Garden Solutions - July 2013

            Make this the NEW motto for your backyard: “Don’t GO away, GET away!” Wouldn’t it be inviting to have a getaway area in your yard? Make outdoor living, or an extension of your home outdoors, a priority this time of year. Create an outdoor living area with a reading space, a kitchen, a hammock, a family gathering spot, or a water feature for a soothing relaxation place. This action will enhance your property values and give you a great memory making area. As for the garden, there are still things that need to be done this month…

            The most important necessity this time of year, naturally, is water. Provide water in the garden, not only for the perennials, annuals, trees, and shrubs, but also for the wildlife such as birds, rabbits, squirrels, and more. There are several ways to make watering your lawn and flowerbeds easier. One would be a simple drip irrigation system to take care of your plant life. These systems can be installed with tools as simple as a scissors or knife and they are very cost effective. Timers are also available to take the guesswork out of watering for you, and the system will continue to work even when you are on vacation. Another way to make watering easier would be to have an irrigation system professionally installed.

 

            Now, do not forget to provide water for the wildlife as well as plants. Birds continue to give us enjoyment with new fledglings arriving to the feeders and birdbaths in our yard, as well as the adult birds themselves with their daily antics. Water can be supplied in the form of birdbaths, water fountains, or water garden displays. Moving water is a bigger draw for this wildlife activity than still water, and it is safer. With moving water, you do not need to worry about mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus. Any type of water feature will make your “outdoor living room” feel relaxing AND cooler! It is helpful to provide food for the birds now also. Feeding Meal Worms during this time will attract many species of birds, including (but not limited to) robins, wrens, bluebirds, cardinals, etc. This will also help the parents feed their hungry brood and insure a better survival rate.

            Now that I have spent time expressing my concern and importance for water during the summer months, let me give you some other tips for the garden…

·    Apply the chemical “Permethrin” after July 15^th, to guard off grubs, fleas, ticks, etc. in the yard.

·    Keep deadheading spent annual flowers for continued bloom.

·    DON’T pinch hardy garden mums after mid-July OR you may delay blooming for fall.

·    Keep an eye out for powdery mildew and red spider mites this month in the garden. Treat with copper fungicide for mildew or Malathion insecticide respectively.

·    MULCH VOLCANOES KILL!! What this means is that you should NOT build up mulch around your trees with the tip of the volcano up on the tree trunk. In fact, it has to be just the opposite. Put the shallow ring of mulch around the tree trunk and create a saucer effect of mulch around the outside of the tree ring. This will save the tree in several ways. First, it will not kill off the trunk, and second, it will keep mowers and trimmers from disturbing the trunk bark, which can be devastating to the trees success.

·    Bearded irises can be divided at the end of the month. Discard old center sections. Replant so that the tops of the rhizomes are just above the ground level.

·    Remember to deep root water established trees and shrubs, as well, during drought conditions.

·    Prune out and destroy old fruiting canes of raspberries after harvest is complete.

·    Dig potatoes when the tops die and plant fall crops by the 15^th.

·    Sweet corn is ripe when the silks turn brown.

·    For the fall garden, sow seeds of carrots, beets, turnips, winter radish, collards, kale, sweet corn and summer squash as earlier crops are harvested at the end of the month. Also, set out transplants of broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower for the fall garden.

            This is also a good time of year to consider water conservation. Here are some water conservation tips for the home and garden:

·    Water plants where it counts. Water at the roots of plants not the leaves. Focus on watering more expensive trees and shrubs.

·    Stop feeding and fertilizing. Plants and grass that have been fertilized grow faster and consume more water.

·    When you mow your grass, cut less frequently and at a higher level. Cutting the lawn short promotes growth, and growth promotes water consumption. Longer grass will shade the ground and stay healthier.

