Released Jan. 17, 2008
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Although New Year´s Day is past and spring is months away, gardeners can make and keep resolutions now that could have a big impact on the 2008 growing season.
Ward Upham, Master Gardener coordinator for Kansas State University Research and Extension, suggested the following as good possibilities:
1. Indoors now or outdoors later, I will grow a plant from seed - preferably a vegetable.
2. I will test my soils before spring, so I´ll know the nutrients or other amendments they need to support healthy plant growth. If I don´t know how to sample soil, I´ll ask at my county or district Extension office. (Extension agents also can forward samples for testing and explain test results.)
3. I´ll do fruit trees´ needed pruning early enough that I´ll still have time for dormant sprays.
4. Because many evergreen diseases require treatment in late winter or spring, I´ll check my evergreens soon for dead or discolored needles. I´ll compare any I find to the disease photos on the Web at http://www.hfrr.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=586, or I´ll take samples to my Extension office.
5. I´ll clean up all of last year´s remaining garden debris and thus the diseases it may harbor. I will include removing any green- looking, but leftover iris leaves before this year´s new iris leaves appear.
6. Skipping the spring bloomers until they´ve flowered, I will finish any necessary tree and shrub pruning before bud break. I´ll try to appreciate natural shapes and prune only for plant health or strength.
7. I will compost all current and future landscape debris except for woody limbs, dandelion roots, poison ivy and the like. Or, I will save it to plow into my vegetable garden next fall. If this requires my setting up or cleaning out a compost bin or storage place, I´ll do that before spring, too.
8. I´ll be ready to fertilize spring-flowering bulbs at the best time - just as their foliage emerges.
9. I´ll look at catalogs and may drool. I´ll plan and perhaps choose an annual-plant color scheme. Before placing a mail order, however, I´ll wait to see if the plants I want will also be available locally.
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http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/news/
Contact: Mary Lou Peter-Blecha, mlpeter@ksu.edu
