THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508250078
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
LENGTH: Long : 131 lines
Hurricane Felix, instead of giving plants a much needed soaking, dried them out even more with four days of high winds, which are as devastating to plants as heat and drought. Just when plants needed water most, the wind further dried them out and now some are dying.
Do the best you can, watering regularly and moving your hoses and sprinklers to try to give all plants some water. Those planted new this year may have already died. They'll go in a hurry if you don't keep them watered.
Many gardeners first notice their flowers and vegetables wilting, but don't forget to take care of trees and shrubs as well. This sage advice comes from The Brickman Group, largest horticultural service company in the country:
``Whenever a drought threatens the landscape, the first concern should be for the trees, not the turf. Of all components in the landscape, trees take the longest to mature and cost the most to replace, while turf can be replaced literally overnight for a lot less. Turf may only need an inch of water a week, but trees need 2 inches. Their roots are deeper (within the top foot of soil), and more water is needed to penetrate that far.
``The first sign of trees suffering from drought is an overall droopy appearance and leaves discoloring as in the fall. The second priority should be the evergreen shrubs - more expensive than deciduous shrubs, and they take longer to grow. Third are the deciduous shrubs, and lawns and flowers are at the bottom of the list.'' CARE FOR CUT ROSES
Roses bloom some all summer, but they begin their best bloom period next month. Research done some years ago at Michigan State University showed that cut roses last longer if their stems are recut underwater after any exposure to air. Using a floral preservative in the water and keeping the vase in a cool area, free of direct sunlight and hot or cold drafts, also helped extend vase life.
You can make a floral preservative by mixing equal parts of water and 7-Up or by adding 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon vinegar to 1 quart of water. In either mixture, the sugar preserves the color of the blossom and the acid discourages bacterial growth that can clog stems.
If you have roses with bent necks, fill a sink, dishpan or the tub with warm water, and trim the rose stems under water. Straighten the neck of each rose and place the entire rose underwater for 20 minutes. When removed from water, the rose will stand upright. MORE ON MONET'S GARDEN
There will be a special lecture and tour this afternoon in conjunction with the exhibition of Claude Monet's ``Water Lilies'' masterpiece, which continues through Sept. 3 at Norfolk's Chrysler Museum of Art. At 2 p.m. today the museum's director of education, Ann Dearsley-Vernon, will conduct a tour titled ``Flowers in Monet's Garden,'' pointing out the museum's collection of Impressionist paintings featuring flowers found in Monet's garden on the River Seine in the village of Giverny, France.
At 3 p.m. today landscape architect Kathleen L. Redfern will lecture on ``Why Did Monet Choose Giverny: A Weeder's Perspective.'' Redfern, a Norfolk native and owner of Back Porch Design, was a seasonal gardener at Giverny during the summers of 1991, '92 and '95. TOO MUCH MULCH
Mulch gets piled higher and higher around many trees in home lawns and commercial landscapes throughout this area. When it's more than 4 inches thick, it may kill the tree and will surely weaken it. Virginia Beach arborist Roger Huff advises that mulch should be replaced, not added on. Each year, rake off old mulch and replace it. When the mulch is too deep, it becomes so inviting that tree roots start growing up into it, rather than down into the soil.
Huff also warns that some mulch sold as hardwood bark mulch contains salt-treated lumber, which can be harmful to trees. He's also had reports on both pine and hardwood bark mulch where poison ivy or poison oak vines were on the trees, and end up in the bark, making the bark harmful to the user. There are no standards on bark, but some are needed.
For some reason, the so-called hardwood bark has caught on with homeowners and landscapers. Although experts say it costs less to produce, it is sold at a premium price. Most horticulturists prefer pine bark and say it is the best buy. Whichever you choose, buy from a reliable source, because you don't know what may be in the bag you buy. WATER EARLY IN THE DAY
The best time to irrigate with sprinklers is during the calm, cool early morning hours, especially before daybreak, recommends Joe Freeman, chief horticulturist at Cypress Gardens in Florida. Little water is lost from evaporation and wind at that time of day. Leaves and flowers wetted by irrigation will dry during the day.
The next best time to water is evening, after sunset, when water loss is also minimal. But the foliage will stay wet all night, which could encourage disease problems on some plants. If you sprinkle every evening or more often than recommended for your location, diseases are more probable. ORDERING MADE EASY
I've not always admired the way Jackson & Perkins names some of its rose after movie stars. It's a gimmick to attract buyers, and sometimes the roses are dogs. But one thing Jackson & Perkins does exceptionally well is handling orders by an 800 number. I recently ordered pink Simplicity, which local retailers do not stock. Many popular Jackson & Perkins varieties are available in garden centers, but varieties not widely know are available by mail only.
J&P will ship up until June 1, and guarantees all plants for at least 60 days. If they die, call Jackson & Perkins and they'll set up delivery for free replacements the next spring. J&P order takers are the most hospitable and knowledgeable I've talked to. Some mail-order plant and seed sources don't offer an 800 number. Jackson & Perkins is through shipping for this season, but when you want to order, the number is (800) 292-4769. FLOWERS GUARANTEED FRESH
The latest innovation in cut flowers is 1-800-Flowers, which claims to be the world's largest florist and the only florist to guarantee the freshness of its floral arrangements for one week. Products are backed by a customer-service guarantee. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is available by computer, as well as phone, at the following addresses: Internet (http:www.800flowers.com); American Online (keyword: flowertalk); eWorld (shortcut:flowers); and CompuServe (GOFRESH). Every month a new flower is featured. For August it's gladiolus, and in September it will be snapdragons, followed by Gerbera daisies in October. ILLUSTRATION: ROBERT STIFFLER/Color photo
GOING FOR THE GOLD
Tithonia ``Goldfinger'' Mexican sunflower is a favorite of
butterflies. It grows from seed, available through mail-order
catalogs or from a friend, and often reseeds for the next year.
Photo
Research shows that cut roses last longer if their stems are recut
underwater after any exposure to air.
by CNB