thinking that plants need to be deadheaded or weeds pulled. Don’t make gardening a chore, it should be a joy! 19. Cut flower season is in full swing. Daisies, black-eyed susans, butterfly bush and others are filling the garden with color and begging to be brought inside. Some tips for keeping cut flowers longer include: cutting in the morning when plants are fully hydrated, letting your cut flowers sit in a cool, dark spot for several days or even overnight, and adding some lemon-lime soda to the water. Make about a third of the water the lemon-lime soda. The acidity and sugar in the soda help keep flowers looking good so don’t use diet. 20. Keep an eye on the water needs of your plants during these dog days of summer. Afternoon thundershowers may drop a lot of water, but most of that water will run off to storm drains. Newly planted material is especially at risk since their roots have not spread to the surrounding soil.
21 - 30 21. Frogs and toads are signs of a healthy ecosystem. Encourage these amphibious visitors to the garden to take up residence. They don’t have a lot of needs, except a pool of water and a place to live. You can make your own toad house by turning over a shallow clay pot with one side broken for a door or you can purchase one at many garden centers. Toads and frogs eat a tremendous amount of insects which will help your garden thrive. 22. Perennials that have already bloomed and are starting to look ragged can be cut to the ground now and allowed to produce more foliage. Spiderwort, queen of the prairie, and many catmints will appreciate this treatment. 23. Birdhouses whose residents have flown the coop should be cleaned out thoroughly now. They can be put back out or kept inside until late winter in anticipation of a new nest. 24. If you love gardening, but don’t have the space at home, volunteer at an area garden. Many public gardens, historic houses and other sites need dedicated people to help keep their plots in tip top shape. Tasks can usually be found to suit most anyone’s needs and abilities. 25. Make sure your hybrid tea roses are getting pruned now in preparation for their big fall show in a couple of months. Prune out dead or diseased wood, crossing branches and spindly, weak growth. Plants that have grown overly tall can be reduced by as much as a third. 26. Not all garden centers are the same! There are many wonderful nurseries in this area and across the state and it can be hard to tell which ones are the best. Here are a couple of methods I use to evaluate a nursery or garden center. The most obvious test is how good the plants look and how well tended is the sales area. Weedy, and excessively dirty nurseries are more likely to harbor insects and diseases than ones which are kept clean. Extent of selection is the next factor I look at. No nursery can carry everything, but a good selection of plants is important to make sure you can get the right plant for your yard. Perhaps the most important factor is how qualified is the staff to assist you. This can be hard to evaluate, but look for locations that boast Virginia Certified Horticulturists on staff. 27. Try to get your lawn work done either early in the morning or in the late afternoon to avoid the blistering heat of the day. No matter when you work, if you are in the sun, use some sun block. Too many lifelong gardeners find themselves with skin cancers due to repeated exposure to the bright sun. 28. Putting in a brick or paver pathway does not need to be too difficult if a couple of tips are kept in mind. Keep the scale of the paved area in line with the scale of the garden. Small gardens should not have large areas of paving or many different types or else they will look out of sync. As with most things in life, a good foundation is the most important key. Three to 4 inches of level sand or screenings will form a good base. Make sure to keep your pavers level by running a string line as a guide. Also make sure the sides of the pathway or patio are well supported. 29. As your herbs mature, gather them for drying regularly. Harvesting once per week is ideal. Keep your basil deadheaded. For most herbs, a well-drained soil will give the most flavor and scent. Do you know the difference between an herb and a spice? A herb is from the foliage of a plant, while spices are from the seeds, bark or other parts of a plant so some plants supply both herbs and spices. 30. Strawberries should be thinned out before fall. Remove all but 2 or 3 runners from your main plants for abundant, large fruits. If you have diseases on your fruit trees get rid of the affected fruit. Don’t let them sit under your tree as sources of infection for next year.
