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Get Out There and Rake!
Greetings!
 Tuesday was my first day of really getting out into my
garden and inspecting it after winter's ravages.
I've
got crocuses and scilla in bloom, and I just cut the first arrangement of the
season--an armload of pussy willows. It makes me happy, as do these mild, sunny
days. I can't wait for a moment to get out there and rake out my flower beds
and lawn.
But
sheesh--all the damage from deer and rabbits! (Never a serious problem in the
24 years I've lived in this house.) It's depressing. Many of my trees and
shrubs have been badly damaged. But I'm hardly alone. Reiman Gardens reports
that it lost 50 trees to deer damage this winter.
Most
depressing: I have six arborvitae trees that I think are toast. The rabbit damage
starts several inches off the ground and then goes up a foot or two--precisely
where they would be standing on the snow. The damage is at the same level on other trees and shrubs, too, all around
the garden.
I'll
wait until June or so and see if the damaged stuff is going to grow back. If
not, out comes the saw and I'll have to cut them down and replace them.
Auck.
Ah,
well. I keep telling myself, "A garden is all about change. A garden is
all about change..."
Yours in lots of change,  Veronica Lorson Fowler |
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Assessing Winter Damage
 Check out this picture of my arborvitae. Rabbit damage, as
mentioned above.
Now that the snow has melted, we can see a lot of damage
that winter has wreaked. Here's a listing of the most common problems with links to information on fixing them.
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Dealing with winter burn and deer and rabbit damage on evergreens
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Dealing with winter rabbit damage on other trees and shrubs
ˇ Dealing
with broken branches and other problems from heavy snow and ice
ˇ Dealing with vole damage (tunneling in the lawn).
ˇ Dealing with snow mold (circular, straw colored patches in the lawn).
ˇ Dealing with salt damage.
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Ready, Set, Plant!
 Chief Garden Assistant, Will, age 12, was sent out a couple
of days ago to take the soil temperature in the raised beds. 45 degrees!
That's juuuusst barely warm enough to plant lettuces, Swiss chard, beets, and
radishes. (They prefer closer to 70°).
After
I get back from a trip to speak at the Quad Cities Flower and Garden Show this weekend,
he and I will get out there and do a little planting. For some reason, he
really wants to grow beets this year. He hates them. Go figure.
Click here for a
month-by-month listing of what to plant when in Iowa, for your entire yard, all
growing season long.
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The Evil Japanese Beetle
 It hasn't shown its suprisingly attractive green metallic
head yet, but this destructive pest is here to stay and lots of readers are
already asking about it.
Click here for info on what it is and
measures to control it. Yes, controlling the grubs in your lawn is help, but
that's not all. (Poor Will doesn't know that picking Japanese beetles off the
roses is going to be his new summer job.)
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Garden Journal
 In case you missed our previous mentions of our Garden Journal here's another chance to get going on yours. I'm a big fan of garden journals becvause they save me money and time. And they're a really fun learning tool.
We've created monthly to-do lists for Iowa gardeners so that you can easily print them and place them in a 3-ring binder notebook. Plenty of room to make lists in and you can change the configuration to fit your style. I use tab dividers for each month, pocket dividers to hold torn-out magazine articles and clear plastic zip pockets to stash old plant labels where I can always find them.
So start a garden journal of your own. To inspire you, we've created a beautiful cover for your garden journal. Click here for a printable version of a cover and the monthly to-do lists.
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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. |
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Garden To-Do List
Click here for a printable version of March garden tasks.
Click here for a month-by-month listing of What to Plant When in Iowa.
Click here for a Lawn Care Schedule for Iowa.
Take advantage of nice days
to get out in your yard and pick up trash and sticks, inspect for winter
damage, and just generally check out the state of your garden.
If perennials
are sending up a little fresh growth, rake leaves out of flower beds and cut
back any perennials left standing. Toss the old stuff in the compost
heap. (Please tell me you have one, right?)
Edge beds, walks, and
drives as desired.
Time to prune most large trees, small trees, evergreens, and shrubs. Hold off on pruning roses until they send out more growth.
The last week of March or
first week of April, start seeds
indoors of annuals that you should start 6-8 weeks before
the last average frost date. These include marigolds, globe amaranth, sweet
alyssum, and flowering tobacco.
Once you can easily work
the soil outside, plant directly in the ground seeds of fast-germinating cool-season
vegetables, such as radishes, spinaches, and lettuces.
In southern Iowa, plant bareroot trees,
shrubs, and roses at the end of the month, once you can work
the soil easily.
Prevent diseases and
insects on fruit trees by spraying with horticultural oil, also called dormant oil. Do so when
there is little wind and temperatures are in the 40s.
The bright yellow forsythia
will be blooming soon. When it does, that means its time to sprinkle any
preemergent herbicide (kills weed seeds, such as Preen) on flower beds, if you
choose to use it. It's also the time to apply a preemergent to your lawns. Or
save time with a weed and feed combo!
Stock up!
Work off your spring fever to buy now pots, potting soil, seeds and
seed-starting supplies, tools, soil amendments, fertilizers, etc. You'll save
trips to the garden center during the spring rush. And get out there and clean
up and organize your garage or shed, wash up pots, etc. so you're ready at the
starting gate.
How's your mower? If you didn't get it tuned up last fall and the blade sharpened, do it yourself now or take it in before the spring rush.
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Garden Events
March 26-28
Quad Cities Flower and Garden Show
More than 250 exhibitors
showcasing the latest techniques, supplies and equipment; landscaping companies
and DIY projects. The Iowa Gardener will have a booth and Veronica will be
speaking daily. Free to $6.
March 27-28
Natural Living Expo
Polk County
Convention Complex, Des Moines
The largest
"green" event in Iowa. Booths, presentations, and more on gardening
and living in harmony with nature. Free admission and free parking on weekends.
Saturday, March 27
Reiman Gardens Spring Fling, Ames.
1:00-3:00
p.m. The annual egg hunt, craft stations, rabbits to pet, face painting, cookie
decorating, photos with the Easter Bunny. Children and ISU students free. Others
$6-$7. Bunny Brunch for children and adults available with advance
reservations. 515-294-2710.
Saturday, April 10
Knoxville Garden Gala
8:30 through late afternoon. Visit the Bessie Paur Butterfly
Garden, shop garden booths, and listen four speakers (including Veronica!) from
around the state. $30-$35 registration fee includes lunch.
Sunday, April 11
Project GREEN Sunday Garden Forums
Public Library, Iowa City
2-4 pm. Robert Henderson, assistant director of Horticulture Programs
for the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, will speak on "Great Plants for the
Great Plains."
Click here for a listing of more Iowa garden events.
Include your upcoming garden event (we love garden clubs!) in our Events
listing. Click here to send us the info!
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Garden Quote:
"Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also
the soul."
-The Koran
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