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FACTS AND USEFUL TIPS FROM THE GARDENING FILE
Here are some useful (I hope) gardening facts and tips that have accumulated in my file.
It's the time of year when gardeners reach for various gardening and lawn chemicals that have been stored from past years on the garage shelf. Before using old chemicals, you may want to determine whether the chemical is still viable.
As a general rule, pesticides have a shelf life of two years. Three notable
exceptions include Diazinon, Malathion and Sevin, which have a typical shelf life
of five years.
Some pesticides need protection from subfreezing temperatures. Common
garden pesticides that need winter protection include Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel, Thuricide, B.t.), liquid formulations of Cygon (dimethoate), Diazinon, Dursban (chlorpyrifos), Malathion, Methoxychlor, Dormant Oil, Resmethrin, Thiodan (endosulfan), Daconil (chlorothalonil), Thiram, Round-Up (glyphosate), Kleen-Up), and lawn weed sprays.
If you have chemicals that are no longer viable, they need to be disposed of properly. Call your county environmental services office and ask how you should dispose of these products. Do not put them in your garbage container. Given the short expiration period of this type of products, best advice is to purchase in small quantities.
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The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen is offering classes with the following titles during May and June: Trees for shade and beauty (May 17), summer-flower hanging baskets (May 18), woven melon basket for harvesting (May 25), garden pathways (May 27), propagating prairie plants (June 4), irises for Minnesota gardens (June 7), garden insect identification and control (June 10), basic elements of Japanese gardening (June 12), and gardening with perennials (June 15). If you are interested in any of these classes, call the Arboretum at 612-443-2460.
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Eight All-America Selection annual flower winners have been announced for 1999. All were selected for performance, unique characteristics and adaptability to various climatic conditions.
Here are the plant names to look for at garden centers this spring:
'Profusion Orange' and 'Profusion Cherry' zinnias. Noted for their ability to keep producing 2-inch flowers throughout the season by growing new foliage that covers up old flowers.
Osteospermum, or African daisy. Also known as Cape marigold because it is native to the Cape area of South Africa. It has single, 2- to 3-inch daisy flowers that have a waxy or glossy appearance. 'Passion Mix' includes plants with pink, rose, purple and white flowers.
Tritoma or Red Hot Poker 'Flamenco' grows 24-30 inches tall and blooms all summer with yellow-orange-red 6-inch tubular flowers held above grass-like leaves.
Marigold 'Bonanza Bolero' is named after the twirling and stamping Spanish dance because its flowers are a swirl of gold and mahogany red. Grows 8-12 inches tall.
Verbena 'Quartz Burgundy' has dark burgundy wine flowers, blooms all summer, and resists powdery mildew.
Portulaca 'Sundial Peach' has a pastel coral color, blooms all season, and grows 6-8 inches tall. Ideal for containers.
Begonia 'Pin-Up Flame' has unusual single yellow flowers with orange/red petal edges. Best suited for shade, and grows to 12 inches tall.
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If you notice eastern tent caterpillars on your apple, cherry, plum or chokecherry trees, don't reach instantly for your chemical sprayer. You can identify them by the conspicuous silken webbing or tent in the forks of branches.
Eastern tent caterpillars rarely kill healthy, mature landscape plants. In most years, natural enemies keep eastern tent caterpillar numbers down. Rather than spraying, wait for evening or a cloudy day when caterpillars are inside their webbing, and then remove the web nest with a stick or broom. Put the caterpillars in soapy water to kill them, or burn them (where permitted).
It is not effective to spray caterpillars when they are inside the webbing. If you choose to spray, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel, Thuricide), acephate (Orthene), carbaryl (Sevin) or malathion. Follow all label directions.
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If you notice yellowing leaves and leaf drop on ash trees in the weeks ahead, the problem is probably anthracnose, a fungal disease associated with damp, cool weather. Anthracnose rarely causes permanent damage, and chemical treatment is seldom warranted.
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PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
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