31- 40 31. Mid to late summer blooming trees can be hard to find if you move beyond crepe myrtles. Some shrubby plants work well when pruned into small trees at providing height and later season interest. The old stand-by, PeeGee Hydrangea with its large white snowballs makes a showy and distinctive small tree if trained upright when young. Butterfly bush can also be trained to a single trunk and grown as a tree. Look for vigorous growing larger, varieties like Opera rather than the more compact Nanho forms. 32. Keep deadheading your perennials. Energy which is used to make seeds means less energy for root production for next year in perennials and fewer flowers for annuals. Some exceptions to the deadheading rule are plants like California poppies and spider flower which need to re-seed themselves around the garden. People who enjoy feeding the birds may want to leave their purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan seed heads for the finches. 33. Moss can be a blessing or a curse in the garden depending on where it is. Moss on sidewalks can be a hazard, but bleach will kill it quickly. If you like the look of moss in the garden, try creating a moss garden. Put live moss and some buttermilk or yogurt in a blender and puree it. Spread the resulting mixture where you would like to grow your moss. Make sure it is shady and receives plenty of moisture. Once you have some moss established, fertilize it twice per year with a mixture of beer and buttermilk. 34. Start thinking about what you will do with your summer annuals once the weather turns cool. Most plants should be removed and composted, but some can be brought indoors as houseplants. Begonias, caladiums, coleus, and geraniums can all be kept this way. Before the weather begins dropping below about 55 degrees, dig your plants, trim them back and put them in a decorative container. Make sure they stay moist. Allow the plants to settle in to their new pots for about a month before fertilizing at half strength. 35. Some plants to spice up the late summer perennial border include October daphne (Sedum sieboldii) a silvery blue low clumping plant which flowers in fall as the foliage becomes plum purple, autumn minaret daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Autumn Minaret’) a yellow daylily whose flowers are held on 6 to 8 foot stalks, and toadlilies (Tricyrtis), woodland natives with intricate spotted orchid-like flowers. 36. Make notes of plants which have flopped over in the garden this year so they can be staked early next season. Once plants have fallen, it is difficult to get them to stand up again. Often a few stakes in the center of the plants with some natural jute twine around the plants works well. 37. If the seeds in your eggplants have turned brown, they are past optimum quality and should probably be thrown away. Harvest the next crop earlier. Seeds should be white and the skin should be fully colored. Stored root vegetables should have their green tops removed to prevent drying out of the crop. Pumpkins should be harvested with a few inches of stem still attached for greatest longevity. Remove vegetable plants which are no longer producing to reduce hideouts for plant pests. 38. When buying bulbs, size does matter! The larger the bulbs you buy, the better the display you will get. Bulbs store all the energy for the next season’s growth so splurge and buy top line bulbs for the most fabulous displays. When planting this fall, make sure to plant your bulbs right side up. If you aren’t sure which way is up, plant them on their side. 39. The typical fall garden is filled with mums and asters. These plants are great, but here in the warm southeast we can add more pizzazz to autumn displays with cuphea or cigar flowers, ginger lilies, and cannas. 40. Plant movement causes internal reactions which make plants stronger. If you grow tomatoes from seed, running your hand over the tops of young plants several times a day will lead to sturdier stems and stouter plants. Trees also need to be able to move. If a tree needs staking, make sure it is staked loose enough to allow it to sway in the wind. This creates what is called reaction wood which is stronger than other types of woody growth. As the tree ages, it will be better able to withstand heavy gusts.