·    Cut back on household water use. Place a plastic jug filled with water inside your toilet tank. The sealed jug displaces water and allows the tank to fill up more quickly. Use a half-gallon milk jug for older toilets, and a one-liter soda bottle for newer, low-flow toilets. Keep the jug in place with a string tied around it, secured in place from the weight of the tank lid.

·    Plant drought tolerant, native plants. Many native plants are drought and disease resistant and make great additions in your gardens. Once established, these plants will need less water than hybridized varieties. Your local independent garden center can help you choose varieties that will work well for the location of your garden.

           

            For additional garden tips for summer, check out our website at www.hillermann.com.

Time to go… See you in the Garden…

Sandi Hillermann McDonald

 

Garden Solutions - June 2012

Let’s talk PERENNIALS! June is National Perennial Gardening Month. Perennials are plants that grow and flower every year, and only need to be planted once! They die back to the ground in the fall, but the roots remain alive and will produce new foliage in the spring. A wide range of sizes, flower colors and blooming times are available to fit any size garden. Most perennials are considered low maintenance and just need some general care to keep them happy and healthy.

It is important to choose plants that are appropriate to your garden site. You need to know whether it is a sun or shade garden. Full sun plants can be in areas with six or more hours of sunlight every day; four to six hours is partly sunny; four hours or less is a shade garden. Remove any grass or weeds from the area you wish to plant. Good drainage is essential for successful gardens. Amend the soil with Missouri Botanical Garden Compost, also known as Black Gold, now locally available. This will help improve drainage and aeration. Prepare the bed to a depth of 18” to allow for maximum root development. Fertilizer can be mixed into the soil prior to planting.

When planting, dig the hole as deep and twice as wide as the container it is currently growing in. Loosen the root ball and tease the roots so they will grow outward. The plants should be set at the same depth in the ground as they were growing in the container. After filling the hole back in with soil/compost mixture, water thoroughly and apply Fertilome Root Stimulator for plant success. Read the plant tags for spacing recommendations because many will spread more than their current size. Don’t be afraid to mix textures.

Perennials should receive 1-2” of water each week to develop a deep root system. A soaker hose works well for this purpose and saves water usage. Fertilize in Early Spring when new growth begins. During the growing season, fertilize once a month until the end of July. This will help the plants harden off for winter. Mulch should be applied after planting to help hold in moisture and reduce weeds. Apply 2” over the soil, leaving 2-3” of space around the base of the plant. Do not smother the crowns of shallow rooted plants. Additional mulch applied in winter is also recommended, especially for new plantings.

The art of deadheading is removing the faded, spent flowers on a plant. It will help lengthen the bloom season of many plants as well as improves the appearance of the plant. Some perennials with attractive seedpods such as Rudbeckia, Sedum, and Ornamental Grasses can be left alone. Once the initial display of flowering has ended, cut back the entire plant by two-thirds. This will help promote additional blooms.

I hope this information gives you the desire to plant some perennial color and texture in your yard! There has been a “Perennial of the Year” named by the Perennial Plant Association since 1991. These varieties are tried and true plants. You may check out the list at www.perennialplant.org.

Now in closing, let’s discuss several other tips for the month of June. Soaker hoses and Raindrip irrigation systems make the most efficient use of water during dry times. Check out the systems available. Continue spraying roses with fungicide to prevent black spot. Mow lawns frequently enough so you don’t have to remove more than 1/3 of the total height of grass per mowing. There is no need to remove grass clippings from the lawn unless they are excessive. Prune flowering shrubs after they have bloomed. Hand prune or shear evergreens now. Watch for bagworms AND JAPANESE BEETLES. Milky Spore, Grub killer, and Japanese Beetle traps are available to eradicate Japanese Beetles. For bagworms, use insecticide with the pest listed on the label or hand pick them if the numbers are light.

Plant pumpkin seeds now to have Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. Stop harvesting asparagus when the spears become thin. Repeat plantings of corn and beans to extend the harvest season. As soon as cucumber and squash vines start to “run,” begin spray treatments of Permethrin to control cucumber beetles and squash vine borers.

