Regional Gardening Tips

SuperUser Account — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:13:46 GMT

Wonder what region you live in? See our map here or visit the “Site Specific” column in each issue of Gardening How-To.Pacific Northwest• Plant winter cover crops such as winter kale, Brussels sprouts, turnips, parsnips, parsley, and Chinese cabbage in vacant space around the vegetable garden. • Watch for corn earworm on early corn. Treat as needed. • Clean and fertilize strawberry beds.Southwest • Dethatch lawns early this month to allow time for the grass to recover before fall. • Cut back tomatoes to 1 foot tall to rejuvenate them and stimulate fruit production in the fall. • Fertilize citrus by applying 2 pounds of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) fertilizer per tree on mature citrus. Water the fertilizer into the soil.Midwest/Mountain • Monitor for Japanese beetle damage. These iridescent insects skeletonize foliage, but will finish feeding by the second week in August. • Place small stakes in the garden bed where you plan to plant tulips, narcissus, lilies, alliums, and other fall-planted bulbs. • Divide and replant daylilies and install new plants at the end of this month.Northeast • Don’t apply insecticides, fungicides, or fertilizers when the temperature is above 80°F. You may do more harm than good. Always read and follow package instructions. • Deadhead (cut or pinch off dead flowers) on annuals and perennials for a longer bloom. • Take stock of your summer perennial garden, noting what changes you want to make. A good rule of thumb is to move spring bloomers in the fall and fall bloomers when they come up in the spring.Southeast • Check mulch around plants. Keep the level at 3 inches and away from stems and trunks. • Keep shallow-rooted plants such as azaleas, camellias, and dogwoods watered during dry periods. • Watch for yellowing leaves on plants, which could be a sign of iron deficiency. Apply liquid iron or minor elements according to label directions.

Web Links July/August 2008

SuperUser Account — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:16:55 GMT

Web Resources July/August 2008Garden Variety, page 10 Garden Spot: Reiman Gardens, Ames, IA, 515-294-7722, www.reimangardens.com. Plant Pick: Dee’s Gardens, Redding, CA, 530-604-4440, www.deesgardens.com. Garden Crossings, Zeeland, MI, 616-8756355, www.gardencrossings.com. Nature Hills Nursery, Omaha, NE, 402-9348116, www.naturehills.com.Site Specific, page 18 Resources for Northeast (sold as Chrysanthemum parthenium): Select Seeds Co., Union, CT 06076, 1-800684-0395, www.selectseeds.com. Stokes Seeds, Buffalo, NY, 716-695-6980, www.stokeseeds.com. Resources for Pacific Northwest: Forestfarm, Williams, OR, 541-846-7269, www.forestfarm.com. Joy Creek Nursery, Scappoose, OR, 503-5437474, www.joycreek.com.Resources for Midwest/Mountain: Bluestone Perennials, Madison, OH, 800852-5243, www.bluestoneperennials.com. Garden Crossings, Zeeland, MI, 616-8756355, www.gardencrossings.com. Resources for Southeast: Niche Gardens, Chapel Hill, NC, 919-9670078, www.nichegardens.com. Plant Delights Nursery, Raleigh, NC, 919772-4794, www.plantdelights.com. Resources for Southwest: Carroll Gardens, Westminster, MD, 800-638-6334, www.carrollgardens.com. High Country Gardens, Santa Fe, NM, 800-925-9387, www.highcountrygardens.com. White Flower Farm, Litchfield, CT, 800-503-9624, www.whiteflowerfarm.com. Quick and Easy Container Gardening, page 28 For more information on Quick and Easy Container Gardening by Tessa Evelegh: CICO Books, New York, NY, www.rylandpeters.com. UpClose, page 68 Sources for Dahlia ‘Caribbean Fantasy’: Netherland Bulb Co., Easton, PA, 800-788-8547, www.netherlandbulb.com. American Meadows, Williston, VT, 877-309-7333, www.americanmeadows.com.

What is the best garden gift you’ve received?

SuperUser Account — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:06:01 GMT

For gardeners, the best gifts are ones you can use in the garden—helpful tools, new plants, and even garden luxuries like outdoor art.What’s the best garden gift you’ve ever received? Who was it from, and what was special about it?Tell us about it in two to three sentences at forum@gardeningclub.com. Please include your first and last name, city and state, and member number. Winning responses will be featured in the November/December 2008 issue of Gardening How-To. Deadline is August 1.

National Home Gardening Club

Regional Gardening Tips

Web Links July/August 2008

What is the best garden gift you’ve received?