41 - 50 41. Whether your vegetable garden is large or small, you can take the lessons from commercial farmers home. Planting a green manure such as winter rye or clover will help reduce erosion, nutrient leaching, and will increase beneficial soil microorganisms. Simply till this green manure into your garden before planting your vegetables in the spring. Talk to your extension agent for recommended planting rates. 42. Even small gardens don’t need to be without fantastic fall color. Many native shrubs provide great autumn tints. Fothergilla (Fothergilla major) and Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) are 2 of the best shrubs available for fall foliage. Both turn shades of orange, yellow, and burgundy. The Common Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) turns rich yellow and has the added bonus of bright red fruits. The hard to find, but worth the effort Alabama Croton (Croton alabamensis) is semi-evergreen, but the older leaves turn fluorescent orange. 43. If you want to completely renovate your fescue lawn, late summer is the time to kill off your old lawn, spread some topsoil to have an even surface and re-seed with a good tall fescue. It should be up and looking good in about 10 days, but don’t cut it until it is well established. Spread straw over the seed to help keep it moist and prevent runoff during fall rains. 44. Although food for birds is abundant during summer, you need to begin filling feeders early so birds will know where to come for food this winter. Try putting out a few different feeders at different heights, with different size feeder holes, and different foods to see how many types of bird you can attract. 45. If you have problems with a wisteria that never blooms, you can try root pruning it. Simply take a sharp spade and slice straight through the roots all the way around the plant 18 to 24 inches from the main stem. This will often induce flowering next season. Better yet, replace the often invasive wisteria with the native one (Wisteria frutescens). The selection Amethyst Falls is long blooming, always flowers even from a young age and does not escape from cultivation. 46. Rake up leaves as they fall. A clean garden is a healthy garden. Fallen leaves harbor insects and fungi waiting to come back out next spring, composting those leaves will kill off the detrimental organisms. 47. Fall fruits are an important part of the beauty of the late summer to winter garden. They provide color over a long period, add a different texture, and attract wildlife. Some of the best include the brilliantly purple hued beautyberries (Callicarpa spp.), red fruited winterberries (Ilex verticillata) and arrow-wood viburnums (Viburnum dilitatum) and the yellow fruited arrow-wood (V. dilitatum ‘Michael Dodge’). Other good fruiters are hawthorns (Crataegus spp.), crabapples (Malus spp.), and heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica). 48. Plants that are a continual source of problems with diseases and insects should probably be removed. They are usually infested because the growing conditions are not suitable for that particular plant. Instead of spending a lot of time, money, and energy dealing with these problems each year, remove the plant and replace it with something more suitable for the soil, moisture level, and sunlight of that area. 49. Onions which are being harvested for storing and use during the winter should be allowed to dry out for a week or a week and a half. This is ideally done in a warm dark place. The necks should become dry and the outer scales turn bright. Store them in a cool dark place. Ideally the temperature should be around 35 degrees. 50. You’ve been told to do it before, but have you yet? Take that soil sample and bring it to your extension agent! Soil samples will let you know what you need to do to increase the productivity of your soil. Take samples for your vegetable garden and your flower beds. If lime is recommended, incorporate that in the soil now. Other nutrients should not be added until the spring, especially nitrogen which will leach from soils fairly quickly.
51 - 60 51. Many wildflower seeds can be sown this fall for growth next year. Prepare the soil, and broadcast a uniform layer over the entire area. One secret for scattering your seed evenly is to mix it in a bucket with white sand. You can see where the sand has been scattered easier than the seed. After sowing, rake gently over the area to make sure there is good contact between the seed and the soil. Cover lightly with straw to prevent wash off from the rain and to keep the birds from having a feast. 52. Asparagus can be planted in late summer from root divisions. If your patch’s productivity has been decreasing it can be dug and divided too. The oldest portion at the center should be discarded since the perimeter areas of the patch will produce more. Newly planted or divided patches should not be over harvested next spring. 53. Apples and pears are ready to be harvested when they are easily removed from the branch. A quick twist of the wrist should have them free if they are at their peak. Brambles like raspberries and blackberries should have all of their old growth removed leaving just this year’s new canes. These canes are the ones that will produce next year. 54. If you have problems with your pond’s pump clogging up, consider replacing it with a biological filter and skimmer. These systems keep your pond clearer and healthier. 55. If white grubs are a problem in your lawn, treat them in the fall. Milky spore is one natural product which can get rid of grubs. It takes a while for this biological pesticide to become effective, so some shorter term remedies may be needed, Check with your local nursery center for recommendations. One benefit besides a healthier lawn will be fewer moles which like to feed on the grubs. 56. If you are in the market for a shade tree, but want to avoid as much leaf raking as possible, here are a couple of tips. Look for trees that have small leaves. Small leaves won’t damage your lawn as much as trees with large leaves that will mat in wet weather. Small leaves will also break down quicker. Some trees such as maples and zelkova tend to drop their leaves over a relatively short period while others like oaks drop them over an extended period. The trees which drop their leaves all at once can be raked up over the course of several weeks while the oaks require raking over a couple of months. Evergreen trees like pines can also be considered for shade trees. Their needles can be used as mulch when they fall.