Enjoy your harvest ... see you in the garden.
Sandi Hillermann McDonald

June Tips for the Garden 2009

Let’s talk PERENNIALS! June is National Perennial Gardening Month. The 2009 Perennial Plant Symposium will be held in St Louis this year on July 19-21. They are expecting hundreds of visitors to tour gardens and garden centers around the region to see what we have to offer in the Midwest. That is pretty exciting! Perennials are plants that grow and flower every year, and only need to be planted once! They die back to the ground in the fall, but the roots remain alive and will produce new foliage in the Spring. A wide range of sizes, flower colors and blooming times are available to fit any size garden. Most perennials are considered low maintenance and just need some general care to keep them happy and healthy.

It is important to choose plants that are appropriate to your garden site. You need to know whether it is a sun or shade garden. Full sun plants can be in areas with six or more hours of sunlight every day, four to six hours is partly sunny, and four hours or less is a shade garden. Remove any grass or weeds from the area you wish to plant. Good drainage is essential for successful plants. Amend the soil with Missouri Botanical Garden Compost, also known as Black Gold, now locally available. This will help improve drainage and aeration. Prepare the bed to a depth of 18” to allow for maximum root development. Fertilizer can be mixed into the soil prior to planting.

When planting, dig the hole as deep and twice as wide as the container it is currently growing in. Loosen the root ball and tease the roots so they will grow outward. The plant should be set at the same depth as they were growing in the container. After filling the hole back in with soil/compost mixture, water thoroughly and apply Fertilome Root Stimulator for plant success. Read the plant tags for spacing recommendations because many will spread more than their current size. Don’t be afraid to mix textures.

Perennials should receive 1-2” of water each week to develop a deep root system. A soaker hose works well for this purpose and saves water usage. Fertilize in Early Spring when new growth begins. During the growing season, fertilize once a month until the end of July. This will help the plants harden off for winter. Mulch should be applied after planting to help hold in moisture and reduce weeds. Apply 2” over the soil, leaving 2-3” of space around the base of the plant. Do not smother the crowns of shallow rooted plants. Additional mulch applied in winter is also recommended, especially for new plantings.

The art of deadheading is removing the faded, spent flowers on a plant. It will help lengthen the bloom season of many plants as well as improves the appearance of the plant. Some perennials with attractive seedpods such as Rudbeckia, Sedum, and Ornamental Grasses can be left alone. Once the initial display of flowering has ended, cut back the entire plant by two-thirds. This will help promote additional blooms.

I hope this information gives you the desire to plant some perennial color and texture in your yard! There has been a “Perennial of the Year” named by the Perennial Plant Association since 1991. These varieties are tried and true plants. You may check out the list at http://www.perennialplant.org/.

Now in closing, let’s discuss several other tips for the month of June. Soaker hoses and Raindrip irrigation systems make the most efficient use of water during dry times. Check out the systems available. Continue spraying roses with fungicide to prevent black spot. Mow lawns frequently enough so you don’t have to remove more than 1/3 of the total height of grass per mowing. There is no need to remove grass clippings from the lawn unless they are excessive. Prune flowering shrubs after they have bloomed. Hand prune or shear evergreens now. Watch for bagworms AND JAPANESE BEETLES. Milky Spore, Grub killer, and Japanese Beetle traps are available to eradicate Japanese Beetles. For bagworms, use insecticide with the pest listed on the label or hand pick them if the numbers are light.

Plant pumpkin seeds now to have Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. Stop harvesting asparagus when the spears become thin. Repeat plantings of corn and beans to extend the harvest season. As soon as cucumber and squash vines start to “run,” begin spray treatments of Permethrin to control cucumber beetles and squash vine borers.

