by knappvalley | Aug 23, 2010 | Ask Ron |
For late season color in your garden, “Mum’s” the word! Ron Lardie, KV Garden Center Manager and plant expert, has the answer to one of the most frequently asked question: How do I get my “Hardy Mum” to come back up in the spring? Hardy mums are so called because they are bred for northern climates. They are not the “florist” mums which are bred for the flowers alone. However, many people in our area have difficulty getting their mums to come back in the spring after planting them in the fall. There are a few reasons for this. First, mums like a well drained soil enriched with good organic matter. Heavy clay soil can cause slow growth and rotting in the winter. Also, mums don’t like drying winds in the winter time. Plant them where they are protected from the wind, preferably on the south side of a house or garage in full sun. Finally, when you buy mums in full bloom in late summer and fall, chances are they have been grown as fall blooming plants and not as perennials. Mums in nature perenniate by sending off rosettes of new plants from underground stolons. After the original plant flowers and goes to seed, it dies off. The offshoots come back up in the spring. There are other plants that do this: the yucca and the aloe plant are both reborn from offshoots when the original plant has died off. When mums are grown primarily for fall bloom they are started from a rooted stem cutting (that is not mature). Then they are pinched and fed to produce...
by knappvalley | Jun 21, 2010 | Ask Ron
Don’t let June bug ya’! We are not the only ones who enjoy the colors, scents and tastes of our garden plants—unfortunately, we often have to share with our non-human friends. How can we all just get along? When you see little yellowish spots on the leaves, they may be caused by thrips. Thrips are very tiny bugs that may be found on flower petals in the heat of the day. Thrips are difficult to see, (only the adults can be seen with the naked eye) and to get rid of. You can control them with a systemic insecticide like Bayer Rose Care and eliminate them with an insecticidal soap such as Bonide– even a sharp spray with the hose may help. Lacewings and ladybugs are natural predators, too. Flea Beetles are also currently active. They leave dense brown spots on plants like geraniums, oregano, lemon balm and others in the mint family. Flea beetles are small round shiny bugs that prefer heavy soils. Cut back the affected plants and use Sevin or an insecticidal soap to get rid of them. Whenever you use an insecticidal soap, do not spray in the heat of the day—it may burn the plants. The best time to apply it is in the evening. Also, be on the lookout for spider mites–especially in dwarf Alberta spruces. You may see a yellow to rust patch that will get bigger and bigger. Spider mites are easy to control if you catch them early enough. They can be prevented with Bayer Advanced, or controlled by a contact spray like Sevin. Insecticidal soaps work well too, and...
by knappvalley | Jun 9, 2010 | Ask Ron
Q: IS IT TOO LATE TO PLANT ANNUALS? A: No! Although you may be too late for some fruits and vegetables (food crops) that require more than 65 days to maturity. Most things can still be planted, but will require more maintenance and TLC as the heat of summer progresses. Q: HOW OFTEN SHOULD I WATER MY PLANTS? A: The average plant requires the equivalent of about 1” of rain per week. It is much better to do a long, deeper watering once a week as opposed to several short periods per week.. Short bursts of water do not reach deep into the ground, causing surface roots. Adjust your watering schedule, depending on your watering implements ( shape and size and pressure of hose, irrigation system,...
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