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...because all the best garden advice is local
April 15, 2010
Spring Rocks!
 
Greetings!

Veronica working in her garden in the dirt.

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


Veronica's raised bedsI'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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Party Time Rental of Ames
Love My Lettuces!
EvergreensMmmm. 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!
EvergreensMary 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!
EvergreensIt'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.
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, ruturning honey bee with yellow pollenand 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.  
Have tough garden questions? 
The Iowa State University Horticulture Extension Answer Line gives great, free advice! 515-294-3108
Garden Quote:
"Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it." 
- Author Unknown
Issue: 28
Sponsored Links

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 If it's related to gardening, it's a good bet we have it!

Link to coupon for Iowa city Landscaping

Pruning 101 Workshop
Join 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.
Garden Events 

Now through October 15
Gnome Sweet Gnome
Reiman 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 Day
10 am-5 pm. Free admission on Earth Day!

Saturday, April 24
Des Moines Botanical Center Fair
Blue 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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