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...because all the best garden advice is local
March 27, 2014
Headline
 Veronica sitting in a window seat

     

I'm glad the snow is gone, but my landscape is still as brown and gray as it was in February. Not even an emerging crocus spotted yet! 

     And we're probably in for a colder-than-average spring through May, according to Iowa's venerable State Climatologist Harry Hillaker. He issued a gloomy weather report in early March. It says that after our enduring Iowa's ninth-coldest winter on record, "there is an expectation of mostly colder-than-normal weather for much of the remainder of March." The National Weather service also "slightly favors below-normal temperatures" through May.

   Iowa was in a drought last fall, and while we got lots of snow, it has to melt at just the right rate when the ground is thawed to remedy dry soil. Hillaker says that, unfortunately, there's not a strong expectation for a particularly wet spring.

   According to the always-interesting U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Iowa remains in a moderate drought with spots of more severe drought. Most of northeast Iowa is lucky enough to have normal conditions. Click here to see what's going on in your county.

   But as good old Harvey Hillaker points out, Iowa has highly variable springs. We can only wait, watch, and good gardeners that we are, plant with faith that we'll be rewarded.

 

Happy Variable Gardening,

Veronica Lorson Fowler

 

P.S. Unsure of what you should be planting now or later? Click here for a complete listing of what to plant when in Iowa. 

 
   

Make A Temporary Greenhouse
 

Old wiindow leaning against house as temporary cold frame or greenhouse Seedlings and newly purchased plants won't do well indoors for extended periods of time, even with a grow light. They need the strong, direct sunlight that only nature and the outdoors provide.

     To achieve this, in early spring, you can throw together a temporary "greenhouse" (really more of a cold frame) using an old storm or glass window or door. 

   Just prop up against the side of a house (preferably the south or west). 

   At night, if temperatures are going to get cold, block the sides with a couple of pieces of scrap wood, held in place with a brick or two. For really cold nights, you may need to bring the plants back indoors  

 

Save Iowa's Butterflies 

  

Dion Skipper (Euphyes Dion)
Shown here is the endangered native Iowa species, the Dion skipper
(Euphyes dion).
I was startled yesterday to find out that one-fourth of Iowa's 122 species of butterflies are listed as endangered or similarly threatened. I'd certainly heard a lot about the country's declining monarch populations, but the state of our native Iowa butterflies was a surprise.

   To help monitor the situation and as a first step to remedying it, Reiman Gardens has launched the Iowa Butterfly Survey Network.

   It is training "citizen scientists" to help monitor butterflies in their areas around the state. What a great way not only to learn more about butterflies but to help these lovely creatures.

   The only training session to become one of these citizen scientists will be Saturday, April 26, at Reiman Gardens in Ames. There is no charge. Click here for more information. 

Garden Quote  

 

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want-oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"

-- Mark Twain
Issue: 93

Monthly To-Do

 

 Take advantage of the upcoming predicted nice days to get out in your yard and pick up trash and sticks, inspect for winter damage, and just generally check out the state of your garden.

 

 If perennials are sending up a little fresh growth, rake leaves out of flower beds and cut back any perennials left standing. Toss the old stuff in the compost heap. (Please tell me you have one, right?)

 

 Edge beds, walks, and drives as desired.

 

 Time to prune most large trees, small trees, evergreens, and shrubs. Hold off on pruning roses until they send out more growth.

 

 We're about 7 weeks before Iowa's last average frost date! Time to start seeds indoors now of annuals that you should start 6-8 weeks before the last average frost date. These include marigolds, globe amaranth, sweet alyssum, and flowering tobacco. Click here for a more detailed planting calendar for Iowa. 

 

 Once you can easily work the soil outside, plant directly in the ground seeds of fast-germinating cool-season vegetables, such as radishes, spinaches, and lettuces.

 

 Plant bareroot trees, shrubs, and roses, as long as you can work the soil easily.

 

 Prevent diseases and insects on fruit trees by spraying with horticultural oil, also called dormant oil. Do so when there is little wind and temperatures are in the 40s. 

 

 The bright yellow forsythia will be blooming soon. When it does, that means its time to sprinkle any preemergent herbicide (kills weed seeds, such as Preen) on flower beds, if you choose to use it. It's also the time to apply a preemergent to your lawns. Or save time with a weed and feed combo!

 

 Stock up! Work off spring fever by buying pots, potting soil, seeds and seed-starting supplies, tools, soil amendments, fertilizers, etc. And get out there and clean up and organize your garage or shed, wash pots, etc.

 

 How's your mower? If you didn't get it tuned up last fall and the blade sharpened, do it yourself now or take it in before the spring rush.

 

 Same for any shears or other sharp cutting or slicing objects, including spades and hoes. If you haven't already, invest a few bucks in a sharpening stone. It makes all the difference. Click here to learn how. It's easy after you do it once or twice.

Editor's Choice 
Garden Events  
 
Saturday, April 12
Knoxville Garden Club Garden Gala
Knoxville, Iowa 
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 
Enjoy a day of garden vendors, interesting speakers from around the state, and lots of great garden ideas and inspiration. Click on events below for more details.