Washington Gardener Enews April 2011 by Kathy J

APRIL 2011 Welcome to the Washington Gardener Enewsletter!

This enewsletter is the free sister publication of Washington Gardener Magazine. Both the print magazine and online enewsletter share the same mission and focus — helping DC-MD-VA region gardens grow — but our content is different. In this monthly enewsletter, we address timely seasonal topics and projects; post local garden events; and, a monthly list of what you can be doing now in your garden. We encourage you to subscribe to Washington Gardener Magazine as well for indepth articles, inspirational photos, and great garden resources for the Washington DC area gardener. Without your support, we cannot continue publishing this enewsletter nor Washington Gardener Magazine! Our magazine subscription information is on page 9 of this enewsletter. If you know of any other gardeners in the greater Washington, DC-area, please forward this issue to them so that they can subscribe to this free enewsletter as well using the form on page 9 of this enewsletter to subscribe to our print magazine. You can also connect with Washington Gardener online at: • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/washingtongardenermagazine • Washington Gardener Web Site: www.washingtongardener.com Sincerely, Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener Magazine

Reader Contest

For our April 2011 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away passes to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens’ “Stickwork” Sculpture show by world-famous artist Patrick Dougherty. From May 2 - 22, watch as artist-in-residence Patrick Dougherty builds a large-scale, temporary sculpture of woven sticks and saplings in the Anderson Meadow at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, VA. They are calling the process “Meadowmorphosis.” Dougherty arrives at the site of each new installation with no preconceptions as to what he will create. Using locally gathered natural materials and drawing on inspiration from the surrounding environment, he designs larger-than-life sculptures. To enter to win one of two sets of four passes (valued at $40), send an email to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on April 30 with “Stickwork” in the subject line and tell us: What is the best smelling plant growing in your garden right now? In the body of the email, please also include your full name and mailing address. The winner will be announced and notified by May 2.

Current Issue

Our Spring 2011 magazine issue is now printed, out, mailed, and in area book stores such as the USNA Arbor House. To subscribe today and start with this issue, see page 9 of the enewsletter. The cover story is on Cutting-edge Garden Design. We explore what garden trend are on the horizon and what factors are impacting those changes. The cover photo is the Grand Prize winner of our annual Garden Photo contest. Inside, you’ll find the other 16 winners and information on the photographers. From beginning amateur to accomplished professional, all levels were represented in this fine grouping. You’ll also find in this issue: • A DayTrip to Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC • Bleeding Hearts • Final Frost Dates and Just WHEN to Plant in Our Area • 10 Top Tips for Growing Great Onions • Native Cutleaf Toothwort • DC Design House Before-and-After • Battling Asparagus Pests • Weeding Out Field Pennycress • Spring Bulb Care Tips • A Profile of the local Landscape Designers Group • 10 Top Plant Picks for 2011 • An Interview with Red Wiggler Farm’s Woody Woodruff and much, much more... To subscribe, see the page 9 of this newsletter for a form to mail in or go to www.washingtongardener.com/index_ files/subscribe.htm and use our PayPal credit card link.

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Video Wednesday: Smell-O-Vision - Carolina Jasmine • April Showers Falling into My Rain Barrel • Readers Tell Us Their Favorite Early Spring Blooming Plants • Battling a Pesky Foe: The Weed Warriors • Video Wednesday: My Jazzy Springtime Garden See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

Spotlight Special New Primrose Variety Recently Bestowed to First Lady Heronswood Nursery (www.heronswood. com) is offering the new ‘Drumcliff’ primrose, which is part of the new Kennedy Irish Primrose collection bred in Ireland. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and his wife, Mrs. Fionnuala Kenny, presented this unique primrose variety to first lady Michelle Obama during a St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House in Washington, DC. The primrose gift to the first lady marks the first time these plants have been seen in full flower in the United States. The primroses were propagated in County Wexford, Ireland, and grown to flowering size in County Kilkenny, Ireland via one of Ireland’s most respected nurseries, FitzGerald Nurseries (www.fitzgerald-nurseries.com). Kennedy Irish Primroses marry together the old-fashioned beauty of the primrose with distinctive dark foliage, making this a truly unique breeding. The collection was launched this January, coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the inauguration of John F. Kennedy as President of the United States of America. ‘Drumcliff’ is named after the final resting place of famous Irish poet W.B. Yeats. The second variety released in 2011 is named ‘Innisfree,’ after the Yeats poem, “Lake Isle of Innisfree.” Further varieties will be released over the coming years. Plants are now available to the public in Ireland and the United States.

