THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604260070
SECTION: HOME & GARDEN PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Gardening Reminders
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Long : 162 lines
THE LONG, COOL SPRING did little to prepared plants for the hot days of the past week. Newly planted annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees need watering every day, if it doesn't rain, or you'll lose your plants. Flowers and vegetables especially need water. Even established plants should be watered once or twice a week in hot weather.
Remember to rotate
As you plant vegetables, remember to rotate them. This helps reduce diseases that build up in the soil. It's an age-old practice that farmers have followed for years. Change the location of vegetables and annuals as you plant them in the garden each year. It will make for happier gardening.
Work against weeds
The best way to not have weeds in your garden is to work it all the time. Hoe tiny weeds early in the day so sun and drying will dehydrate their roots. Water areas where large weeds are. This will loosen their roots. Then you can pull them by hand or dig them out with a shovel.
Herb Education Day
HERB EDUCATION DAY, the area's largest herb event, will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Tidewater Community College, Chesapeake campus on Cedar Road. More than 150 varieties of herbs will be offered for sale from five herb growers. Keynote speaker is Ohio's James Barrow, a specialist on scented geraniums. The event is free, but fees are charged for most workshops. Call Barbara Brawley, 481-2041.
Gardening gadgets galore
David Hockberg of Lillian Vernon Co. in Virginia Beach wrote to say, ``As promised, Lillian Vernon has their first catalog with gardening products throughout!'' I checked the catalog and he's right; there are garden products throughout the catalog. If you don't have one, call (800) 285-5555.
All about trees
A new book that every gardener interested in trees should have is ``Trees'' by Galen Gates of the Chicago Botanic Garden and Ethan Johnson of Cleveland's Holden Arboretum (Pantheon Books, $25 softcover). This is one of a series from Pantheon written by experts at botanical gardens. What I find helpful about this book is that it provides ``best growing conditions,'' how to plant, routine care, height at various stages of growth such as 10 and 20 years and how to use the tree in around your home. Any bookstore can order this book for you.
Orchid auction
More than 200 orchids from four growers in Hawaii and California will be auctioned off at the Orchid Growers Delight at 1 p.m. next Sunday at the Norfolk Botanical Garden auditorium. The event, sponsored by the Tidewater Orchid Society, will last until the orchids are gone. Call 489-1825.
Giant herb sale
More than 1,000 herbs from Linda's Garden in Pungo will go on sale Saturday at 9 a.m. at the St. Martha's Herb Garden Circle Herb Sale, Women of Eastern Shore Chapel, 2020 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach. Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions. Call 498-8512.
Another deer repellant
Deer problems seem to haunt more and more gardeners. A new organic spraycalled Deer-Off is said to last two to three months, and rain will not wash it off. It gives plants a taste and odor that deters deer but does not affect the plant.
It's available by mail with a 32-ounce, ready-to-use spray costing $16.95 or a 32-ounce concentrate costing $44.95. Write Deer-Off Inc., 1127 High Ridge Road, Suite 204, Stamford, Conn. 06905-1203. Call (203) 968-8485; fax (203) 968-2882.
Seeds to share
Readers often inquire about getting Datura seed, often called moonflower. Another often wanted is moonvine, along with ajuga. Those who have it usually have more than they want. If you have seed for moonflower, moon vine or ajuga and want to share, drop a card to this column with your name and phone number, and readers will be notified. Write: Robert Stiffler, The Virginian-Pilot, 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510. Mark the card: Seeds to share.
Camellia workshop
The Virginia Camellia Society will hold a hands-on workshop at the Norfolk Botanical Garden at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. You'll learn proper planting, fertilization, pruning and propagation by air-layering. The workshop is in the Hofheimer Camellia Garden at the Botanical Garden. The training is free, but normal garden admission applies.
A better bat house
If bats haven't used the house you spent good money for, there is a better bat house in the offing. Penn State University has a bat house that will hold up to 200 bats and often does. For information, contact Lisa Williams-Whimer, 302 Forest Resources Lab, Penn State University, University Park, Pa. 16802. Call (814) 865-2150.
Gifts for gardeners
If you need a gift for a gardener, there could hardly be a finer one than a gift pack from Santa Barbara Heirloom Seedling Nursery, P.O. Box 4235, Santa Barbara, Calif. 93140. This group grows plants organically and guarantees their growth. Even if snails eat the plants, this firm will replace them for just the cost of shipping.
Its herb gift pack consists of Mammoth Dill, Italian Leaf Parsley, Genovese Sweet Basil, Greek Oregano, Summer Savory and French Thyme, for $17.70 plus shipping. A catalog is free by writing to the address above or call (805) 968-5444 or fax (805) 562-1248. Its e-mail address is heirloom heirloom.com
Don't get too close
Avoid planting trees too close to your house, suggests the American Association of Nurserymen. Height and spread of a tree should dictate how close it can safely be planted to your home. A tree generally should not be allowed to get more than 50 percent taller than the highest part of the house unless it is planted as far away as its mature height. A tree that will reach 120 feet tall should be planted at least 75 feet from the house. A tree that will grow 20 feet tall should be planted at least 15 feet away. This is especially important in the hurricane-prone area where we live.
Festival of Flowers
North Carolina's wonderful Biltmore Estate in Asheville is holding its annual Festival of Flowers through May 12. Evening tours are by reservation only on Fridays and Saturdays, when visitors are allowed to wander the candle-lit house with entertainment in turn-of-the century style.
Biltmore is considered one of the finest works of Frederick Law Olmstead, creator of New York's Central Park. Biltmore's gardens are at their peak. For day visits, admission is $27.95 for adults, $22 for ages 10-15, and free for age 9 and under. Evening tours cost an additional $2. Call (800) 289-1895.
Time to plant bananas
Banana queen Esta Vollrath reminds readers that this is the time to take bananas out from under the house or garage and plant them. Allow four to five weeks for plants to leaf out. Once they start, they grow by leaps and bounds, she says. If anyone wants to buy plants, she has them at $5 per foot of height. Call 486-3217. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by ROBERT STIFFLER
English Wallflowers...
Photo
Orchids from Hawaii and California will be auctioned off next
Sunday.
by CNB