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Over the years from various sources, we have compiled a lot of helpful
information. We are developing a database of weekly tips found in our
newsletters along with plants and products that we have spotlighted.
We include articles and guides developed here at The Natural Gardener
and by other gardening experts. There is also what to do each month
for your garden in Central Texas.
May
2005
Chiggers
This time of year, gardeners often realize they have chiggers in their
lawns. When you discover little, red, itchy, round welts on your skin after
you have been sitting in your lawn or walking through tall grass, you have
found chiggers! These little critters may be controlled by using a very
light application of dusting sulfur. A good way to ensure a light dusting is
to make a little bag out of a part of an old pair of nylon stockings. With
the sulfur in this little bag, gently shake it over your yard. This is best
done in the evening and there is no need to water the sulfur into the soil.
Before you take a stroll through any weedy areas, dust your pants in this
manner to prevent picking up any chigger-passengers. Other applicators can
be used, such as the Dustin-Mizer. Keeping grasses cut and weedy areas
cleaned up will also help.
Powdery Mildew
Your crape myrtles, roses, squash vines, and other plants may begin to show
signs of powdery mildew or other bacterial or fungal problems. You can avoid
some of these problems by watering and foliar feeding in the morning and
late afternoon, rather than in the evening. Watering at the ground level
with a drip system or a soaker hose also helps to minimize fungal problems
from developing on leaves. It is important to pay attention to any signs of
disease beginning on your plants so that you may stop it early and prevent
serious damage.
There are many ways to treat powdery mildew. You can use products such as
potassium bicarbonate, Garlic GP, or a new product we're carrying, Serenade,
which controls both fungal and bacterial problems.
Four-Lined Bug
This time of year, the four-lined bug may appear in some gardens. This insect causes damage that looks like little, dark, pinhead-sized spots. These clustered spots may resemble fungal damage. The four-lined bug chiefly attacks mints and oreganos, though sometimes other plants are vulnerable, as well. This insect has a bright yellow back with four black stripes and a brilliant red underside. It is only visible and destructive for a brief period of time from mid- to late spring. If necessary, Diatect V may be used as a dust or as a wettable powder to control this insect.
Give Mom a gift
Give Mom a gift that will last a lot longer than a flower arrangement. Here are just a few ideas. Plant up a beautiful pot that would look wonderful on the deck or patio (we can help you make your selections or we have some that are already potted up). How about a tool that she has always wanted? Felco pruners or a high quality hand tool can last for generations with the proper care. A hand blown hummingbird feeder and a hummingbird bush make a great combination. A gift basket of Central Texas jams and salsas from The Dandelinon room, a gift certificate or, the gift that every true gardening Mom wants, a pile of compost will show mom how much she means to you.
Proper Tree Maintenance
After the hailstorms and caterpillar infestations our oaks need some pampering to help them bounce back. Proper tree maintenance includes the following:
- Hiring a reputable arborist to prune and watch for problems before they get serious
- Avoiding over-watering (established trees should only be watered deeply once a month when rain is lacking)
- Keeping the root flare of the trees free of debris
- Applying at least 3-inches of mulch throughout the root zone of the tree. Sylvan Formula(tm) mulch/compost is specially designed to promote healthy trees and shrubs. Where lawn grows over the root zone, apply 1/2-inch of Revitalizer(tm) compost instead
- Feeding trees with Lady Bug 8-2-4 fertilizer in the spring or fall if the trees have been stressed by insects or weather.
2004
Plant a tree
Planting a tree - There are many differing opinions on planting a tree.
The following steps is what we feel are best for successful planting.
- Select the correct tree for your site. Consider the mature height,
width & root structure, your goals, your soil.
- Select the correct site for your tree - sun versus shade, power
lines, distance from the house.
- Dig a hole at least 2 times as wide and no deeper than your tree’s
root ball. It is important that the tree sits no deeper than it did
in its’ pot.
- If you wish, add a natural root stimulant such as bone meal or rock
phosphate and mycorrhizae - tree nsurance - as found in Tree Saver
(see product of the week.)
- Set the tree in the hole and adjust the plant to ensure it is straight
and at the proper level.
- Backfill the hole with original soil. Do not add compost or fertilizer.