Plant Facts:

Zone: 5 - 8 Height: 5" Spread: 5" Class: Perennial Soil Type: Well-drained, humus rich moist soil Siting: Partial Shade 2

April Garden To-Do List

Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for April 16-May 15. Your additions to this list are most welcome: If you started seeds last month, thin them and start the hardening off process. • Start some more seeds -- especially try flowering annuals like impatiens, marigolds, nasturtium, and petunias. •Do not set out seedlings or tender annuals until after Mother’s Day (traditional last frost-free date for our entire area). • Water shrubs and trees deeply during any dry spells. • Prune winter damage on evergreens. • Make compost tea and use on seedlings. • Turn your compost pile • Sharpen tools. • Prune flowering shrubs, such as forsythia, lilacs, and azaleas, when they finish blooming. • Repot and fertilize houseplants. • Set aside a few hours each weekend for attending garden shows and tours. • Weed by hand to avoid disturbing newly forming roots. • Soil preparation -- add lime, compost, etc. as needed. • Walk your garden -- look for early signs of fungal disease. • Divide perennials and herbs. Pot up extras to give away at plant swaps. • Fertilize new growth. • Plant and prune roses. • Transplants small trees and shrubs. • Buy or check on your stored summer bulbs (such as dahlias and caladiums). Pot them and start to water, if you want to give them an early start on the season. • Build a raised bed for vegetables. Add lots of manure and compost. • Buy an indoor plant to liven up your office space. Try an orchid or African violet. • Start/keep fertilizing your indoor plants. • Cut back and clear out the last of your perennial beds and ornamental grasses. • Mulch beds with a light hand. • Feed birds and provide nesting materials (try dryer lint) as well as houses for the start of their family season. • Sow beans and corn directly outdoors. • Start carrots, turnips, and parsnips in well-draining beds or in deep containers. • Keep cutworms off newly planted edible seedlings by surrounding them with a collar cut from a plastic bottle or cardboard tube. • Pick peas often to encourage the plants to produce more. • Ensure new seedlings do not dry out by installing a drip-irrigation system. • Start herbs from seed or cuttings. • Edge garden beds. • Remove Ivy, Pachysandra, and other vine-like groundcover from under shrubs. • Work in dry, not wet soil to avoid compacting the earth. • Hand pick cabbage worms from broccoli and other cabbage family plants. • Put row covers over vulnerable crops — remove cover to allow for pollinating once they set flowers. • Thin lettuce seedlings and plant more seeds in new rows. (You can eat the seedling greens you pull.) • Plant a tree for Arbor Day or Earth Day.

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 

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                      

                    

UT!   ~ Thursday, April 21    LD O SO           ~ Saturday, July 16

             ~ Wednesday, September 21

     

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  ~ Thursday, December 15

                                      

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                                                                                                                                                         

         

     

  

     

    

    

            

  

            

                                                                             

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                       

TO REGISTER TODAY for one or more of the tours:

Go online at www.shop.behnkes.com.    Click on Behnke Garden Tours Bus Trips.     fee to  There is a $3.00/person handling pay     online.     OR mail a registration form to: Garden Tours, 8000 N. Park St., Dunn Loring, VA  22027     Please make check payable to  Cheval’s 2nd Act.      

DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ April 16 - May 15, 2011 Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Avenue Wheaton, MD 20902 301.962.1400 www.brooksidegardens.org

