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...because all the best garden advice is local
May 7, 2015

  In the garden sign
 

Forget about Christmas. I am absolutely loving this spring. From morning coffee on my porch to long afternoons digging in the dirt, this is my happy place.

   Forget about a massage. There's no better stress relief than sequestering myself in the backyard for hours at a time. It amuses me to put out the little sign, shown here, so that people can actually find me--crouched behind the lilacs, attacking the creeping charlie.

   This time of year, I'm a constant customer at garden centers, stocking up old favorite plants and sleuthing for an interesting new plant or two.

    To that end, I am so enjoying the conversation on The Iowa Gardener Facebook page. People across the state are weighing in on their favorite places to buy plants and why.

   My favorite garden center? That's like naming your favorite child, isn't it? They're all different, but you love them all.

 

Yours in happy gardening, 

Veronica Lorson Fowler

 
   

northern lights white azalea flower Plant of the Week: 

Hardy Azaleas
 

Southern gardens are known for their gorgeous azaleas each spring. Down South, they can grow dozens of different kinds. Here in Iowa, with our bitterly cold winters, we're restricted to just one type of azalea--the Northern Lights series. (Shown here is my 'White Lights' azalea.)

   Northern Lights azaleas come in different colors, thrive in light shade, and grow 4 or so feet high and wide--spectacular enough that I've had people slow down on the street for a closer look. And they're wonderfully fragrant and fairly good for cutting. 

   I see other azaleas in local garden centers that say they're hardy in our Iowa Zone 5, but I caution against them. Reliably hardy plants in Iowa must be able to endure -30°F temperatures, and no azaleas but the Northern Lights types will reliably come back each spring.

Mow, Mow, Mow Your Yard

 

With all this rain, my grass is growing like crazy. It's a good time to issue a reminder that for the healthiest grass, you 

lush green lawn

should mow often enough that you're not removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade. (That's twice a week for me right now!)

   Want this to be your year for a great lawn? Check out our lawn care monthly to-do list.

 

Lend Your Plants Some Support 


 

young peony sprouting into rings Finally! This year I got out there in time to put these cool grow-through supports on some of my peonies that tend to flop once they are in full flower (or it rains).  I also used them on my blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis) and 'Annabelle' hydrangea, which also tend to flop.

   You can also use stakes and string, but this makes it easy and tidy. Check out the good tips from other readers on The Iowa Gardener Facebook page! 
Issue: 113

Monthly To-Do

 

Looking for a fast, easy Mother's Day gift that costs just a few dollars? Make a Mother's Day garden journal. Takes just minutes and all you need is a white 3-ring binder with a clear sleeve on the front as well as a color printer. Print our nifty journal pages and cover and assemble. Or have a grandchild draw a personalized cover! 

 

 The last average frost date is almost here! It's May 10 for southern Iowa and May 15 for northern Iowa. Plant away! 

 

 Wait another 2 weeks to plant seeds of corn, cucumbers, squash, beans and other seeds that need warmer soil. 

 

 Now, while you can still see where bulbs are planted and remember what they look like, take some notes on what and where to plant this fall. Stick notations where you'll remember them. Like a garden journal, perhaps?  

 

 Don't remove the browning foliage of tulips and daffodils until it pulls away easily. The plants need it to rejuvenate for next year. 

 

 Weed and mulch, weed and mulch! Weeding gets rids of the weeds. Mulching suppresses them.

 

 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.

 

 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. 

Editor's Choice 
Garden Events  
 
Friday, May 8 through Sunday, May 10
Browse one of the state's plant sales and take in an informational lecture or two. And on Mother's Day, moms get in free! 

Garden Quote  

 

"Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. " 

 

-- W. Earl Hall, publisher, broadcaster, and U.S. Senator