57. Camellias can be used to brighten the fall and winter garden. The sasanqua camellias typically bloom in the fall and early winter while most of the larger Japanese camellias flower in mid winter to early spring. Although most camellias prefer light shade, they can be grown in full sun if given adequate water. 58. Most summer bulbs will winter fine out of doors in much of the Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina locales. If you live in a cool spot and want to make sure your bulbs survive until next year, dig them when the foliage begins to yellow. Cut the tops off about 2 inches above the neck of the bulb and allow them to dry on a wood surface for about 2 weeks. Dust them with sulphur and pack them in dry sand or sphagnum moss. Store the bulbs in a dark spot. If you dig more than one type of bulb, make sure each type is labeled and kept separate.
59. Some tender plants can be kept easily overwinter even if you don’t have room for potted plants indoors. Geraniums (Pelargonium) can be allowed to dry, removed from their pot, and hung upside down in a dark, dry spot which stays above 40 degrees. My grandmother used her attic rafter for her prize plants. Bananas can be dug, leaves cut off, and also placed in a dark, dry spot. 60. People often ask how to keep deer from eating their plants or which plants are “deer proof”. In reality there are 2 types of plants, those that deer eat first, and those they eat second. Since that is the case and most gardeners don’t want to limit their plant options, keeping deer away is perhaps the best option. There are many home remedies such as hanging bars of soap or bundles of human hair from branches and some chemical remedies. Any of these methods will become ineffective as deer begin to get used to them so alternate these deterrents.
61 - 70 61. Before you forget where everything was planted, make a map of your vegetable garden. By doing this each year, you can be sure to rotate your crops. This can be important even in a small garden. Different plants have different pests and disease problems and take up different amounts of nutrients. By switching where you plant your crops each year, some potential problems can be avoided or at least decreased. 62. One of the most important trends in gardening nowadays is Green Landscaping. These techniques help reduce water, air, and noise pollution as well as reducing the consumption of natural resources among other things. Some of its tenets include using a greater degree of diversity in the garden with an emphasis on natives, composting, avoiding and removing potentially invasive plants, creating wildlife habitats and using plants to help with heating and cooling needs. Green landscapes do not need to be wild gardens, but can be beautiful areas full of color. 63. If you have noticed something has been chewing on the leaves of your rhododendrons, you may have a problem with root weevils. The larvae of these pests feed on the roots of plants, while the adults chew on the leaves of several plants including rhododendron. You can plant resistant varieties such as PJM, a small, purple flowered variety or talk to your garden center about suitable chemical baits. 64. Keep an eye out for bagworms on your trees and shrubs. These will look like small cocoons made of dead pine needles or bits of leaves. Bagworms should be removed and destroyed by putting them in a plastic bag and tying it off. Arborvitae and junipers seem to be 2 of their favorite plants. 65. Turn over vegetable plots with heavy clay soils with a plow or spade. Leave the soil “rough” and add lots of organic matter. The rough soil will reduce erosion in cold weather will be more likely to affect hidden slugs. Organic matter should be already composted or chopped fine to hasten its breakdown. Sandy soils will also benefit from the addition of organic matter. 66. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when landscaping is that a homeowner’s needs change about every 7 years. If your landscape hasn’t changed in many years, you may want to think about your current needs. Children may be grown and gone, heavy lifting may be more difficult, or the neighbors that you wanted hidden by a huge hedge might have moved away. Consider how you would like to use your landscape and change things to fit those desires. 67. Collect seed from plants in the garden for growing on next year. Seed from tender plants can be brought indoors. Seed from hardy plants can be sown in trays or pots immediately and left outdoors in a bright spot, shaded from the afternoon sun. Keep the trays just moist and cover with screen to keep the squirrels out. You should have new seedlings in the spring, most of which should be ready to plant next fall. 68. Learn to get along with the bushy-tailed rats commonly called squirrels. Yes, they can tear up flower beds and plant oaks where you want tulips, but unless they are nesting in your attic, fighting them is a lesson in futility. There are so many squirrels that even if you trapped one every day of the week, more would be available to take their place. Try thinking of them as cute instead of a nuisance. 69. Don’t put houseplants on top of appliances like TV’s and refrigerators since these spots tend to stay too warm for most plants. These spots, if they have adequate light, can be used for starting seeds if a thick cloth mat or cork board is placed between the trays and the appliance. 70. Keep your houseplants clean by occasionally dusting the leaves. Fuzzy-leaved plants like African violets can be cleaned with a soft bristled paintbrush. Clean your terra cotta pots when replanting your houseplants. Soak the pots overnight in a vinegar and water solution, then scrub off the white fertilizer salt residue.
