|
|
Cooperative Extension Service |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
Experiment Station |
|
|
|
|
|
Arbor Day
Dale Bumpers College
|
Gardening CalendarWe have had the most glorious spring, with more flowers than ever. The increased flower display gave way to an increased wave of pollen, which many of us are glad to see passed. It is obvious from our seasonal color that extra rainfall really does make a difference in flower set. We were also pretty lucky to have made it through the colder than normal winter with relatively little winter damage. The cool spring gave us a slow start, but by now everything should be growing and leafed out. If you have damaged plants that you haven’t dealt with, do so soon. The later you wait to prune, the slower the recovery will be. Plants typically slow down in their growth rate as temperatures increase and moisture levels decrease. What’s in bloom in your garden? Seasonal summer color is kicking into high gear in the form of annuals, perennials and summer bulbs. With annuals, we want to push the plants as much as possible, which means regular water and fertilization. A slow release fertilizer is great to mix in when planting, and water soluble forms work well applied every ten days to two weeks, if you have the time. Deadhead plants that are setting seeds to keep energy directed to flower formation and not seeds. Plenty of color options are still out there from petunias, lantana, angelonia, sun coleus and zinnias. Tropical plants love heat and humidity too and can be used as summer annuals. From banana plants to hibiscus, mandevilla, and esperanza there are plenty of plants to try. Most will do well in pots or planted in the ground. Bougainvillea is best left pot-bound since if left unchecked in the soil it will grow to the exclusion of flowers. Perennials blooming nicely now include daylilies, purple coneflower, Shasta daisies, gaillardia, ruellia and the hardy hibiscus are getting ready to shine. Watch the foliage on your hardy hibiscus for the attack of the mallow sawfly. This insect can turn your leaves into lace, seemingly overnight. Spray at first signs of problems with Sevin, pyrethrums or similar insecticide. Summer bulbs can still be planted in dry bulb form, or many nurseries sell potted, actively growing plants, including caladiums, elephant ears (Colocasia and Alocasia), dahlias, and oxalis. Foliage can be as showy as flowers on many of these plants. Lawns are in peak form now with weekly mowing a common chore. Water when dry, but turn off the automatic setting on your sprinkler system unless you are out of town. You should not rely on daily light sprinklings, but instead water deeply one to three times a week depending on what you are growing and how much sunlight it gets. Summer weeds are firmly entrenched now. If you want a weed free lawn, then start controlling them now. The longer you wait, the bigger they get and the harder they are to kill. Those vegetables you planted in the spring are now bearing fruit. Who doesn’t love a fresh tomato or sweet corn fresh from the garden? Harvest regularly and scout your garden for problems. Aphids build up quickly, and stink bugs are harder to kill the bigger they get. When your sweet corn begins to show silks, squirt a couple of drops of mineral oil on the silks weekly until the silks turn brown. This will keep the corn earworms away. Watch your tomatoes for tomato fruit worms, especially as you finish corn harvest, since they are the same insect and can move from crop to crop. Mulch the garden to keep the weeds at bay and to give you a hand with watering. Mulched soils retain moisture and stay a little cooler when the temperatures heat up. There is still time to plant vegetables. If you have space where you have harvested broccoli, cabbage and lettuces, replant the area with winter squash, pumpkins, okra and sweet potatoes. You can also add to the plantings of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and herbs. Water, mulch and fertilize and you will be harvesting in no time. It is berry season. From blackberries and blueberries, fresh fruit is readily available this year. If you grow your own, you might consider bird netting around the blueberries, because the birds love them as much as we do. If you don’t grow your own, visit with your county agent to find growers nearby or visit your farmers market. We have many options today to buy fresh, locally grown produce. Spring blooming shrubs have finished blooming and all pruning chores need to get finished by mid month. Late season pruning tends to slow down plant recovery, which can impact the number of flowers that they set. Remember, they set their flower buds in August and September. Summer blooming shrubs are showing flower now. The knock-out roses which I consider a shrub, have been phenomenal this year, blooming non-stop from mid April on. Fertilize them once or twice a year and give them a little water and they will reward you with almost non-stop blooms. Other roses that are carefree include the Home run roses, David Austin roses, the flower carpet for low growing plants and New Dawn and ‘Climbing Autumn Sunset’ is a new yellow climber with disease resistance. We are seeing flowers on crape myrtles, rose of Sharon and oakleaf hydrangeas. Gardenia’s and big leaf hydrangeas that were not winter damaged are also blooming. If you want to try a new hydrangea that won’t be hurt by winter damage, try one of the improved smooth hydrangeas Hydrangea arborescens: Invincibelle Spirit is the first ever pink flowering form. Large showy pink flowers are born on the new growth, so even when plants get nipped back by a cold winter, they will still bloom. Buddleias are also blooming and attracting butterflies and bees, and the summer spireas will continue to bloom if you deadhead or shear them back after flowering. Summer in the garden can be just as colorful and carefree as spring blooming plants.
|
|
© 2006 |
|
|
University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture |
Mission
•
Disclaimer
•
EEO
•
|
