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Thank you, Cape Girardeau (12/28/19)Thank you Cape Girardeau. This is probably the hardest column I have ever had to write because it will be my last. It is not about gardening, but it is about you, members of this community who have made my career in gardening so memorable and for the support of my family. In a sense you have gardened me...
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Winter can be hard on outdoor plants; there is a solution (11/30/19)Brrrr!!!!! It's cold outside, or at least it seems that way to me. My wife tells me I am a "Wooooooos" when it comes to cold. I really don't like cold weather. I was thinking about cold weather the other day when I was looking at some landscape plants that not native to Southeast Missouri but planted in a local landscape. ...
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The time is now to plant deciduous trees and shrubs (11/2/19)Just before I started writing this column, I was outside. Ugh! It is overcast and cooling down. Rain is in the forecast. All of this weather information tells me winter is on its way. Brrrrrrr. Most gardeners are picking the last of the vegetables out of the garden before this coming freeze. They are mulching around trees and shrubs outside to protect them from the coming cold weather. But not many gardeners are thinking about planting anything...
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Seed your cool season lawn (10/5/19)I would have normally suggested to reade it is time to seed your cool season (bluegrass, fescue, and rye) lawns when I wrote my last column four weeks ago. But because of the lack of moisture for a long time, our local soils were developing a lot of cracks in them because of that moisture deficit...
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Mums the word: How to plant your chrysanthemums (9/7/19)This has been a crazy weather year. This spring produced more rainfall than I can remember. The total amount of rainfall is debatable. I have not looked at actual weather data, but I know my windshield wipers had to be replaced. Now that it is beginning to dry up, gardeners are beginning to think about getting back outside and doing their "thing." Since this is early in the fall, I would suggest gardeners think about planting chrysanthemums (otherwise commonly referred to as mums)...
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Cool season lawn seeding (8/17/19)It is that time of year to think about cool season lawn seeding. This is something that needs to be done if you are finding a lot of bare spots in your lawn. If you find those bare spots, now is the time to get busy. If you have just a few spots in your lawn that are bare, take a rake and break up the surface of the soil. Then apply you cool season (bluegrass, fescue and rye) seed to the area. Then you should also apply a small amount of new lawn starter fertilizer to those areas...
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Wet, wet, wet: Gardeners getting a late start; lawns full of weeds (7/13/19)If you didn't realize it, this has been an extremely wet year. Many vegetable gardeners are just now beginning to get into their gardens to plant both row crops such as corn and beans and plant crops such as tomatoes. One gardener told me he didn't think he was going to be able to plant anything in his garden this whole year...
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Gardening with dad (6/15/19)As I was growing up, I was very aware of gardens. My grandparents would take me out to the back lot and I would watch as they picked tomatoes and beans. I would pick a few, but got bored very easily and decided to run and jump in the dirt. Now that was fun...
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Gardening tips for soil when it rains too much (5/18/19)I don't know about you, but I am tired of rain. (Don't tell anybody that, because it may haunt me in the near future). Let me rephrase that. A lot of landscape plants are tired of the rain. Too much rain causes plants to suffer, unless of course we are talking about swamp and water plants. The swamp plants and water plants are loving it...
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Keeping Easter lilies in bloom (4/20/19)Christians all across America will probably have one or more Easter lilies adorning the altar in their church on Sunday. Their beautiful white blooms remind us of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning and of the white gown that he wore when meeting with his disciples after his resurrection...
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The grass is greener (3/23/19)Well, it's spring. Jonquils are beginning to bloom. I have seen some magnolias that have flower buds beginning to expand and will be blooming soon. What a promising time of the year. Unfortunately if you are a lover of a nice green lawn without weeds' then you need to be on the watch. This is also a time of the year when broad-leaved lawn weeds such as chickweed, henbit and dandelions begin to bloom...
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Attracting purple martins and reducing mosquitoes (2/23/19)I have been shivering a lot this morning. I am tired of cold weather. For some reason (Brrrr) I thought of purple martins. They are a sure harbinger of spring. In front of my office/retail outlet we have a purple martin apartment house and also two sets of plastic gourds that are designed to attract and house purple martins. ...
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For the birds: A birdbath deicer will keep your feathered friends hydrated during the winter months (1/26/19)As I write this column, I am shivering. I think I am mentally reacting to the cold weather we are now experiencing. I think I am also reacting to the image of all the birds I see in the woods through our sliding glass door. They are looking for food and they are looking for water...
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Caring for your post-Christmas poinsettia (12/29/18)It is a few days past Christmas. Several gardeners still have Christmas on their minds because of a gift that they received during the holiday period: a Christmas poinsettia. Many are asking, "Now what do I do with it?" If you like your gift, want to keep it and see it bloom again next Christmas, do the following. Treat it like a houseplant after the holidays. Place it near a window. Water it as needed and fertilize it about every month. Use a fertilizer such as a soluble 20-20-20...
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Caring for Christmas trees (12/1/18)Christmas is in the air. I have been driving around town and seeing Christmas trees for sale on tree lots. They have lots of beautiful fresh Christmas trees, garlands, swags, roping and wreaths for sale. This really puts me in the Christmas spirit. These sights also remind me of my growing up years around Christmas. ...
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Add winter color: Pansies are a touch, lovely flower that will withstand winter chills (11/3/18)Just before I began to write this column I looked at the weather forecast for the next few weeks. It looks like fall is going to begin the transition to winter. This transition will result in the decline of beautiful fall colors. If this bothers you, then think about planting some pansies in your landscape to keep beautiful colors in your landscape all winter long...
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Fall is the time to plant cool-season lawns (9/8/18)As I write this column, I see that it is raining outside. The rain in early fall reminds me that now is the best time of the year for lawn owners to reseed their cool season lawns. Cool season lawns are made of bluegrasses, fescues, and ryes, or a combination of these. Let me explain...
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Garden topic roundup (8/11/18)I normally choose one timely topic of timely interest to write about in this column. This is somewhat of an unusual year, weather-wise. Therefore I find there are about five different timely topics of interest. So here goes. n First I want to mention bagworms. ...
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Brown leaves mean a problem (7/14/18)Over the last few months, many gardeners have brought me samples of plants that are not doing well. They want to know what to spray on the plant to make it better. In most cases the samples are leaves that have a lot of brown on them and in most cases the transition between brown and green on the leaf is transitional. There is no line of demarcation between the brown and the green...
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Spotty leaves and wilting (6/16/18)This has been an unusual gardening year. Or, it is a usual gardening year but we don't always remember how unusual other springs have been. So much for nonsense. I have been inundated with gardeners bringing me pictures of problems they are having with plants in their gardens, landscapes, and shrub beds. The usual pictures are brown spots on leaves, leaves that are wilting, branches that have lost all of their leaves, etc...
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Barberries add security (5/19/18)I was making a deposit at a local bank this morning and saw that they had a lot of barberries (very prickly bushes) around the windows of the drive through teller portion of the bank. I don't think any criminals would try to get through the bank via those windows because of the prickly bushes. This made me think of an issue that developed at a bank in downtown Columbia, Missouri over 40 years ago...
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Simple fixes for garden questions (3/24/18)The unusual weather we have been experiencing has prompted a lot of vegetable gardeners to ask a lot of questions. They are wondering if there is something that they should be doing differently than before in order to combat the "unusual weather." (In my mind, the "unusual weather" we have been experiencing is just "usual" for the Heartland.)...
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Growing a gardener: Teaching a child the basics in taking care of a plant can be fruitful for all (2/24/18)The other evening I was sitting at my desk in my study at home. I looked up at the wall and saw a picture of myself and my granddaughter Kelsi. It was published in this newspaper about 20 years ago. I was holding her, and we were intently looking at a pine cone. She seemed mesmerized...
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Applying the proper fertilizer in late winter can help landscape rebound from harsh weather (1/27/18)Brrrrrrrrrr!!!! It still feels cold outside to me. I know the temperatures are getting warmer, but I haven't thawed out yet from last week's freeze. If you are feeling the same way, think about all of those landscape plants around your home, business, school or park. I am sure that they would like to see temperatures climb a little so that they can shake off the cold and start growing again this spring...