71 - 80 71. Lawns are the most costly features in the landscape over the long term. To keep them looking good they need frequent watering, fertilizing, liming, aerating, cutting and over-seeding. To cut down on time and money, not to mention the noise and pollution of mowers, consider removing your turf and replacing it with a low care groundcover or even mulch. Some groundcovers like dwarf mondo grass will mimic a turf lawn and tolerate light foot traffic. The initial cost of the groundcover can be a little high, but in the long run, you will save a bundle. 72. If you live in area that suffers from periodic flooding, proper plant selection is the key to having a landscape that will survive. Indian hawthorn, pyracantha, live oak, many junipers, and oleander are all good selections. If you must have roses, try the rugosa roses which grow naturally along coastal areas. If your soil is well-draining, irrigate it frequently and deeply after the waters recede to leach the salts out of the soil. 73. Poison ivy is the bane of many gardeners and nature lovers. It can be easily identified by its leaves which are composed of 3 leaflets. The leaflets can vary in size from about an inch to 5 inches. There are several other plants which are often confused with poison ivy and unless you are sure of your identification, it is probably best to avoid them all. The stems of poison ivy can cause rashes much like the leaves and need to be avoided even during the winter. These vining stems are easy to recognize because they adhere very tightly to trees and are covered with a multitude of hairy roots. Don’t touch these stems or burn them with firewood as the resulting smoke can cause severe rashes and internal problems if inhaled. 74. Use shredded paper in the compost bin. It breaks down in about the same amount of time that other garden waste deteriorates. Because of the colr inks used, you may want to avoid using shredded paper in compost destined for the vegetable garden. 75. Remembering what you planted in the flower garden from year to year can be difficult under the best of circumstances. Some people like the surprise of wondering what that plant is that’s popping out of the ground each year. Others who like a more ordered existence would rather know what each and every plant is. Labeling your plants will ensure that you remember what you planted and where. Old mini-blind slats cut into short strips make excellent labels. The plastic is UV resistant some they won’t turn brittle quickly and can be poked down to where they are hardly visible. Use a pencil to write your plant’s name since so-called permanent markers fade in a single season. 76. If you’ve planted spring woodland ephemerals such as the exquisite rue anemones, bloodroot, trilliums or other early spring woodland bloomers, make sure you mark the spot where these gems are planted. Most will naturally die back early in the summer and it is only too easy to forget where they are and plant on top of them in the fall. If you don’t want to ruin the naturalistic look of your garden with plastic tags, try placing a smooth stream stone by your planting. 77. If you like the tropical look, but don’t want to invest in new plants each year try some of the following: windmill palms – the hardiest of the tree type palms, angel’s trumpets – huge (12 inch) tubular flowers are a sure knock out mulch them well with pine straw over the winter, cuphea – the 1” tubular flowers are great for butterflies, and agave – many are perfectly hardy if given good drainage. Brightly painted wooden structures, pots, and benches will also contribute to the tropical feel. 78. Create a garden of moving gems by planting a hummingbird habitat. Look for plants with long tubular flowers in hot reds. Some favorites include bottlebrush, russelia, and bouvardia. Hummingbird feeders will also help attract these fascinating creatures. For the health of the hummers, make sure you clean the feeders out weekly and replace the food. 79. Lengthening the time between waterings for lawns combined with deep, heavy watering encourages root growth while reducing top growth in lawns. This increases the root-to-shoot ratio and produces plants that are more resistant to wilting when exposed to infrequent watering and high temperatures. In very sandy soils, do not wait too long between waterings and water less deeply to avoid unnecessary waste.
