ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603050004
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Dear John
SOURCE: JOHN ARBOGAST
Pansies have become popular landscape flowers for the cool parts of the year, providing an alternative to color provided by the many kinds of spring flowering bulbs in the weeks ahead.
The ideal temperature range for pansies is 40 degrees at night and around 60 degrees during the day. They produce their best flower show in the spring and then fade during the hot, summer weather.
Following are pansy-care tips for this season.
During the spring, there usually is enough rain to provide adequate moisture for pansies. However, after granular fertilizer is scattered around the pansies and during any dry weeks, water thoroughly, but do it in the morning. Late afternoon or evening waterings have been blamed for potential disease development.
If your pansies were planted last fall, now is a good time to scatter a light amount of 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 fertilizer around the plants. Spring-planted pansies usually will have this basic fertilizer worked into the bed before planting. Don't be tempted to push prolific growth by applying high levels of nitrogen around pansies, because this can cause plants to produce soft foliage and encourages rot. It also will be a waste of your time and fertilizer, plus might lead to nutrient pollution in runoff water or leaching into ground water. An excellent way to provide slow feeding over many weeks is to use an organic fertilizer.
Q: This winter, we have had bugs crawling into the house. This didn't happen during the coldest days or when there was snow. What were these and what can I do if they show up again? C.V., Roanoke
A: It's not possible to say what these insects were without more information or seeing a sample. Control recommendations cannot be made without proper identification.
So, if they appear again, catch a couple without smashing them, place them in a small crush-proof container such as an old prescription bottle, and take them to your Roanoke or Roanoke County Extension Office. Pay attention to details that will help in identification and control, including the specific location where they were found, and where, if it is possible to determine, they originated.
Send short questions about your lawn, garden, plants or insects to Dear John, in care of the Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491. This column can't reply to all letters, buy those of wide appeal will be answered during the weeks that the subject is timely. Personal replies cannot be given. Please don't send stamps, stamped envelopes, samples or pictures.
Time for Greenline
It's that time of year again when questions abound regarding gardening, trees or shrubs, lawn care, indoor plants, insect pests and other topics considered part of consumer horticulture.
To get answers, call 857-6208 to reach the "Greenline" established in the Roanoke Extension Office and staffed by Extension Master Gardeners during regular office hours Monday through Friday.
This line puts you directly in touch with trained volunteers. They will record your message and return your call if the line is busy.
Just a reminder, though. Local Extension policy prohibits the return of long distance calls.
Lawn-care program
Get your lawn in an attractive condition and keep it that way by attending the free "Spring Lawn Care" program at the Craig Recreation Center in Vinton on March 13, 7-8 p.m.
Extension Master Gardener Ed Sales will present information from the Virginia Tech turf care program as well as from his years of experience. For directions to this center or other related information, call 857-5035.
Gardener's checklist
Jobs for early March:
Plant spring peas, also known as garden peas or English peas, in Roanoke gardens as soon as the soil is not excessively wet. In new garden soil, treat pea seeds with nitrogen-fixing inoculant before planting.
Seed tomatoes in the greenhouse or sunny, warm windows.
Make preparations to seed or overseed lawn areas late this month or early next after the soil warms up.
Avoid unnecessary traffic of any kind on the lawn soil if it remains soft and wet.
LENGTH: Medium: 83 linesby CNB