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Winging the winter (12/30/17)I just looked at the weather forecast on my cell phone for the next few days. Brrrrrrrrrrr! Then I looked out the window and saw one of my feathered friends. I'll bet he also was saying "Brrrrrrrrrr!" When I was growing up, my mother and grandmother always told me to drink plenty of water each day. That I did, without hesitation. But they also told me I had to take a bath every day. Now that was a different story. I wasn't so sure the bath was needed...
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A green Christmas (12/2/17)People seem to be focused on decorating their homes at this time of the year to celebrate Christmas. One category of items they are using is natural Christmas greens in the form of swags, wreaths, garlands and real trees. I can remember when I was a kid, my parents would always go to the local Christmas-tree lot right after Thanksgiving, pick out a tree, and take it home. ...
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Lawn rehabilitation: Fall fertilizer advice for this year's abnormal pattern of rainfall (11/5/17)As I have mentioned in earlier columns, this has been an unusual year. First we had all of the rain in the spring, and then we had the lack of rain. The extremes have been very hard on lawns. Here are some suggestions to help your lawn recover from the stress...
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Parched: Proper watering methods are critical during current drought conditions (10/8/17)It is dry, dry, dry outside. If you don't believe it, talk to a gardener. I have heard a lot of the following stories. "I seeded my lawn last week. Then I watered it really good, but nothing is coming up." "I seeded my lawn last week and I am watering it every other day. It is not coming up very well."...
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Parched times (9/10/17)Over the last four weeks, I only have had about one-tenth inch of rainfall at my home on the edge of Cape Girardeau. I just looked at the weather forecast for the next two weeks and it looks like we will see no precipitation during that time. The soil is sure getting dry in the Heartland...
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Eliminating grassy weeds without harming flowers, vegetable plants (8/13/17)Due to the extremes in weather we have experienced this year, several gardeners have seen an increase in grassy-type weeds in their flower beds and vegetable gardens. In many cases, these gardeners have tried to find a herbicide to use without hurting their flowers or vegetables. They are tired of the method I used when I was growing up -- the hoe...
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Frustrated summer gardners may have better luck in fall (7/16/17)Over the last few weeks I have seen sample after sample of plant issues from vegetable gardens. These range from disease infections, insect infestations and poor growth, due to excess moisture from all of the rainfall this spring. In many cases the gardeners are so disgusted they have said "enough is enough." They are looking forward to having a much better garden next year...
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Father figures throughout life teach lessons, have lasting influence (6/18/17)This column will be published on Father's Day. With that in mind, I would like to tell how my dad and "dads" influenced me with gardening. My biological dad was an avid gardener when I was growing up. I can remember watching him spade the garden, rake it and then plant rows of corn, beans, peas and tomatoes. ...
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Figuring out brown (5/21/17)Over the last few weeks I have been given several plant samples from gardeners. These samples have leaves that are partially shriveled and show combinations of brown and green tissue. Of course, the questions are what is causing it, and how do I treat the plant for the problem?...
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An ongoing invasion (4/23/17)I try to listen to gardeners in the area about the time to write when it's my next column. Their concerns are the subjects I think I should write about. With that said, Japanese beetles and their control seem to be on the mind of several gardeners that I have talked with over the last few weeks...
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Fertilizer is a numbers game (3/26/17)I have been talking with a lot of gardeners who say they are itching to plant something, then as the conversation continues, I am asked if they can use just any old fertilizer when they plant. They have some 12-12-12 in the garage, or some 46-0-0 that they want to use up...
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Bird watching (2/26/17)After experiencing a few days this month in the high 60s and low 70s, I am ready for spring. As I drive around town I also see a lot of purple martin houses in backyards. Their presence also reminds me of spring. Purple martins generally make their trek northward to the Heartland during the month of March, so now is the time to get ready for them...
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Welcome back bluebirds (1/29/17)I live at the end of a half-mile-long driveway. During the summer as I drive up to my home, I enjoy watching the bluebirds. They may be taking a bath in a pothole in the lane after a rain, or they may just fly out of the way so I don't hit them with the car. They are really a joy to watch...
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Growth resolution (1/1/17)This column will publish on New Year's Day. So with that in mind, I would like to suggest a New Year's resolution. For a while, look at plants not from the angle of "What do I have to do this year in my landscape or garden?", but from the angle of just enjoying the beauty of growing plants. Let me explain...
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Let it grow (12/4/16)Over the past few weeks, several gardeners told me they are moving plants indoors, or they are going to start bedding plants from seed after the holidays. The common question from both groups is what kind of light requirements must be met. "Can I use regular incandescent or fluorescent bulbs as a light source?"...
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The root of the matter (11/6/16)While writing this column, I felt the warm temperatures and saw the beautiful full sun in the sky. I thought, "What a beautiful late summer day we are having." Oops, I looked at the calendar and was brought back to reality. It is early November. Usually by this time the temperatures are in the 40s during the day and often in the 20s at night...
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Over the winter (10/9/16)We have had a few cool mornings lately, which has prompted a question from many gardeners. When is the time to take my tropical plants inside for the winter, and what do I need to do before and after I take them in? Watch the weather. When you see a forecast for temperatures below 45 degrees, I would get them inside...
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Feeding the birds (9/11/16)Last weekend my wife and I were sitting outside on our new patio enjoying the cool weather we were having. While we ate our late breakfast, we saw a squirrel checking us out as it sat on a limb of an oak tree. We then heard an owl hoot at us. I was not sure what he or she was saying. I tried to hoot back, but that seemed to end the conversation...
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Tips on Planting your fall garden (8/14/16)Over the past few weeks, I have been given a lot of samples of vegetable plants that are not doing well. Some are diseased. Some don't produce vegetables. Some are not growing. These results are due to a lot of factors, such as too much moisture, so the roots are rotting. In addition, high temperatures along with a lot of humidity because of all of the rain are the prime weather conditions for most plant diseases to develop...
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Beautiful blooms (7/17/16)For some reason I have been struggling to come up with an interesting topic for this column. Nothing seemed to pop into my head until one of my co-workers came in from watering this morning. Her comment was, "Talk about summer beauty outside." She had been watering pots of summer blooming plants such as abelia, hydrangea, butterfly bushes, hardy hibiscus, roses and crepe myrtles. So I thought, what a great subject for a summer gardening column...
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Growing up gardening with Dad (6/19/16)I always write a column about some facet of gardening. But a few years ago the column published on Mother's Day, so I wrote about my mom, the "gardener of plants and boys." This column runs on Father's Day, so I thought it appropriate I write about my dad, Martin, who was a pretty good gardener...
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Keeping plants healthy through yo-yo weather (5/22/16)As I write this, I am shivering a little. The recent cool and wet spring weather has me thinking about pulling out my winter clothes. It also has me thinking about the effect these environmental conditions have on garden plants. My front acreage was planted in field corn about three weeks ago. ...
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Tips for starting a backyard garden (4/24/16)Several homeowners recently have commented that they want to start a garden in their backyard this spring. I usually ask them why. The answers are quite varied. Some want to make sure their children really understand where food comes from. Others say they always helped their grandparents pick tomatoes during the summer, and they just want to see if they can grow tomatoes as large as grandpa did. ...
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Indoor plant options for senior gardeners (3/27/16)When I was growing up, I often stayed with Uncle Bill and Aunt Virginia on their farm. Uncle Bill let me drive the tractor, help him fix the machinery, climb on the roof of the machine shed, till the garden, hoe weeds in the bean field, etc. What fun I had...
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Landscape project planning can save money and time (2/28/16)As I am writing this column, I am also glancing out my window and watching the snow fall. This kind of weather seems to be a downer for many gardeners because they can't go out and dig in the dirt. If you are one of these gardeners, I suggest you use this time to plan that landscape project you want to work on when the weather breaks...
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Winter herbs (1/3/16)In the past few weeks I have seen and heard a lot of discussion about herbs in the various forms of media. These discussions gave great information about herbs that enhance the taste of prepared foods, promote health and how you grow them outdoors in containers or in gardens...