• Thursday, April 28, 6:30-9:00pm A SPECIAL EVENING WITH ROSALIND CREASY An Event to Benefit Brookside Gardens and Montgomery Parks Community Gardens. Brookside Gardens is pleased to welcome Rosalind Creasy, internationally recognized garden and food writer, photographer and landscape designer with a passion for beautiful vegetables and ecologically sensitive gardening. During Rosalind’s mouth-watering presentation, she will cover an A to Z list of her recommended beautiful edible plants for home gardens and present principles of landscape design particular to edibles. The revised edition of Rosalind’s book, Edible Landscaping: Now You Can Have Your Gorgeous Garden and Eat It Too! will be for sale in the gift shop. Join Rosalind after her lecture for a book signing and a reception featuring locally produced refreshments. Fee: $35 / FOBG: $30 Event number 132906 registration required), Register at ParkPASS.org. • Saturday, May 7, 9:00am-1:00pm SILVER SPRING GARDEN CLUB’S 61ST ANNUAL GARDEN MART On the Brookside Gardens Visitor’s Center Grounds. Rain or Shine. $1 Raffle. Perennials, Herbs, Native Plants, Azaleas, Shrubs, Annuals, Heirloom Tomatoes, House Plants, Bedding Plants, Vegetables, and MUCH, Much more. Come early for best selection.

Casey Trees

3030 12th Street NE Washington, DC 20017 202.833.4010 www.caseytrees.org • Saturday, April 30, 12:00noon-5:00pm OPEN HOUSE TO CELEBRATE OPENING OF HEADQUARTERS, ARBOR DAY The Casey Trees Open House will feature family-friendly activities, program spotlights and demonstrations, building tours and neighborhood tree walks. Attendees can come and go as they wish, view exhibits, participate in presentations, talk directly with Casey Trees staff and volunteers and provide comment. Scheduled activities include: Building Tours; Presentations; and Tree Walks: Youth offerings include tree-themed arts and crafts, face painting and a moon bounce. Door prizes will be given out to attendees throughout the afternoon and slow release watering bags and trunk guards will be available free of charge 4

while supplies last. Light refreshments will be served. Casey Trees is a 10-minute walk from the Brookland-CUA Metrorail station and is accessible by the D8 and H8/9 Metrobus routes. Complimentary street parking and bike valet will be available. Advance registration is encouraged at www.ct.convio.net/calendar.

DC State Fair

www.thedcstatefair.org • Saturday May 14, 10:00am-12:00noon SEEDLING SWAP Location: 14th Street NW and Park Road NW (one block north of Columbia Heights metro at the Columbia Heights Community Marketplace) DC State Fair will be hosting a seedling swap of vegetables and herbs for area gardeners. Please start extra seed to share with your neighbors and bring them on down to Columbia Heights on May 14. Get new varieties, share tips with new and experienced growers, and learn a little more about DC State Fair. If you don’t have seedlings to share, come by anyway, we’ll have extras to get you started on your DC State Fair entries for this fall. Free! Please come promptly at 10 AM with your seedlings to ensure everyone is able to share information about the plants and see what’s available during the swap. Please visit dcstatefair.wordpress. com/2011/03/08/swapping-seedlings for more information or email kenneth@thedcstatefair.org.

Green Spring Gardens 4603 Green Spring Road Alexandria, Virginia 22312 703.642.5173 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/

• Saturday, April 23, 9:30am COMPOSING COLORFUL CONTAINERS Containers are all the rage….and they aren’t just your grandmother’s geraniums anymore! Master Gardeners will show you how to combine tender perennials and annuals to make a splash on your front porch or patio. • Saturday, May 7, 9:30am EDIBLES & ORNAMENTALS-MIX IT UP! Think you don’t have enough space for an edible garden? Master Gardeners help you discover the basics of incorporating edibles into the ornamental landscape so you can enjoy the beauty and benefit of having fresh fruits and vegetables outside your door. • Saturday, May 7, 2:00pm FAMILY FUN: BUILD A BEAN TEEPEE Family-friendly workshop for 5 and up; children must be accompanied by paying registered adult. No beans about it: May

is time for fun in the garden! Let us show you how to build a bamboo teepee for pole beans to climb on … and for you to climb in! We’ll share our favorite bean varieties with you and show you how to grow them on this fun garden structure. Project kit available for $6-use program code 290 289 4502. • Saturday, May 14, 9:00am-3:00pm SPRING GARDEN DAY More than 40 vendors of rare and unusual plants descend on Green Spring Gardens to fill your spring gardening needs! FROGS receive 10% off plants in the Garden Gate Plant Shop. Don’t miss this exciting annual tradition.

