THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996 TAG: 9606070083
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: REMINDERS
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
LENGTH: 132 lines
BY MID-JUNE, evergreen shrubs - especially junipers and yews - are in their spring surge. To maintain their density, approximately one-half to two-thirds of new growth should be removed. You can identify new growth by its lighter green color. When that new color starts to fade to match the mature plant color, that is the ideal time to prune evergreens.
A tree's density comes from how many branches stem from the hub. Without pruning, shrubs and evergreens will grow in size, but they won't fill in. For density, they must be pruned, and it will be too late if you don't do it promptly, according to the Brickman Group Landscape Memo.
It's also time to prune all azaleas and camellias after they've finished blooming. If you put it off too long, you'll cut off next year's bloom buds. PROBLEMS WITH IRIS
Veteran iris grower Viola Ballard says she's had numerous reports that pink varieties of iris are losing their original color. No one knows why.
She also has heard complaints about iris that won't bloom. Often the problem is caused by planting too deeply, she says. In August, dig them up and replant closer to the surface.
The daylilies are now in full bloom at her Ballard Iris and Daylily Farm at 1304 Canal Drive, Chesapeake. Call 487-0176. GO AFTER YOUNG GROWTH
If there's one thing that frequent rains and hot days do is fill your garden with weeds and unwanted grass. The sooner you destroy it, the easier it is to conquer. Pull or spray without delay. You'll find that your beds and gardens are filled with unwanted youthful weeds and grass. FUTURE OF MASTER GARDENERS
Virginia Beach Master Gardeners will meet at 7 p.m. June 13 at the Virginia Beach extension office to decide whether to form an association to recruit, train and manage the Master Gardener program in that city. Call 427-4769. WISDOM TO GROW WITH
The book ``Green Thumb Wisdom - Garden Myths Revealed'' contains these gems from Doc and Katy Abraham, including:
``Low-acid tomatoes have just as much as acid as regular tomatoes but more sugar.
``Lawns with a gray look don't need more fertilizer - just sharpen your mower blade.
``Adding sand to clay soil makes drainage worse not better. Add organic matter instead.
``So-called mosquito-repelling plants are a waste of money - the plants' anti-bug oils only protect their leaves.
``Animal behavior really does forecast weather changes. Cows, for example, face east if good weather is due and west if not.''
The Abrahams operate a greenhouse-garden center in New York state and have been held in high respect for years by garden writers all over the country. This book (Storey Communications, $12.95 paperback) debunks a lot of common garden myths and is well worth reading. Any book store can order it or call (800) 441-5700. NEW GARDEN BOOKS
Henry Holt & Co. have a flurry of new garden books on the market, including a story of the popular North Hill garden in Vermont. The new titles are: ``A Year at North Hill: Four Seasons in a Vermont Garden'' by Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd (Henry Holt, $19.95 paperback); ``Why We Garden - Cultivating a Sense of Place'' by Jim Nollman (Henry Holt, $14 paperback); and ``The New Perennial Garden'' by Noel Kingsbury (Henry Holt, $40 hardcover). Kingsbury runs a nursery in England. Any of these books can be ordered for you by any bookstore. WEED DILEMMA
Poa annua (annual blue grass) and chickweed have been worse this spring than many gardeners can remember. Many gardeners have asked if there is a pre-emergent that can be applied to prevent these pests. John Parrish, a former extension agent and currently division manager for wholesaler Turf & Garden Division, Todd Co., says a pre-emergent such as Barricade applied in August will prevent poa annua next spring and will prevent chickweed from germinating this winter. The problem is that when you use it you cannot seed grass over the same area in the fall. So you have to make a choice between using a crabgrass pre-emergent product in August or sowing grass seed in September. COMPOSTING INSTRUCTIONS
There's a new video out that tells you how to make compost. ``Composting: A Recipe for Success'' gives 21 minutes of step-by-step instructions. Cost is $17.95 mailed to Compost Productions, c/o International Marketing Exchange Inc., P.O. Box 775, McHenry, Ill. 60051-0775. Call (815) 363-0909 or fax (815) 363-0933. MOW WITH CARE
Sears, which has always made good lawn mowers, is promoting lawn-mower safety with these suggestions:
Change direction of your mowing every week to avoid stripes.
Stop the engine before crossing driveways, walks, roads or gravel-covered areas.
Turn off the engine and disconnect the spark-plug wire before checking for any damage or inspecting or repairing the mower.
Excessive vibration is an indication of damage, so stop the mower and check for the cause.
Don't run the engine indoors. Fumes can be hazardous.
Don't mow barefoot or with open sandals.
Mow only in daylight.
Do not allow children to operate the mower.
Orthopedic specialists at the Virginia Beach General Hospital report one of their most regular emergencies in the summertime is lawn-mower injuries. Don't let you be one of them. UNUSUAL SEEDS AVAILABLE
If you want some American Indian seeds of corn, beans, tobacco and gourds, send $2 plus 55 cents postage to L. Gasparini, 1446 Broken Wing Lane, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 33418.
For Seminole pumpkin seeds, send the same amount to W. Davidsohn, 1643 Old Colonial Way, Melbourne, Fla. 32935. Seminole is a small pumpkin, big enough for two. He also has Roselle seed, which is Hibiscus sabdarriffa. It is a tall annual of the tropics, growing up to 5 feet high, cultivated in the warmest parts of the South for the unripe calyx, used in making an edible jelly, similar in flavor to cranberry jelly. GARDENING FUN FOR THE FAMILY
Families are invited to Norfolk Botanical Garden from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for ``Little Sprouts: Family Gardening Fun.'' Children will be taught proper use of garden tools, how to plant seeds and make compost and fun uses for everyday plants. There will also be face-painting and balloons, and children will receive a gardening calendar, recipe book and pumpkin seeds.
Children are free when accompanied by an adult. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for seniors; free to NBG Society members. Call 441-5839. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ROSE OF THE YEAR:
``Signature,'' Jackson & Perkins' pick for 1996, is a hybrid tea
with wine-red buds that open into large, deep-pink flowers. At
garden centers for about $15 to $20. by CNB