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George Weigel Garden Tip of the Week: Dying Impatiens
Gardeners all over central Pennsylvania are seeing patches of their favorite annual flower keel over from a deadly new disease. It’s called downy mildew, and it threatens to wipe out impatiens as our go-to flower for shade. Video by: Christine Baker, The Patriot-News

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Gardeners all over central Pennsylvania are seeing patches of their favorite annual flower keel over from a deadly new disease. It’s called downy mildew, and it threatens to wipe out impatiens as our go-to flower for shade.

In this tip of the week, garden expert George Weigel tells midstate gardeners what to look for when diagnosing the plants. He also offers a less than ideal outlook for next year’s impatiens plants.

Curious if your impatiens in pots are in danger? Weigel tackles that question here.

Be sure to check out Weigel’s other tips and QAs from this week:

• No sweet fragrance in your garden? You need to know what the “Rose Nose” knows
• Fall planting? Don’t forget to add a few fun and decorative accessories
• QA: When is my trumpet vine going to bloom?
• Broadleaf evergreen as garden centerpiece
• More George Weigel tips and columns »

Look for George Weigel’s Garden Tip of the Week each Thursday at noon. George Weigel is the garden writer for the Patriot-News and also owner of a garden-consulting business for do-it-yourselfers, garden-tour host, frequent garden speaker, Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist and certified gardening nut.

In September, many gardeners look to plant and harvest a last blast of vegetables or to build their landscape design by adding new trees and shrubs in select locations outside their homes.

Jackie Riffice, owner and founder of Flossmoor-based Prairie Godmothers, which abides by the motto of “Protecting the Planet, One Garden at a Time,” offers some tips to avoid trouble in a wacky weather year. Since launching her business five years ago, she has become a trusted advisor for home owners looking to boost curb appeal or freshen up the look of their gardens.

Riffice noted a warm winter was followed by a wet spring in the Chicago metropolitan area. More recently, residents in the area have suffered through drought conditions, the result of a sizzling summer. In light of the conditions, Riffice suggests the following for fall gardening:

1. Plant cool weather vegetables such as radishes and all types of leaf lettuce. But wait until the weather turns consistently cooler and be prepared to water your plants often if extreme heat persists.

2. Plant bushes, shrubs, trees. But, again, wait until the ground is softer and easier to work with, the result of a couple of good rains.

3. Split and move plants such as hostas. Pick places to add new flowering bulbs.

“This is a good time of year to split hostas,” Riffice said. “If yours are boring, chances are your neighbors are boring as well. They were probably bought and planted around the same time, perhaps even from the same nursery.

“So, this is where you develop your own ‘Hosta Fest.’ You take out the hostas you don’t want any longer, split them and pot them and take them to a ‘show and share’ event you can plan with friends.

“It’s also a good time to go to a fine nursery in your area and see what’s out there, what’s new. Like I said, there are over 500 varieties (of hostas). So, this is the time to mix it up. So, you take your boring hosta and you add smaller, larger or silver-hue hostas and all of a sudden they’re not so boring anymore.

“You’ve added different leaf sizes and shapes and different colors. It takes a little bit of planning. If you can do it by sharing with friends and neighbors, all the better because it is not going to cost you anything. And it’s very fun to try and figure out who’s hostas you want.”

By Ron Kremer

PHOTO BY AMY ANDRYCHOWICZ

Protecting plants

Use sheets or light-weight blankets to protect plants from frost.

Amy Andrychowicz

Posted: Tuesday, September 4, 2012 4:30 pm
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Updated: 4:38 pm, Tue Sep 4, 2012.

GARDENING: Tips to protect plants from frost

BY AMY ANDRYCHOWICZ

Chanhassen Villager

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0 comments

Now that Labor Day is over and the kids are back in school, the weather will start to turn cooler. Soon we will have to worry about protecting tender garden plants from frost.

Our average first frost date is around Sept. 20, which means it’s time to pay closer attention to the forecast and keep an eye on the overnight lows. Frost can occur anytime the temperature drops below 40 degrees on a clear, windless night.

