Posted: Friday, April 12, 2013 10:31 am

Gardening Tips: Where’s all that pollen coming from?

0 comments

It looks like I made it back from my trip to Arizona just in time for the start of spring pollen season. Those of us who suffer from allergies dread this time of year, but before you go cutting down every flowering plant you see, let’s look at where the pollen comes from.

Subscription Required

An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.

You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.

Have an online subscription?

Login Now

Need an online subscription?

Subscribe

Login

Or, use your
linked account:

Current print subscribers

• 
  1
  
  Print Subscription AccessNo additional cost.
  

  This digital subscription is included in the print delivery subscription. You will
  need to locate your account number to validate your account.

Need an account? Create one now.

You must login to view the full content on this page.

Or, use your
linked account:

© 2013 Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Thank you for reading 10 free articles on our site. You can come back at the end of your 30-day period for another 10 free articles, or you can purchase a subscription and continue to enjoy valuable local news and information. If you need help, please contact our office at 252-537-2505.

You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.

Have an online subscription?

Login Now

Need an online subscription?

Subscribe

Login

Or, use your
linked account:

Current print subscribers

• 
  1
  
  Print Subscription AccessNo additional cost.
  

  This digital subscription is included in the print delivery subscription. You will
  need to locate your account number to validate your account.

Need an account? Create one now.

• 
  Discuss
  
• Print
  
  
  

Posted in
Columns

on

Friday, April 12, 2013 10:31 am.

WSIL — April is ‘National Gardening Month’ and now is the perfect time to divide and transplant your perrenials from one place to another. Here are some helpful tips in safely moving those delicate flowers to different areas of your home or yard.

— Transplant when the weather is cool, and even a little rainy. Try to avoid hot and windy days. This type of weather causes the plant to suffer more moisture loss during the move.

— Dig the new hole before you take the plant from the ground. Mixing organic material, such as compost or shredded leaves, into the soil will help provide extra nutrients.

— Dig a large hole under and around the plant using a sharp edged shovel or spading fork

— Take as much of the root ball as you can when you lift the plant. If you can’t put it in the soil right away, cover the root ball to help prevent moisture loss.

— Place the plant in the new hole at the same level it was before you moved it. Be sure to gently pack the soild around it otherwise air pockets around the roots will cause them to dry out.

— Water your newly transplanted perennial well. Also, check the plant’s water needs every other day and add water when the top two or three inches of soil becomes dry.

For more tips on gardening, click
HERE

Spring is in the air, and the thoughts of many have turned to gardening.

A pair of recent workshops took place to help prepare area green thumbs for planting season.

Those attending “The Ins and Outs of Growing Vegetables” at the Chikaming Township Center in Harbert on Saturday, April 6, heard a lot about dealing with plants as well as unwanted things that show up in a vegetable garden such as pests, mildew and raccoons.

Although spring wasn’t quite in the air on March 21, it was on the minds of the group gathered at Bridgman Public Library where the focus was on community gardening, rain barrels and native plants.

Reports on the two events follow:

BRIDGMAN

The March 21 program in Bridgman, co-sponsored by the Bridgman Library and the Berrien County Conservation District, began with the news that the Bridgman Community Garden was awarded a $4,145 grant from the Berrien and Calhoun Conservation Districts. Funded by the People’s Community Gardens of Southwest Michigan, the grant will enable the garden to expand from 16 to 48 beds, including three raised beds for those who have difficulty bending or need walkers or wheelchairs.

Garden Coordinator Teri Sue Wines invited all to help construct the new beds on Saturday, April 20. She said plots in the garden are $10 for the season that runs from May 13 to November 1.

Collecting rain water in barrels was the next topic, beginning with the fact that one inch of rain water collected from a 1,000 square-foot roof area can yield 600 gallons of water collected in a rain barrel.

Berrien County Conservation District Administrator Nancy Carpenter continued with the “whys” and “hows” of rain barrels. In addition to helping the environment by reducing runoff, rain barrels can save money, provide a source of non-chlorinated water and be a convenient “faucet” in remote sections of a garden.

