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Whether It's The Weather
Looks
like showers moving through, then nicer weather for the
weekend! Could it be 2 weekends in a row that have descent
weather? Soil temperatures are warming slowly, and look to
be in the upper 50's / lower 60's. Still time to apply pre
emergent herbicides. On the same token, if you have
chickweed or henbit growing in your beds or landscape, make
sure you pull them out before they flower and go to seed.
[Remember when a 55 Chevy was everyone's dream car? I
remember drag racing with my Uncle in his 55 one night -
oops, not supposed to tell that story! What happened in
Russell Springs, stayed in Russell Springs.]
What's Bugging You?
Really
starting to see those Eastern tent caterpillars showing up
in those ornamental trees. Remember, knock them out with a
stick, blow them out with a garden hose and water, or smash
them with your hand. If sprays are needed, use Bt. Also
seeing sudden outbursts of ants in the house over the week,
including mine! I came home to ants crawling everywhere in
2 areas of our home! And I'm talking numbers that I have
never experienced! It was bad news! But, a couple sprays
and a little vacuuming, and as quickly as they appeared,
they were gone. But I'm still finding little wings here and
there! YECH!
This
week, Buggy Joe Boggs (OSU Extension) is reporting the
indoor life style of the "Brown Dog Tick", which is very
common in our area. Apparently, it will live indoors, and
can raise youngins indoors, unlike the other outdoor ticks!
And yes, has been reported found locally indoors.
Although the American dog tick prefers living outdoors, the
brown dog tick likes the warm, dry atmosphere indoors. The
engorged brown dog tick female crawls up the walls indoors
and lays tiny brown eggs in cracks and crevices. Once the
eggs hatch, the seed ticks, or larvae, attach themselves to
any warm body that passes. Initially, they are found in
groups, but as they look for a host, they migrate throughout
the building. If found early enough, the larvae can be
treated before they disperse. Two generations usually occur
in Ohio. Brown dog ticks can be pests in kennels and areas
where pets sleep.
To
avoid picking up ticks outdoors, keep the lawn mowed and
stay on paths when walking in wild areas. Tuck pants inside
sock and/or boots and keep shirts tucked in as well, because
ticks crawl upward. Wear tick repellents when working in
woodsy places, and treat dogs with appropriate repellents
labeled for their size.
In
most cases, these ticks do not vector diseases, but if an
engorged tick is found attached to a persons skin, it should
be pulled slowly and carefully away so that the mouthparts
that are embedded under the skin are removed instead of
being broken off. The best way to remove the tick is to use
a pair of forceps and pull steadily. Wash the area with soap
and water immediately after removing it. If you must remove
the tick by hand, make sure to wash your hands and the area
where the tick was attached. Keep the tick alive for 3
weeks. If the person shows no symptoms, the tick can be
terminated. If the tick was not engorged it, it was not
attached long enough to transmit a disease, even if it was
vectoring one. The other option is to send the tick, alive,
in a small bottle to the CWEPPD Clinic, or the Ohio
Department of Health, Division of Vector Borne Disease.
Another YECH!
Catch the Buggy Joe Boggs Report Saturday at 8:42am on 55KRC
radio.
[Remember when laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or
towels inside the box?]
Questionmark and the Mysterians -
Your Questions Answered
"Should
I prune my lavender now?" -Let's ask Riat! Riat says,
"Don't prune lavender back yet, even though it may look
lifeless. You will start to see some green leaves shooting
up from what looks like dry brittle stems as the weather
continues to warm up. You'll know by Mother's Day what has
survived and what hasn't. Then you can cut back and clean
up as needed. Always be cautious about pruning back too
hard.
"Ron,
I live in Mason and enjoy your newsletter and store. We have
been getting small black/brown spots on the front of our
house (North facing) covering up to about 13 feet . It is
extremely hard to get off. The top comes off leaving a brown
mark. Do you have any ideas what this is and how to stop it
and clean it. I wonder if it is coming off our mulch or our
boxwoods in the front of the house. Any help would be
greatly appreciated." -Sounds like what can be a
serious problem (due to the stains) called "shotgun" or
"artillery" fungus. This fungus does not harm plants, but it
does stain what it gets on, and that stain is, for the most
part, nearly impossible to remove. The fungus is in the
mulch (usually shredded bark mulches) and the fruiting
bodies of the fungus "shoot" towards bright surfaces (as
high as a second story house, and stick just like 'super
glue'. These spots resemble tar spots. Once there, they are
nearly impossible to remove, and generally leave a stain.
(power wash, JOMAX, Simply Green, none are 100% effective)
Get rid of the existing mulch in that area and replace with
new mulch, possibly another type of mulch rather than what
you are currently using. Note: Most insurance policies do
not cover surface damages caused by artillery fungus.
