Spring Rocks!
Greetings!
The sun is shining, my daffodils are blooming, and the
flowering trees all over the neighborhood are starting to pop. How could I
not be cheerful? Just
running errands around town, I find it so funny. Everyone is in a good mood.
The clerk at the convenience store said it makes his job much more pleasant. And
I had the best afternoon of gardening. I finished raking out beds, did
more pruning, got the water garden cleaned out, and planted various lettuces and greens. I
asked neighbor Russ to snap this picture of me at the end of the day--filthy,
stinky, and very, very happy. A garden writer friend teases me about looking
too glam in these newsletter photos, and she's got a point. What plant geek
would wear makeup in a garden? Yours in muddy clothes and dirty knees, Veronica Lorson Fowler |
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Raise Your Gardening To New Heights
I'm a huge fan of raised beds.They create the perfect planting bed. They help plants like
bulbs and perennials overwinter better--their excellent drainage means
plants don't have their feet in ice all winter long. Raised beds help soil warm up
better in our late Iowa springs, giving us a welcome head start. They're
also great weed control and ideal for gardeners who want to minimize kneeling. Click here for tips and hints for designing and building the easiest, best raised
beds for you.
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Love My Lettuces! Mmmm. I planted five different leaf lettuces this week. So
many cool tasty types are available for mere pennies. And in just three weeks
or so, I'll have tender little spring salads. Good for my figure; good for my
soul. Click here for tips on how to choose and grow lettuces. Click here for tips on making great salads with them, and my vinaigrette recipe with variations.
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Thank You, Mary Ann! Mary Ann Haley of Tipton emailed me lovely photos of
one of her container gardens last summer. It inspires me (love the cute little
cart, troughs, and bird houses) and I hope it inspires you. She's
doing a great job in growing lush containers. Click here for my best
advice on growing gorgeous pots and baskets. And if you have photos of your
garden you'd like to show off, email 'em to me and maybe we'll print yours, too!
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It's Baaaaccck! Creeping charlie is already back and blooming in the garden! Click here for tips on how to control this pretty, pain-in-the-patootey weed.
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Ben's Bees My business partner in The Iowa Gardener, Ben, couldn't resist sharing a photo of the new bees he got this week. (The others died out during the winter--a common occurrence in our cold climate). Ben, also an avid gardener, keeps honey bees not only because he likes to gather the honey but also because they boost the production of vegetables and fruit trees. Look closely in this shot, taken as a returning bee is greeted by one of her sisters, and you'll see the yellow pollen she's been collecting on her hind legs. Interested in getting into bees? Click here to visit the Iowa Honey Producers Association's web page.
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Have tough garden questions?
The
Iowa State University
Horticulture Extension Answer Line gives great, free advice! 515-294-3108
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Garden Quote: "Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it."
- Author Unknown
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Sponsored Links
Iowa City Landscaping and Garden Center No one offers a more complete line of high-quality, aesthetically pleasing garden d�cor products. Choose from � Home accessories � Interesting pots � Cool fountains � Romantic candles � Plant care products � Seeds � Seasonal decorations. If it's related to gardening, it's a good bet we have it! Pruning 101 WorkshopJoin Iowa Gardening Coach Anne Larson Saturday, April 17 at 9 am
in Ankeny for a workshop on how to prune roses, shrubs, trees, and evergreens.
$30. Click here to register or
call 515-865-7483. Ted's Garden Center, Cummings This one-of-a-kind garden center has topiary, unusual trellises, interesting garden art, container "recipes", and more. Check out the dwarf conifer garden class this Saturday, April 17th, 1-3 pm. Or come to the Grand Opening Weekend and Spring Fling April 24. Free giveaways, free classes, and specials throughout the Spring Fling Week! |
Garden To-Do List
For a printable version of this list for April, click here.
For a month-by-month listing of what to plant when in Iowa, click here.
Divide perennials that bloom in the late spring,
summer, or fall now, as needed or desired.
Prune large trees, small trees, shrubs, evergreens, and roses now as desired.
Spray fruit trees and roses
with dormant oil to prevent pests and diseases.
If you choose to use a
preemergent weed killer, such as Preen, in your beds and borders, now it the
time to apply it. Organic versions are also available. Look for products that
also fertilize.
Plant nearly any type of
tree or shrub now.
Plant cool-weather loving
seeds, such as radishes, carrots, lettuces, spinach,peas, turnips, beets, and
various greens now. It will soon be too hot!
Plant cool-season annual flowers such as pansies, now.
Plant seedlings of
cool-season vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and
cabbages now.
Plant bareroot roses now. It's also
now warm enough to plant roses growing in containers.
Plant herbs now that like
cool weather, including parsley, chives, and cilantro. Also plant any perennial
herbs.
Wait to plant warm-season
annuals, such as marigolds, tomatoes, and petunias, until after the last
average frost date in mid-May.
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Garden Events
Now through October 15 Gnome Sweet GnomeReiman Gardens, Ames See 20 gnomes painted and
decorated by 20 different Iowa organizations, including a 15-foot "World's
Largest Gnome!"
Thursday, April 22 Des Moines Botanical Center Earth Day10 am-5 pm. Free admission on Earth Day! Saturday, April 24 Des Moines Botanical Center FairBlue Ribbon Fair. Inspired
by the Charlotte's Web display, enjoy games, prizes, live music, live animals
including a donkey, cow, chickens, rabbits, and ducklings. Traditional fair food available for
purchase. Regular admission.
Click here for a listing of more Iowa garden events.
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