|
Gorgeous Weather!
Greetings!
 Finally, we have beautiful sunny days and everything is exploding into bloom. The crabapples are stunning and the spicy scent of my Korean spice viburnum and the lilacs is so powerful it's wafting across my back yard and up through my second-story window where I write. The neighborhood kids are out in force. The two cuties shown here, Halle and Natalie, are my new gardening best friends. They show up in my yard to see what I'm doing (with adorable 3-year-old Nattie calling out "Buh-won-ica! Buh-won-ica!") Last summer we planted mini pumpkins together. Last week we planted peas. And our agreement is that every time they visit, they get to choose one flower to pick and take home. Every garden needs a cute little girl or two roaming around in it, I've decided. It's the ultimate decorative gardening accessory! Happy Gardening!  Veronica Lorson Fowler |
Save Money on Water, Beautifully
 Rain barrels are a time-honored way to save water and provide the best chemical-free water for houseplants and flowers.
This 40-gallon classy rain barrel from Petty Vinyl in Gladbook, Iowa, is not only functional but has a unique planter box in the lid for planting. Unusual! Click here for details on how it works.
The rain barrel normally sells for $229.99 plus tax and shipping, but as a subscriber to The Iowa Gardener, it's yours for only $199.99 plus tax. Shipping is free (for a limited time).
For information or to place an order, call Petty Vinyl at 1-888-477-4474 or email them. Don't forget to mention this ad in The Iowa Gardener to receive your discount! And find out more about other outdoor products at pettyvinyl.com. |
Roses, Roses, Roses
 I'm a sucker for roses. But I'm also a busy working parent, and I don't have time to fuss and spray and I certainly don't have the bucks to replace dead plants each spring.
That's why I've become an expert in finding tough, easy, beautiful roses. Check out our listing (with pretty photos) of Eight Bulletproof Roses for Iowa.
Also, you may be interested in my best tips for great roses in Iowa, simple things you can do (and better yet, not do) to make your roses bigger and better with less work.
I'll be giving a talk on the best roses for Iowa at Bedford in Bloom, the ultimate community spring festival that celebrates pretty gardens and small-town life. It's Saturday, May 23. Drive on down and join us--and please introduce yourself! I'd love to meet you.
|
|
Warning! Read the Label!
True story: Last week I was in a large garden center looking for several boxwoods for a small hedge. I found some nice ones at a good price, but the labels didn't list the hardiness zone.
The nice young man looked it up online for me, but turns out they were hardy only to Zone 6, which is, like, southern Missouri. Read all plant labels carefully. If they don't have the info you need, ask! A huge, huge money saver.
|
When Good Evergreens
Go Brown
Many of you have asked questions about what to do for your evergreens that have developed dead or damaged needles this spring. We had a rough winter last year, and so this spring we have lots of what is called winter die-back.
If it's a holly or boxwood, you can cut out all the dead stuff and the plant will grow back.
However, on other evergreens, it won't grow back from that interior wood, the stuff that doesn't have needles on it. By the end of next month, they'll have recovered as much as they're going to. Make your decision at that time to keep or cut down.
Click here to find out how to choose and care for those evergreens that do best in Iowa.
|
Creeping Charlie Begone!
Wow. It's a great year for creeping charlie! It loves moisture and all our recent rains have made it, unfortunately, grow thick and lush.
Click here for tips on getting rid of this pretty but pesky weed.
|
Our Arrangement of the Week
With the crabapples in such glory, no need to limit enjoying them to looking out your window. Bring them indoors-many types are also sweetly fragrant.
For the arrangement shown here, I cut several long branches maybe 3 feet long, stripped the leaves off the lower parts, and then put them a tall vase about 10 inches high (mine is just a cheapie I got at Hobby Lobby for $4). It took maybe 10 minutes and wow-isn't it spectacular on my kitchen table?
Just remember that every cut you make is a pruning cut. Don't leave stubs or bad cuts. Fill the vase with water daily-those branches really suck it up. The arrangement will last about 3 days. A great Mother's Day gift, too!
|
|
Ask Veronica a Question
If you're a subscriber, email Veronica with your garden questions and she'll do her very best to get back to you within two business days. Click here! |
Bedford in Bloom Festival!
