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The Annual Spring Weed-O-Rama
Greetings!
Weeding, weeding, weeding. This cold, late spring has slowed the weeds down more than usual. but still, I am struggling to get them now, while they're still small.
I remember telling my daughter, Kate, when she was very small how even pretty weeds, like violets, take over and steal food and water from the other plants. They're plant bullies, I explained.
"Yeah," she said, nodding her head in understanding. "That's why we have to give them a time out in the compost heap!"
Exactly.
Weeding is hardly my favorite task, but over the years, I've learned how to minimize the amount of time and effort I put into it. Click here for Seven Ways to Spend Less Time Weeding!
Happy Weeding!
 Veronica Lorson Fowler |
My Worst Weeds and Pests
 Right now, I'm struggling with three primary weeds. (When hotter, drier weather hits, I'll have new ones to contend with). Click on each for more information from us on how to get rid of them.
Violets
Creeping Charlie
Dandelions
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 Much More Mulch
I just ordered 4 cubic yards of wood bark mulch from a local landscaper. Delivered, it cost me about $140 with delivery, a significant chunk of my annual gardening budget.
It's worth it. Mulch is critical to a beautiful garden that is healthy and takes minimal care. (My favorite mulch is a double-shredded hardwood mulch-dark, fine, and gorgeous. The only source I can find is Mulch Mart in Waukee, but I'd have to pay too much to get it delivered to Ames.)
Click here for tips on how to mulch well with minimal moola!.
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Mole Heaven
 Walk around on my back yard and you can feel all the mole tunnels collapse under your feet. Turns out the only real way to control moles is by trapping, either by yourself or a service that traps them for you.
Click here for tips on controlling moles--without gimicky tricks that don't work, like chewing gum.
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Upcoming Garden Events
Saturday, May 7
Story County Master Plant Sale
Ames
8 a.m-3 p.m. Reiman Gardens maintenance building
Garden art also. For more information, cbunde@live.com
Saturday, May 7
Master Gardener Plant Sale
8 a.m.-noon. Bremer County Extension Office, Tripoli. Plants, garden art, children's gardens. Master Gardeners on hand to answer garden questions.
Saturday, May 7
Project Green Garden Fair
Carver Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City
9-11:30 a.m. Plants, garden art, food, and experts to answer questions. Funds benefit local beautification projects. Free admission.
Saturday, May 7-Sunday, May 8
Polk County Master Gardeners Plant Sale
Des Moines Botanical Center
Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 pm; Sunday 10 a.m-4:30 p.m.
For more upcoming Iowa garden events, click here.
Have a garden event or events that you'd like featured in The Iowa Gardener? Click here and send us your information.
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Garden Quote
"And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."
--Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant" |
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| Sponsored Link
Ted's Garden Center, Cummings
Saturday, May 14 & 21
Mosaic Flower Pots
10 a.m-noon. Create your own beautiful flower pot in these two classes with a variety of materials--glass marbles, beads, tiles, found objects and more. In the second class, grout and seal the pots for a long-lasting finish. This class is messy so dress appropriately. $30.
Saturday May 21
Bashful Blooms & Tickled Pink Containers
10 a.m.-noon. Create a fabulous pink bloom-themed container for sun or shade. $30.
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Garden To-Do List
For a printable version of this list for May, click here.
For a month-by-month listing of what to plant when in Iowa,
click here.
 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 after that date.
Plant gladiolus corms, canna rhizomes, and tuberous begonia tubers now the soil is adequately warm.
Finish up planting of lettuces and spinach from seed.
You can continue to
divide perennials that bloom in the 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, and
evergreens 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.
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.
Don't remove the browning foliage of tulips and daffodils until it pulls away easily. The plants need it to rejuvenate for next year.
Now is a great time to build a raised bed.
Click here to find out how.
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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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