So Much Sky by Karen Weir-Jimerson

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...because all the best garden advice is local

June 21, 2012
Sultry Summer Days
veronica in garden
Greetings!

   

 It's that time of year when I think--oops! When was the last time I was in my garden?

   It's been hot enough that I haven't been out there just to hang out. Maintenance has subsided enough that I can get away with not inspecting the beds and borders for a few days.

   A mistake. Some of the 'Imagination' verbena in my strawberry pot shriveled up and passed on to the great beyond because I didn't notice they were getting dry. Same with some annual salvia. And some weeds hit waist-high seemingly overnight.

   That's why at least once a day, preferably before work in the morning, I try to walk through the garden to touch base. (Evenings are good, too, because then I can do it with a glass of wine to diminish fretting about weeds!) These short garden strolls are great for my plants--Garden Nanny is checking in. But they're also good for me. What is it about walking past flowers and trees that so soothes the soul, even when so much of what I see is weeds and work to get done?

    I guess that is the maddening, delightful dichotomy of gardening. It may be a labor of love, but it's still labor. And it's still love. 

 

Happy Gardening, 

Veronica Lorson Fowler  

 
How Dry Am I?drought map of iowa June 2012

 

As of June 12, the eastern three-fourths of the state is still wishing for more rain. Most of that area is deemed "abnormally dry" and a few small sections are in moderate drought, according to the latest released data on
Iowa drought conditions. Some of us have been lucky to have a rain or two since it was released, including a wonderful soaker last night in Ames, and it's been a huge help. Click on the map above for details. 

 

Screen capture of deadheading video  

Deadheading Deluxe

 

Back when my daughter was in pre-school, her teacher was helping her make little chore "gift certificates" to give to the moms for Mother's Day. Garden-savvy little Kate suggested deadheading. When I arrived to pick Kate up, the worried teacher pulled me aside to find out more about this "deadheading" and if we should be worried.

   Ha! Such a frightful name for such an innocuous task: Trimming spent blooms from perennials and annuals to keep them healthy, keep them tidy, and in some cases, to promote further bloom.

   Different plants should be deadheaded in different ways, so we had fun making some videos of me showing you how in my garden. Plenty to deadhead there! Each is just a couple of minutes long:

 How to deadhead bushy perennials with many flower, such as coreopsis, hardy geraniums, daisies, mums, and more.

 How to deadhead perennials with long stalks, such as daylilies or irises.

 How to deadhead peonies and other shrubby perennials with just a few, large flowers. 

   Click here to view all three.

Ask Me On Facebook 

 

I wish I had time to answer readers questions via email, but there just aren't enough hours in the day.

   But we're getting more and more active on Facebook with our The Iowa Gardener "wall." It's a nifty way for readers to ask questions. We get better exposure, others get to benefit from the question, and sometimes other readers chime in with great tips.
   If you're already logged in, click here to go to our Facebook page. Otherwise, go to Facebook, search for "Iowa Gardener," and ask to friend us!

   There's a good conversation going right now on how to find more time to garden. Plus, my ex-neighbor Judy wants to let everyone know she has donkey poop for sale-just $3 for a grocery sack full.

    Don't want to miss that!

Garden Quote  

 

"Halo around the moon, rain soon."

 

-- Old saying

 
Issue: 68 

Garden To-Do List

 

Water, water, water! Many containers will need a daily soaking this time of year. Annuals, new plantings of perennials and trees and shrubs, and new grass plantings also need special attention. 

 

Weed, weed, weed! Get them now while they're small and prevent big problems later. Click here for tips on how to wipe out max weeds in minimum time. 

 

After weeding, continue to finish off your work with a nice layer of wood bark mulch (never fresh wood chips.) It conserves moisture, prevents weed, and eventually breaks down and feeds the soil.

 

You can still plant seeds of squash, cucumbers, corn, beans, and other seeds that need warmer soil (usually 2 weeks past the last average frost date).

 

Go ahead and buy plants on clearance, but buy only those plants that look healthy. Avoid runty, dried out, or otherwise tired-looking plants. They're unlikely to rally.  

 

Avoid buying bare-root roses at this point in the season, no matter how cheap they are. It's just too hot and most bare-root roses are way past their prime in containers at this time of year. 

   

Deadhead flowers on annuals, perennials, and some shrubs. It keeps your garden more attractive and in many cases, it will encourage more flowers. Check out our videos on deadheading flowers by clicking here.

 

Continue to plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees, shrubs, and roses now. However, avoid planting bare-root roses and other bare-root plants. This late in the year, they'll struggle to get established and may well die.   

 

Time to practice tough love. If a tree or shrub is still struggling with winter damage or overall sickness, with significant amounts of dead wood, it's almost certainly time to dig it up or cut it down. 

     

 Remove the browning foliage of tulips and daffodils once it pulls away easily. Until then, the plant is using it to rejuvenate for next year.

 

 Pinch mum buds until the 4th of July. This helps them produce larger, bigger flowers on stronger stems.  

 

 Harvest early and often for the most tender, sweetest produce and to keep plants producing well. Pick zucchini, for example, with the yellow flower still attached. 

  

 Check out the bulb catalogs and on-line sources. Ordering now assures the type and quantity you want this fall, when supplies run low.

    

Editor's Choice Garden Events

Saturday, June 23
Des Moines
From 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. tour seven gardens in the Beaverdale area. Tickets are $10-$15.
 
Click here to see more upcoming Iowa garden events.

Click here to let us know about your garden event!

 

coneflower

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