Watering Green
Did you know…….
623 gallons of water can be harvested from 1 inch of rainwater on a 1,000 sq ft roof!
Another possible disease brought on by this crazy weather
Lirope is consider the bullet-proof by most gardners but dry weather and excessive watering creates new problem. We are seeing a new disease described as crown rot, caused by Phytophthora palmivora. The disease is exacerbated by wet soil so don’t do any irrigation for the rest of the summer. Fungicide drenches can control the disease but they are too expensive to consider
Deep water trees
Due to the extreme heat and drought trees need an extra drink. Although most people feel the irrigation is enough its not, deep watering is the key and will keep your tree from early dormany and in some cases death. You should be watering trees 1 to 2 times a week with a hose for 20 minutes on a trickel with the hosed placed 2 to 3ft away from the trunk .
Overwintering Tropical Plants
Tropicals are expensive to replace every year so if you have some you really like you can overwinter them in your house or basement. Most tropicals will overwinter with minimal care all that is required is to water once a month and make sure they recieve some light. Light can be provided naturally or by artifical lighting.
Butterflys
Have you ever gazed out of the kitchen window at your beautiful wildlife garden on a cold winter’s day? It looks so barren and lonely. Have you ever wondered where the butterflies go during this time of year?
Dormant Pruning
Don't forget to cut your ornamental grasses and shrub roses back this spring before spring growth starts. This is important to remove old growth as well as encourage new, healthy growth.
Contemporary Watering
Check out this modern take on the old watering can…..it doubles as a sculpture! This idea takes the original watering can structure and turns it upside down, being wider as opposed to taller. The unique design also frees up space with storage. Check them out at www.alessi.com
When to fertilize your Azaleas?
Feed your Azaleas every two months with an acid type fertilizer (mir-acid) starting from the onset of new spring growth, until late summer. If chlorosis occurs (yellow foliage with green veins), treat plants with a product containing chelated iron.
Azaleas need and thrive in acidic soils. Ideal PH is 4-5.5. Always take a soil test to determine PH before planting these plants in your lawn. Once Azaleas are established and you have reached the correct PH levels, you may need to fertilize as much.
“Dog Vomit Fungus”, what?
Have you ever seen the lovely sight of the “Dog Vomit Fungus” growing in a mulched area ?
The Dog Vomit Fungus is not a fungus, but a slime mold. I guess calling it the “Dog Vomit Slime Mold” wasn’t very appealing to the International Association of Slime Mold Naming Scientists (IASMNS). Anyway, its scientific name is Fuligo septica. Which, when roughly translated into english means, “sticky stuff on the bottom of Bob’s shoe”.
The next stage in the life of this slime mold is quite depressing.