DATE: Sunday, May 11, 1997                  TAG: 9705090073

SECTION: HOME                    PAGE: G2   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS

SOURCE: Robert Stiffler

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

TEST RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT EPSOM SALTS

BECAUSE OF recent intense promotion of Epsom salts for roses, researchers at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station decided to find out for themselves. They applied Epsom salts around roses.

Results: ``Plants treated with Epsom salts showed less vigor and produced fewer flowers than did untreated plants. Epsom salts did not reduce disease incidence relative to untreated plants, although Epsom salts did reduce defoliate rates, compared to untreated plants.''

So what do you do? I'll continue to apply Epsom salts around roses and tomatoes until more than one test proves it's not a good practice.

Where to find lantana

A rash of questions arose after the color photo of Lantana Patriot Rainbow ran a few weeks ago, because no one could find it. It was bred by Dr. Jack Roberson at American Daylily and Perennials in Missouri and can be purchased direct from them. Cost is three for $14.95, plus shipping. Call (800) 770-2777 to order or for a catalog.

A company representative said Patriot Rainbow is very compact, and they guarantee hardiness in zones 9 and 10. In our zone, it should be planted on the southside, near a wall or other protected area to come in spring.

American Daylily sells retail and wholesale, so garden centers can call the number above for wholesale prices. Write to P.O. Box 210, Grain Valley, Mo. 64029.

Plant mums in spring

Of the millions of garden chrysanthemums planted each year, about one-fourth are planted in the spring. That gives them longer to get roots established and a better chance of surviving the winter.

After mums finish blooming indoors, put them in the garden, cut them back and water well. They'll bloom again in fall. Two new ones that will live through the winter and repeat are Jean, a pink cushion mum, and Connie, a daisy flower that is pink with a white center. Both are from Yoder and should be in garden centers now.

Free golden rain trees

Alan C. Pocta is offering golden rain tree seedlings free on a first-come basis. ``What a wonderful way to start a child or grandchild to care for plants,'' Pocta says. ``Originally from China, this highly disease- and drought-resistant flowering tree grows to a height of 40 to 60 feet.'' Pocta also grows daylilies, hosta and liriope at his Virginia Beach home, 2945 Bray Road. Call 340-4414 for directions.

Spray with dormant oil

If your plants have scale, especially Euonymus, it's a good time to spray with dormant oil. Oil sprays kill by coating and suffocating insects and over-wintering eggs, scales and mites, with minimal harm to the environment. They can be used on plants widely grown in this area, including juniper, azaleas, honey locust, magnolia, maples, yews and white pine.

Turf day at N.C. State

North Carolina State University in Raleigh will hold its annual Turf and Landscape Field Day on May 21. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with presentations starting at 9 a.m. Registration is $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina in Southern Pines (910) 695-1333.

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