80 - 88 80. Don’t fertilize your fescue during the early summer, instead wait until the fall for these cool season grasses. Fertilers will promote excess tender growth in the spring, and lead to disease problems during the heat of the summer. Bermuda and zoysia lawns can be fertilized in spring however. 81. If you bought more vegetable seeds than you can use this season, save it for next year. Use an airtight container like a film canister and put it in the refrigerator. Make sure to label your containers with what type of seed is inside. 82. Be kind to the bees. Never spray chemicals when bees are active, instead spray early in the morning before they are out and about. 83. Aspirin is good for plants. The salicylic acid in aspirin is the same as that in plants which is used to activate the plant’s natural defenses against bacteria and fungi. Three aspirins dissolved in 4 gallons of water can improve the growth of plants tremendously. Aspirin water has also been shown to improve the germination rates of seeds. 84. Gardeners who don’t have much space, but who would like to grow some of their own fruit should consider growing plums. Store bought plums are often unripe, hard, and tasteless. While those fresh from the tree are sweet and juicy. Plums are ideal for small lots since the trees tend to stay in the 8 to 10 foot range. If planting only one, make sure to get a self fruitful variety otherwise plant a few different types. There are also some shrubby cherry plums which produce cherry sized fruits. All plums need plenty of sunlight for best performance. 85. As the temperature heats up, look for ways to make gardening easier. Drip hoses are great ways to water without wasting. They can be laid out permanently and turned on when necessary. Group container plants together to keep the humidity higher so they dry out slower. Do yard work early in the morning to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and take lots of water breaks. If your health isn’t the best, don’t worry if your lawn goes without mowing until temperatures drop a bit. 86. Remove the suckers from grafted roses (which means most roses), crepe myrtles and crabapples. These are the quite vigorous shoots that arise from the base of the plant. There are several sprays which are marketed to reduce the suckering of trees, but there is no good evidence that they are effective without affecting the growth of the rest of the plant. 87. Harvest bush beans when they're about six to eight inches long. Fillet bush beans can be harvested when they are even smaller. By harvesting beans when they are young, you will enjoy a more tender textured bean, and the plants will be encouraged to produce more beans. Planting another crop of fast growing vegetables like bush beans will ensure a harvest that continues into the fall. 88. Melons prefer a pH closer to neutral than many other plants. A handful of lime mixed into the mound where they are planted can help grow great cantaloupes, honeydews, and watermelons. |
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| CAMPS |
| SCOUT PROGRAMS |
| BIRTHDAY PARTIES |
| HORTICULTURE THERAPY PROGRAMS |
| CERTIFICATE PROGRAM |
| SEASONAL GARDENING |
| HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY |
| PLANT SOCIETIES |
| GARDENING LINKS |
| SPEAKER'S BUREAU |
| KIDS CLUB |
| EAGLE CAM |
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