Carpenter discussed the use of downspouts, bug screens, hose links and pedestals for the barrels.  She cautioned that the water collected should not be drunk and should be used to water the soil only, not the plants themselves.

The district sells re-purposed food container barrels from $75 and recently added oak barrels from $165.

The focus then shifted to the use of native plants in landscaping presented by Chad Hughson, owner of Hidden Savanna Nursery in Kalamazoo, who told the group he was there to get them “ready for spring, if it ever comes this year.”

Although he holds a degree in chemical engineering from Michigan Tech University, Hughson said he never really entered that field, choosing instead a full time occupation managing his 33-acre nursery located on a former Christmas tree farm that has been restored to its pre-settlement oak savanna/dry prairie habitat.

“Using native plants increases bio-diversity,” he told the group, native plants attract insects and spiders and that moves up the food chain to attract birds and other wildlife. He cited a study that showed a single baby chickadee was fed 1,000 insects by its parents before it began to fly.

Houghson said he encourages the use of native plants because it fosters environmental diversity and stability, reduces or eliminates the use of chemicals, conserves water and preserves the land’s natural heritage. Beauty was another reason on Houghson’s list which he illustrated with slides of several species found in his “yard.”

Gardeners should evaluate the history of their site in terms of soil, moisture and existing native and invasive species, Houghson said, adding the need to set goals and expectations in terms of size, appearance and maintenance.

“Some native plants will outlive everyone in this room and even my three-year-old son,” he said.

In response to one listener who said she felt overwhelmed by all the information he had presented, Houghson advised, “Start small. Take a patch and do a little at a time or maybe start with a trouble spot.”

The Berrien Conservation District will hold a native plant sale at the Bridgman Library, 4460 Lake St., on Saturday, June 4, from 1 to 4 p.m.  Deadline for advance orders is Friday, May 17.

CHIKAMING

Guest speaker Ron Goldy, Michigan State University Southwest District vegetable extension educator, tailored his comments during the April 6 event at the Chikaming Township Center in response to questions from the community submitted in advance. Adding to his professional expertise were the home gardening experiences shared by audience members.

In response to a question about what companion plants work well together, Goldy said there is no scientific knowledge about what plants go well together but said there was a lot of anecdotal evidence, a lot of it centering “around herbs because of their essence” He said stressing plants would increase the essence, fostering stronger companions.

As for corn crop predators, Gould said raccoons are the most destructive culprits. He explained that birds are mostly interested in the top tassels and deer are “browsers. They eat a little here and nibble a little there. Sometimes I wish they would just finish the whole stalk.”

He suggested using multiple rings of electric fencing, powered by a car battery, to thwart the raccoons.

“Raccoons come with a lot of friends. They soon learn that what is on the other side of that fence is worth the little shock from the fence so put it at nose level,” Goldy said.

Goldy said the best time to spread fresh manure is the fall prior to planting to make sure it is properly aged. He also stressed the importance of proper compost practices.

“The thing that concerns me most with home growers is their use of compost. It’s okay if you can guarantee that every single inch of that compost gets up to temperature for the length of time needed to kill the bacteria and diseases. Otherwise you may be just incubating last year’s diseases,” Goldy said.

Goldy said one of the worst diseases is phytopthera capsici, which both attaches to the roots and the fruits of a plant.

“The best way to control it is through rotation but it is hard to practice good rotation in the limited areas of many home gardens,” Goldy said, suggesting sectioning a home garden plot into quadrants.

“It’s the best you can do in a small area.  You are moving soil on your feet and are the biggest disseminator of disease,” he said, adding that compost might be best put on flowers and other crops, not back on the vegetables.

Goldy said he warns people asking about heirloom gardening to “know what you are getting into. They are heirlooms for a reason,” including susceptibility to disease, short harvest times and soft fruit that doesn’t ship well. The positive, he says, is their wide range of colors and flavors.

Goldy said the bean plants he remembers from his childhood that could be picked all season don’t exist any longer. He said today’s beans are bred to be harvested in concentrated periods and picked mechanically.

