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Ace of Spades: Choose varieties for floral colors all summer long
<i>Originally published in the June 26, 2009, print edition.</i>
What are some flowers which normally bloom in July?
Stella de ora is one of the most popular perennials with a bright yellow colored flower. Others favorites for July are cone flowers, sedum will be starting, butterfly weed flower, late blooming lilies, indoor hibiscus (if they were pruned back), coreopsis, yarrow, wild poppies, self seeded from last year. Tea roses, when the spent flowers are pruned all season.
If you deadhead many of these flowers, there will be continued blooms even into August and early September. Many of these flowers attract humming birds, butterflies and others. Do not use chemicals unless it is really necessary for the protection of your plants from insects and disease. When spraying is necessary, Orthenex is one of the better chemicals, working both on disease and insects.
Is it normal to have an Easter lily blooming at this time?
Yes, if you planted an Easter lily a year ago right after the Easter season, you should be seeing blooms about now. Do not plant these lilies near any of your Asiatic or Oriental lilies, as neither of these are good for each other.
Many of the leaves on the tomato plants are showing curling, yet they have not been sprayed with any herbicide. What is going on?
The experts are saying that the wind and high temperatures are damaging the leaves on some plants, while leaving others nearby unscathed.
Hopefully many of you are using some of my tips for having a better tomato crop this season. For those interested in these ideas log on to www.thelandonline.com/l_ace/local_story_087121509.html or e-mail me at hwdw@madtelco.net.
For now prune off the bottom tier of the tomato branches for fewer problems of the dreaded blight which effects tomato plants during the hot, high-humidity days.
Do I need to keep watering my newly planted trees and shrubs at this time?
Yes. With the lack of rainfall, these trees and shrubs definitely need water a couple times each week. Let the water hose run slowly for at least an hour, longer for the trees planted three or more years ago.
Many trees and shrubs will be lost due to the lack of watering.
What feed can I feed to keep the blackbirds away from my bird feeders?
In feeding salflower seeds, you will have fewer of these birds near the feeders. Once the young baby blackbirds are on their own in flying and eating, they move out of your area. We hope this happens to you too in your area. Hold up in providing grape jelly until these birds move out.
Hank Wessels is a Master Gardener in Watonwan County. He welcomes questions and comments from readers. He may be reached at 601 1st St. SW, Madelia, MN 56062, hwdw@madtelco.net or (507) 642-8479.
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