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Christmas flower (12/6/15)During the past few days, I have seen a lot of poinsettias placed on shelves at retail outlets. The plant obviously is popular during the Christmas season. With the popularity of the poinsettia during the Christmas holiday season in mind, I Googled "History of the Poinsettia" and clicked on search. I was hoping to find out why this plant was so popular...
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Nature's gift (11/8/15)As I drove to work the other morning, I saw leaves piled up along the street in residential neighborhoods. The fall leaf-raking season has begun. I have been overhearing conversations between gardeners and homeowners discussing the annual leaf fall and what it means for them. Many complain about the time needed to rake the leaves, pile them up and then have to figure out how to get rid of them...
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Dirt Dilemma? (10/11/15)In my Sept. 13 column, I discussed how to reestablish a lawn this fall by reseeding and proper timing and use of herbicides. This topic was discussed because many gardeners had talked with me about the diseased and weedy areas of their lawns resulting from the rain in the Heartland earlier in the summer. They wanted to get their lawns back into shape...
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'Do it now': Extreme weather leads homeowners to worry about condition of lawns (9/13/15)Several homeowners recently have expressed the need to reseed their cool season lawn (bluegrass, fescue and rye). The extreme weather conditions have done a number on it, and they want to get it back into shape this fall. The most often asked question is, "Should I seed now, later this fall, or wait until next spring?" The answer to this question is, "Do it now." If you wait until next spring, the soils will be cool and seed will take a long time to germinate...
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Tilling? Thrilling (8/16/15)My introduction to gardening was probably in the spring of 1952. We lived in a small home in Marshall, Missouri. Next to the house was an empty lot owned by the neighbor. Dad had asked them if we could plant a garden in that lot. They said, "yes," so Dad gave me instructions on turning the soil. This was pre-garden- tiller days...
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Myrtle in distress (7/19/15)Several gardeners recently have complained to me about their crape myrtles. In some cases, the tops died back this spring, and there are just long dead branches sticking up in the air. In May, they were looking for replacements because all their crape myrtles were "dead."...
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Planting in the summer? Why not? (6/21/15)One of the most frequent questions asked at this time of the year is, "Is it OK to plant trees and shrubs in my landscape at this time of the year, or should I wait until fall or spring?" My facetious answer is, "You can plant most trees and shrubs at any time of the year except when the ground is frozen." So now is a good time to plant...
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Bagworm alert (5/24/15)Be on a bagworm alert. Within the next two to three weeks, bagworms will be hatching and begin to feed on plant tissue. I mention this now because most gardeners only notice bagworms when they are large and after extensive damage has occurred. Each overwintered female bagworm bag will have an average of 300 to 1,000 eggs in it. These eggs will soon hatch into larvae and then immediately begin to feed on plant material...
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Fertilize lawn to fuel it with proper nutrients (4/26/15)For some reason, the question of the spring is "Do I fertilize my lawn, and if I do, what do I fertilize with, and when?" I am not sure where to start, so here goes. Yes, you should fertilize your lawn. It is important for you to provide adequate nitrogen (N), the first number on a bag of fertilizer. ...
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New varieties of old stand-by garden plants making their debut (3/29/15)If you have been reading gardening journals or home decorating magazines this month, you will probably find article after article on new varieties of old standby landscaping plants that are now being produced. The articles tout the improvements being made by breeders, such as improved disease resistance, increased tolerance of growing in shady conditions, etc. ...
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Time for a winter walk-about: Tour your landscape to see how plants fared in recent rough weather (3/1/15)The last few weeks have certainly been disruptive in the Heartland. Traffic and commerce have been hampered by ice and snow, schools have been closed, events have been canceled, and weather forecasters have been working overtime. All of the weather conditions we have been experiencing have caused concern about possible traffic accidents, falling on ice at home or work, frostbite and frozen water pipes. ...
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Think spring: Start cole crop seedlings now, and be ready to plant outdoors when the time comes (2/1/15)It's cold outside, and the forecast suggests it will get even colder. But if you are a gardener, you are looking past the immediate forecast and thinking about spring gardening. If you want to keep yourself thinking spring, get with the program by starting cole crop (cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli) seed inside now, so that it will be ready for transplant when the weather breaks...
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Transplanting: Now is ideal time (1/4/15)During the past few weeks, I have been asked the same question: "I have a plant in my landscape that seems to be out of place. I want to move it to another spot in my yard. Is now a good time to transplant it?" The answer is, "Yes, now during the dormant season, is a good time to dig up and replant a shrub or tree that seems to be out of place in your yard."...
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Grow your own (12/7/14)While at work, I receive the occasional call from my wife asking me to bring home a few sprigs of curled parsley. She is making her "new potato" dish and needs to garnish it with a little greenery. We have a collection of herbs growing in the greenhouse, so the request is not a problem...
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Plan landscape for autumn color (11/9/14)A few days ago I was talking with a young couple who had just moved into their first home. They had been driving around the community and were just amazed at the spectrum of fall colors that were evident in the vegetation they had seen. They wanted to add some of those fall colors to their landscape, but didn't know where to begin...
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Pruning at the right time of year is essential to plant health (10/12/14)"When to prune?" is a question gardeners have been asking lately. So I thought I would put together a primer on pruning the most common plant groups that I have been asked about. Most gardeners like to cut ornamental grasses to the ground sometime in the late fall after the stems have turned brown. If they don't prune at that time, the brown stems will often break off during the winter, which results in the need to clean up the mess...
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Prep now for a good-looking lawn next year (9/14/14)At this time of the year I often hear exasperated gardeners say, "I am tired of dealing with all of the issues such as weeds and diseases in my cool season lawn. I am just going to wait until next spring and start all over again. That way I will get a fresh start for next year, and maybe I won't have as many problems in 2015."...
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Taking Root: Growing mums and asters that last (8/17/14)
Don't wait until November to plant mums and asters. Buy them now or by mid-September, and plant them in your landscape. These fall bloomers need to have their roots growing and become established before cold weather. A few years ago I received a letter from a reader of this column. As I began to open the envelope, I thought to myself, "this is neat. I am getting a letter from a reader who is going to tell me how much he/she appreciates my column."...
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Broadleaf and grass pests challenge lawns (7/20/14)Several lawn owners have recently contacted me about all of the weeds growing in their lawns. In many cases they treated their lawns with herbicides earlier in the season. So, what is going on? First let's consider broadleaf weeds such as dandelions, spurge, lespedeza and clover. When we have good growing temperatures, along with lots of moisture, these weeds tend to produce lots of seed or spread by runners -- which increases the weed population in your lawn...
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Now is the time to ponder a fall garden (6/22/14)If you are a vegetable gardener, you are busy fertilizing, weeding, checking vegetable plants for insects and diseases, and harvesting that gorgeous tomato, head of cauliflower, and some radishes. And, you are looking at the potential corn crop that is coming on. Unfortunately when the corn is picked and the tomatoes play out, you will be out of fresh vegetables for your evening dinner, unless you start thinking ahead to a fall garden...
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Fertilize to boost the blooms of roses, azaleas (5/25/14)"With what and when do I fertilize roses and azaleas? Can I use the same fertilizer for both plants?" These are common questions asked by gardeners quite often, especially in the spring. Azaleas, rhododendrons I will start with azaleas (rhododendrons are included with azaleas). ...
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Tips for successful container gardening (4/27/14)
The most-asked question from new gardeners is, 'How often do I water the potted plant, once a week, twice a week?' My stock answer is place your finger in the soil. When it is dry, water. When it is wet, don't. The frequency of needed water will be determined by environmental conditions...
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Welcoming bluebirds to your home (3/2/14)I don't know about you, but I would really like to see spring. The day I wrote this column the temps were in the 50s and 60s and the bluebirds were flitting about looking for lunch. When I looked at the forecast for the day this column was to be published I thought winter will be back. Bah!...
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The down and dirty on Soil (2/2/14)About this time 50 years ago, I was walking into a classroom at the University of Missouri. The class was Soils 101. This was a required course for all students in the School of Forestry. I wasn't too concerned about making a good grade. After all, we were only going to study dirt...
