Indoor Palnts : Summer is busting out all over
We have heat on the way. When you combine that with the rain of the past few weeks, we are sure find our gardens growing gangbusters. All is not perfect, however, so here are some tips to make sure your space is looking its finest.
The first round of flowers on the annuals has already gone by on many plants. You can get your plants to re-bloom if you pinch off the dead blossoms. Use your fingers to take off the spent flowers where it meets the plant. This will help to keep most annuals going right to frost.
I have several chrysanthemum plants in my garden. To get the best and most beautiful blooms on straight, strong stems this fall, I remove the small side buds along the stems which form in the angles of the leaves. This will allow all of the energy to be focused toward one or two large flowers instead of a bunch of little ones. A little work now will pay off in September and October when everyone else’s gardens have little or no color.
While you are working in the yard, it’s a good idea to check for snails and slugs. I have noticed a lot of damage to tender plants and new leaves like my hosta. You can remove the bugs by hand or you can purchase a slug bait. Bait is available at most stores. I use one that is safe for my dogs and other pets.
As the foliage of the spring bulbs begins to turn yellow and brown, it is safe to cut them back to the ground. The daffolil foliage seems to be the last to turn. Most of the tulip leaves can be cut this weekend.
If you cut the foliage while it is still green, the bulbs may not recharge in time for next season. You can also add a bit of bulb food while you are working around the plants. Be sure to not add too much and to mix it in well with the existing soil.
Now that your vegetable garden is becoming established, you can cut the watering down to one or two times each week. This will encourage the roots to grow deeper and keep the plants healthier. When watering, do so early in the morning. This allows the plants to dry in the early morning sunshine and will prevent the leaves from burning.
Finally, are those mosquitoes getting the best of you? Be sure that you don’t have containers of standing water in the yard where those biting insects can breed. Also, have you ever thought about putting up a bat house? Bats can eat as many as 7,000 insects each night! That’s a lot of bugs that won’t be eating you.
If you do get a bat house look for one that is certified by the Organization for Bat Conservation. These houses tend to have the best specifications and will be most likely to become a home to the beneficial bat.
If you move your indoor plants outside for the summer, you should do so slowly. I put my plants in the morning sun for a couple weeks before exposing them to the full midday sun. If you put them into full sun immediately, after being in the house all winter, you risk burning much of the foliage.
Dave Epstein is a meteorologist and landscape designer. Watch his tips each Saturday and Sunday on WCVB-TV 5 at 7:25 a.m. E-mail him atbloomscapes@verizon.net or visit his Web site at bloomscapes.com.