He recommends planting several bean crops a season, one after the other. 

“I just pull up the whole plant and sit in the shade to pick the beans. Otherwise you are just picking tough beans. No one wants tough beans.”

The event was organized by The Planting Field, Chikaming Township’s Community Garden Program, in cooperation with the township’s Park Board and the River Valley Garden Club.

The Planting Field Community Garden offers 20- by 20-foot garden plots for a $40 donation per season. The garden is located in the Chikaming Township Park and Preserve on Warren Woods Road between I-94 and Lakewood Estates.  Persons with questions should contact Marianne De Angelis, (269) 469-0305.

The average last frost for this area is on April 20. This is not the frost free date but a date to ‘take a chance” on planting garden plants. Because average means 10 days either side of the April 20t date you can plant tomatoes and peppers if you cover them at night.

One of the main reasons I love to get my hands dirty in the garden is because of the wealth of knowledge others share with those just starting their first flower and vegetable garden.

Here are a few that have been shared with me:

• Soak seeds 2 hours in 1 quart of water with a teaspoon of peroxide.

• Scatter rabbit food (alfalfa pellets) in your garden for nitrogen and phosphorus.

• Spray leaves with warm water and Epsom salts.

• Place a teaspoon of Epsom salts in a glass of water and pour around pepper and tomato plants.

• Plant bush beans far apart to let air movement around each plant.

• Plant bush beans close together for support.

• Place tea bags around onion plants to keep away root maggots.

• Plant dill around squash hill to keep away squash bugs.

Tomato tips

• Don’t plant early.

• Do not smoke or handle tobacco before handling plants

• Do not buy leggy plants that have flowers because the plants may remain stunted.

• Tomatoes need wind movement for fruit production.

• Blossom end rot can be prevented by abundant soil calcium and an even supply of water.

• Abundant soil phosphorus for early and high yields.

• Tomatoes can use shade during the heat of the day

• Determinate Plants: bush plant does not need pruned, fruit ripens within a concentrated time.

• Indeterminate Plants: climbing, needs cage, pruned, fruit ripens over an extended time.

Peppers

• Do not plant where you grew tomatoes or potatoes the year before.

• Heavy users of phosphorus and calcium

• Well drained soil

• Full sun

• Big bushy plants with few peppers means to much nitrogen.

• Do not buy tall plants that have flowers because the plants may remain stunted.

• For tomatoes and peppers, do not get the leaves or fruit wet.

The Gazette has always insisted its annual spring home, lawn, and gardening articles be written by people who actually know something about homes, lawns, or gardens.

In the spirit of true tolerance and diversity, they let me have a whack at it, too:

• Houseplants will die if they are neglected. Four out of five dentists recommend arranging playdates for your houseplants with the neighbors’.

• Mold in houses can irritate those with allergies. A common solution is to make those people go and live with other relatives.

• Trees growing out of your basement floor should be cut down before they reach the ceiling and damage the tiles.

• When building a home, it is best to start with the foundation and work your way up. Don’t procrastinate and save the basement for last!

• Peeling paint on an exterior wall can quickly and easily be concealed with duct tape. Use the shiny type, and you can cut your cooling costs in the summer.

• To brighten your neighborhood’s gutters, be sure to paint your house with water-based paint.

• Elves can be caught in standard live traps, but be sure to release them into the wild.

• Change the filter on your furnace at least three times a year. Something in a chartreuse or teal works best.

• Dandelions in your lawn were put there by God Himself. Do you want to risk His wrath by going to all the time and trouble of removing them?

• Squirrels who damage your lawn digging for nuts can also be used to scout for land mines. Send captured squirrels to the Pentagon as part of your patriotic duty to keep America safe.

• Potato trees should be covered with canvas in case of a frost.

• When I was in kindergarten, studying the first Thanksgiving, I learned the Native Americans used to fertilize their corn plants by tossing a dead fish into the hole when they planted a kernel. In today’s modern world, cans of tuna can serve much the same purpose.

• Never underestimate the effect of an exorcism for eliminating damage from deer and other wildlife.