"What do
I do when my rhubarb sends up a flower?" -Cut it off. If
you leave it on the plant, it really takes a lot of energy
away from the rhubarb plant. So cut the flower stalks off
as soon as you notice them starting to grow.
"My
hostas are freeze damaged. Do I cut them back?" -NO! If
anything, gently remove the burnt leaves, but leave the rest
of it alone. I'm already seeing some folks cutting back
roses and Japanese maples assuming they're dead when indeed
the branches are still green. Be patient!
"How do
I catch a vole? They are everywhere in my landscape
beds!" -Voles (not moles) can be caught using sticky
traps or snap traps baited with peanut butter and a
sunflower seed or two. Place the snap trap perpendicular to
the vole's trail so they run across the baited part. Set
the sticky traps right in the trail. Be sure to disguise
these traps from other animals.
"I'm
seeing a few grubs as I work in the beds. Should I treat
them with something now?" -No, its generally not
recommended to treat for grubs now. If you have simply over
whelming populations and feel the need to treat, use Eight
or Dylox or something that is a quick one shot kill of
grubs. Treat for grubs later on (early to mid June) with a
season long lasting grub preventer. And remember, you'll
never, ever, get 100% grub control no matter what you do.
"Is it
time to apply my weed and feed now?" -This is a very
popular question (even from last week). No, it's too
early. Not all weeds are growing yet. Spot treat with
Bonide's Weed Beater Ultra as needed for now. Weed and
feeds are usually applied mid to late May, even early June.
[Remember when being sent to the Principal's office was
nothing compared to the fate that awaited you when you got
home?!]
Success Tip of the Week
Growing Herbs in Containers - Growing herbs can be a real
pleasure for all your senses - beauty, fragrances, great
tastes, wonderful foliage, and more. And they're very
disease and insect tolerant. Herbs grow great in the
garden, in the landscape, in the house, and best of all, in
containers! Growing herbs in containers is easy, fun, makes
them more accessible, and believe it or not, they simply
make a wonderful looking container planting!
Here's what you'll need for your container herb garden:
Remember the basics for good container gardening?
-Chose the right pot - Window boxes, plastic pots, bushel
baskets, any container with good drainage will work for
herbs.
-Use soil-less potting soil and nothing less.
-Add a little Osmocote for a slow release all season light
feeding for your herbs - they don't require much in
nutrients.
-And, of course, Soil Moist to help cut your watering in
half.
-Find a spot with at least ½ day of sun or more for your
herbs.
Now you're ready to plant herbs in containers, but which
will you plant? Well think about the foods you like to
cook, or which herbs you use the most. If you're still not
sure, try these combinations:
-For Italian cooking, grow basil, sage, thyme, oregano,
rosemary, chives, and parsley
-For Seafood try growing parsley, dill, basil, lemon thyme,
tarragon, chives, and savory
-Or for Mexican, try cilantro, basil, garlic chives,
oregano, and even a pepper plant!
Or just try growing groups of your favorite herbs like
mints, or sage, or basil, or thyme. Or how about theme
plantings? A crock of thyme would be a Jim Croce planter
(thyme in a bottle - okay, crock). Or how about a Simon and
Garfunkel planting? You know it - Parsley Sage Rosemary
and Thyme. Once you get started growing herbs in
containers, you'll be hooked forever!
[Remember when telephone numbers had a word prefix like
"Raymond 4601? Or we had 'party lines'?]
From the Garden to the Kitchen
"Hey
Rita what's Cooking?"
Yardboy,
I've had a lot of recipe requests in my day but this one
takes the cake. Just about every year at this time I get
requests to print your now famous two-way cornbread recipe.
This is beginning to rival your Mom, Nell's famous pickled
peppers (but don't smile too broadly yet - she's still way
ahead of you!).
RON'S REAL HOMEMADE CORNY BREAD
I'm
assuming, Yardboy that the "greased square pan" listed below
is an 8x8. And I will caution to check after 30 minutes,
since some ovens bake "hotter" than others and overbaking
will cause Yardboy's corny bread to be dry instead of
moist.
Blend
everything together:
1-1/2
cups cornmeal
1 cup
milk
½ cup
creamed corn or corn with peppers
¼ cup
Canola oil
1
teaspoon baking powder
2 large
eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
½ to 2/3
cup minced onion
½ to ¾
teaspoon ground red pepper (opt but good)
½ to 2/3
cup grated cheddar cheese
Bake at
350 in sprayed or greased square pan for 30-45 minutes until
golden brown or until toothpick inserted in center comes out
relatively clean.
