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Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:The Holidays caught up with us and we just weren't able to put together an issue last week. We hope you understand. We'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year. This week we take a look at plant pests and disease, a topiary follow-up, using sawdust as a mulch, our reader mailbag, and more. Hope you enjoy. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Tom Krueger Rex Gregor "Exotic & Unusual Seeds from Around the World" 2) Plant Pests and Diseases:Unfortunately plant pests or diseases often remain undetected until major harm is done. Even if you spot damage, you may have difficulty in identifying the culprit. Often nutrient deficiencies or pollution can cause similar disease symptoms. Fortunately there are clues you can look for to identify the pest or disease. The first suggestion is to inspect your plants at least once a week. You do not necessarily need to look at every plant, but certainly looking at a few helps. Looking and observing can help before any major damage is done. Look at both sides of the leaves, around the buds and flowers, and along the stems. If you find damage or small insects, jot down the plant affected and make a note of the type of problem you find. Remember, it is important that you look at the undersides of the leaves. We'd suggest you even take a magnifying glass along with you on your inspection trips. Look for clusters of eggs, webs, or saw- dust like insect droppings. Do not assume that all insects you might find are pests because some insects are beneficial to plant life. Thus, if you cannot identify something do not run for your spray can because it might be a beneficial insect. If you cannot identify something, you might want to take a leaf or stem of the affected plant to your local Cooperative Extension Service or your garden center – many professional greenhouse growers are very knowledgeable and they might be able to make an accurate diagnosis. They are usually very happy to help you. It can be difficult to diagnose via email, but Rex’s Seedco is always glad to help you in any way possible. Just email us and we will do our best for you. *** 10% Savings Through January 7, 2004 *** The discount will not show up in your shopping cart -- we will take care of it for you before finalization of your order. (No other discounts apply.) 3) Humor for Today:In a darkened theater where a mystery movie was being shown a member of the audience suddenly stood up and screamed “Where is the murderer?” A growling voice from behind her replied, “Right in back of you, if you don’t sit down!” 4) Topiary Follow-up:Last issue we talked about topiary. One thing we did not mention is the importance of protecting your handiwork in the winter if you are prone to getting snow and ice. You'd hate to have your hard work ruined in a winter storm. You can protect the topiary by erecting a wire mesh shield and cover it with burlap. You'll then want to brush off any accumulation as soon as possible. 5) Plan Your Plant List:No doubt you already have some idea of what you want to grow this coming year. However, it is still fun to flip through books, magazines or Rex’s Seedco website.
The first basic question you need to resolve is what is the kind of look and feel you want your garden to have. Do you want your garden to be formal or structured? Or do you prefer a garden that is very casual looking? A formal garden is generally symmetrical with carefully balanced plantings with curved paths and irregular shaped flower beds. Formal gardens usually require much more frequent maintenance. With a formal garden, imperfections such as a few weeds, become quickly conspicuous – while in an informal setting they are less noticeable. A successful mixture of the two styles can be difficult to achieve. The best solution is to choose one or the other basic style. Whatever style you choose, it is best to be consistent with that approach. Another factor in your decision might be the style of your neighbor's garden. But just because your neighbor has a formal garden, doesn'e mean you need to have one as well. Or, you can match their style with a different design and variety of flowers or you can use different colors. As a final note, informal gardens can be just as beautiful as formal ones. Click Image for Our Angels Gallery 6) Quote for Today:"Opportunities multiply as they are seized; they die when
neglected. Life is a long line of opportunities." 7) Reader Mailbag: Container PalmWe have a palm that has outgrown its container (18" high, 22" interior diameter), and its top fronds are very near the ceiling. This tree is very important to me. I got a few seeds, when we were visiting my grandparents, in 1989. During our visit, my grandmother passed away. When spring came to Illinois that year, I planted the seed. This is my grandmother's tree! Do you have any suggestions?Unfortunately, I don't have good news. The vast majority of all palms will outgrow their environment and if you try to trim them to match the height of their growing space, they will most likely die. There are a few palms that will natuarally stay small, but since it doesn't appear as though the seed variety from your Grandmother is of that type, it will be of no avail to keep it at a managable size. We are familar with a few growers who have tried to trim the roots to slow the growth of the plant, but to the best of our knowledge this attempt has not been successful. The plants died. We understand their are some researchers attempting to stunt the growth of some plants, but we are not familar with their research or the results of it. If we do get further information, we'd be happy to share it. Sorry we can't be of more help. 8) Strawberries and Sawdust Mulch:
But be warned, sawdust is not a good mulch for everything. It acts as a nitrogen robber as it decomposes. If you do use sawdust around plants that don't draw nitrogen from the air, you might want to add some ammonia sulphate, blood meal, or cottonseed meal to provide extra nitrogen. 9) Subscribe/UnsubscribeThis newsletter, the Green Thumb Times, is sent out only to those who have requested a FREE subscription by signing up at http://rexseedco.com or specifically asked to be added, or are a valued customer of Rex's Seedco. PRIVACY: Your email address is held in the strictest of privacy. It is never traded or sold to anyone else. To subscribe to The Green Thumb Times Click Here or send email to subscribegtt@goalsmint.com To unsubscribe Click Here or send email to unsubscribegtt@goalsmint.com Tom Krueger, Editor and Publisher Rex Gregor, Contributing Editor Please feel free to forward The Green Thumb Times to a friend. Rex’s Seedco has searched the world for quality
growers of garden seeds. Many of these farmers bring together ancient
wisdom and modern science so people everywhere may have good health
and enjoyment in life. We are dedicated to providing the best wherever
they are found.
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For each plant you might be interested in growing, you may want to
make a note of the characteristics of each -- make a note of light
and soil needs, the height, color and bloom time of each. Your list
will help remind you of what you'd like to grow -- then when it comes
time to order, your seeds or plant list is rigth there.
Strawberries like the acidity of a sawdust mulch. Lift the foliage
and apply several inches around the base of the stems. The sawdust
may also deter slugs.