Historic Garden Week in Virginia www.vagardenweek.org

• April 16-23 HOUSE AND GARDEN TOURS From colonial plantations to 21st century villas, Historic Garden Week in Virginia offers “something for everyone.” The owners of more than 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful private homes, gardens and historic landmarks will open their front doors and garden gates for public tours to benefit historic restoration. Properties showcased on the tours span four centuries of American architecture, history and landscape design. Known as “America’s Largest Open House,” the program is the oldest and largest statewide tour event of its kind in the nation. Three dozen outstanding tours are sponsored by member clubs of Garden Club of Virginia. Proceeds benefit the restoration of historic gardens and landscapes throughout the Commonwealth. Many of the private houses and gardens are open to the public for the first time. All periods of Virginia history are reflected in the styles of homes and landscapes featured, including the Colonial era, American Revolution, Civil War, Victorian period. and recent decades.

Talbot Partnership Easton, MD 410.819.8067 www.talbotpartnership.org

• Saturday, May 7, 7:00am-2:00pm 2ND ANNUAL FLOWER AND FLEA MARKET FESTIVAL Held at the Elks Lodge on Dutchman’s Lane in Easton, MD. Participants will enjoy purchasing gifts for Mother’s Day, including fresh cut and potted flowers and plants, as well as browsing for flea market finds, such as artwork, furniture, clothing, and bakery items. A Chinese auction will also be held. Fun for the family includes an assortment of lunchtime treats, kids

DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ April 16 - May 15, 2011 rides and games, and music. Also included will be a raffle for an Xbox and Kinect, sponsored by the Michael Marcel Memorial Fund.

Tudor Place Historic House and Garden 1644 31st Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 202.965.0400 www.tudorplace.org

• Friday, April 29, 11:00am-2:00pm ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION IN THE CITY OF TREES City of Trees author Melanie ChoukasBradley will give a slide presentation highlighting the historic and botanically diverse trees of our city. She will discuss the involvement of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other leaders in creating a “city of trees”. Lunch and tour of Tudor Place’s “witness” trees follows the lecture.

United States Botanic Garden Conservatory 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 202.225.8333 www.usbg.gov

• Saturday, April 23, 11:00am-12:00noon ARBOR DAY TOUR OF THE NATIONAL GARDEN led by Beth Burrous, USBG Volunteer The first celebration of Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872. In 1970, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April National Arbor Day. This year, the USBG will celebrate Arbor Day with a stroll through the National Garden to see trees and shrubs of the Mid-Atlantic region. Hear related folktales and stories. Please note: This tour is held outdoors. We suggest wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and bringing water. The tour is canceled if it rains. Location: National Garden Amphitheater. FREE: No Pre-registration required • Friday, April 29, 12:00noon-1:00pm COOKING DEMONSTRATION: MEET THE BRASSICA FAMILY Danielle C. Navidi, Cooking Instructor/ Holistic Nutritionist The Brassica family includes some of the healthiest vegetables on the planet. Enjoy recipes incorporating some of its most prominent members, including broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Learn a new way to use Brussels sprouts as a “gratin,” how to create an Indian-style cauliflower and what to do to make healthy sautéed kale and cabbage. Location: National Garden Lawn Terrace FREE: Pre-registration required, visit www. usbg.gov or call (202) 225-1116

• Thursday, May 5, 11:30am-12:30pm FESTIVAL: 6TH ANNUAL HERB DAY! Spend the day in the Conservatory celebrating herbs. Discover the significance of herbs in our lives and the many ways herbs can be used safely and creatively for health, beauty and culinary enjoyment. Enjoy demonstrations, tours, children’s activities, discussions, and information tables. You won’t want to miss this amazing opportunity to learn more about herbs! Friends: $5; Non-members: $10 Pre-registration required, visit www.usbg. gov or call (202) 225-1116.

State Arboretum at UVA’s Historic Blandy Experimental Farm 400 Blandy Farm Lane Boyce, VA 22620 540.837.1758 www.virginia.edu/blandy

• Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8, 9:00am4:30pm Close to 100 vendors come from 7 states with unusual plants and upscale garden décor for home and garden. FREE children’s activities. Admission: $10 per car. Rain or shine.

