Archive for the ‘Learning about Horticulture’ Category
Interesting Update from Wisconsin Ornamentals.com
June 2nd, 2011 | 
Author:
Scotts Fertilizers Phosphorus-Free by End of Next Year
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Scotts Miracle-Gro will remove phosphorus from most of its lawn fertilizers by the end of next year, and is focusing on creating more “efficient and optimized” ways to use nitrogen in its lawn fertilizers. Phosphorous is blamed for turning aquatic habitats into dead zones when excessive amounts are dumped through residential and farm runoff and waste water. Some states have enacted bans on the use of lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus, and more are considering restrictions.Scotts began lowering phosphorus levels in its lawn fertilizer products in 2006. Because phosphorus is essential to the initial root development of grass, the nutrient will remain in the company’s starter fertilizers. Phosphorus will also remain in its lines of organic lawn food, as it naturally occurs in organic materials contained in the products.Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Hagedorn says a central part of the new initiative is a multi-year commitment to consumer communication, education and grassroots outreach regarding water quality and conservation. This includes incorporating water quality and conservation messaging into the company’s consumer advertising, dedicated websites and other “digital outreach tools” for consumers, as well as funding for educational outreach efforts with environmental partners and local organizations. |
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Candy for the Eyes – Madison’s Treasurer-Troves
Walks in the woods: Olbrich Gardens and U.W. Arboretum-Longenecker Display Gardens
It’s that time of year — you better get out and smell the flowers!
What’s in bloom?
Amelanchier (Serviceberry species)
Magnolias (certain varieties and lots more on the way)
Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud Trees)
Rhododendrons & Azaleas
And lots more to come. Enjoy!
Don’t Forget The Big Garden Expo Show This Weekend
Hey, tired of the snow? Tired of the below zero temperatures this week?
Head on out to the Garden Expo at the Alliant Energy Center this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Feb 12,13,14). Ganshert staff will be there putting on seminars and educational demos. Come see us at Booth 808 & 809. Check out www.ganshert.com blog for talks and times.
On Saturday Paul will be presenting Landscaping to Enhance Your Property Value and Landscaping Tips for Elderly Living. Sharon and Errin will be putting on a pruning demonstration on Saturday afternoon. Also on Saturday, Mike, Clayton, and Phil will be talking on Hardscape Options for Outdoor Living (permeable paver options, etc.)
SEE YOU THERE!
Tags: Get Out and About to the Winter 2011 Tradeshows In Town
See you there! See link below for schedule and Ganshert presentations:
NARI Remodeling Expo at the Marriott Madison West
When: February 4- 6
Ganshert Booth: #613
Garden Expo at The Alliant Center
When: February 11-13
Booth: #808 & #809
Click here for Ganshert 2011 Speaking Schedule for Tradeshows
Get a $1.00 off your ticket prices by linking to the Garden Expo Website: http://www.wigardenexpo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Coupon.jpg
Pleasant Reading Material For The Winter
Possible stocking stuffers for you or your loved ones? Some might not fit, though. Hopefully, you can get a hold of these at the library or go ahead and order for yourself for Christmas or just for the heck of it — hey, it’s winter in Wisconsin.
Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs – Michael A. Dirr — If you haven’t heard of Michael Dirr, you need to attend more gardening functions, he’s the king.
Perennials – Garden Handbooks — A photographic guide to more than 1,000 plants by type size, season of interest, and color
Flowering Crabapples (The Genus Malus) – Fr. John L. Fiala — “Father Fiala bring 50 years of passionate interest in the hybridization and cultivation of the ornamental crabapple to his readers.”
Growing Shrubs and Small Trees in Cold Climates – Nancy Rose, Don Selinger, and John Whitman
Trees of Wisconsin Field Guide – Stan Tekiela — Every tree lover and hiker should have this in their stocking this year. If you don’t know what the trees are in your yard – you need this field guide. (New version came out last year).
Birdscaping In The Midwest – Mariette Nowak — If you like the birdies and the beauty of native plants, you will not be able to put this down. Absolutely knockout photos of native plants and birds. I’ve featured this one in our “Growing With Ganshert’s” newsletter.
And if it still isn’t spring yet and you finished reading all of the above, don’t forget The Pruner’s Handbook by John Malins — It’s the Ganshert staff go-to for specific pruning questions on a particular genus or species of plant or tree.
HAPPY READING! THINK SPRING. 
October – Lawn and Ornamental Preparation
Still Looking For Fall Chores To Do?
Lawn Patching
It is too late to see patches of dear or damaged grass, but you an use pieces of sod to repair lawn areas. The sod grows quickly in cool weather and knits together with existing turf. WATER WATER WATER – Keep the sod moist for about 3-weeks until established or winter sets in.
Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Plant spring-flowering bulbs now and up until you can’t get the shovel in the ground anymore. Root growth occurs until soil temps dip below 40 degrees.
Mulching
Use shredded and mulched leaves into the turf. Mowing over the leaves will chop them finely, and those pieces will filter into the turf. Mulching leaves into the lawn will not harm the grass and will improve the soil.
For The Birds
Leave the seed heads on coneflowers and black-eyed Susans for the birds (and winter interest).
Winter Interest
Leave ornamental grasses to flow with the wind this winter. Cut them back in the spring instead. Plant cool-looking shrubs and trees with branching structures that add to the winter beauty of your front or back yard.
Water Water Water
Especially this fall, it is very dry out there. Continue to water any new plantings right up until the ground is frozen. Water evergreens (even established ones) as needed throughout the fall until the ground freezes Evergreens lose moisture through their needles and leaves (yes, some evergreens have leaves) all during the winter; so they need lots of moisture going into the winter season.