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Now is the time to start cole crop seedlings (1/5/14)If you are a gardener, you already can tell that the days are getting longer. You know spring is just around the corner, so it is time to start your cole crop seeds -- cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli -- inside so the starters can be ready to transplant into your garden at the end of February or early March...
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Keeping the green in fresh holiday greenery (12/8/13)When Marilyn and I had our first Christmas together in our trailer, we got a fresh Christmas tree to celebrate with. After all, a forestry student wouldn't dream of having anything but a live Christmas tree to adorn the corner of the living area. We both were pretty excited about putting it up and decorating it...
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A few helpful tips for growing healthy rose bushes (11/10/13)I don't like to write a gardening column until about a week before it is to be published for a very specific reason. I want to answer questions that are currently on the minds of Heartland gardeners. The current questions that I have been fielding are as follows: "When should I prune back my roses? How far back can I prune them?"...
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Follow these steps for confident planting in autumn (10/13/13)I have been asked the following question several times over the last few days: "Can I plant trees and shrubs in the fall, or should I wait until spring?" The nursery industry attempted to answer this question more than 20 years ago when they developed a promotion called "Fall is for Planting."...
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Proper care can ensure houseplant longevity (9/22/13)A friend of mine has some houseplants that he faithfully takes outside every spring, cares for them all spring, summer and fall, and is now thinking about again taking them inside to overwinter. It is a lot of work, but he does it because of their sentimental value. One of them belonged to his mother...
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Dealing with pesky grubs (8/18/13)The last few growing seasons have been challenging, to say the least. We have had floods, droughts, cool springs, warms springs, etc. It certainly makes it difficult for a gardener to make any plans. What is the next challenge to gardeners? During the last few years the population of Japanese beetles has increased its range throughout the Heartland. This increase in populated areas could suggest a potential of which many gardeners may not be aware...
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Your garden: Spring and fall (7/21/13)It sure is hot outside. On the other hand, I have found that "real vegetable gardeners" don't mind the climbing temperatures and humidity levels at all. They know this season will come to an end soon and they can start working on their fall garden. The first few years of my life were spent in Northwest Missouri. I watched my aunts, uncles and grandparents plant a garden in the spring and harvest in the summer. After that harvest the garden was done until next spring...
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Sprinklers: The pros and cons (6/23/13)I recently had a discussion with a homeowner about some issues in her lawn. She had dead spots here and there and was wondering what was going on. I proceeded to ask her whether she was watering the lawn. Her comment was that they had an automatic sprinkler system, so watering could not possibly be an issue...
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How to treat azalea leaf gall (5/26/13)The unusual spring weather is causing all kinds of plant problems. One that has recently been brought to the attention of gardeners is azalea leaf gall. This plant disease is caused by an infection of azalea leaf and flower parts by the fungus Exobasidium vaccinii...
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Protecting your lawn from pesky weeds (4/28/13)If you have been traveling through neighborhoods this spring, I am sure you have noticed all the bright purple flowers and light green matted weeds in most of the lawns. These weeds have been the bane of many a lawn owner this spring. The purple flower weed is henbit, and the green matted weed, which has a small white flower, is chickweed. If left unchecked, they can grow vigorously and choke out wanted grass...
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Cool spring allows slower plant growth (3/31/13)I am thinking spring. Of course, I have been thinking that thought for a month now, but Mother Nature has had other ideas. Hopefully by the time this column publishes, she will have changed her mind and started warming up our spring. Gardeners have been quizzing me about how this cold "spring" will affect what has already been planted, and how will it affect the normal progression of events for the remainder of the spring, so here is my take on what will be the effects of our recent weather on normal spring activities.. ...
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Enhancing the survival of new plants (3/3/13)It might be a little early in the season to write about planting trees and shrubs, but I am getting the fever [along with a lot of other gardeners]. Although I am getting the fever, I also am thinking about the stress plants have had to endure because of the weather over the last few years...
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Don't wait until spring. Reseed now. (2/3/13)I have had several gardeners tell me that their cool season lawn (bluegrass, fescue or rye) is not looking very good. There are lots of areas where the turf is sparse. They want to know when in the spring is the best time to reseed the lawn. Most gardeners are shocked when I tell them to reseed their lawn now and not wait till spring. They think that seed will freeze and not germinate, or the birds will eat all of it...
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There are several ways to help birds through the winter and enhance your birdwatching experience (1/6/13)The recent snows and cold temperatures have prompted questions from novice bird lovers. What do I need to do to help wild birds to make it through this winter? The first part of the answer to this question results in strange looks from the novice. I tell them that most birds don't need our help to make it through the winter. God gave them the instinct and wherewithal to find food and shelter in order to survive until next spring...
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BULB PLANTING 101 (12/9/12)I had a visit the other day from Piet Stuifbergen, a native Hollander. Piet is a Dutch bulb grower and importer who lives in the Kansas City area. I am glad he stopped by, because with all of the warm weather we have been having, I forgot that now is the time to put those tulip, hyacinth, daffodil and crocus bulbs in the ground...
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Go Brown to go Green: Turn fallen leaves into compost (11/11/12)Everywhere I look, I see signs that say "Go Green." This fall I would like to change the slogan a little to "Go Brown to Go Green." Let me explain. I was in my front yard a few days ago, complaining to myself about all of the leaves that I was blowing to the woods. What a pain to rake/blow leaves two or three times each fall...
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How to determine if your trees and shrubs can bounce back after stressful summer (10/14/12)Over the last few weeks I have looked at trees and shrubs that exhibit damage resulting from the stressful summer. Samples of stressed plants are brought to me every day to look at, and telephone callers describe damage that they see on the plants in their landscape...
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In-house plants help remove toxin (9/16/12)The week of Sept. 16 through 22 has been designated as National House Plant Week. I am not sure who made the designation, but I like the idea because of all the benefits that house plants afford us. When I enter an office, mall or home and see house plants I just feel a little more at ease. They remind me of nature. I enjoy being outside and smelling fresh air...
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Being optimistic is a farmer's trait (8/19/12)Marilyn and I just got back from a 2,500-mile road trip through the heart of the United States. It is dry, dry, dry. Crops are scorched if they were not irrigated. Evidence of brush and range fires was obvious in several locations. What a year. The trip was made to attend a family reunion and then to visit the other side of the family members. Many of them are farmers. They talked about how dry it is, and how the drought will affect their income for the year...
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Saving your plants from dying in the heat (7/22/12)Last year we were flooded in the spring. This year spring came early. Then Mother Nature turned off the rain spigot and turned on the summer furnace. During all of this the population of voracious Japanese beetles continued to increase and devour roots, flowers and leaves. What's a plant to do?...
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Hand gardening gives time for reflection (6/24/12)I spent last Sunday, Father's Day, working at the garden center. Since things were somewhat slow, I decided to do some weeding at the back of the property. Normally I would use a Weedeater, and then come back and spray with an all vegetation herbicide. That way I can get the job done quickly. I am not sure why, but for some reason I decided to hand pull all of the weeds...
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Defending your trees from tuliptree scale (5/27/12)Have you gone out to your car parked under a large tree and noticed that it was coated with a clear or black sticky substance? Perhaps your deck or lawn area under a large shade tree is coated with this same clear or black sticky substance. The tree is probably a tulip poplar, also called yellow poplar or tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)...
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Gardening suggestions for 2012 (4/29/12)"Is it too early to plant tomatoes yet? The weather has been so warm. I just feel like I need to get them in the ground. I know that you should probably wait until May 1 to plant them. I'm just itching to get my garden growing." I have been asked this question at least 10 times per day for the last month...
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Other ways to tend your garden (4/1/12)My wife had a great-aunt who just loved to garden. I believe gardening was more than in her blood, it was her blood. You knew she loved to garden when you saw her working in it. You see, she couldn't bend over or stoop very well. For her to accomplish the task of planting, weeding, and harvesting, she would lie down between rows and perform the task at hand...
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Edible landscape: Dr. Grow explains the nature of plants that are meant to be eaten (2/29/12)I recently received a note from a grade school buddy who I have not talked with in more than 50 years. In the note he mentioned apricot trees that were in our backyard. Those of you who know me well know that I have lots of stories about the apricot trees in the backyard...
