The Gateway Gardener October 2012

Gateway Gardener

October 2012

THE

速

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

The New Evergreens

No More Boring Foundation Plantings!

Fabulous Fall Container Ideas Pumpkin Patches and Fall Family Fun Festive Flint Corn for Fall FREE Courtesy of:

Mark your calendars now!

Presented by Forrest Keeling Nursery in cooperation with Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri

Taste fresh roasted chestnuts and other delicious foods of the fall harvest.

Sample Jina Yoo’s flavorful Asian cuisine See arts and crafts of the Great River Road region Fun activities for the kids....of all ages!

Enjoy a fun-filled day with free food, local vendors, demonstrations and entertainment! Learn more about

Forrest Keeling’s fast-growing RPM-produced trees, shrubs and plants, including selections of our popular Chinese Chestnut, which is fast becoming one of our most Inside Out, valuable nut trees.

KTRS–550AM, will be here for a live remote broadcast. They offer expert tips from gardening, landscaping to home improvement.

Go to www.forrestkeeling.com and www.centerforagroforestry.org.

88 Forrest Keeling Ln • Elsberry, MO 63343

(573) 898-5571

Gateway Gardener

From the Editor

THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

October 2012

Volume 8, Number 8

Publisher Joyce Bruno

Editor Robert Weaver Columnists

Barbara Perry Lawton General Gardening Connie Alwood Birding Ellen Barredo Houseplants and Tropicals Diane Brueckman Roses Joyce Driemeyer Herbs Cindy Gilberg Native Plant Gardening Mara Higdon Vegetables and Fruits Glenn Kraemer Turfgrass Steffie Littlefield Perennials & Design Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL The Gateway Gardener® is published monthly by Double Dig Communications, Inc. to promote enjoyable, successful gardening and livable landscapes in the St. Louis greater metropolitan area. The magazine is distributed free to the public at designated garden centers, nurseries, garden gift shops, lawn equipment rental, repair and sales establishments, and other locations supporting sound gardening, lawn and landscaping practices.

Please send letters-to-the-editor, questions, event announcements, editorial suggestions and contributions, photos, advertising inquiries and materials, and any other correspondence to: The Gateway Gardener Magazine® PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122 Phone: (314) 968-3740 Fax: (314) 968-4025

info@gatewaygardener.com www.gatewaygardener.com

The Gateway Gardener® is printed on recycled newsprint using environmentally friendly soy-based ink, and is a member of the PurePower® renewable energy resources network.

I

t’s becoming a recurring theme for my October message.

Last year I wrote about the hundreds of trees that were lost to the previous winter’s damaging windstorms. This fall I could repeat similarly depressing statistics, due this time to the severe drought and heat of the summer passed. From stately century-old oaks to the cumulative forest of arborvitae commonly used in our region to screen everything from utility boxes to neighbors, it seemed none was safe from the reaper.

As we consider replacements, it’s easy enough to plant another arborvitae, knowing that, in a matter of a few short years, it will reach its serviceable screening size and fulfill its intended purpose in the landscape. It takes a little more foresight, and perhaps selflessness, to replace the oak, which will only shade the home of a future generation.

But there are other more immediate paybacks that should encourage us to do so anyway, according to the book Noah’s Garden, by Sara Stein, which I’ve been rereading and which Cindy Gilberg addresses on page 8. Foremost among those,

smaller ornamentals and a few evergreens as well, all of which, if properly planted and cared for (see last month’s planting instructions) will be good drought-and-heat survivors.

especially if you’re a bird and butterfly/moth lover, is that native oaks—even little saplings newly planted—are excellent food sources for hundreds of varieties of caterpillars, which not only turn into those butterflies and moths, but are important protein sources themselves for young birds in the spring. How many caterpillars does the arborvitae host? Only the pesky bagworm, as far as I know.

So, consider planting an oak, or any of a number of other beautiful shade trees that also provide excellent fall color, even as youngsters. Bill Spradley has offered a short list on page 9 of natives, “nativar” cultivated native varieties and favored imported shade trees, as well as

On the Cover...

The heat and drought claimed a lot of evergreen victims this summer, including many of the old standby foundation yews.

