In the Garden - August 2022
Jul 26, 2022 06:01PM ● By JB Culbertson
We are deeply into summer now with all its glorious flowers and trees… really busy days in the garden. If your iris did not bloom as expected, here are the most likely reasons:
• Overfeeding with manure or fertilizer high in nitrogen
• No feeding at all: starved irises will not flower
• Planting too deeply; the top half of each rhizome should be visible above the soil
Bearded irises are among the oldest and easiest garden perennials. They are relatively drought-resistant and low-maintenance with over 1,000 varieties and colors. Irises really look great near poppies, lupines, and roses that bloom around the same time.
Generally, outdoor plants in our area need one inch of water a week. You can use a rain gauge or check the local weather reports. Or do as my mother did…stick her finger into the soil. If it feels dry two inches below the surface, you need to water. The best TIME to water is early in the morning when temperatures are their coolest. The second-best time to water is late afternoon or early evening after the heat of the sun is waning. And WHEN is the minute you note that the plant is beginning to wilt. If 6am watering is not you, install an irrigation system or soaker hose. You can set them to run on a timer. You will save water and money because the water will go directly where it needs to go, into the soil surrounding the plant. Mulch slows down evaporation. Two inches of mulch will mean less watering. Minimize fungal and bacterial plant diseases by keeping plant leaves as dry as possible. The best way is put water on the soil near the plant with a hose or watering can. Don’t dump water on plants from above. Do not use overhead sprinklers. Not as much water reaches the soil when delivered by a sprinkler and damp leaves are an invitation to disease. Saturate the topsoil to six inches each time you water. Containers dry out faster and generally need water daily. If perennials, trees, and shrubs are recently planted (in ground less than a year), they will need regular watering.
To infuse a subtle, smoky flavor into grilled food, moisten the stems and leaves of fresh herbs out of your garden, window boxes, or kitchen window ledge. Lay them on the coals or grate of a grill. Close the lid. After a minute or two, add your meat, fish, or vegetables. M-m-m good!
Fresh-picked tomatoes should be stored at a cool room temperature (ideally 65 to 70 degrees) and out of direct sunlight.
To extend the life of cut flowers, place them in a vase filled with a solution of 2 Tablespoons vinegar, 3 Tablespoons sugar, and 1 quart of water.
Cut back your yarrow when it finishes flowering. It may flower again.
Split Siberian Iris every 3–4 years. Prepare the new bed first. Water deeply. Dig these Iris and shake dirt off roots. Use spade or big knife to cut into smaller groups of Iris and soak roots in water. Replant in a prepared hole full of water, fill with soil, and press down gently to remove air pockets. Water frequently for the rest of season.
To rid plants of Japanese beetles, put down a drop cloth and, in the morning, shake the beetles off onto the cloth. Dump beetles into a bucket of soapy water. Dragonflies have existed 100 million years before dinosaurs. As adults they can fly forward, backward, sideways, or just hover as they eat mosquitos, flies, midges, and other flying insects. To attract them to your garden, create a water feature. Size is not crucial, but choose a spot in partial to full sun and plant a few native plants to provide wind protection.
Henry David Thoreau, American writer (1817-1862) penned these words, “Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”
• Overfeeding with manure or fertilizer high in nitrogen
• No feeding at all: starved irises will not flower
• Planting too deeply; the top half of each rhizome should be visible above the soil
Bearded irises are among the oldest and easiest garden perennials. They are relatively drought-resistant and low-maintenance with over 1,000 varieties and colors. Irises really look great near poppies, lupines, and roses that bloom around the same time.
Generally, outdoor plants in our area need one inch of water a week. You can use a rain gauge or check the local weather reports. Or do as my mother did…stick her finger into the soil. If it feels dry two inches below the surface, you need to water. The best TIME to water is early in the morning when temperatures are their coolest. The second-best time to water is late afternoon or early evening after the heat of the sun is waning. And WHEN is the minute you note that the plant is beginning to wilt. If 6am watering is not you, install an irrigation system or soaker hose. You can set them to run on a timer. You will save water and money because the water will go directly where it needs to go, into the soil surrounding the plant. Mulch slows down evaporation. Two inches of mulch will mean less watering. Minimize fungal and bacterial plant diseases by keeping plant leaves as dry as possible. The best way is put water on the soil near the plant with a hose or watering can. Don’t dump water on plants from above. Do not use overhead sprinklers. Not as much water reaches the soil when delivered by a sprinkler and damp leaves are an invitation to disease. Saturate the topsoil to six inches each time you water. Containers dry out faster and generally need water daily. If perennials, trees, and shrubs are recently planted (in ground less than a year), they will need regular watering.
To infuse a subtle, smoky flavor into grilled food, moisten the stems and leaves of fresh herbs out of your garden, window boxes, or kitchen window ledge. Lay them on the coals or grate of a grill. Close the lid. After a minute or two, add your meat, fish, or vegetables. M-m-m good!
Fresh-picked tomatoes should be stored at a cool room temperature (ideally 65 to 70 degrees) and out of direct sunlight.
To extend the life of cut flowers, place them in a vase filled with a solution of 2 Tablespoons vinegar, 3 Tablespoons sugar, and 1 quart of water.
Cut back your yarrow when it finishes flowering. It may flower again.
Split Siberian Iris every 3–4 years. Prepare the new bed first. Water deeply. Dig these Iris and shake dirt off roots. Use spade or big knife to cut into smaller groups of Iris and soak roots in water. Replant in a prepared hole full of water, fill with soil, and press down gently to remove air pockets. Water frequently for the rest of season.
To rid plants of Japanese beetles, put down a drop cloth and, in the morning, shake the beetles off onto the cloth. Dump beetles into a bucket of soapy water. Dragonflies have existed 100 million years before dinosaurs. As adults they can fly forward, backward, sideways, or just hover as they eat mosquitos, flies, midges, and other flying insects. To attract them to your garden, create a water feature. Size is not crucial, but choose a spot in partial to full sun and plant a few native plants to provide wind protection.
Henry David Thoreau, American writer (1817-1862) penned these words, “Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”