THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9606280084
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G3 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: 107 lines
PEACHES ARE READY to ripen, blueberries will soon be ready - and birds are waiting to sample them before you do. The best protection yet devised is Birdscare Flash Tape, used by the agricultural research departments from Washington State University to the University of Florida. It can even be used on waterfront areas to prevent damage by ducks and geese.
A new bird control product this year is Birdscare Octopus, which replaces kites and balloons. It is said to provide twice the protection when used with Birdscare Flash Tape. It's important the tape to be loosely suspended above the fruit or vegetables. Breezes move the tape, and sunlight is reflected off its shiny surface. The reflected light seems to signal danger for birds. Most experts believe the birds associate the flashing tape with fire.
Birdscare Flash Tape is available in many garden centers and seed stores. GOOD FOR WHAT AILS YOU
Epsom Salts are good for everything from swollen ankles to daylilies. For daylilies, water them with Epsom Salt in the water every other day. Use 1 cup of Epsom Salt per gallon of water. Or you can use a monthly treatment by scratching 1 teaspoon of Epsom Salt into the soil for every 6 inches of plant height.
The Epsom Salt Industry Council says Epsom Salt, which is magnesium sulfate, can be used for almost any plant except sage. It allows the plants to use fertilizer more efficiently. For information on how to use Epsom Salt in your garden or around your house, call (800) 600-2929 for a free brochure and guidelines. DON'T GET HOSED
Garden hoses come in many sizes, colors and prices. The most popular size is 5/8-inch, which is practical for most home gardens, because it delivers twice as much water as does a 1/2-inch hose. If you have big, thirsty trees and shrubs, buy at least a 5/8- or 3/4-inch hose. The 3/4-inch delivers three times more water than the 1/2-inch size.
Check to see if the hose is reinforced, which has much to do with its lasting quality. A hose that is reinforced is a better value, because it will last longer and be easier to manipulate.
If your children or pets drink from the hose, you may want to check for a Colorite Waterworks hose, made from FDA-approved materials.
Garden hoses in many stores are categorized as good, better or very best. Look for kink-resistance, burst strength and flexibility. Often the ``best'' hose will cost the most but will be the best value for endurance and ease in use. PRUNE TREES CORRECTLY
Pruning is essential to direct the growth of a tree, improve its health and manage its growth. Remember that low branches stay at their original height. They don't move up as you'd imagine but just grow larger in diameter. Branches that are so low to the ground that they prevent adequate light underneath or prohibit people from walking under them, should be removed. Also remove all dead, diseased or insect-infested limbs or branches to prevent further infection.
Over-pruning can kill or damage a tree, so be certain to keep at least two- thirds of the live tree when pruning. When cutting out dead wood, always cut back to healthy wood. Pruning during summer months slows a tree's growth rate, but pruning during winter months or while the tree is dormant encourages a burst of new growth come spring. This good advice comes from Technic Tool Corp., which make a gas pruner that reaches up to 15 feet. When a tree is too large or is located near utility lines, buildings or a highway, call a professional arborist. NEW GARDENERS GUIDES
The Firefly Gardeners Guides series has just released five books, each with 96 pages, color photographs, line drawings and plant and source lists. The books are ``Berries,'' ``Ground Covers,'' ``Rock Gardens,'' ``Water Gardens'' and ``Shade Gardens.'' Each book is 6 1/2 inches by 9 inches and costs $10.95, except ``Shade Gardens,'' which costs $12.95. They're available in bookstores. EMPRESS TREE TO SEE
For those who want to see the empress tree, Paulonia, there's a large one growing at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, across from the city hall complex, according to landscape architect Pat Bridges. They're not in bloom now. They bloom for several weeks in late April and early May. NATURE PRINTING FOR CHILDREN
If you have a restless child this summer, teach them nature printing. That is the art of applying ink or paint directly to plants, flowers and fruits, then pressing their delicate images onto paper, fabric and other surfaces. It's a centuries-old art that still appeals to young and old, regardless of artistic abilities.
Artist Laura Donnelly Besthmann re-creates captivating nature prints and tells how to do them in her new book, ``Nature Printing with Herbs, Fruits & Flowers,'' (Storey Communications, $22.95, hardcover). A chapter is devoted to ``hammered'' prints on T-shirts and another to one-of-a kind wall borders. Any bookstore can order this book for you or you can order it for $26.40 by calling (800) 441-5700, Dept. YP. Update on grub problem
Gardeners Supply Co., a mail-order supplier, recently issued a warning about a massive grub infestation this year in some parts of the country. The good news, the problem probably won't occur here. Director Peter Schultz at the Hampton Roads Research Center says: ``I remember last summer being very dry, which means we don't have a grub problem. I have yet to see my first Japanese beetle - and they usually appear by June 10.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Children or pets could drink from this Colorite Waterworks hose,
made of FDA-approved materials. by CNB