Enjoy your harvest………………………….see you in the garden.
Sandi Hillermann McDonald

August Tips for the Garden 2008

August brings us the dog days of summer... there is no doubt about that. July 2008 brought us milder temperatures and more moisture than usual for this time of year. I must say it was very welcome, too. This may help some of the trees and shrubs damaged from droughts and ice storms of the past years recover better. However, the ground dries fast in the summer heat and wind. Be sure to provide water for all your trees, shrubs, and plants when rain is not enough.

If you have not started enjoying “Outdoor Living,” it is NOT TOO LATE. With the price of gas lately, it is only understandable that more and more people are retreating to their own backyards for vacations at home this year. So, forget the stress of planning and traveling and enjoy your own “Stay-cation!” There are designers in the industry to help you with ideas that will turn your yard into an outdoor oasis. Look for inspiration at every “independent lawn and garden retailer.” Add patios, walkways, walls, water, hammocks and more!

Be sure to visit the Washington Town & Country Fair this year (August 6th-10th). Don’t miss these two educational areas: the Agri-Land booth (near the livestock barns) and Hillermann’s “Gardening for Fun and Smarts” (near the North Entrance Gate). Both of these booths offer hands on learning opportunities (for kids and adults) and helpful handout sheets on outdoor activities and gardening!

Here are additional tips for the heat and drought period of August:


¨ It is not too late to put up Japanese Beetle traps to catch those pesky critters in a natural, safe way.
¨ You can still apply lawn insecticides until August 15 to guard off grubs, fleas, ticks, etc. in the yard.
¨ Compost or till under residues and debris from harvested crops.
¨ Prop up the branches of your fruit trees that are threatening to break under the weight of a heavy crop.
¨ Keep deadheading your spent annual and perennial flowers for continued blooms into fall.
¨ Feed hardy garden mums and asters for the last time this season.
¨ Monitor plants for spider mite activity. Hose affected plants off with a forceful spray of water, or spray with Bonide Eight (with Permethrin). To test for spider mites, hold a piece of white paper under the leaves. Tap on the leaves and then run your hand over the piece of white paper. If you see evidence of red streaks on the paper, you have an infestation of spider mites!
¨ Roses should receive no further nitrogen fertilizer after the end of August to prevent the production of late tender growth that could be damaged by fall frosts.
¨ Deep root water established trees around the drip line (this is where the edge of the branches stop) to help alleviate stress on trees going into winter.
¨ Soak shrubs periodically during dry spells with enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches.
¨ Toward the end of August, dormant lawns should be soaked to encourage strong fall growth.
¨ Prune to shape hedges for the last time this season.
¨ Once bagworms reach full size, insecticides are ineffective. Pruning off or pulling and burning or discarding of large bags provides better control for next year.
¨ Watch for fall webworm activity. Apply Fertilome bagworm and Tent Caterpillar Spray when webs are first spotted. Rip open the web bag before spraying for best control.
¨ Cultivate Strawberries and apply weed preventer immediately, after fertilizing.
¨ Protect ripening fruits from birds by covering plants with bird netting. (This is a poly type product readily available at Garden Centers).
¨ Pinch the growing tips of gourds once the adequate fruit set amount is achieved. This directs energy into the ripening fruits, rather than vine production.
¨ Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower transplants should be set out for the fall garden. Also, sow seeds of lettuce, radish, beans, beets, spinach and turnips now. (Spinach may germinate better if the seeds are refrigerated.)
¨ Lawn renovation and over-seeding time is right around the corner. I will discuss this more in September.
¨ For additional information about garden tips for summer and all seasons, check out this website www.hillermann.com.

Time to go... See you in the Garden!!
Sandi Hillermann McDonald

June Tips for the Garden 2008

Although I’ve never been accused of being short on words, sometimes it is hard to decide where to start. This month I will begin with a reminder that June is Perennial Gardening Month. Perennials are herbaceous plants that die back to the ground in the winter but return year after year to dazzle us with color.