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Ask Dr. Grow: Saving early blooms from a deep freeze (2/8/12)The warm January weather has created quite a stir among gardeners. In conversation after conversation I hear about crocuses that are blooming, fruit trees that have swelling buds and daffodils that have leaves about four inches above the soil surface...
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Get an early start in planting (1/4/12)It's the first week in January. If you're a pessimist, you are thinking the season of cold winter weather is upon us. On the other hand, if you are an optimistic gardener, you are thinking that planting season is only six weeks away. All gardeners in the Heartland know that the official planting season begins on Valentine's Day, the traditional time to plant lettuce seed...
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Several nonelectronic options make good gifts for little ones (12/14/11)We recently had a power outage in Cape Girardeau that lasted several hours. A day later I was talking with the father of a 6-year-old. Dad's comment was that his son became distraught when he realized that he couldn't play with his DS (he couldn't recharge the battery) or play a video game online or on the television screen. He was simply beside himself because there was no electronic entertainment available...
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Protect your plants and trees from scale infestation (11/9/11)One insect problem on trees and shrubs that seems to go unnoticed until it is almost too late is scale. It goes unnoticed because the signs are not always evident during the growing season. So fall and winter is a good time to check plants for scale...
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Dr. Grow: Now's the time to cool your lawn (10/12/11)A common misconception among gardeners is that the best time of the year to start improving a cool-season lawn, consisting of bluegrasses, ryes and fescues, is in the spring of the year. I suppose this idea has developed because most vegetable and agriculture crops are planted in the spring and harvested in the fall...
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Dr. Grow: Battle of the Weeds (9/14/11)In the business of gardening, there is a season for everything. Quite often you do something in one season and don't see the results of your efforts until a future season. I mention "the season for everything" because next spring, as always, a common question will go something like this. ...
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Zoysia 101: Warm-season grass needs different care than cold-season grass (7/20/11)I looked back through all of the gardening articles I have written and failed to see anything that I published about zoysia grass. Since I have had an increase in interest about it this year, it seems appropriate to take up the subject. Before I started this column, I tried to figure out why I had never written about this warm season grass. ...
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Battling Japanese beetles (6/29/11)Over the weekend I was looking at a list of subjects that I had discussed in previous columns. Last summer at this time the topic was Japanese beetles. Normally I don't write about the same subject within 12 months, but I felt that because of all the questions I have been fielding over the last two weeks about Japanese beetles, I should revisit the current invasion...
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When soil is too wet to plant, try container gardening (5/25/11)A common lament this spring because of all the rain is that few gardeners can get into their vegetable or flower garden to get any planting done. The soils are just too wet. In addition, about the time it looks like soils are going to dry out, it rains again...
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Tribute to Mom (4/27/11)Mother's Day is about 10 days away. I know this is to be a column about gardening, but I can't help but pay tribute to my mom this year. She is a very special lady. Unfortunately today she doesn't know me, but I think she recognizes me as someone familiar. I just pray that she is at peace in her final years...
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By the numbers: Different fertilizer combinations affect how plants grow (3/30/11)A common conversation with a vegetable gardener goes like this: "I planted tomatoes last year in my garden. They grew to be 6 feet tall. The plants looked healthy, but I only got a few tomatoes. What happened?" My response to the gardener is another question: "What kind of fertilizer did you use?"...
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Fungi, plant roots are better together (3/2/11)I was first introduced to mycorrhizae in a plant physiology class at the University of Missouri more than 45 years ago. It took me several tries before I could even spell the word. Since it was only mentioned in passing, I soon forgot about it. Now I see this word a lot in print because of the buzz about how it encourages plants to thrive...
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Show some love to trees and shrubs, too (2/9/11)I know it is early February, but I am thinking spring. Who would have thought that a gardener was thinking spring in the winter? I was recently talking with Dr. Mike Aide, professor of soils at Southeast Missouri State University, about fertilizers. ...
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Seed cool-season lawns now rather than spring for best results (1/12/11)It sure is cold outside. I know that you are going to think I am nuts when I suggest that now is the second-best time of the year to seed your cool-season lawn. Of course, the best time is in the early fall, but if you failed to get it done then, consider doing it now instead of waiting till spring...
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Turn your yard into a B&B for bluebirds (12/8/10)I live on the edge of town where there are open spaces adjacent to woodlands. As I was driving up our lane last week I was surprised to see an Eastern bluebird fly from his perch on the branch of a Bradford pear tree. I normally see them in spring, summer and early fall. This one evidently was either late or early in migrating...
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Amending soil with organic matter key step in planting process (11/10/10)For years I have been recommending that when you plant trees, shrubs, bulbs, flowers or a vegetable garden it is important to amend the soil with organic matter, either compost or peat moss. A recent article in a nursery trade journal confirmed my recommendation...
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Fall planting great if done correctly (10/13/10)"Is it OK to plant in the fall?" I was asked this question several times Saturday, so I thought the subject must be on the minds of gardeners. Yes, the fall is a great time to plant for one reason in particular: If you plant correctly, the winter rains will settle the soil around the newly planted roots. ...
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When to dig, divide and plant flowering bulbs (9/22/10)Fall is the time for planting cool season grasses, mums and trees. But from the conversations I am having with gardeners, there is also a lot of interest in planting or digging bulbs. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of confusion as to when to plant what and when to dig up what. So I will try to give you a simple bulb timetable...
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How to get your lawn green again (9/15/10)I have been inundated with phone calls and visits from lawn owners who tell me their lawn looks worse this fall than it has in years. The conversation goes something like this:"Why does it look so bad? I watered the lawn every few days. I fertilized it faithfully. I sprayed for weeds. But now it is full of crabgrass, nutsedge, and it has large brown dead areas in it. What happened, and what can I do about it?"...
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Dr. Grow: Armyworms can devastate a lawn (8/18/10)I usually try to decide on a topic for a column about one to five days ahead of its due date. I wait because I want to hear what problems gardeners are having in their landscape. My column can then address current issues in gardening. For some reason this time I wasn't able to come up with a topic until just a few hours before my deadline...
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Dr. Grow: Understanding the birds and bees of the garden (7/21/10)There are two common laments that I have heard from gardeners over the last two months (other than "Those @#%Japanese beetles!"). The first: "My tomatoes, pole beans and squash/cucumbers/zucchini are blooming their hearts out, but they are not setting fruit. What is happening, and what can I do about it?"...
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Dr. Grow: Summer issues are watering and beetles (6/23/10)Judging from conversations with gardeners, there are two major issues affecting gardeners in Southeast Missouri at present. These issues are water -- or the lack thereof -- and Japanese beetles. I have written about both within the last year, but because of the concern, I thought I would touch on the subjects again...
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Dr. Grow: Convert waste into compost (5/26/10)There seems to be a lot of interest in composting these days. Chris Harris, features editor at the Southeast Missourian, mentioned that some of her friends are looking for information on composting and composting containers. Southeast Missouri State University just completed a new composting facility adjacent to the Charles L. Hutson Horticulture Greenhouse. And, of course, everyone is talking about going green these days. Composting is a component of this movement...
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Dr. Grow: A lot of space isn't needed to start a garden, just ingenuity and planning (4/28/10)A few months ago I received an unsigned letter from an individual who criticized my columns. The writer said all I talked about was how to kill things. I should be talking about how to grow things. I showed the letter to a friend of mine who referred to it as mild hate mail. I didn't know that a gardener could be "hated" for weeding...
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Dr. Grow: Container gardens a good option for those with little space (3/31/10)When I was growing up, plants were planted in the ground. The only time pots were used was in the greenhouse when growers were trying to get seedlings large enough to take outside so they could be transplanted. Things are a little different today. You can buy a geranium in a 12-inch pot and grow it in that same pot all summer long. I've grown tomatoes in 30-gallon pots. The tomato roots never touched a native soil...
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Dr. Grow: Set up purple martin apartments before scouts arrive later this month (3/3/10)Spring officially starts March 20. For gardeners who love feathered friends, spring actually starts when the purple martin scouts arrive. In my recollection this date has been any time from March 3 to March 24. The actual date depends on many factors, but I think late winter temperatures are the most significant factor. Therefore, I think the scouts will arrive later this year than previous...