RON'S
E-Z SPEEDY CORNBREAD
Prepare
according to package directions:
1 box
Jiffy corn muffin mix
Then
blend with:
½ cup
creamed corn or corn with peppers
½ to 2/3
cup minced onion
½ to ¾
teaspoon ground red pepper (opt but good)
½ to 2/3
cup grated cheddar cheese
Bake at
350 in sprayed or greased square pan. Yardboy suggests
adding an extra 10 minutes or so to the baking time on the
box - "just keep your eye on it", he says.
-Rita
Nader Heikenfeld, CCP / Macy's Regional Culinary
Professional / Herbalist / Author / Local TV and Radio
Cooking Expert / Adjunct Professor U.C. Clermont College /
Community Press Papers / Part time Witchdoctor / Maker of
strange potions /
www.abouteating.com
[Remember when you got your windshield cleaned, oil checked,
and gas pumped without asking? How about getting trading
stamps when you got gas? "Ethyl" or "Regular"?]
Yardboy's "Plant to Ponder"
This
week, its WAVE PETUNIAS! These are your Grandmother's
petunias! These are the creme de la creme. They're
preferred by the professionals, and may be the only petunia
you'll ever need. Heat and drought tolerant, even tolerates
the cooler temperatures, low maintenance, great assortment
of colors and growing characteristics, excellent performers,
great flowers, self deadheading - what more could you ask
for in a petunia? Check them out for your "annual" ground
cover plantings, hanging baskets, window boxes, containers,
and more.
[Remember when it was a great privilege to go out to dinner
at a 'real' restaurant with your parents?]
A Little
Bit of This, A Little Bit of That
Need
"Landscaping Advice"? Here's how we can help you! For the
'Do-it-yourselfers':
1.)
"Natorp's Garden Center Pros" - Our pros at the garden
stores are available to help suggest a certain plant or
plants for a specific situation in your landscape. Pictures
and dimensions of the area will help us make suggestions for
you.
2.)
"Natorp's Do-it-Yourself" Landscape Design Kit - We
design it, you dig it (and you get all the credit!). Let
our design professionals help design a specific area of your
yard, based on the information you provide us using our
Landscape Design Kit. This 'kit' is available at our garden
stores, or on our web site at
natorp.com.
Details are included in the kit. There is a $50 fee for
this service (design one area), but in return you will
receive a design, gardening information, and a $25 Natorp's
Garden Store gift card! (Please allow up to 2 weeks for us
to complete your design.)
3.)
"Natorp's 'One on One' Consultation" - Enjoy a "one on
one" 60-minute personal consultation with one of our Natorp
professionals (at the garden store), as they work with you
to design one specific area of your yard.
Bring plenty of pictures, dimensions, site conditions, as
well as your thoughts and budget ranges, to help our
professional develop your special landscape design /
sketch. There is a $50 fee for this service. (Seasonal
availability - check with a garden store associate for more
information or to schedule an appointment.)
4.)
"Natorp's 'At Home' Garden Coach" - Hire one of our
Garden pros to meet with you at your home for an 'at home'
horticultural visit, to discuss just about any gardening
issues you may have (perfect for the 'do-it-yourselfer!).
Our G.S. Coaches can do a site walk-thru with you and help
advise on things like plant identification, proper pruning,
plant health care, plant suggestions, proper gardening
procedures, timely gardening tips, and whatever we can
suggest to help make you a more successful gardener. Don't
be afraid to garden. Let one of our G.S. Coaches help you!
Fees are $100 for the first hour, $50 for each ½ hour
thereafter. (Seasonal availability - check with a garden
store associate for more information or to schedule an
appointment.)
Or, let
us do it for you -
"Landscapes by Natorp's - Design / Install / Maintain"
- If you're interested in professional landscape design
and installation, and / or professional landscape
maintenance, our Landscape Designers are available for an
on-site consultation with you. (Residential or commercial -
from a small patio - to a complete landscape planting.)
There is a $50 fee for the initial on-site consultation.
Call Natorp's Landscape at (513) 398-GROW for more
information or to schedule an appointment. (Sorry, Natorp's
Landscape does not offer 'design only' services at this
time.)
Visit
www.natorp.com
for more information.
[Remember any of these: Hula hoops, Lincoln logs, reel to
reel tape recorders, roller skate keys, mimeograph paper,
Beanie and Cecil, 35 cent gasoline, 15 cent McDonald
burgers, metal ice trays with levers, 45 RPM records, Hi-Fi's,
Green Stamps, home milk delivery in glass bottles with
cardboard stoppers, and my favorite wax coke-shaped bottles
with colored sugar water inside?] |