• When planting trees, stop digging if you suddenly break through into empty air and see upside-down Chinese people staring back at you.

• Water in the basement is often the result of moisture.

• Lightning strikes put nitrogen into the soil. If you lawn looks like it hasn’t been struck by lightning enough recently, go outside at night and set some magnesium hubcaps on fire.

• A common pair of dull sissors is an effective alternative to a lawn mower, especially in summer when the kids are bored and complain there’s nothing to do.

• Even in emergencies, maple syrup is not a recommended alternative to laundry detergent.

GREEN-FINGERED experts will be in Swansea on Sunday to help kick-start spring.

Representatives from the National Botanic Garden will visit the National Waterfront Museum to deliver a packed day to get your green fingers into gear from 11.30am.

Events officer, Miranda Berry, said: “We’re delighted with the botanical-themed event, it will be a chance for people to discover more about blossoms and blooms and find out more about how to grow your own.

“It will be a great family day out with lots to see and do, including kids’ craft.”

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery VAT included. Choose from 1000’s of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms:
Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters much more. All items are free next day delivery.

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Tuesday, April 30 2013

By
Monty Don

PUBLISHED:

16:30 EST, 5 April 2013

|

UPDATED:

16:30 EST, 5 April 2013

Scores of letters arrive in my mailbag each week from many of you, and although I only have space to answer three at a time, I do assure you that each and every one is read.

So I cannot help but note the pattern of the kind of things that you feel are troubling you most in the garden, and one of the questions that recurs again and again at this time of year is about camellias.

They are an enormously popular plant and lots of us grow them, so it is not surprising that they feature, but the problem of sooty mould lands on my desk as regular as clockwork.

So, let me start with solving the mystery of the black, sticky soot that can appear on the surface of camellia leaves.

Camellias are prone to all manner of problems. Don’t fret, says Monty Don, they can be cured…

The ‘soot’ is a mould that is a symptom rather than a cause of the problem.

This is because it grows on the sticky excrement, known as honeydew, dropped from an aphid or scale insect attached to the underside of a leaf above.

The best treatment is to get rid of the honeydew by getting rid of the offending insect, and the best way to do this is to wash the leaves with washing-up liquid and warm water. Spraying the shrub regularly with water from a hose will dislodge any returning insects.

ASK MONTY

Q. My drain has been damaged and I think the roots of my leylandii are to blame. Is there a law on the height of these trees?
Mr J Worthington, Macclesfield, Cheshire

A. A Leyland cypress will have roots that spread about a third to one half its height. However most of these roots will be slender and not very woody so are unlikely to break a drain. The law says an evergreen boundary hedge cannot exceed 2m (6½ft). There is no restriction on individual trees.

Q. My son has blight on the crops in his greenhouse. What can he do?
Mrs Emily Stubbs, Manchester

A. The most important thing is ventilation. Only water in the evening or first thing in the morning and open the greenhouse wide from early in the morning to late evening, trying to keep a temperature of about 12-25°C.

So much for that problem, but although unsightly, it does not deter from the lovely flowers that are at their very best in gardens across the country right now.

Mind you, where I grew up, in Hampshire, camellias were extremely rare because they do not like chalky, alkaline soil, thriving best in an acidic soil with a pH between 6.5 and 5.5.

They like to get their roots into a loose, open soil, so add plenty of compost (although not mushroom compost, which is alkaline) before planting to allow the right balance between water retention and free drainage. If your soil is too alkaline the leaves will start to show distress by turning yellow. If in doubt, a thick mulch with composted pine bark or needles or composted bracken will help maintain the pH balance.

Although most camellias are pretty hardy, and the smaller-leafed williamsii group are especially so as well as having the advantage of dropping their spent flowers rather than leaving them to wither messily on the tree, they should not be planted on an east-facing wall.

This is because the bright sunlight that usually follows a freezing night will thaw the frozen tissues of the flowers and buds too quickly and can destroy them. The same plant can happily be grown on a west-facing wall, which will be just as cold but will thaw much more gradually.

