December 2002

Edible

Consider purchasing All-America Selection seeds of the 2002-2003 vegetable and flower winners. These award-winning plants are trailed at University and Botanic Gardens across the United States and Canada. Only the very best plants are designated as AAS winners. For descriptions and pictures of the 21003-2003 vegetable and flowers check out the all-America Selection website at www.all-americaselections.org or call 773-233-0476.

Winterize your garden tools

• Drain hoses and store on supports, reels or nails. This helps prevent kinks
• Remove soil from tools. A wire brush for cleaning grills works well.
• Lubricate all tool pivot points and springs.
• Sharpen hoes, spades, pruners, loppers and saws.
• Spray all bare metal parts and cutting edges of tools with WD-40 oil to prevent rust.
• Wipe wooden handles of tools with boiled linseed oil. This helps prevent drying and cracking.
• Paint tool handles red or orange for quick location in your yard or your neighbor’s garage.
• Sprayers should be rinsed three times. Apply oil to moving parts.
• Wheelbarrows and carts should be cleaned. Touch up paint chips to prevent exposed steel from rusting.

Ornamental

Consider the following pointers when selecting a poinsettia for the holidays:

• Choose a plant with dark green foliage down to the soil line.
• Choose bracts (modified leaves) that are completely colored.
• Do not choose plants with fallen or yellowed leaves.
• Choose plants that are not drooping or wilting.
• Do not purchase plants that have been displayed or crowded close together.Crowding can cause premature bract loss.
• Check the poinsettia’s maturity. Check the true flowers, which are located at the base off the colored bracts. If the flowers are green or red-tipped and fresh looking the bloom will “hold” longer than if yellow pollen is covering the flowers.
• When you take the poinsettia home, be sure to have it sleeved or covered when outdoor temperatures are below 50°F.

Think about using corn gluten meal (CGM) as a natural substitute for synthetic Pre-emergence herbicides. CGM is a by-product of commercial corn milling. It poses no danger to animals and humans. Its only effective against seeds not plants.

Prevent salt damage along sidewalks and driveways. Do not shovel salt laden snow onto the turf. Kentucky bluegrass is very sensitive to salt damage. Try using calcium chloride based de-icers, sand or kitty litter.

Dissatisfied with your weed filled, grub infested, diseased lawn? Consider hiring a lawn care service. Ask the following questions:

• Do they guarantee their service? If they damage your lawn will they refund your money? Is the guarantee only good if you sign up for the whole service?
• How good is their work? Ask for referrals. How long have they been in business? How do they respond to complaints?
• Do they provide a written contract specifying services agreed upon?
• Will they make adjustments to your regular service? For example, would they be willing to skip the pre-emergence crabgrass control if you’re willing to tolerate a few weeds.
• What training do their employees receive? Do they get training identifying grasses, insects, diseases and weeds? Are they trained to apply pesticides properly?
• How much experience does their staff have? Is there a lot of turnover? Are their employees certified to spray pesticides? Pesticide Applicators Certification programs guarantee the employees have had training in safe pesticide handling and application.

Apply a desiccant such as Wilt-Pruf to evergreen foliage. Desiccants help prevent drying of needles. Apply again during a late winter thaw because chances of damage are high at this time. During a thaw, the foliage is warming and transpiring, but soil and roots are frozen and cannot translocate needed moisture.