Celebrate spring with the little town of Bedford. Family activities, wine tastings, plant workshops, garden talks, a tour of Rainbow Iris Farms, a barbeque feast, and bluegrass music. Click on the logo below for more information.
|
|
|
 |
Garden To-Do List:
 The last average frost date is almost here! It's May 10 for southern Iowa and May 15 for northern Iowa. That means you can plant anything outdoors now and not worry about it getting damaged by cold.
So tuck in those tomato plants, peppers, basil, and other annual edibles and flowers that have been so tempting in the garden centers.
Plant gladiolus corms, canna rhizomes, and tuberous begonia tubers now that the soil is adequately warm.
Finish up planting of lettuces and spinach from seed.
You can continue to divide perennials that bloom in summer or fall now, as needed or desired. Hold off on dividing those that bloom in late spring until either after they bloom or this fall.
Finish up pruning trees, shrubs, evergreens, and roses now as desired.
Continue to plant trees, shrubs, and roses now. However, avoid planting bare-root roses and other bare-root plants after the middle of May.
Continue to plant perennial edibles that like cool weather, such as rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, and asparagus.
If you choose to use lawn chemicals, do your spring application of a fertilizer and a preemergent herbicide, or use a combination product. An organic alternative for a preemergent is corn meal gluten.
Wait to plant the seeds of corn, squash, cucumbers, and beans. They like warm soil. Plant these the last week of May in southern Iowa, the first week of June in northern.
If you choose to use a preemergent weed killer, such as Preen, in your beds and borders, now is the time to apply it. Organic versions are also available. Look for products that also fertilize.
You can mulch now. I like to wait until the soil warms up-which is usually about the time the daffodils are all fading.
If you like, erect supports for peonies now while they're small. Once in flower, they tend to flop badly, especially after a rain. You can buy grow-through supports, or just use smaller-type tomato supports.
Don't remove the browning foliage of tulips and daffodils until it pulls away easily. The plants need it to rejuvenate for next year.
|
Sponsored Links
Sky Crest Gardens Ames This delightful mom-and-pop sells an impressive array of water garden plants, supplies, hostas, choice perennials, and more. Evergreen GardensAmes Discover a unique retail nursery specializing in the unusual--ornamental evergreens, alpine and other rare plants. Ridge Road NurseryBellevue Excellent selection of native plants for the Uper Midwest. Check out their "horticultural gems," treasures for any Zone 4 garden! In The Country Garden & GiftsIndependence Specializing in hostas, water gardens, and unique garden gifts. Ted's Garden CenterCumming This one-of-a-kind center has topiary, unusual trellises, classes, interesting garden art, container garden "recipes" and more! |
Garden Events
A festival at Timber Pine nursery,
Earlham
Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Family Fun Zone, free pansies, as well as food, gift and garden supply vendors.
Story County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sales, Ames
Saturday, May 9 from 8 a.m to 3 p.m. Reiman Gardens parking lot in Ames. Also Saturday, May 16, 8 a.m. to noon at Christy Hall, 4-H Grounds, Nevada.
The Gardeners of America Plant Sale
Johnston
Saturday, May 9
8 a.m to 3 p.m., 5560 Merle Hay Road
Cedar Rapids Garden Club Spring Plant Sale
Saturday, May 9
8 a.m.-1 p.m. Corner House Gallery, 2753 First Ave. SE Cedar Rapids. Proceeds go for community beautification projects.
Evening Star's Annual Plant Sale, Johnston
Saturday, May 16th
8 a.m-noon, Crown Point Mall, 5400 Merle Hay Road. Proceeds go to DMACC horticulture student scholarships. Member-grown perennials, annuals, grasses, veggies, baked goods, and more.
Waverly Garden Club Plant and Craft Sale
Saturday, May 16
8 a.m.-noon. The Droeste Bulding on the Waverly Fairgrounds. Proceeds used to help beautify the city.
Include your group or business garden-related events in this listing for no charge. Click here to contact us!
|
Quote:
"It's spring fever... And when you've got it you want-oh, you don't quite know what it is you DO want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"
- Mark Twain |
|