Here is a list of the Perennial Plants of the year from 1990 through 2008 as chosen by the Perennial Plant Association:
2008 Geranium ‘Rozanne’
2007 Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’
2006 Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Feuerhexe’
2005 Helleborus xhybridus
2004 Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'
2003 Leucanthemum 'Becky'
2002 Phlox 'David'
2001 Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
2000 Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'
1999 Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'
1998 Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'
1997 Salvia 'Mainacht' (May Night)
1996 Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'
1995 Perovskia atriplicifolia
1994 Astilbe 'Sprite'
1993 Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'
1992 Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
1991 Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple'
1990 Phlox stolonifera

Pictured is the 2008 Perennial Plant of the Year Geranium ‘Rozanne’.

The Perennial of the Year varieties are usually good choices for any garden, as they are tried and true varieties. Our area is in planting zone 5, so it is always important to check the plant tags for that bit of information on all plants you plan to leave in your garden from year to year. You can visit the Perennial Plant Association website at http://www.perennialplant.org/index.asp for more information on all of the plants listed above.

June is also the month of graduations, weddings, vacations, Father’s Day, and the beginning of summer. This is the month that we all begin to spend more of our free time outdoors enjoying our gardens and the fruits of our labor from the last 3 months (plus). If all of you have kept up with your tasks, then this month should be easy. However, if you are like me, June will be a month you can get caught up.

The first task that we need to do this month is to trim the spring flowering trees and shrubs. Flowering crabapples, serviceberry, dogwoods, magnolias, lilacs and viburnums all set their buds for next years’ flower on the new growth they develop this year. These plants should be pruned now to encourage new growth and therefore flower buds for next year. It is recommended that you complete the pruning of these plants by early this month.

Here are other tips for the garden for June:

· Watch for the outbreak of bagworms on garden plants, especially junipers. Then spray affected plants with Permethrin sold under the label ‘Eight’.
· Deadhead bulbs and spring perennials as blossoms fade.
· Repeat plantings of corn and beans to extend the harvest season.
· Fertilize Zoysia grass now while it is actively growing.
· Renovate strawberries after harvest. Mow the rows; thin out excess plants; remove weeds; fertilize and apply mulch for weed control.
· Spray roses with a fungicide to prevent black spot disease and fertilize monthly.
· Continue pinching back your garden mums until July 4 to promote full, bushy growth and good fall color.
· Water turf as needed to prevent drought stress, and watch for fungus problems.
· Mow lawns frequently enough to remove no more than one-third the total height per mowing.
· Continue enjoying the antics of the wildlife in your yard and gardens by continuing to supply food and water sources for them.

· Change hummingbird nectar at least weekly to prevent fungus from growing. You can make your own nectar: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water---no food coloring please!

· Move houseplants outside for the summer. Place plants in areas with dappled shade and some protection from hot summer winds.
· Rejuvenate your older lilacs by cutting to the ground one third of the largest branches. This will create a fuller, lusher specimen.
· Orioles (if you were lucky enough to keep them around) begin building a gray woven nest; this takes about a week.
· Watch for birds carrying food to their young.
· Gray squirrels begin a second breeding.

Are you late with getting started on your plantings this year? YOU ARE NOT ALONE! As busy as we were this May, and as wet as the weather was, many people have commented that they haven’t even begun their planting. That’s okay - you still have plenty of time. There should be a good selection of plants still available at your local garden center.

Fully enjoy your garden; it is the only true place to connect you to Mother Nature.
See you in the Garden……………..
Sandi Hillermann McDonald

May Tips for the Garden 2008

“Coming home” at the end of a day can be even more important to us now than ever before. Times are changing and everyone is busier than before with kids to coach, meetings to attend, and work to do. In addition, the cost of gas makes us want to leave the car parked when possible. So, enjoy daylight savings time and extend your living quarters to your yard and garden. Think of your outdoor spaces as an extension of your home. And in doing so, consider the floor, walls, and ceiling per se. Adding resting areas is easy to do…hang a hammock in a tree, set a bistro set in the perennial garden, or put benches in your Hosta beds. Then invite friends over and have a cook out. Let the nature in your yard tickle your senses with the sounds of birds, smells of flowers, sound of running water, and splashes of color. Hardscapes can enhance your outdoor rooms by adding a “floor” to your area of enjoyment.