Some say good riddance, and make way for a new generation of more colorful, more interesting evergreens, like this Nandina ‘Sienna Sunrise’. See more New Evergreens on page 6. (photo courtesy Monrovia, Inc.)

FEATURES 9 Trees for Hot/Dry Conditions 10 Pumpkin Patches and More 14 Fabulous Fall Container Ideas

Among other common victims this summer were the yews (Taxus spp.) over-abundantly used as foundation plantings in our region.

If you find yourself needing to replace some foundation evergreens, think outside the box(wood) and consider “The New Evergreens” recommended

by Steffie Littlefield on page 6.

Once all the planting is done, reward yourself and your family with a fun outing to one of the festive pumpkin farms featured in our 8th annual Pumpkin Patch Roundup on page 10. Take a hayride, get lost in a corn maze, and marvel once again at the bountiful harvest experienced farmers can coax from the fields in spite of the summer’s heat and drought! I wish I had their green thumbs!

Good Gardening!

IN THIS ISSUE 4 Garden Soil 6 The New Evergreen Shrubs 8 Noah’s Garden 12 The Cornucopia Corner 16 Make a Kokedama 18 Dig This 20 Ready the Roses for Cold 22 Upcoming Events

Garden Soil

by Barbara Perry Lawton

P

lant a dollar tree in a fifteen-dollar hole. So goes an old saying that rightly stresses the importance of good soil.

The fundamental roles that soil plays in our gardens are vital yet too often taken for granted.

Soil supports plant structures.

Soil holds root growth firmly and solidly, thus providing the necessary strength to hold up the often heavy above-ground growth. Soil texture that allows air, water and roots to move freely is an important quality for garden soils. Plant rootlets take up soluble mineral nutrients as well as air and water.

Soil pH, the measure of acidity and alkalinity, is another major factor of soil. The pH scale goes from 1.0 to 14.0. Neutral is 7.0.

Below 7.0 is acid and above 7.0 is alkaline. Some plants, including rhododendrons, azaleas and blueberries require an acid soil to thrive while others, including clematis and lilacs, need an alkaline soil for best growth. The great majority of our useful and ornamental garden plants are best suited for garden soils with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0.

holds soil moisture. Soils that are mainly clay, while they are usually loaded with nutrients, do not drain well and do not allow good circulation of air, water and soluble nutrients.

these problems yourself. Where the soil problems are of greater magnitude, you will want to call in professional help from your local independent garden center.

Soil tests are a valuable source In recent years scientific studies of information that will tell have discovered the great you what is needed to improve importance of insects, worms your soil. With new gardens, and microorganisms to garden soil tests should be mandatory soil. And coincidentally, more and even with older gardens, a reasons to use organic fertilizers periodic soil test will be of great The size of soil particles and natural controls instead of value. You can purchase home defines soil texture. Sandy soils manufactured fertilizers and soil test kits and do the analysis have comparatively large soil pesticides. yourself. particles while the other extreme is clay, which has very small Organic matter consists of dead Most people, those who are particles. Either extreme is not plant and animal materials. not scientifically oriented, will what makes most plants thrive. Well-rotted organic matter will find it easier and offer better Ideal soils may be described as improve all home gardening information by having the soil sandy loam with ample organic soils. You can build your own test done professionally. This matter. Good soil texture such organic soil additive by building will probably cost anywhere as sandy loam is crumbly and and tending a good compost from $10 to about $30. pile. The twigs, grass, leaves and Your favorite independent other detritus of the garden plus local nursery may be able to vegetable and fruit scraps from provide soil-testing services. the kitchen will break down into The University of Missouri humus, a superior organic soil Horticultural Extension will additive, which will encourage test soils. So will the Missouri soil life as it fertilizes.

Botanical Garden—get the kits and directions at the reception If your garden is noted for its desk of the Kemper Center. vigorous healthy plants, lucky you! You may have inherited Experts recommend that, once a wonderful garden soil from you have established the original the previous owner. If, on the benchmark soil test, you should other hand, you have a new repeat the soil test every two to home with the topsoil scraped five years depending on how away or a new garden on an old serious the original problems property, I can guarantee that were. you have soil problems. You b. c. can probably manage many of

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Barbara Perry Lawton is a writer, author, speaker and photographer.