When the hole is half full, flood the hole to settle the soil. Continue
filling the hole and tamp down the soil just enough to hold the tree
upright.
- Add two inches of compost followed by two inches of mulch to the
entire loosened soil area. Revitalizer compost is great as it has
the fungal microorganisms (as well as the bacterial) that benefit
trees and the Sylvan Formula mulch is especially formulated for trees.
Take care not to place the compost or mulch up against the tree’s
trunk.
- Monitor your tree’s water needs during its first 2 years of
growth and be sure to admire it often.
Enjoy Your Garden
Enjoy the Garden! It is time again to remind ourselves to stop and smell
the roses. Sometimes we get so tied up in the process (which of course
in gardening is a fantastic process) that we forget to step back, breath,
and enjoy the results of our labor. Take time to visit a public garden,
try to find lady bugs with a child, walk around your garden smelling
each of the flowers and vines, pick a gorgeous bouquet for a sunny table,
or just take a blanket and sit in the middle of the yard enjoying the
sites, sounds and smell of the spring garden.
Veggie Problems
It is time for questions about veggie problems.
BLOSSOM-END ROT: If you are seeing black rotten spots at the ends of
your tomatoes, you have blossom end rot. Uneven watering or a lack of
calcium is usually the cause. Be sure to water on a consistent manner
- less often and deeper rather than a lot of short waterings. Lack of
calcium (our soil actually has a lot of calcium it just not readily
available to the plant) can be improved with Soil Sulfur, which unlocks
the calcium by lowering the pH of your soil. Gypsum may also be added
to provide the plant with calcium. Some people are spraying the plant
with milk to provide the plant with more calcium. We do not know if
this is effective yet, but since it will help the plant against fungal
diseases why not give it a try. Use a 50/50 mix of water and milk.
POOR FRUIT SET: With this heavy damp air, we have seen poor fruit set
on tomato and pepper plants. These plants are wind pollinated and in
these conditions the pollen gets so heavy that is drops to the ground
instead of floating to another flower. This can be improved by occasional
shaking the plant (on a drier day) to get the pollen moving or spraying
with seaweed, which helps the plant hold its fruit.
SQUASH FLOWERS FALLING OFF: A squash flower will produce both male
and female flowers. It is normal for the male flower to fall off. You
can tell the difference between the two as the female will be swollen
just below the flower. The plant normally produces more male than female,
especially in the early stages of the fruiting. If you see many female
flowers falling off (some is normal) you are getting poor pollination
by the bees. You can hand pollinate by taking one of the male flowers
and brushing it on the female. Don’t forget that the squash flower
is a wonderful delicacy that is used in soups, sautés, and can
even be battered and deep-fried.
RED SPIDER: The first steps in removing these bugs from plants is to
spray the plant with seaweed as it seems to repell the Red Spider (the
little tiny guys.) If that doesn’t do it, use Ultra-Fine on the
underside of the leaves.
FUNGAL PROBLEMS: At first signs of fungal problems, spray plants with
milk. The next step would be using potassium bicarbonate. If this is
not available 4 tsp of baking soda in a gallon of water plus a tsp of
liquid soap will help but do not use this repeatedly as the salt in
the baking soda can build up in the soil. Copper and sulfur are stronger
measures and chancy as the weather is so hot.
Spruce Up Your Patio
Summer is fast approaching and while you may want to finish up your
planning in the ground, it’s the perfect time to spruce up your
porch or patio with container plantings of seasonal color. After choosing
a pot, (our selection is fabulous right now), look for plants that meet
your sun/shade requirements and have the same basic watering needs,
i.e. no cactus/fern combinations! Choose plants for texture and color
in the foliage especially as this will provide the art and architecture
of your arrangement. Blooms are brief but foliage is forever or at least
until winter.
Once you’ve selected a group of plants that look well together,
providing good contrast and elegance, you’re ready for soil. Fill
your pot nearly to the top with a good quality potting soil like Vortex,
allowing for the depth of the root ball for the size of the plants you’ve
chosen. At this point, add handfuls of your favorite amendments. Rabbit
Hill’s Cottonseed meal, Minerals Plus, and Buds & Blooms are
an excellent combination for getting rapid healthy growth, root establishment,
and prolonged bloom. Mix in your amendments thoroughly. One by one remove
plants from their plastic pots and gently massage the root ball to loosen
them up and break their root-bound habits. Place them all in the pot
how you like them and then stand back and look at the overall effect
before filling in with soil.
