garden checklist

JUNE 2004

Butterflies

There are lots of flowers you can add to your garden to attract these winged wonders. Blooms that provide lots of nectar, such as summer phlox (shown at right), butterfly bushes, pentas, lantanas, Mexican sunflowers, coneflowers, and verbenas, will also provide long-lasting color to your flowerbeds during the summer. Be sure to include host plants for caterpillars to feed on. Good choices include parsley, dill, and milkweed. A shallow dish filled with moist sand or just a low spot on the ground that you keep wet by watering will provide a place for them to drink. Butterflies love to bask in the sun, so place a few flat rocks in the garden for them to rest on between flights.

* Colorful leaves-Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum') will brighten shady flowerbeds and containers with its fronds in shades of lavender, purple, and silver.

* Lawns-Fertilize warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine, with a 27-3-4 granular product. For centipede, use an 18-0-18 fertilizer. Apply at the rate recommended on the label.

* Blackberries-Thornless ones such as 'Arapaho' and 'Navaho' offer large fruit on upright plants. 'Chickasaw' and 'Kiowa' are large-fruiting selections with thorny stems. all prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They grow well along a fence, trellis, or wall. Space plants 4 to 5 feet apart. If you also love blueberries, read "Blueberries Are Easy" on page 52.

* Deer and rabbits-Tired of your plants disappearing? Try Liquid Fence Animal Repellents. It is safe to use around pets. Look for it at nurseries and garden centers. To order call 1-888-923-3623, or visitwww.liquidfence.com.

* Annuals-Keep flowers blooming continuously by fertilizing them regularly. Liquid plant foods work well, but if you don't have much time, try using a granular, timed-release one such as Osmocote 14-14-14 or Scotts all Purpose Flower & Vegetable Food 10-10-10.

* Vegetables-Pick okra, squash, beans, and cucumbers every other day in early morning or late afternoon. Harvest squash and cucumbers when they're 4 to 5 inches long, and pick beans and okra while they're young and tender.

* Water conservation-Use your irrigation system early in the day to reduce evaporation. Infrequent, deep watering is better than frequent, shallow watering, as it promotes deeper root growth. Soaker hoses can be an efficient way to water newly planted trees and shrubs.

* Garden journal-The summer solstice on june 20 marks the beginning of summer. If you didn't start a garden journal this spring, there's still time. Keeping a small notebook of your observations is a great way to learn about gardening.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jun 2004
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