She has served as manager of publications for Missouri Botanical Garden and as weekly garden columnist for the Post-Dispatch. The author of a number of gardening and natural history books, and contributor to many periodicals, she has earned regional and national honors for her writing and photography. Barbara is also a Master Gardener and volunteers at MBG.

The Gateway Gardener™

OCTOBER 2012

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The Gateway Gardener™

5

by Steffie Littlefield

and spiky mugo pine or the silvery blue of a globe blue spruce.

This is a rare opportunity to make changes in the traditional landscape that will improve its appearance and the value of your property. Many old yews, junipers, spruces and even honeysuckles perished in the summer of 2012’s record-breaking heat and drought.

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to offer a variety of leaf color, interesting shapes or fragrant flowers. Now that there are open spaces in the landscape try to add more square footage to the outdoor activity areas and fill in where a screen is needed. Complement your house’s façade with smaller evergreen shrubs such as ‘Lemon Thread’ chamaecyparis or ‘Mr. Bowling Ball’ arborvitae in groups. Then hide the neighbor’s trash cans with medium to large broadleaf evergreens like bayberry or Allegheny viburnum.

Looking for something really different? Try something new, like the hardy gardenia ‘Crown Jewel’.

Loves shade, stays small and blooms all summer with gorgeous white blooms. Need a new look?

Discover the wonderful nandinas!

These are plants that look grassor bamboo-like, but keep their leaves all winter and do not spread across the whole neighborhood. I am fascinated by its foliage that hangs on into winter and as the weather gets cooler the leaves turn bright red. Contrast this shrub’s upright growth habit with a round

For the boxwood lovers there are lots of new shapes and even different color variegation in the leaves. ‘Green Tower’ boxwood has to be the most versatile shrub I’ve ever seen. It can be used as a columnar evergreen accent plant to highlight an architectural feature of a structure or in a group to form a taller narrow growing hedge. You can expect this plant to do well in sun or shade. The miniature leaves on ‘Green Borders’ Boxwood and its diminutive size are so sweet and soft looking, making it perfect for the smaller landscape. To brighten the partly shady garden, add a white variegated boxwood.

Nandina ‘Sienna Sunrise’ This refreshing and neat shrub has creamy white edges on its leaves as it grows to be a dense oval shape.

With so many wonderful plants to add into your garden you and I will hardly miss those old yews that didn’t survive the heat.

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Steffie Littlefield is a horticulturist and garden designer at Garden Heights Nursery. She has degrees from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and Southeast Missouri State and is a member of Gateway Professional Horticultural Association and past president of the Horticulture Co-op of Metropolitan St. Louis.

The Gateway Gardener™

OCTOBER 2012

Monrovia

his was the summer to change the St. Louis landscape as we’ve known it. I’m referring to those overgrown, large yews that swallowed small houses. Rejoice, many of these evergreen monsters turned yellow, gold and finally brown. Out with the old and in with the new!

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7

T

Noah’s Garden

by Cindy Gilberg

his year’s heat and drought comprise yet another reminder for us to reassess our approach to gardening and landscaping, our plant palette and our use of resources. Historically, aesthetics have been the predominant consideration in gardening— beautiful plants gracing our human landscapes.

We have emulated the great gardens and expansive lawns of Europe, using mostly nonnative plants in spaces they weren’t adapted to grow in while enforcing a ‘no insects allowed’ policy. This approach often requires altering the site as well as the use of more resources (water, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.). In addition, the function that plant combinations and choices serve in the landscape is often ignored. It is entirely possible to meld the two approaches to create beautiful AND functional landscapes.

Functional landscapes include habitat gardens, turf alternatives, sustainable turf practices, lower maintenance options, landscaping for stormwater management (rain gardens etc.), and edible landscaping.

may need to be replaced, and some may be mismatched with where they are planted. Follow the right plant-right place concept and compile plant lists that allow plants to thrive where they are planted without the need for excessive use of resources, i.e. soil amendments, water, fertilizer. Native plants that evolved here have seen these climatic extremes and are a natural (forgive the pun) choice of plants to incorporate into your landscape. Always keep in mind that native plants fit into all design styles, from naturalistic to formal.