I receive a lot of letters wondering why it is that camellia buds drop off in spring. The reason is usually because the shrub has not had enough water the previous autumn when the buds are forming – this is especially true if they are growing in a container. Give the plant a good soak each week, ideally using rainwater, which is slightly acidic.

The best time to prune camellias is just before the plant starts to grow in spring, which is just as the flowers finish. Train young plants to have one central stem, leaving the first foot or so bare to get ventilation around the bark.

Next year’s flower buds will  form on the initial spring growth, and although there might be a second burst of growth during midsummer, this will not produce any more new buds. 

• 
  Diana, ‘Uncle James’ Hewitt and the emotional wounds that…
  
• 
  Your diplomats are not safe here, warn North Korea as madman…
  
• 
  ‘Entitled’ high school senior sparks a firestorm of anger…
  
• 
  Discovery Channel strips down its schedule with two ‘Naked’…
  
• 
  Sailing into the record books: The £400m, 590ft super-yacht…
  
• 
  Homeless man wins $50,000 on Lotto but says he will continue…
  
• 
  Real life panic rooms for the rich and famous: hidden…
  
• 
  Revealed: The beautiful woman behind the ‘Attractive…
  
• 
  Six months pregnant, so where’s the bump, Kate? Sporty…
  
• 
  Shocking study reveals mortality rates for women are…
  
• 
  Toddler wearing ‘Auntie Loves Me’ t-shirt is abandoned in…
  
• 
  ‘Threatening world peace while his people starve’: Hackers…
  

Share this article:

Dianna F. Dandridge • TIMES

Spring Garden

Long-time gardener Jerry Jones had his garden ready for cold season plants. He will have to wait a few days for the soil temperature to warm up before planting his warm weather crops.

Posted: Friday, April 5, 2013 9:02 am

Yates offers gardening tips for spring

By Dianna F. Dandridge
Staff Writer

Sequoyah County Times

Spring has finally sprung and a lot of people are beginning to feel the need to get some things growing and dirt on their hands.

Tony Yates, OSU Extension Agent in Sallisaw offers a few tips for the gardners looking to get out in the sun and soil.

Subscription Required

An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.

You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.

Have an online subscription?

Login Now

Need an online subscription?

Subscribe

Login

Or, use your
facebook account:

Choose an online service.

• 
  1
  
  Online Access$28.50 for 365 days$20.00 for 180 days$5.00 for 30 days
  

  Choose this option to purchase an online-only subscription.  First, fill out our registration form, then you will completing the subscription form. For assistance please call 918-775-4433. Thank you

Current print subscribers

• 
  1
  
  Print SubscribersNo additional cost.
  

  Are you already a subscriber to the Sequoyah County Times? If so, select this Print Subscriber option and follow the easy steps to gain complete access to Your TIMES online.

  You must create an account or login using Facebook.

  Please get a copy of Your TIMES that has your address label on the top of the front page. Please enter the number first line on the far left (essentially it is the first numbers on the label).   Your account number can be up to five digits long.

Need an account? Create one now.

You must login to view the full content on this page.

Or, use your
facebook account:

Thank you for reading 5 free articles on our site. You can come back at the end of your 30-day period for another 5 free articles, or you can purchase a subscription and continue to enjoy valuable local news and information. If you need help, please contact our office at 918-775-4433.

You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.

Have an online subscription?

Login Now

Need an online subscription?

Subscribe

Login

Or, use your
facebook account:

Choose an online service.

• 
  1
  
  Online Access$28.50 for 365 days$20.00 for 180 days$5.00 for 30 days
  

  Choose this option to purchase an online-only subscription.  First, fill out our registration form, then you will completing the subscription form. For assistance please call 918-775-4433. Thank you

Current print subscribers

• 
  1
  
  Print SubscribersNo additional cost.
  

  Are you already a subscriber to the Sequoyah County Times? If so, select this Print Subscriber option and follow the easy steps to gain complete access to Your TIMES online.

  You must create an account or login using Facebook.

