Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2002 PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/gardentips.html Garden Tips June 2001 Marty Johnson, President, Johnson's Garden Centers, KS. Certified Nurseryman FLOWERS Keep hanging baskets, planters and garden flowers fertilized to maintain vigorous, healthy plants. A slow release fertilizer, like ferti-lome Start-N-Grow, will feed plants all season, but remember to supplement with a water-soluble high in phosphorus (ferti-lome Blooming & Rooting is 59% phosphorus) to keep plants blooming profusely. This same fertilizing routine will increase vegetable yields as well. Other tips to keep plants blooming all summer include deadheading the flowers and maintaining good soil moisture. "Deadheading" is removing old flowers so the plants won't waste energy producing seeds, and will produce more flowers. Water is crucial. Don't let plants dry out to the point of wilting. Check every day and maybe twice a day with containers. One way to increase the moisture holding ability of potting mix is to add Soil Moist polymer crystals . These granules swell up with water, then slowly release it to the plants. Mulch plants in the ground with Cotton Seed Hulls, cypress mulch or cedar mulch to help retain moisture. For disease and insect control on flowers and vegetables try a product made from Neem oil extract. This is a botanical insecticide/fungicide spray made from the seeds of the Neem tree. Rose Defense and Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Spray both come in ready-to-use or concentrated formulas. These sprays actually repel and prevent attacks by some insects and diseases. WATER GARDENS Water temperatures are up now and water plants are ready to grow. Fertilize potted lilies, lotus and bog plants with Aquatic-Tabs pushed into the soil. These slow release tabs reduce algae bloom while feeding your plants. It's a great time to add more plants, especially tropicals and floaters. Vigorous plant growth, to the point of covering 50% or more of the pond surface, greatly aids in controlling algae. If green water is still a problem there are chemicals like Green Away that can help. Biological and ultra violet filters can also be used depending on the severity of your problem. HEAT AND WIND STRESS To protect your plants from heat, wind and drought stress (remember last August?) spray them with Wilt-Pruf. Wilt-Pruf is an organic coating sprayed on the leaves to help the plant to retain moisture. Some plants have a natural coating that helps prevent moisture loss, and Wilt-Pruf simply mimics nature. New plantings benefit from the spray by retaining much-needed moisture until the plant has produced a healthy root system. Established plants benefit from a treatment as well. Spraying your plants twice a year will not only protect them from the summer winds but also the drying, winter winds as well. PEST CONTROL BAGWORMS--Be on the alert for bagworms hatching near the end of May. If you keep a look out and spray with American Thuricide while the worms are small, they'll be easy to control. Spray every 7-10 days through June. For later control use ferti-lome Ornamental and Evergreen Spray. BORERS--Use ferti-lome Borer Killer, containing Dursban, to help control borers on lilac, ash, birch, maple, oak and other susceptible plants. Spray periodically (about every 2-3 weeks) through August. The most important preventative step in protecting plantings from borers, other insects, and disease is to keep plants healthy and stress-free. That translates into fertilizer, mulch and adequate water. GRASSHOPPERS--It's easier to control grasshoppers in their nymph stage (still small). At the first sign of grasshoppers, apply Semaspore Bait. SPIDER MITES--Spider mites thrive in hot conditions so keep an eye on your plants. Look for stippled, yellow leaves and webbing over flower buds or on the lower leaf surfaces. Spray affected plants with Hi-Yield Cygon, Hi-Yield Kelthane or Ultra Fine SunSpray Oil. Treat at least three time at 5-7 day intervals. Apply a hard stream of water before the treatment to help wash off some of the mites. GERANIUM BUDWORMS--If you see holes chewed in the foliage and buds of geraniums and petunias, treat with American Thuricide or ferti-lome Dipel Dust in the evening to control these pest. Continue as needed through summer. PINE TIP MOTH--Look for the second generation of moths in late June and spray with ferti-lome Ornamental and Evergreen Spray or Orthene. EUONYMUS SCALE--appears as white flecks on leaves and stems, then the leaves start to yellow. Use ferti-lome Ornamental and Evergreen Spray (or Ultra Fine Oil) in late May to June to control the first generation crawler stage. CEDAR APPLE RUST--continue spraying ferti-lome Liquid Systemic Fungicide, ferti-lome Liquid Fungicide or Bayleton at 7-10 day intervals on susceptible apple, crabapple and hawthorn trees. MOSQUITOES--To kill mosquito larvae in standing water wherever it accumulates near your home, use Mosquito Dunks. Once a month, float Dunks in standing water and be mosquito-free all summer long. Each Dunk treats up to 100 sq. ft. and Dunks are safe to use in garden ponds.