Goldfinches feasting on cup plant seeds in the editor’s Petite Prairie native garden.

trying to create our own Garden of Eden, we have inadvertently excluded what we need most— nature. Stein points out in the first chapter, titled “Unbecoming a Gardener”, the conflict that often exists between ecology and horticulture— Sara Stein’s book Noah’s Garden (1993) between the interconnectedness of the natural predated Doug Tallamy’s book Bringing world and the quest for horticultural perfection.

Nature Home (2007) by over 10 years, yet the She, the gardener, chooses to recreate a more same conclusions were drawn as a result of ecologically balanced garden, one in harmony each author’s close observation of gardens and with nature, by incorporating more native plants landscapes. The message in both cases is that in and creating habitat. Her garden becomes more alive with not just plants, but birds, butterflies and other animals.

For More Information About Native Plants: Therein lies the beauty of native landscaping.

Missouri Department of Conservation Grow!Native program: www.grownative.org Missouri Botanical Garden Native Plant Garden, Classes and Plant Finder: www.mobot.org Shaw Nature Reserve Whitmire Wildflower Garden, Native Plant School and other special events: www.shawnature.org Wild Ones a non-profit organization with local chapters: www.for-wild.org

How do you start incorporating these concepts by adding native plants to your landscape? The first step is to assess how your landscape is doing. Plants that suffered this summer

Often our traditional landscapes have little regard for how plants interact with the natural world. The beauty created frequently offers little-to-no habitat value and is typically devoid of wildlife including butterflies, birds, and other creatures because the indigenous animals of our region did not evolve with a non-native plant palette. Designing for aesthetics while providing a functional habitat is a matter of considering a list of plant that offers food and shelter in all seasons. Choose native plants from each plant group—trees, small flowering trees and shrubs, perennials and grasses that bloom at different times. This structural and bloom-time diversity is what makes great habitat. Anytime you add native plants into your garden, you will be enhancing habitat.

To delve deeper into the concepts of a redesigning or enhancing a landscape with native plants, join the book discussion “Noah’s Garden—Restoring the Ecology of Our Backyards” at Shaw Nature Reserve on October 12th. Register online for this class through the Native Plant School at www.ShawNature.org.

The St. Louis Chapter of the Audubon Society also offers guidance on creating a more environmentally friendly landscape through their “Bring Conservation Home” program

(www.StLouisAudubon.org),

Cindy Gilberg, horticulturist and Missouri native, founded and ran the garden center at Gilberg Perennial Farms with her husband Doug for 28 years. She now focuses on garden design, consulting and teaching, and also works part-time in the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, emphasizing the use of native plants in home landscaping. You can reach her at cindy.gilberg@gmail. com.

The Whitmire Wildflower Garden is located at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO. Hours: 7 a.m. – dark. Visitor’s Center Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekends.

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The Gateway Gardener™

OCTOBER 2012

Trees for Hot/Dry Conditions

A

by Bill Spradley

fter the stressful summer of 2012, many of us lost beautiful, mature shade, ornamental and evergreen trees in our landscapes. The good news is now is a great time to replace them! When doing so, consider natives that have evolved in our soils and climate extremes, or their close cousin “Nativars”. These are special native selections or cultivated varieties that have hardier than usual or more special features such as enhanced flowers, leaf color/texture, climate hardiness, moisture/drought tolerance, etc.

Even some non-natives can stand up to the heat and drought. We have found some northern hardy selections of southern plant types doing well as St. Louis is changing to a cold hardiness of 6b rating. Plants such as Southern Magnolia, Crape Myrtle and Holly types. Below is a list of shade trees, ornamentals and evergreens we have seen doing well in local nursery growing fields and in the landscape. Remember the Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is now.”