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Dr. Grow: The best ways to attract squirrels (2/10/10)I'm writing this column with some trepidation. My last column covered the subject of squirrel-proof bird feeders. Several readers thanked me for the information. In their minds' eyes, the birdfeed they put out is for birds, not those nasty rodents that were lured into the neighborhood by some next-door do-gooder...
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Dr. Grow: Start growing spring plants in winter (1/6/10)Brrrrrrr! It's cold outside, but I feel spring in my bones. So I'm going to start my own vegetable garden and flower seeds right now in the dead of winter instead of buying plants in April and May at a garden center. In order to get started, purchase a 1020 tray and divider from your local garden center. Get ones with holes in the bottom. The holes allow excess water to drain away...
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Dr. Grow: Fighting the epic battle of squirrel vs. man (12/9/09)I have heard story after story about birders who try all sorts of methods aimed at making sure the local squirrel doesn't get into the bird feeder. There is the one where the feeder pole is greased so the squirrel can't get a grip to climb it. This method works for a day or two until the grease dries...
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Mower maintenance: Give your lawn mower a good tune-up, cleaning before parking it for winter (11/11/09)With the onset of winter it is easy to park the lawn mower after the last cutting and give a sigh of relief. You don't have to think about the lawn mower until next spring. I'd like to suggest that you give that lawn mower just a little more attention yet this fall. Efforts now may save you a lot of time next spring...
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Turn organic debris such as leaves, clippings into nutrient-rich compost (10/14/09)Have you noticed how everyone and every business is "going green" these days? I saw an ad in the newspaper about a bank that is now going green. I always thought a bank was a green business. Isn't money in the United States green? I guess that is not exactly what they meant...
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Appreciating God's garden (9/16/09)Are you always able to see the forest as you walk through a timbered area? Or do you just see the trees? Unfortunately I often am unable to see the garden because of the plants. I am so concerned about fertilizers, weed killers, plant selection, insects and diseases that I forget about the real reason to have a garden. It is a place to spend time and put everything back into perspective...
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Dr. Grow: Fall fertilizing can help prevent spring weeds (8/19/09)My traditional recommendation for fall fertilization of a cool-season lawn starts with an application of high-nitrogen fertilizer, such as a 28-0-4, in early September. You can also make this same application on warm-season lawns if you do it in late August. At this time of the year soils are often warmer than air temperatures, so the fertilizer encourages lawn grasses to produce an abundance of roots...
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Dr. Grow: Japanese beetles can cause a lot of damage if not properly controlled (7/22/09)Seventy-five percent of the questions I have received during the last three weeks from Southeast Missouri gardeners concern Japanese beetles. I have written about and discussed them at length over the last two years, but I sense more concern, anger, angst, anxiety, etc. this year among gardeners than ever before. So I thought I should revisit the subject...
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Year-round design: Hollies make a good foundation for landscapes (6/24/09)One of the first questions I ask when consulting with a landscape client is "Do you want to have evergreens as the foundation for your landscape?" The response is usually quite comical.
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Dr. Grow: Always something new to learn in horticulture (6/17/09)If you like to learn new things continually, spend some time in the field of horticulture. You never know when someone will show you something unusual or rare. That something may be in the form of a new variety that just hit the market or it may be a plant that has been around for a long time. Either way, something different can be a lot of fun...
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Dr. Grow: Plants need the right amount of water (5/27/09)Over the past few years I have written about water in the garden several times, but judging from all of the questions I have received in the last few weeks, I need to discuss it again. Water is essential for plant growth and development. Water gives plant cells volume so they stand tall. It is the medium in which chemical reactions occur within the cell, and it is a constituent in the chemical reaction that produces carbohydrates and oxygen during photosynthesis...
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Dr. Grow: Soil needs microorganisms as well as nutrients (4/29/09)I can still remember the first day my soils class met in college. The professor walked into the classroom and said, "If anyone ever uses the term dirt to refer to soils in this class, they will automatically flunk." He didn't even say hi, how are you, my name is , or anything else. He then began to talk about soils...
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Dr. Grow: Preparing the soil so plants thrive instead of survive (4/1/09)In my last column I discussed the steps needed to establish a new vegetable garden in an area that has not been used before. The activities included mixing organic matter, gypsum and possibly lime or sulfur into the soil to create the proper soil structure and pH...
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Dr. Grow: Getting ready to garden (3/4/09)I'm sitting at home listening to the howling cold wind blowing outside on this early March day. As I shiver, I keep thinking spring is just around the corner. Hopefully the wind will change direction soon and blow in the spring temperatures I am longing for...
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Dr. Grow: Valentine's Day a good time to plant lettuce (2/4/09)Until I got involved in gardening, Valentine's Day always evoked images of hearts, chocolates, Hallmark cards, a dozen roses and a sweetheart to give them to. Sorry, sweetheart, but you're going to have to share. Valentine's Day really means it's the start of vegetable gardening season because Feb. 14 you must plant lettuce seed...
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Dr. Grow: Houseplants are efficient air filters (1/7/09)Have you seen the TV commercial where the guy demonstrates an air filter that you can buy for your home or office? He talks about all of the problems with air that can be found in homes and how this filter can eliminate most of those pollutants. All you have to do is plug it into the wall, turn it on and enjoy clean filtered air. Of course there are a few maintenance activities you have to be aware of...
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Dr. Grow: Help for your holiday plant (12/10/08)Everywhere you go during the holiday season, you seem to find poinsettias. This "Christmas flower" is gaining more and more popularity as evidenced by the increasing number of new varieties on the market. You can find a color that will go with any decor...
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Dr. Grow: Sunscald is a common problem for newly planted trees (11/12/08)I have received two phone calls in the last month asking about damage to bark on trees planted within the last two years. Both situations have similar characteristics, so I thought this might be a problem common to a lot of newly planted trees in the area...
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Dr. Grow: Be macho, plant pansies (10/15/08)The American Heritage Dictionary defines a pansy as (I'm trying to be politically correct) a nonmacho male. The implication is that a pansy can't handle stress of any kind and will wilt under extreme conditions. It also states that a pansy is a flower of the genus Viola...
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Sprinkling certain herbicides can ease spring gardening (8/20/08)I know spring is several months away, but I would like to suggest a cultural practice that, if you perform it now, will make your late winter chores much easier. Each spring, gardeners ask how they can get rid of chickweed and henbet in their asparagus patch or landscape bed. ...
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Unwelcome guests Japanese beetles move into the area from eastern states (7/23/08)The buzzword (or should I say the crunch word) among gardeners right now in Southeast Missouri is Japanese beetles. Most have never seen this voracious plant-eating machine, and they are alarmed by what they see. These critters, which have been in Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee for years, are moving west in hordes and rapidly devouring individual plants...
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A jolly holly bush: Southeast Missouri lies on northern edge of natural holly range (6/25/08)In the late 1950s, Mrs. F. Leighton Meserve developed the Ilex x meserveae hybrids from the parents of Ilex rugosa (prostrate holly) and Ilex aquifolium (English holly). For her work she received the American Horticultural Society's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Amateur Horticulture. You can see a few of these plants growing in the area today, but I think area gardeners should give these hybrids more attention...
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Extra baggage: Pesky bagworms should be sprayed in late May or early June (5/28/08)Over the last two to three months I have fielded the following question at least 30 times: "When is the time to spray for bagworms?" Because my standard answer is Memorial Day, and Memorial Day was two days ago, I thought I would explain why my standard answer is standard...
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Advice for first-time gardeners (4/30/08)The spring hot spots in a garden center are the vegetable seed and vegetable plant racks. The familiar crowd of gardeners is excited about the prospects of a new season. They can't wait to dig in the dirt. They want to get a jump on their neighbor and have the first ripe tomato...
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Conserving water good for the garden and planet (4/23/08)Today it's estimated that the average American uses about 100 gallons of water a day. And between 25 percent and 40 percent of that goes to outdoor use. But according to the Environmental Protection Agency, of all the water Americans do use, about half of it is wasted. If we were more responsible about its use and started using only what we needed, we could save more than 3 billion gallons of water every day...