US National Arboretum 3501 New York Avenue, NE Washington, D. C. 20002-1958 202.245.2726 www.usna.usda.gov

• Saturday, April 23, 10:00AM-12:00NOON TREE WALK: ORNAMENTAL TREES Shawn Walker, Urban Forestry Instructor, Casey Trees There’s more to blooming Washington than cherry trees. Take a walk through the National Arboretum’s dogwood, magnolia and Asian tree collections to see what other flowering options are offered. In addition to blooms, other ornamental features such as unique form and bark will be emphasized. Key identifying features and usability in home landscapes will be discussed. The walk will cover a moderate distance over uneven terrain. Meet at the Dogwood Collection parking lot. FREE • Friday, April 29, 1:00-4:00 pm, and Saturday, April 30, 9:00am-4:00 pm FONA GARDEN FAIR AND PLANT SALE Most of the plants on offer from FONA will not be found at area nurseries and garden centers. Several of the best wholesale growers around the country are providing us with rare and hard to find selections, some of which they are donating in order to support the Arboretum. Independent vendors include specialty retail nurseries offering hard-to-find hellebores and conifers. The fair coincides with the Arboretum’s spectacular display of more than

10,000 azaleas making it a wonderful full-day event for families, plant lovers and visitors alike. FREE • Saturday, May 14, 9:00-11:00AM TREE WALK: SHADE TREES OF DC Shawn Walker, Urban Forestry Instructor, Casey Trees Get to know some of the key representatives of DC’s urban forest population. We will focus on larger trees we find in our parks, streets and home landscapes. Participants will learn basic identification skills. Emphasis will be on the outstanding characteristics that give these trees aesthetic appeal and make them suited for the urban landscaped environment. The walk will cover a moderate distance over uneven terrain. FREE

WASHINGTON GARDENER DAY at MEADOWLARK • Saturday, April 23 SPRING MORNING OPEN GARDEN AND PHOTO WORKSHOP One of our multiple garden photo contest winners, William B Folsom, has offered to host Washington Gardener Magazine readers at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA, for a special early spring morning exploration. On Saturday, April 23, meet at 8 AM at the entrance gates to be let in early to explore the collections on your own. There is a $5 garden visit fee (or purchase an annual pass), please pay at the Visitor Center as you exit. Garden address: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court Vienna, Virginia 22182 www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_botanical_gardens ALSO, at 10AM to 12Noon William is offering a photography class (limit of 10 people) at $50 per person on Flower and Garden Photography. For either the early morning garden visit or the garden photography class, you Must RSVP to: William B. Folsom Photography, LLC. Cell: 571-213-8696 Email: wbfolsom@verizon.net

Event Listing Notes

To submit an event for this listing, please contact: Wgardenermag@aol.com and put “Event” in the email subject head. Our next deadline is May 12 for the May 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events taking place from May 16-June 15.

When to Prune Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs by Kathy Jentz I don’t think there is any gardening question I get more often than: “When can I prune plant X?” What many gardeners do not understand is that pruning encourages growth. When you cut a plant back, you are signaling to it that it is damaged or harmed in some way and regeneration is now needed. Think of the primeval forest, a deer comes along and breaks off yummy branches to eat. For the shrub or tree to survive, it needs to concentrate its energy on re-growing what was broken off. That energy is taken away from developing flowers, fruits, or root systems. Before making any cuts, ask yourself: do you want to encourage branch growth? And, at what cost? So the million dollar question should not be WHEN to prune, but WHY prune. Prune out what is dead, damaged, or diseased, but leave the healthy growth intact. If the plant is not impeding a path or blocking a window, leave it alone. If a shrub or tree is continually growing out-of-bounds and you are pruning it constantly, consider that it is planted in the wrong place. Move it or remove it entirely from your garden. Then replace it with a plant that will naturally mature to within the space parameters you desire. If you are pruning to rejuvenate a shrub, tree, or perennial, most of the time the answer to WHEN to do so is when the plant is dormant or just about to break out of dormancy. So for the majority of growing things in your garden that is late winter. This includes roses, fruit trees, perennials, etc. For spring-blooming plants, the answer is to wait until the bloom cycle is finished. This is become in late winter they have already developed the flower buds that you will want to enjoy in spring. Pruning them along with all your summer bloomers will bring disappointment and a missed bloom period. The following plants can be pruned shortly after blooming this season: • Azalea (Rhododendron species) • Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) • Bridal Wreath Spirea (Spirea x vanhouttei) • Deutzia (Deutzia gracilis) • Dogwood (Cornus) • Filbert (Corylus) • Flowering Crabapple (Malus species and cultivars) • Fringetree (Chionanthus) • Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) • Hawthorn (Crataegus species and cultivars) • Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) • Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) • Magnolia (Magnolia species and cultivars) • Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius) • Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) • Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) • Redbud (Cercis) • Rhododendron (Rhododendron species) • Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora) • Vibernum (Vibernum) • Weigela (Weigela florida)