Shade Trees Acer saccharum ‘Caddo’ (Sugar Maple) Acer miyabei ‘State Street’ (Miyabei Maple) Native: Carya illinoensis (Pecan) Native: Catalpa bignonioides (Southern Catalpa) Native: Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry) Native: Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky Coffee Tree) Nativar: Gymnocladus dioicus ‘Espresso’ (seedless Kentucky Coffee Tree) Nativar: Maclura pomifera ‘White Shield’ (Osage Orange) Nativar: Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’ (Blackgum) Native: Quercus muehlenbergii (Chinkapin Oak) Native: Quercus stellata (Post Oak) Native: Quercus pagoda (Cherrybark Oak) Quercus x Triple Crown (cross of English Chinkapin and Swamp White) Nativar: Ulmus americana (Chinese Elm or Lacebark Elm cultivars) Nativar: Ulmus parvifolia ‘Princeton’ Ornamental Trees Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple) Acer truncatum (Shangtung Maple) Cercis canadensis var. texensis (Oklahoma Redbud) Cercis canadensis var. texensis (Weeping ‘Traveller Redbud) Cercis canadensis var. texensis (‘Merlot’ Redbud) Chinonanthis retusus (Chinese Fringe tree ‘China Snow’) Chinonanthis retusus (Chinese Fringe tree ‘Tokyo Towers’)

Native: Cotinus obovatus (American Smoke Tree) Native: Crataegus viridis (Green Hawthorn) Crataegus ambigua (Russian Hawthorn) Lagerstroemia x ‘Dynamite’ (‘Dynamite’ Crape Myrtle) Magnolia grandiflora ‘Brackens Brown Beauty’ (Southern Magnolia) Magnolia grandiflora ‘Edith Bogue’ Magnolia virginiana ‘Moonglow’ (Sweetbay Magnolia ‘Moonglow’) Malus x ‘Royal Raindrops’ (Royal Raindrops Crabapple) Native: Rhus copallina (Winged Sumac) Native: Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw Viburnum) Native: Viburnum rufidulum (Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum) Evergreen Trees Cedrus deodara ‘Karl Fuchs (Deodora Cedar) Cryptomeria japonica ‘Radicans’ (Japenese Cedar) Native: Ilex opaca (American Holly and Nativars) Native: Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar) Nativars: Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Bill Spradley is Red Cedar Cultivars):‘Taylor’, owner of Trees, ‘Canaerti’, Burkii Forests, and Landscapes Native: Pinus echinata (Shortleaf Pine) in Kirkwood, Pinus ayacahuite (Mexican White Pine) MO, Visit Pinus taedla (Loblolly Pine) TreesForestsAndLandscapes.

Pinus wallichiana (Himalayan Pine) com.

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OCTOBER 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

9

Spooky Good Fun on the Farms Pumpkin Patches and More!

Sure you can go to the grocery store and buy a pumpkin, but where’s the fun in that?! Come on! The air is brisk, the trees are decked out in fall glory. Grab the kids and head out to your favorite pumpkin patch! There, the whole clan can wander through a corn maze, enjoy hayrides, and take part in the fall festival atmosphere—oh, and while you’re out there, don’t forget your fresh-picked or pick-em-yourself pumpkins, gourds and other seasonal decorations fresh from the fields!

Aholt Farms Seasons of Fun Augusta, MO

There’s a lot of fall fun planned at Aholt Farms Seasons of Fun. Great place to bring the kids. Check out our corn maze, corn cannon, straw slide, barrel ride, hayrides, haunted house (for the younger visitors—not too scary), face painting and pumpkin painting. There will be lots of food and entertainment. Reserve your evening hayride along with fire pit area for roasting hotdogs and marshmallows. Check our website for information. Hope to see you this fall!

Where: 6133 Augusta Bottom Rd. When: Sept. 15th-Oct. 31st, Sat. and Sun. 10-5, M-F 10-4 Cost: Child (ages 2-12) $10. Adults (ages13-59) $7.00, Senior Discount (Ages 60+) $4.50 Contact: (636) 228-4896 or visit www.AholtFarms.com for information and directions.

Centennial Farms Augusta, MO

Visit our historic farm that goes back to 1821. Our Farm Fun Playground opens daily through the end of October with mazes, fort, straw pile, slides, climbing wall, play tractor, and hayrides. Our farmstead turns into a fantasy setting of farm,

Pumpkins, Gourds, Straw, Cornstalk, Indian Corn & More!

