The following news stories are written by Rosie Lerner, Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist, and are distributed to news media around the state by Agricultural Communication Service, at Purdue University.
Nine new garden plants have been awarded the prestigious honor of being an All America Selection (AAS) for the year 2001. These new cultivars have been judged as superior in their class based on their performance in test gardens all over the country. For the flower garden, the first award winner is Zinnia “Profusion White,” a daisy-like, white zinnia with good resistance to powdery mildew. The sun-loving plants spread 12-24 inches and are loaded with […]
No matter whether the weather is cool or hot, wet or dry, gardeners must do battle with weeds. By definition, a weed is any plant that grows where it is not wanted. Despite having a number of weapons to conduct this battle, the weeds seem to win as least as often as we do! The best weapons for the home garden and landscape include tools, such as the hoe and rototiller. There are quite a […]
Today’s mobile society often lands gardeners in the predicament of moving away from their beloved gardens at a time of year that is less than ideal for transplanting. Devoted gardeners just hate the thought of leaving all of their beautiful flowers behind. Ideally, the time to move most perennials is either spring or early fall. The hot, generally dry weather of summer is about the worst time of year to move any plant. But, sometimes, […]
Are your posies looking peaked? Anemones anemic? Daisys in the doldrums? These are the dog days of summer and though our temperatures haven’t been all that stressful, most areas have had substantially more rainfall than usual for this time of year. While, for the most part, the moisture has been helpful, heavy rains can wash away much of the available nitrogen, making it unavailable for plant uptake. A bit of supplemental fertilizer, applied alongside the […]
Gardening in raised beds can be just the answer for would-be gardeners, who would love to grow their own vegetables and flowers, but lack the space or physical ability for a traditional garden. However, recent controversy regarding chemical wood preservation treatments has left many gardeners wondering about the safety of treated lumber. Many gardeners have made use of treated lumber in their raised beds, fences, benches, gazebos and other landscape structures. Up until about 2003, […]
Being creative when choosing containers for your houseplants can add to the decor of a room. Almost any container can be used for potting plants, as long as drainage holes are provided. Plant roots must have some oxygen in order to take up water and nutrients. The roots will suffocate if the soil surrounding them is thoroughly filled with water for extended periods. Once the roots start to rot, the top of the plant may […]
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and many will be searching for a special gift for that special someone. Why not say it with flowers? Nothing conveys your warm valentine feelings like cut flowers, particularly roses. But their elegant beauty fades fast. So, if you’re looking for something that will last a little longer, there are several potted plants that will fit the bill. Cyclamen is made for the occasion with its heart shape, […]
The National Garden Bureau (NGB) has selected sweet corn as the vegetable of honor for the year 2000 and has provided a fascinating history of the plant, as well. The origin of maize&emdash;what Americans call corn&emdash;has been traced to Mexico, with the oldest-known remains dated at 7,000 years old. The oldest corn cob found so far was dated from 5000 B.C. and was still enclosed in its husk. Maize remnants have been found in the […]
Gardeners are often advised that a loamy garden soil is best for just about all plants. But just what is a loamy soil? Soil is composed of many particles of varying sizes. Soil scientists have classified soil particles into three major groups: sand, silt and clay. Sand particles are the largest and tend to hold little water but allow good aeration. Clay particles are very small in size and tend to pack down so that […]
The Perennial Plant Association has selected Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’ as its Perennial Plant of the Year for 2000. Members of the association, which is made up primarily of professional plant growers, select a perennial each year in an effort to educate the gardening public and promote planting of perennial flowers. Butterfly Blue is a long-blooming, versatile perennial that adapts well to full sun or light shade. The lavender-blue flower heads reach up to 2 […]