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Growing a garden can be tantalizing to all your senses (4/2/08)My first impression of a garden was a row of corn, beans, potatoes and other plants next to Grandpa's house on the farm. It became my favorite destination at Grandpa's because I could get dirty without Grandma or Mom getting too mad at me. My concept of gardening was getting dirty while working (playing) in the vegetables...
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A need for feed: The spring freeze last year makes fertilizer a necessity in the garden this year (2/6/08)Joann, a cohort for more than 20 years, just got back from Florida. Her comment was, "It's spring down there. When will it get here?" I think the recent snow, coupled with this weekend's warmup, have us all in the mood for spring. Joann, the answer to your question is "Spring is just around the corner." I know my answer sounds trite, but I want to focus on this answer because of the spring we had last year...
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Bird food buffet (1/9/08)I like to look through catalogs for gardening and birding hobbyists to see if there are any new products on the market. "Why didn't I think of that?" is the thought that usually goes through my mind when I find something new. While perusing a catalog from a birding wholesaler, I found a new product that I would never have thought of in a million years: a mealworm warmer. ...
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Preparing for spring tenants. (12/5/07)As I write this column, the weather is balmy and warm. It is hard to believe that this is the last of November. Of course as they always say in the region, if you don't like the weather just wait a few days and it will change. I'm sure that when this column is published it will feel a little more like winter than it does today. Of course winter brings with it cold temperatures, snow, sleet and all of the things that keep us indoors during the bleak days of January and February...
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Messy guests (11/14/07)I've always read in magazines that the most popular hobby in America is gardening. Until recently, it never occurred to me that there would be a second- or third-most popular hobby in the U.S. After all, my livelihood revolves around gardening. Why would anyone care about the second-most popular hobby?...
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Steps for newly seeded lawns (10/17/07)After this stressful growing season, cool season lawns have suffered. Many gardeners have reseeded their cool season lawns. Each part of the process -- spreading seed and fertilizer, verticutting and watering -- had to be performed correctly so that the lawn makes a comeback...
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A little autumn aid for your evergreens (9/19/07)Because of the vagaries of our weather this year, trees and shrubs have certainly been stressed. First we had the nice warm weather in March that encouraged landscape plants to start their spring growth much earlier than normal. Then the two-week freeze that chilled the area in April played havoc with trees and shrubs. They lost their leaves, flowers crumpled, and twigs were damaged. In some cases entire plants, especially many Japanese maples, were frozen and killed...
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Brown lawns lie dormant, not dead (8/22/07)I have written about lawn seeding several times, but the subject still seems to be on the minds of many gardeners. I am writing this column Sunday. Even today I have had three individuals mention the problems they are having with their lawn. It is "dead." Or "It is so brown it is dead." Or "The only thing growing in my lawn is weeds."...
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Watered down (7/25/07)I have written several columns about watering in the past. Yet it seems that each summer, I have question after question from gardeners about watering. In fact, many gardeners inadvertently use water as a plant herbicide. Maybe I'm writing to the choir, but I am going to discuss watering again at length...
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A ladylike solution (6/27/07)When I first got started in the horticulture business more than 30 years ago, gardeners who had insect or disease problems in their garden would go to a garden center and ask for something to kill the problem organism. They wanted something out of a bottle that they could spray so that the bug or fungus would be dead in 20 minutes or less. The emphasis was on "dead."...
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Help your damaged plants find new life (5/30/07)Last month I told you to wait until at least the first of June before you made any decisions about damaged trees and shrubs in your landscape. Because it is just about that time, I thought I would let you know what my observations have been over the last month...
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Enduring the cold snap (5/2/07)In March the discussion between gardeners was about global warming. In April the discussion was about global freezing. Now the discussion is about global plant confusion. So what do we make of all of the recent weather anomalies and their effects on plants?...
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Tried and true (4/4/07)I enjoy eavesdropping on conversations of plant buyers at garden centers during the spring rush. They are always looking for a new plant variety that is shorter, taller, fatter, skinnier, less susceptible to disease, a different color, able to grow in both the shade or the sun, etc...
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Surviving summer (3/7/07)You may currently be engaged in a most gardeners' spring ritual. You purchase bare-root plants, whether they be strawberries, seedling trees from the Conservation Commission or bare-root trees and shrubs. When the plants arrive, you unwrap them, inspect them, plant them and think of how you are going keep them alive during the hot, dry summer months ahead...
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Peanuts: Not just for people (2/7/07)The peanut, an underused food source for birds, is now beginning to attract the attention of bird aficionados. Interest in the peanut has peaked because it has several advantages for both birds and for the person who feeds them. Although I am not a bird nutritionist, I understand peanuts are packed with calories in the form of carbohydrates and fats. ...
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Growing grapefruit (1/21/07)While California's citrus industry is suffering from a devastating crop freeze, Cape Girardeau resident Ken Enke had no problem producing grapefruit from his tree. Enke's grapefruit tree stands about 10 feet tall inside the building for his Cape Girardeau plumbing supply company, Winnelson Co. For the first time, four grapefruit are growing from the tree's branches...
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Attracting the American Goldfinch (1/10/07)This fall, several amateur birdwatchers asked me what happened to the goldfinches. They hadn't seen any at their feeders for a while. Now more recently, I have heard reports they are back. So where did they go? The American goldfinch, the yellow streak you often see along ecological edges between open fields and open woods, is a migratory bird that moves south in the winter and north in the summer. This general north-south migration is a response to the seasons...
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Colorful landscape all year long (12/13/06)Over the course of the last two months two shrubs have grabbed my attention. One is compact nandina, planted on the north side of the Show Me Center on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. The other one is "Firepower" nandina, found in many landscapes in the area. Both of these shrubs are varieties of Nandina domestica, otherwise known as nandina, or heavenly bamboo...
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Ready for bed: Columnist gives tips for closing out the garden for winter (11/15/06)Have you ever heard the phrase "Put it to bed for the winter"? Being from a farm family, this was a phrase often used to describe checking the antifreeze level, changing oil and lubricating the grain truck after harvest. It was also used to describe pruning and mulching roses before cold weather set in...
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The hybridizer: A look at a Cape man known throughout the gardening world (9/20/06)I don't travel much. My wife tells me I am a homebody. When I do travel, and people find out that I am from Cape Girardeau, I am often asked if I know Rush Limbaugh. My answer is always the same. "I met him when he spoke at my daughter Nicole's high school graduation."...
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Fixing a failed yard (8/23/06)An acquaintance (I'll call him Fred) recently told me about his relatively new lawn. Fred was pretty upset with its condition. For more than two years, he had fertilized, limed, seeded, mowed, aerated and watered faithfully. Yet, in spite of all his efforts, the lawn looked patchy, was continually invaded by weeds and never really "greened up" like it should...
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New roses are knockouts (7/26/06)Rose gardener "wannabes" often ask me how to start a rose garden. The conversation usually goes something like this: "I really want to grow long-term hybrid tea roses, just like my grandmother used to do. How do I get started?" I usually respond by saying, "You need to find varieties that are resistant to black spot disease."...
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Fending off the hornworm (6/28/06)Have you ever gone out to your tomato patch in the morning to find a plant that consists only of stalk and leaf veins? If you have, then you are probably familiar with tomato hornworm. This voracious caterpillar can devour all the foliage on a tomato plant, plus the tomatoes, in just one night...
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How does your garden grow? (5/31/06)My wife and I have been blessed with the presence of our niece, Leah, for the summer. She decided she wanted to work for Uncle Paul and see what it was like in a garden center. Leah will be a senior at Concordia University in Seward, Neb., majoring in elementary education. She is a straight A student (oops, I heard she made one B); so she is smart, and she is pretty...
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Fruit or vegetable? To tomato lovers, it doesn't matter (5/3/06)To tomato lovers, it doesn't matter. I have asked a lot of people if they are planting a vegetable garden this year. The response is usually, "I sure am." "What are you planting?" I ask. "I'm planting tomatoes." It seems that many gardeners in Southeast Missouri have equated planting a vegetable garden with planting tomatoes. I've found that if nothing else is planted, most gardeners still plant a tomato or two...
