Mid-June 2014

Gardening with Mark

In This Issue

To Do in the Garden

Connect with Mark

Farewell Groundskeeper

Mark's

Gardening Connections

Mark's Choice tools and accessories

Home Hardware

Golfgreen Fertilizer

Toronto Star

Ottawa Citizen

Canada AM

My Facebook Page

"Pumps for Food" Golf Tournament

Date: August 26

Location: Pheasant Run Golf Club,

Time: shotgun start at 1:00pm

Cost: $150 per person

Register today for the "Pumps for Food" golf tournament, hosted by Dr. James Clubine and Mark Cullen to benefit S.H.A.R.E. Agriculture Foundation

Join us for a day of excellent golf and great food and fun, while raising much needed funding for "Pumps for Food".

"Pumps for Food" is a Mark Cullen and Dr. James Clubine initiative that raises fund for irrigation systems to produce food in the long dry season in Honduras and El Salador. A 'game changer' for co-operatives of subsistence farmers.

To Do in the Garden

1. Treat your lawn for grub control. Now is the time to apply dormant nematodes - those microscopic sized predators that you spray from a hose-end sprayer.

Nematodes occur naturally in your garden soil already - by applying them now you are enhancing their population in a natural fight against white and grey grubs. Nematodes are harmless to kids, pets and the environment. You have, weather depending, until the first week of July to get this job done.

2. Cut peonies and roses and bring them indoors.

3. Fertilize roses with Green Earth or CIL Rose food once a month in June and July.

4. Mulch with finely ground up cedar or pine bark mulch 6 to 8 cm thick to reduce weeding by up to 90% and watering by up to 70% the first year.

5. Set up rain barrels at your down spouts. Rain water is 30 to 40% oxygen charged. All plants perform better when watered with rain water. I use 4 rain barrels around my house to water all of my container plants. The results speak for themselves!

6. Plant your potatoes, corn, zucchini, potatoes and all other hot crops that you have been holding off for. The heat is finally 'on'.

7. It is not too late to sow seeds for fast germinating flowers and veggies. Sunflowers, zinnias, asters, nasturtiums, calendula, peas, beans, radishes and carrots can be sown now with expectations of a full crop before the end of the season.

8. Stake your tomatoes to double your crop. Apply Bordo Copper mixture to prevent early and late blight- once every couple of weeks until the middle of August.

Connect with Mark

- Did you know that I have a YouTube channel? Check out Mark Cullen Gardening on YouTube for 'How To' videos to help with your lawn & garden.

- Watch my weekly segment on CTV Canada AM with Jeff. Every Wednesday, between 8:30 and 9:00am. If you miss a segment, watch them online.

- My weekly newspaper column can be found online at The Toronto Star.

- Follow my daily Tweets on Twitter (@MarkCullen4)

- Listen to my weekly gardening tip 'The Green File'. I post a new audio clip every Wednesday.

- Follow my daily postings on my Facebook page.

Farewell to Groundskeeper

In the past, the Groundskeeper answered your gardening questions through my website www.markcullen.com.

We will no longer be answering gardening questions in this way. Do not expect a direct answer to your gardening questions.

I encourage you to visit My Library to search for information. And join the discussion on my Facebook page to receive advice from other gardeners.

Where to Find Mark

Mark June 19 - Proudfoot's Home Hardware Building Centre, Stellarton, Nova Scotia. 6-8pm. Contact the store for more details 902-752-1500.

June 21 - Annapolis Home Hardware Building Centre, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. 1-3pm. Contact the store for more details 902-532-7080.

Submit Your Event Listings

Events

Do you have a 'gardening' event you would like to promote, I would be happy to include your event listing in my monthly e-newsletter.

Send your info to groundskeeper@markcullen.com with the subject line 'Newsletter Event Listing'. Please provide a brief description of the event, along with a website for further information.

Annapolis Royal's Historic Gardens

Nova Scotia

Stop and Smell the Roses.

In a beautiful setting overlooking a tidal river valley, the Historic Gardens is a premiere Nova Scotia attraction showcasing gardening methods, designs and materials representing more than four hundred years of local history.

Our Rose Collection boasts hundreds of rose cultivars and thousands of fragrant and colourful blossoms.