 DAN THE GARDENER

danthegardener@msn.com or cell: 443-531-7897 Free estimates – Patios, walls, walkways, ponds and fountains. One Hour Winter Garden Consultations Available We are now signing 2011 maintenance contracts and offering huge savings on winter landscape construction projects. Senior Citizen, Military & Police Discounts!!!!!! Our services offered are customized plans for your individual gardens, providing just those services you require: •

Bi-Monthly to monthly weeding visits

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Perennial maintenance – division, dead-heading, placement

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Custom landscape design services, what to plant, where to plant, winter interest

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Bay friendly landscapes, natives, rain gardens and organic alternatives

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Watering services when on vacation

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Expert pruning – Rejuvenation, shaping, thinning

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Unique mulching alternatives using recycled leaf & wood mulches, pine fines & pine needles

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Garden coaching and training available

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Traditional maintenance services are available - Monthly and Seasonal All phases of Landscape Design, Installation and Maintenance New Plantings, Patios, Ponds, Fountains and Walls Many Industry and Trade Partners Landscapers, Stone Masons, Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers Email and make an appointment with Dan Edwards today!

Dan Edwards, Former Licensed Tree Expert – Dept of Natural Resources – Former MHIC Licensed Contactor (Circa 1996) - Passed written Certified Professional Horticulturalist test & attending CCBC Dundalk Campus for an Associates in Horticulture - Many local MD references. 25+ years experience in the Landscape / Horticultural industry WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2011 Washington Gardener Magazine All rights reserved.

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WASHINGTON GARDENER, 826 PHILADELPHIA AVE., SILVER SPRING, MD 20910

MARCH/APRIL 2005 • Landscape DIY vs. Pro • Prevent Gardener’s Back • Ladew Topiary Gardens • Cherry Trees MAY/JUNE 2005 • Stunning Plant Combinations • Turning Clay into Rich Soil • Wild Garlic • Wisteria • Strawberries JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Water Gardens • Poison Ivy • Disguising a Sloping Yard • Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens • Edible Water Plants • Water Lilies SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 • Container Gardens • Clematis Vines • Make Herbs & Vinegars • Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens • 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 • Backyard Bird Habitats • Hellebores • Building a Coldframe • Gardening as Exercise • Bulb Planting Basics JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 • Garden Decor Principles • Primroses • Tasty Heirloom Veggies • U.S. Botanic Garden MARCH/APRIL 2006 • Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs • Azaleas • Figs, Berries, & Persimmons • Oak Diseases • Basic Pruning Principles MAY/JUNE 2006 • Using Native Plants in Your Landscape • Crabgrass • Peppers • Secret Sources for Free Plants • Alternatives to Invasives JULY/AUGUST 2006 • Hydrangeas • Theme Gardens • Agave • Find Garden Space by Growing Up SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 • Shade Gardening • Hosta Care Guide • Fig-growing Tips and Recipes • Oatlands Plantation • Native Woodland Plants NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 • Horticultural Careers • Juniper Care Guide • Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes • Weed-free Beds with Layer/Lasagna Gardening JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 • Indoor Gardening • Daphne Care Guide • Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes • Houseplant Propagation MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Stormwater Management • Dogwood Selection & Care Guide • Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips • Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens MAY/JUNE 2007 • Roses: Easy Care Tips • Native Roses & Heirloom Roses • Edible Flowers • How to Plant a Bare-root Rose JULY/AUGUST 2007 • Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass • How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head • A Trip to the William Paca House & Gardens • Hardy Geraniums SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 • Succulents: Hardy to our Region • Drought-tolerant Natives • Southern Vegetables • Seed Saving Savvy Tips NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • Gardening with Children • Kid-Friendly Vegetables

• Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • National Museum of the American Indian • Versatile Viburnums JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 • Dealing with Deer • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • Delightful Daffodils MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, and Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heucheras) • Brookside’s Phil Normandy • Japanese-style Garden MAY/JUNE 2008 — ALMOST SOLD OUT! • Growing Great Tomatoes • Glamorous Gladiolus • Seed Starting Basics • Flavorful Fruiting Natives • Build a Better Tomato Cage • Restored Gardener’s House at Mount Vernon JULY/AUGUST 2008 • Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses • Edible Grasses to Graze On • Slug and Snail Control • Sage Advice: Sun-loving Salvias • Richmond’s Treasure — Maymont’s Gardens SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 • Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now • Ladybug Lore • Beguiling Barrenworts (Epimediums) • The Best Time to Plant Spring-blooming Bulbs • 14 Dry Shade Plants Too Good to Overlook NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 • Outdoor Lighting Essentials • How to Prune Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, and Vines • 5 Top Tips for Overwintering Tender Bulbs • Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick • A Daytrip to Tudor Place JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 • Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer • Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden • Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum • Grow Winter Hazel for Gorgeous Winter Color MARCH/APRIL 2009 • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden Tips • Spring Edibles Planting Guide for the Mid-Atlantic • Testing Your Soil for a Fresh Start • Redbud Tree Selection and Care • Best Local Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells MAY/JUNE 2009 • Top 12+ Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat • Salad Table Project • Grow and Enjoy Eggplant • How to Chuck a Woodchuck from Your Garden SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • What’s Bugging Your Tomatoes • Growing Hops FALL 2009 • Apples • How To Save Tomato Seeds • Persimmons WINTER 2009 • Battling Garden Thugs • How to Start Seeds Indoors • Red Twig Dogwoods • Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region • Visit to Riversdale House SPRING 2010 • Community Gardens • Building a Raised Bed • Dwarf Iris • Broccoli SUMMER 2010 • Fragrance Gardens • Watering Without Waste • Lavender • Potatoes FALL 2010 • Vines and Climbers • Battling Stink Bugs • Russian Sage • Garlic WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Baltimore’s Cylburn Arboretum • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi

Coming Soon!

Washington Gardener Magazine’s DayTrip columns compiled into one handy publication — available soon in both paper and e-book versions. Great gift idea!

In Our Next Issue... SUMMER 2011 Ornamental Edibles

Spring Garden Tour Wrap-Up An Inspirational Before & After

Amsonia: Perennial of the Year

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Magazine Excerpt: Final Frost Dates and WHEN to Plant by Kathy Jentz

The urge to plant strikes about the same time the days start to lengthen and brighten in late winter. But if gardening teaches us anything, it is to be patient. We must wait not only until the air temperatures are well above freezing, but also until the ground has had a chance to warm up. Supermarkets and hardware stores all over the region are already setting out impatiens, petunias, and marigolds, tempting the home gardener to buy early. If you take their lure, you’ll most likely need to buy again after these early offerings succumb to frosts. Often, they are already quite damaged before you purchase them as they sit in open parking-lot trays during nightly freezes. The latest below-freezing date in our area was recorded at 30 degrees on April 29, 1874. As we’ve witnessed these past few years, March and April can be very cruel months. Giving us a few days of sunny warmth, then turning damp and cold again overnight. Frosts can and do occur well into May. Soil Temperature is Key. Once the air temps warm up, keep in mind that, just because the days are no longer frigid, it does not mean the soil is ready to receive your tender young transplants. It takes several days of consistent warmth and sunshine to heat up the earth. Mother’s Day is the traditionally recognized date for the start of spring planting in the greater DC-area. If you want to wait a week or two after that date, there is no harm done. In fact, tomatoes, herbs, etc. need consistently warm soils to survive and thrive, so it’s better to be later in your plantings than early. The Bare-Bottom Test. “Sow warm-weather annuals when you can sit on the soil with your bare bottom comfortably.” In other words, when the soil (not outdoor air temperature) is warm enough. That is according to Janet Draper, Smithsonian horticulturist in charge of the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden on the National Mall. She direct-sows many old-fashioned annuals such as ... Want to learn more about our local frost-free dates and when to plant? Read the rest of this GardenBasics column in the Spring 2011 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine.

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