  Please get a copy of Your TIMES that has your address label on the top of the front page. Please enter the number first line on the far left (essentially it is the first numbers on the label).   Your account number can be up to five digits long.

Need an account? Create one now.

• 
  Discuss
  
• Print
  
  
  

Posted in
News,
Local news

on

Friday, April 5, 2013 9:02 am.

• By D’Ann Hurta – Victoria County Master Gardener InternEdited by Charla Borchers Leon
• Originally published April 4, 2013 at midnight, updated April 4, 2013 at midnight

• 

• 

• The Gardener’s Essential

• By Gertrude Jekyll

  For the love of gardening is a seedThat once sown never dies, butAlways grows to an enduringAnd an ever increasing source of happiness.

• Gardening Suggestions From An Expert

• (Dr. Doug Welsh, author of Texas Garden Almanac, was the first statewide coordinator for the Texas Master Gardener program and coeditor of the Texas Master Gardener Handbook)

  Garden design: Grow an “eclectic playhouse.” Involve children through a “living …

• SHOW ALL »

Gardening Suggestions From An Expert

(Dr. Doug Welsh, author of Texas Garden Almanac, was the first statewide coordinator for the Texas Master Gardener program and coeditor of the Texas Master Gardener Handbook)

Garden design: Grow an “eclectic playhouse.” Involve children through a “living tepee.”

•  Place six to eight poles in a circle and tie on top to form a tepee frame.

•  Plant fast-growing vines at the base of the tepee. (cardinal vine, Confederate or star jasmine or Kentucky wonder pole beans)

Watch them grow with proper care into a living playhouse.

Soil and mulch: “It’s virtually impossible to add too much organic material to Texas soils.”

•  Lots of planting means lots of soil preparation.

For best results, stick to adding only organic matter.

Irrigation: Water needs vary greatly in our area.

•  Best setting on the irrigation time clock is off.

•  Water when plants need it.

Water and money are wasted with same irrigation schedule for all seasons.

Plant care: Use pesticides only when truly needed.

•  Look for insect damage.

•  Watch for top five insect pests in the garden: aphids, spider mites, caterpillars, thrips and grasshoppers.

• Protect natural predators and parasites against overuse of pesticides.

• Lunch and Learn With the Masters

• •  WHEN: Noon-1 p.m. Monday

  • WHERE: Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St.

  •  COST: Free

  • “Preserving the Harvest” will be presented by Erika Bochat, Victoria County Extension Agent-Family and Consumer Sciences.

  • Bring your lunch and drink.

  …

• SHOW ALL »

Lunch and Learn With the Masters

•  WHEN: Noon-1 p.m. Monday

• WHERE: Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St.

•  COST: Free

• “Preserving the Harvest” will be presented by Erika Bochat, Victoria County Extension Agent-Family and Consumer Sciences.

• Bring your lunch and drink.

Editor’s note: Today’s article is the second publication of a new series that provides seasonal gardening tips from the Victoria County Master Gardeners.

Gardeners are totally optimistic. With spring having officially begun a couple of weeks ago in late March and as the ground begins to warm and beautiful flats of plants arrive by the truckloads, the uncontrollable urge is to rush out and purchase them.

Many of us just can’t resist such an impulse buy, only to be saddened when the plants “stress out” as preparations are being made to plant them. Do your armchair planning first.

Take a walk through the Master Gardener Victoria Educational Gardens at Victoria Regional Airport or through several commercial garden centers and take notes on the plants which spark your interest. Plan and prepare your beds well, and at the end of the season your garden will “look back at you with love.”

Garden design

Plan your design early whether you are going to grow vegetables, landscape plants or ornamentals. Look at existing beds and evaluate their success or failure. Consider three use areas around your home. These are commonly referred to as public, private and service areas.

Determine plants to be used.

Decide which plants will work well according to the needs of the plants and not your opinion of, “Yep, that will look good.” Study the scale, balance, unity and harmony of the plants being considered. Most garden centers are willing to look at your plan and make suggestions.

Involve children to perpetuate gardening.

Don’t forget to involve children in this process and to integrate special areas for them to practice and learn horticultural skills. “Within each seed there is life,” and most children have the desire to watch things grow and produce.