The first few frosts aren’t usually “killing frosts,” but even a light frost is enough to ruin sensitive plants and vegetable crops. Taking the time to protect tender plants from these early frosts can extend the growing season by a few weeks.

The most important plants to protect are sensitive annuals, potted plants and warm weather vegetables. Warm weather vegetables include plants like tomatoes, beans, peppers, squash, corn, cucumbers and herbs.

Cold weather vegetables like peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and others in the cabbage family, are frost tolerant and won’t be harmed by light frost.

Sensitive plants can be protected by covering them with some type of fabric. It’s best to use a lightweight fabric so it doesn’t weigh down the plants; I prefer using bed sheets. I’ve also used towels and light blankets when there weren’t enough sheets to cover everything.

The best way to cover the plants is to drape the fabric over them, and allow it to pool loosely on the ground around the base of the plant. The fabric will protect the plants from frost by holding in the heat that rises from the soil. I use clothes pins to hold the sheets closed so they won’t blow off if there’s any wind.

Here are some other tips for protecting plants from frost:

• Do not wrap the plant like a Tootsie Pop sucker; where the fabric only goes over the foliage, and then you seal it around the stem or base of the plant. This won’t protect the plant very well.

• Do not use plastic to cover the plants. Plastic traps more moisture than fabric and can cause more harm than good. If you must use plastic, use a support to make a tent over the top of the plants. Any part of the plant that’s touching the plastic will freeze.

• Bring potted plants into a porch, shed or garage overnight. You could cover them, but sometimes moving them is easier.

• Uncover the plants in the morning immediately after the threat of frost has passed. This is usually soon after the sun hits the area. Leaving plants covered too long in the sun can cause damage by overheating the plants.

• It’s easiest to cover your plants before it gets dark in the evening, but don’t worry if you don’t get your plants covered until after dark. The chance of frost is highest in the early morning.

• If a frost is predicted, water the garden well during the day. The water in the soil will heat up in the sun, keeping the covered plants warmer overnight.

Covering plants can be a lot of work, but it’s worth the effort to protect tender plants from frost. So if it seems the conditions are just right for frost, take the time to protect your plants; it’s better to be safe than sorry. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a frost-free September.

Amy Andrychowicz writes about gardening and is a Savage resident. She spends her spare time gardening, indoors and out. She also blogs at www.getbusygardening.com. You can email her at getbusygardening@gmail.com.

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012 4:30 pm.

Updated: 4:38 pm.

1) For an instant display you could try adding summer bedding plants to containers and borders. Petunia surfinia is a good choice and will bloom until the end of summer. Ensure it is grown in a sheltered spot in light shade.

Bedding plants do require a lot of watering so if you don’t have a lot of time, this may not be the best option.

2) There are many brightly-coloured perennials that flower late in the season, such as astilbe, helenium and phlox paniculata.

They will grow back every year and are a good way of ensuring your garden gets that extra splash of colour. As they get bigger, some perennials may require dividing or staking.

3) If you want to add late summer flowering plants to an existing border, try to buy a few of the same variety and colour and intersperse them throughout the border for a more subtle display.


4) Depending on how much space you have it may be worth creating a separate flower bed for late summer flowering plants.

This can help when you are deciding on colours and will ensure that as the flowers in the summer bed fade, they will be replaced by others in another part of the garden.

5) If you are planning on creating a bright display of warm coloured flowers, try to avoid too many pastel coloured blooms as they will be overpowered by the stronger shades.

6) Dahlias are a popular choice and come in different colours and varieties from pom-pom to cacti types. However, be aware that most dahlias need to be over-wintered inside as they can be susceptible to frost damage.

7) To brighten up containers and baskets, violas are another good choice. If you remember to deadhead them they should continue to flower until early winter.

8) To add some vertical interest to borders, consider planting crocosmia. It has upright, spiky leaves and orange-red flowers. A popular variety is Lucifer, which grows up to 120 centimetres tall and has bright red flowers.