While you are enjoying your yard, and I hope that you are, here are some items to put onto your gardening checklist. Begin planting summer annuals (spring has finally come to stay!) to add color and spice to the landscape, and don’t stop with just the flowerbeds. There are many new color introductions available in annuals this year that will prove to be very exciting. Try Dragon Wing Begonias, Kong Coleous, Black and Blue Salvia, or Juncus to name a few. Another great addition to the landscape, Knock Out Roses - really are Knock Outs, and are now available in 9 varieties (including singles and doubles). These beauties are very disease resistant and require low maintenance. Therefore, roses are not just for the experts anymore.

Container gardening continues to be a trendy thing. The many choices, styles, shapes, and colors of containers make great accent pieces for inside or out. Let your imagination soar and express yourself. Use imaginative containers you pick up at flea markets and auction yards. Learn to mix annuals and perennials for great combinations. Try hostas with begonias and impatiens….or hydrangeas with groundcovers. These containers can make great accent pieces on the front porch, the back deck, in a flowerbed, around the pool, or at the end of the driveway. In addition, you can rearrange them as often as you wish. No room for a vegetable garden? Try one in a container. You can enjoy fresh tomatoes easily this way. You could even try a Salsa Garden in honor of Cinco do Mayo.

Take your houseplants outdoors once the evening temperatures will remain above 50`. Move sun-loving plants (hibiscus, gardenias, mandevillas, etc.) gradually to sunny locations, as they have not had full sun in your home and will need to be acclimated to those conditions. Plant summer bulbs now and fertilize with bone meal or bulb food. Pinch hardy garden mums back now and continue to do so until July 4 to insure proper fall blooming. Treat slugs in your garden with organic diatomaceous earth. This powder product is 100% safe, and is good for the treatment of slugs, ants, fleas and ticks outside, as well as roaches and ants indoors. This organic product is very safe to use and a good one to have on hand. “Natural Gardening” with eco-friendly products is a very “trendy” and SAFE thing to do for your own health as well as the environment. Check out the chemical-free options available to you today. Then sit back and watch your kids and pets enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

Insect problems to watch for this month are pine sawflies, aphids, scale crawlers, cucumber beetles, and grubs, to name a few. Permethrin is the chemical product on the market today that is labeled for indoor and outdoor use. Permethrin will kill a large variety of insects on plants, in the soil, and in the home. It comes in many formulations and strengths. See a professional for questions of use of this product.

Other May tips include:
· Pinch azalea and rhododendron blossoms as the flowers fade.
· Fertilize azaleas and rhododendrons with an acid base fertilizer now.
· Do not remove spring bulb foliage too early or next year’s flower production will decline. Let the foliage die back naturally.
· Plant hardy water lilies now.
· Begin fertilizing annuals now and continue at regular intervals all season long.
· Treat trees with borer problems now with Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub product.
· Keep bluegrass lawns cut at 1.5-2.5” high, fescue lawns at 2-3.5” high and zoysia at 1.5” high.
· Apply post-emergence broadleaf weed controls to the lawn now if needed.
· Begin planting sweet corn, tomato plants, peppers and sweet potatoes as the soil warms up.
· Keep asparagus harvested for continued spear production.
· Remove rhubarb seed stalks as they appear.
· Do not spray any fruits while in bloom, you may ruin the pollination process.
· Birds eat many insects so attract them to your garden by providing good nesting habitats.
· Herbs planted in average soils need no extra fertilizer. Too much may reduce flavor and pungency at harvest.
· Watch for fireflies on warm nights. Both adults and larvae are important predators for plant damaging insects.

Until next month, enjoy connecting with nature and….see you in the garden….

Sandi Hillermann McDonald