Start a Compost Pile
Before you know it, you will have black gold in to spread over your beds and expensive perennials.
Call Us
If all of this is a bit too much for you to mentally and physically tackle, just give Ganshert’s a call (274.2443), and we will do the whole works for you. Or if you have the time and run out of things to do in preparing your yard and plantings for winter, give us a call; we’ll find more for you to do — you can always paint the shed and put in a dog run.
Walkabout with the expert at Troy Gardens this Sunday
Walkabout to Talk About Urban Forests with Tree Expert R. Bruce Allison
Madison arborist and author R. Bruce Allison will lead an hour-long walkabout through the natural areas at Troy Gardens on Sunday, October 3 at 10:00 a.m. Dr. Allison will share tree stories, encourage stewardship of natural resources and discuss threats to our forests such as Emerald Ash borer (EAB). Emerald Ash Borer is a deadly pest insect affecting all ash trees and is moving toward our area. Homeowners and community members are encouraged to learn about trees, support urban forests and discuss EAB strategies.
Dr. Allison holds a master’s of science in forestry and a PhD in land resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of several books and articles about trees, the most recent being a revision of “Wisconsin’s Champion Trees: A Tree Hunter’s Guide” and “Every Root an Anchor: Wisconsin’s Famous and Historic Trees.”
Please gather at the yellow shed at Troy Gardens, along the 500 block of Troy Drive. All ages are welcome. Coffee and treats will be provided.
The Troy Gardens Walkabout is sponsored by Community GroundWorks and is funded in part by an urban forestry grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forestry Program.
For further information, visit http://www.communitygroundworks.org/
About Community GroundWorks, Inc.
Community GroundWorks is a nonprofit organization that connects diverse communities to nature and local, healthful food. Through hands-on education, children and adults learn gardening, urban farming, healthy eating, and natural areas restoration. Organized in 2001 as The Friends of Troy Gardens―in Madison, Wisconsin―Community GroundWorks serves communities and schools across the region. For more information, visit www.communitygroundworks.org or call (608) 240-0409.
Needle Drop – Yellowing Needles on Evergreens
According UW Extension, and contrary to popular belief, evergreens don’t keep their needles forever. Older inner needles may turn yellow in late summer or fall. Why, you ask? Because shorter days trigger this condition. People who are not familiar with this natural process may be concerned and worried that their conifers are sick or dying.
White pines are the most dramatically affected. They usually keep 3 years of needles in summer and two in winter. The 3-year-old needles may turn yellow throughout the tree in fall. Japanese yews turn yellow and drop in late spring or early summer of their 3rd year.
Austrian and Scots’ pines also fall into the 3-year-old needle drop. Red pine and Norway pine go through this cycle every 4 years.
Spruce and fir needles drop with age. These evergreen retain needles for several years, so you may not see needle drop unless you look closely on inner branches.
Needle drop patterns vary from tree to tree and from year to year. During times of stress e.g., during periods of drought, like too much or not enough water, insect damage, or disease problems, needle drop may be more obvious and more severe.
A Fun Day In The Gardens
URBAN HORTICULTURE DAY
AT WEST MADISON
AGRICULTURE RESEARCH STATION
AUGUST 21, 2009 10AM-3PM
Want to make your green thumb even greener? Attend the annual Urban Horticulture Day at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station’s Trial and Demonstration Gardens, held every year on the third Saturday in August.
It is a great place to get new ideas and answers to perplexing problems, sample fresh produce and tour one of the areas most extensive collections of flower and vegetable varieties, including many that haven’t yet appeared in seed catalogs.
The horticulture day is sponsored by UW-West Madison Agricultural Research Station staff, researchers at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Extension staff, and Master Gardener Volunteers.
The West Madison Agricultural Research Station is located at 8502 Mineral Point Road, about a mile west of the beltline. Admission and parking are free.
SEE YOU ALL THERE!
Learning While You Walk
West Madison Agricultural Research Station Trial and Demonstration Garden
8502 Mineral Point Road
Evening Walks – 2010
- Join Extension and UW Staff Experts for Evenings Walks
Evening programs will be devoted to the following: gardening diseases, insects, and weed problems, new ideas for gardening sustainably, review of new vegetable and flowers trialed in the garden.
All programs are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – free parking, a donation is requested for each walk. The garden is supported through donations and grants.
Brian Hudelson, Plant Disease Specialist, University of Wisconsin, Extension – Tuesday, July 27, 6:00 – 7:30 – Vegetable, Annual and Perennial Flowers, and Fruit Disease Identification – Hands-on in the Garden
Judith Reith-Rozelle, Assistant Superintendent, University of Wisconsin, West Madison Research Station, Wednesday, August 4, 6:00 – 7:30. Vegetable Cultivars: New and Heirlooms – How to grow, Harvest, and Store.
Bob Tomesh, – University of Wisconsin, Extension , Tuesday, August 10, 6:00 – 7:30 – Fruit Walk – Grapes, Raspberries, Blueberries, Apples, Strawberries, and All Those Little Unknown Fruits
David Drake, Extension Wildlife Specialist – DATE AND TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED, August p.m. – Urban Wildlife – A Walk with the Wildlife at West Madison Research Station
West Madison Garden Staff, - Tuesday, August 24, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.– Solar Drying – Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers
Field Days
Commercial Flower Growers Field Day – August 5
Urban Horticulture Day – August 21, 10:00 to 3:00
Harvest Festival – To be announced
Web Site: http://www.cals.wisc.edu/westmad/garden/