Don’t be afraid to really cram in the plants, they’ll fill
in fast and give you an immediate look of abundance. If you’re
using some seasonal annual color, they’ll need to be replaced long
before they crowd each other out. Remember to add plenty of soil, as
it will settle in with each watering. When it’s all planted, water
it with a dilution of liquid seaweed to prevent transplant shock and
aid in the overall plant health. Now all that’s left is to find
the perfect spot and sit back with a glass of iced tea and admire your
creation. Enjoy!
Stay Safe in the Heat
Gardening in Central Texas can be very dangerous this time of year so
it is time to remind everyone of how to garden safely.
- DRINK WATER do not wait until you are thirsty, that is too late.
Drink plenty of water before, during and after working in the garden.
Athletes often start hydrating themselves the day before an event.
- EARLY OR LATE try to get your gardening done early in the morning
or after the sun starts setting (remember to protect yourself from
mosquitoes during these times.)
- SHADE if working during the heat of the day, try to do tasks when
they are in the shade.
- HAT always wear a hat that will help keep you cooler and protect
your skin from the sun.
- SUNSCREEN apply it as often as necessary.
Early signs of heat related illness include: dizziness; fatigue; irritability;
difficulty in concentrating; arm, leg or stomach cramps; and prickly
heat rashes. If you have any of these symptoms get inside, relax, and
drink plenty of water. Water should be cool, not cold, and be drunk
slowly, a cup or so every 15 minutes. Usually water is sufficient and
the best, but if you have cramps, a sports drink will help.
Advanced signs of heat related illness include the above plus: loss
of coordination; collapse; heavy sweating; cool; moist; pale skin; dry
mouth with thirst; fast pulse; and low temperature.
Heat stroke is life threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms include: dizziness; confusion; headaches; irrational behavior;
coma; reduced or no sweating; fast pulse; rapid breathing; convulsions;
nausea; or vomiting.
2003
Foliar Feeding in Hot Weather
As the heat increases, it is even more important to pay attention to
when you apply foliar feeds and pest control. Foliar feeding is best
done when the plant is hydrated which is in the evening or in the very
early morning (especially true in dry weather) before 9:00. The stomata
(little openings in the leaves) are open during this time and applying
the foliar feed correctly can make the application 8-10 more efficient
then soil feeding according to some studies (soil feeding is still useful
as it is slow release and available anytime to the plant.) Optimum temperature
is 72 degrees and over 80 degrees efficiency is lost. It is best taken
in by the plant when it is applied as a fine mist. Pest control should
not be applied at the same time as foliar feeding. Oil based products
(orange oil, neem, horticultural oil, etc.) should never be applied
in the middle of hot sunny days. Applying products that lose potency
with exposure to light (i.e. B.T. and pyrethrin products) are probably
best applied in the evening giving them a longer period to work.
Molasses
Molasses - Molasses is one of those time-honored, farmer-tested wonder
products. What is the difference between the horticultural molasses
and ‘eating’ molasses? The sulfur has been removed in the
‘eating’ variety and the sulfur is a great addition to the
soil. Grandma use to serve up molasses mixed in warm water to treat
for anemia. It would provide B vitamins and iron. The molasses provides
the same benefits for the soil, it is a great pick-me-up. The B Vitamins
will help relieve stress, iron is great for the plant, sugar will provide
carbon and feed the microbes, which will make nutrients more available
to the plant and improve the crumb structure of the soil. The Organic
Cotton Growers in West Texas spray the cotton with molasses to stimulate
life in the soil along with a nitrogen-fixing organism to feed the plants.
One question that comes up is
will the molasses attract ants? The answer is no, it actually seems
to chase them away. This is probably due to the increase in microbial
activity that may upset the ants. Molasses is a very inexpensive product
(1 tbsp in a gallon of water will cover 200 square feet, applied several
times a year) to safely improve you lawn and garden.
See our May To-Do List
See our May Articles:
Reflections on Life and Organic Gardening
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8648
Old Bee Cave Road