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Being a purple martin landlord (4/5/06)I can tell you that spring has finally arrived because purple martins took up residence at our apartment complexes last Tuesday. It sure is a joy to listen to their chatter and watch them do their thing. If you want to get into the purple martin landlord business, you still have time to put up a house and perhaps get some tenants yet this season. ...
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Fertilizer: It's how your garden grows (2/8/06)When gardeners grow roses, they fertilize with a rose food that is specifically designed to produce vigorous bushes with lots of blooms. Azalea gardeners not only want a fertilizer that produces vigorous bushes with lots of blooms, but they also want a fertilizer that keeps the soil "pH" acidic. In both cases these gardeners look for a special rose food or an azalea food on the market...
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Flipping through flowers (1/11/06)One of my favorite things to do on a cold and blustery winter Sunday afternoon is to light a fire in the fireplace, make a nest in my lounge chair, turn off the radio and TV, and look through the most current seed catalogs that have just come through the mail...
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Oh, Christmas tree! (12/14/05)One of my early recollections of a Christmas tree was a balsam fir that my uncle bought at a Christmas tree lot in Kansas City. It was the Charlie Brown type, a straight 6-foot trunk with about 10 branches on it. I'm sure that even with lights, ornaments and tinsel, to an adult it looked pretty sparse. But at the age of eight, I thought the tree looked "wow." Besides, there were presents under the tree with my name on them...
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Tropicals head indoors for the winter (11/16/05)I brought in my tropical plants two weeks ago, and now they are not doing well. What is the problem? This question is one that I hear time and time again each fall. If you are asking the same question, perhaps some background information will help you figure out what is going on with your tropical plants...
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A love-hate relationship with the squirrel (10/19/05)Ah, the squirrel. People seem to love him or hate him depending upon their experience with this little long-tailed creature. I'm not sure in which category I belong. I used to love the little critters. The only A+ I ever got on a creative writing paper was about a squirrel, "The King of the Woods."...
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Fall is for planting (9/21/05)"Fall is for planting" is a theme developed by nursery professionals several years ago. Even though it is an old theme, it is still a theme that speaks to us today. Fall is a very good time to plant trees and shrubs for several reasons. First, gardeners seem to have a little more time to think about what and where to plant...
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Missouri's natives: The beauty of local plants (8/24/05)Over the past few months I have become more aware of the interest in native plants. This awareness is due to information provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation, articles in trade journals, news clips by the media and reading information in catalogues from nurseries that specialize in native plants...
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Meet the beetles! Get to know Japan's voracious insect (7/27/05)Over the past several years, gardeners have told me that Japanese beetles were attacking their landscape. When I looked at the landscape, or looked at samples of beetles that were brought to me, I identified, not Japanese beetles, but our common June bugs or May beetles...
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Some like it hot: Drought-tolerant plants can be economical choice (6/29/05)Man is it dry! How dry is it? It's as dry as......! You fill in the blank. All I know is that most gardeners are spending a lot of time at the end of a garden hose. So that probably tells you how dry it is...
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A word about watering (6/8/05)May was one of the driest months on record. I just heard the weather forecast for the next week, and the prospects of rain don't seem very good. Because of the lack of moisture gardeners are bringing out their hoses and sprinklers. The boring task of watering is about to begin...
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Even mild winters can damage plants (5/18/05)We usually think that winter damage in plants shows up after a harsh season of extremely cold temperatures, ice storms or prolonged snow cover. This winter damage is exhibited by dieback of twigs, sunscald, browning and even loss of leaves on broadleaf evergreens such as boxwood and nandina...
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Spread a lawn with sod (4/27/05)Maintaining ideal soil conditions when installing sod helps spur root growth Have you ever driven by a construction site and seen bare soil everywhere? Then the next day you drive by and the bare soil is now a green lawn. Wow -- what a change in such a short time. For those who want instantaneous lawn, sod is the way to go...
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Trouble with tilling? (3/16/05)Fresh-turned soil often creates a plow pan in the garden that limits yields You've got spring fever. You want to get your tiller out, gas it up, check the oil and head for the garden. The smell of freshly tilled soil is just what you need to get over your "sickness." Before you get started I would like you to rethink your spring garden soil preparation habit...
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Containers offer convenient gardens (2/23/05)Fresh strawberries, herbs or tomatoes -- doesn't the thought just make your mouth water? You usually think of picking these fresh from a garden in the back yard. But if you live in an apartment, a condo or a duplex, you may not have the space for a traditional garden. Or you may not have the time or energy to cultivate that backyard patch. In either case, you probably think that you will have to rely on gifts from gardening friends so you can enjoy these delectable delicacies...
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Prepare now for good summer fruit (2/2/05)During the summer I often get fruit samples infested with worms or spotted with fungi from home orchardists. I usually ask "Did you spray your fruit trees?" "Oh, yes" is the usual answer. Further questioning often explains why, even after spraying, their apples, pears or peaches develop poor-quality fruit. Perhaps some of the hints listed below will help you get better quality fruit in more abundance...
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Liven up a living space with houseplants (1/12/05)When the Christmas decorations come down, the house sure looks bare. Eliminate that bare, drab look by adding some tropical plants or houseplants to your decor. Houseplants not only make your home cheery, they also soften the harsh edges of walls and furniture. They make your home a comfortable haven, a place to spend your non-working time quietly alone, or with family and friends...
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Feeding feathered friends (12/22/04)I suppose I enjoy bird watching because I am reminded of many lessons in life that I sometimes forget about. Seldom do you see a squabble at the feeder. It seems that the yellow finches get along well with the gray juncos, the black and white chickadees, the brown creeper and the tufted titmouse. They are all different colors, but don't mind sharing with each other...
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Brighten up with berry-producing plants (12/1/04)One parameter that most gardeners want included in a landscape plan is winter color. Since we live in a temperate zone, we have to include evergreens such as yew, juniper, some viburnums, fir and spruce, to name a few. We can also include such broadleaf evergreens as holly, boxwood and abelia...
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Beautiful bonsai - Combining both art and horticulture (11/10/04)By definition bonsai is the art of creating a miniature tree in a container. This art form was developed in China between the 10th and 13th centuries. During the latter part of this period, the art form spread to Japan. Because of China's warm southern regions, most of the plants used by Chinese artists are tropical and subtropical species. On the other hand, because Japan has a temperate climate, Japanese artists work primarily with conifers, deciduous species and broadleaf evergreens...
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Reducing runaway weeds (10/20/04)Herbicide applications made in the fall will keep weeds and dandelions from spreading in the spring. When thinking about lawns in the fall, most gardeners remember that you should fertilize, aerate and perhaps seed. But the last thing they seem to think about is weed control. Yet if you will control broadleaf weeds in the fall, you will find that few dandelions will raise their ugly yellow heads in the spring...
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Some garden plants are tasty to hungry deer (9/29/04)On Sunday morning I watched five deer feeding in my front yard. They were browsing on any vegetation from ground level to about 5 feet in the air. They stayed in the yard for about three hours, alternately browsing, preening each other, resting or playing...
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Amending soil will help plants thrive (9/8/04)A common complaint among gardeners in Southeast Missouri is that the soil they have in their landscape is nothing but clay. When the clay is too wet, it just forms clumps. When it is too dry, it is as hard as a brick. These gardeners can't get anything to thrive in clay soils. Most plants just hang on for dear life...
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Hydromulching is catching on in Southeast Missouri (8/18/04)During the past couple of years you may have been driving around new sections of town and seen a recently graded lawn area that has a greenish-silver look to it. This is not a fungus that is spreading over the neighborhood, nor is it a quick paint job that colors brown soil. What you are seeing is the result of a lawn that has recently been seeded by a method called hydromulching...
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Dress up the garden with works of art (7/28/04)A garden consists of more than plants. The ancient Romans and Greeks knew this because their beautiful gardens included fountains, patios, urns, statues and pottery filled with plants. Today designers have gone beyond these traditional structures and have provided us with what I call "garden art." I define garden art as any item displayed in the garden that accents the beauty of plants in the garden or accents the beauty of architecture that the garden surrounds...