9) It isn’t just plants that can brighten up borders and pots; shrubs with bronze, dark purple or burgundy foliage work well with yellow, red and orange coloured flowers. Berberis, heucheras and lysimachia ciliata are all good choices.

10) Japanese anemone is perfect if you have a low maintenance garden and will thrive in a shady spot. The plant produces large pink, mauve or white flowers, which should bloom until October. Anemones can become invasive and after flowering it may be necessary to split them up and plant in other areas of the garden.

For more information on late summer colour planting, call Northampton Garden Centre, in Newport Pagnell Road, Northampton, on 01604 765 725 or visit www.northamptongardencentre.co.uk.

The former Pussycat Doll is no stranger to hardwork, and that goes the same for her workouts. 

She explains: “I have to feel fit and strong to do what I do. I have a trainer in LA to keep me motivated and we do a lot of circuit training and weights.”

But it’s not all hardwork and no fun, we all know that the key to staying in shape is enjoying what you do, otherwise you’ll get bored and give up. 

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Nicole says: “Dancing has really transformed my body. I definitely recommend dance classes like Zumba, they’re such fun and I don’t feel like I’m working out.

“I choose exercises to match my mood. When I’m in the head space for Bikram yoga, that feels great to me.”

Her top tip for a flat and toned stomach has to be an exercise ball she says. 

“I love the results I get from using an exercise ball. I do sit-ups on them for my abs, and because it takes a lot of work to stay balances it really strengthens the core.”

Femalefirst Taryn Davies

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In his latest film Brian Hutchinson, plant advisor at Daisy Garden Centre here in Kirkbymoorside, offers some seasonal advice for gardeners.

Visit the Daisy Garden Centre website here.

Celebrate fall at Green Bay Botanical Garden .

Fall is a good season to do some planting.  Botanical Garden Director of Development Cindy Berton joined Good Day Wisconsin with some tips.

First, she says it’s a good time to plant fall grass seed.  Cindy explained whether or not you’ll need to fertilize your seed and why proper watering is key.

She also shared tips if you want to plant fall bulbs.  Tips include when in fall to plant bulbs and if they need fertilizer.

Green Bay Botanical Garden is also gearing up for its annual Art Harvest event.

It takes place Saturday, September 8, 2012 from 9 to 4 p.m.

Area crafters will showcase their garden art.

Vendor Mary McKeough shared her tree trinkets, while vendor Nancy Pierce showed her samples of her garden photography.

Days are getting shorter, and weather has cooled. Autumn is right around the corner. Follow these guidelines to help your garden and landscape transition smoothly from summer to fall.

Planting

» September is the best time to set out landscape plants. Shop early to find the nicest trees and shrubs.

» When planting containerized plants, try to be certain to disturb or “open up” the plants’ root ball.

» Set out new chrysanthemum plants this month.

» Plant pansies to add color to your yard in the autumn, winter and spring months.

» Groundcovers will become well established if planted now.

» Transplant any evergreen trees or shrubs that need moving this month.

» Plant the following fall vegetables in September: mustard, onion, radish and turnip.

Pruning

» Do not prune shrubs in September, October or November.

Lawn care

» Tall fescue lawns should be seeded this month. Remember to mulch the newly seeded areas with wheat or barley straw.

» Fertilize and lime your tall fescue lawns according to soil test results.

» Do not fertilize warm-season grasses like centipedegrass, Bermudagrass and zoysia now.

Propagation

» Spring flowering bulbs can be divided and replanted this month. Daffodils will be the bulbs that most likely need this consideration.

Specific chores

» Mulch your favorite landscape plants for the winter.

» Clean up garden sprayers and lawn equipment if not in use.

» Prepare houseplants to re-enter your home. Bring them inside a little each day and rid them of insect pests.

» If you do not have a fall vegetable garden, chop, burn, or discard dead vegetable plants.

» Look for spring flowering bulbs to plant in October.

For answers to your garden and landscape questions, visit http://iredell.ces.ncsu.edu or call the Iredell Cooperative Extension Service office at 704-873-0507.