Imagine your landscape or garden areas as your blank palette. Garden areas around your home should express your interests, personality and, like your family, bring you joy.

Soil, mulch

Gardeners, get out of your easy chair even if you are a little late in doing so, and prepare your beds to mimic Mother Nature.

Enrich or mulch soil

Adding 5 to 6 inches of organic material or mulch is an investment that will pay off and contribute to your utmost success. Organic material adds nutrients to the soil, while mulch helps reduce the extreme fluctuation of soil temperature and moisture levels, control weeds and enhance soil structure and nutrients.

Test poor-responding soil

If you have a zone/area which has not responded in the past to your care, consider having the soil in that particular site tested. Sending a soil sample to the Texas AM Soil Testing Lab will provide you with a complete soil analysis.

Soil sample bags and directions can be picked up at the AgriLife Extension Office. There is a fee for this testing, but it is well worth the expense compared to a costly trial-and-error method to achieve good plant growth. It’s all about healthy, fertile soil.

Irrigation

Water is an extremely important factor to consider. With several years of drought behind us, our soils have lost a lot of deep moisture needed to sustain plant growth.

Check automatic system.

If you already have an automatic irrigation system in place, check to see if maintenance is needed or required. Strive for water effectiveness by setting the timers and zones at maximum efficiency.

Add drip system.

If you do not have a system now, consider installing a drip system. Drip systems control the application of water at a low flow over a prolonged period benefiting plants by providing a constant level of moisture around them.

This also discourages some plant diseases. Several different types of drip systems are available in local garden centers and work well in conjunction with water retrieval systems.

Plant care

Successful gardening is a reflection of the gardener’s growth, understanding, and research. Even seasoned veterans experience success mixed with failure.

Consider your time and energy.

Plant care takes time and energy so consider your time schedule in the planning process. It can be a huge factor contributing to your success.

Maintain with these tasks.

Several beautiful container plants are more pleasing to look at than a bed needing hours of work you do not have time to care for. Removing disease-infested plant parts, dead-heading blooming plants and checking for insects before they get out of control is crucial.

Use as many natural control methods as possible. Nemesis fire ants are usually foraging when temperatures are between 70-90 degrees, so spring is a good time to treat mounds with bait.

There are many excellent resources, books and magazines available for Texas gardeners to use as success guides. We are fortunate to live in an area with 302 freeze-free days, so get gardening.

If you follow these suggestions, your garden will surely look back at you with similar love to that which you gave it.

The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas AgriLife Extension – Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.

• 
  Print
• •
• Share
  • Share this item

    Send this to a friend

    Share on FaceBook

    Share on Twitter

  • Grab the link

    Copy and paste the link:

  • Blog about it

    Blog about this page.

  • Close
• •
• 
  comments
• •

• 
  unverified comments

• •
• Report error

  • Error report or correction

    Contact name (optional)
    Contact phone/e-mail (optional)

     
    
    

  • Close
• •

April again, time to make the most of the longer days and get out into the garden. Work done during fine spells now pays off in spades later in the year.

Weeds that are dug out now are gone forever.  They won’t spread and won’t seed. Timely pruning of shrubs can produce a better shape with larger flowers in the months ahead.

Hardy perennials (mostly plants that die back to ground level over the winter) can be lifted and divided while it’s also time to plant your summer flowering bulbs.

Deadhead daffodil flowers as they fade but leave the foliage for a few weeks so that the bulbs get more goodness for next year.

Shrubs should have damaged shoots removed and be pruned as flowers fade.

It’s your last chance to plant bare-rooted shrubs before sap starts rising and it’s also a good time to treat lawns with weed feed to help them recover from the difficult winter.

Gardens can be smartened up by painting fences and sheds when they’re dry. Power-washing algae off paths, patios, drive and decking is also a great idea.

There’s a fair bit to do this month but it is worth the effort so you can enjoy your garden over the Summer. Let’s hope we get a good one this year!

For more information please check out our Monthly Garden Planner at www.briary.co.uk