We’re Your Source for Fall Gardening & Decorating!

Bulbs, Mums, Asters, Pansies, Trees & Shrubs & Perennials Waiting For You! 11530 Gravois Road St. Louis, MO 63126 (314) 843-4700 or www.sappingtongardenshop.com OPEN 7 DAYS

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storybook and other pumpkin figures surrounded by hundreds of pumpkins, gourds and fall decorations. You can also pick your own pumpkins from the field. Select from 24 varieties of apples in our market along with our own apple butter, preserves, and cider. Food is served on the deck on weekends. School tours for pumpkin picking are available.

Where: 199 Jackson St., Augusta, MO 63332 When: Sept. 25th-Oct. 31st Cost: FREE admission to farm. Playground: Child (ages 3-12) $3, Adults (13-over) free, hayrides extra.

Contact: (636) 228-4338 or visit www.CentennialFarms.biz.

Daniel’s Farm & Greenhouse St. Peters, MO

Kid-friendly October Harvest can be enjoyed rain or shine, because many of the features are under roof, including a 1,300-bale straw maze. Pony rides (on weekends), face cut-out photo ops, tire swings, giant slides, Pony Express train--plus a petting zoo, cornfilled sand boxes and “fort” maze under cover for all-weather fun!

And be sure to come in for all your fall needs including straw bales, corn stalks, Indian corn, homemade jellies, and lots of pumpkins and other fall decorations, plus over 8,000 mums.

Where: 352 Jungermann Rd. When: Oct. 1-31, 9-6 Mon.-Fri., 9-6 Sat., 10-5 Sun. (Extended hours to dusk for last two weeks.)

Pumpkin Quest A Scavenger Hunt with Fun Fall Activities & Games!

Clues guide you through the journey in the Quest for the Best Halloween Pumpkin!

Open October 1-31st • Cost $5

12007 Lookout Trail • Centertown, MO 65023

(573) 584-9611 • www.longfellowsgarden.com 10 minutes west of Jefferson City, MO

The Gateway Gardener™

OCTOBER 2012

Cost: Call for pricing.

Contact: (636) 441-5048 or visit www.

DanielsFarmandGreenhouse.com

Longfellow’s Garden Center Centertown, MO

Join us for the Pumpkin Quest! A scavenger hunt with fun fall activities and games. Clues guide you through the journey in the Quest for the best Halloween pumpkin ever! Tour groups welcome during the week (call for reservations).

Where: 12007 Lookout Trail, Centertown, Mo (10 min west of Jefferson City) When: Oct 1-31 until 5pm daily Cost: $5 per person Contact: (573) 584-9611 or www.LongfellowsGarden.com.

Thies Farm & Greenhouses St. Louis and Maryland Heights, MO

Pumpkinland comes alive in October with activities including wagon rides, petting zoo, pony rides, a straw castle and corn maze, and a pirate-ship play area with cable gliders, slides, tunnels, obstacle courses, a suspended bridge and more—plus, of course, tons of pumpkins and gourds.

Where: 4215 North Hanley Rd, and 3120 Creve Coeur Mills Rd. When: October Tues.-Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5 Cost: General Admission and Group Rates. Call for current pricing or visit www.thiesfarm.com.

Contact: General information (314) 429-5506. Call (314) 4289878 for school and group reservations

Valley Farms Foristell, MO

Barrel train ride, indoor mini-barn hay maze, hayride, panning for gold, farm animals. Also available for school outings TuesdaysFridays and evening group hayrides followed by a bonfire on Friday and Saturday evenings. Private parties also available.

Where: 1125 Dietrich Rd. When: Open to the public weekends 10am-5pm, Sept 29th-Oct. 28th.

Cost: Free, except for train ride, panning for gold and hayride.

Contact: Visit ValleyFarms.info

FALL is Perfect for Planting!

Tag Trees Now & Plant Later

Great Selection of Hardy Mums

October Harvest October 1st thru October 31st For School and or Church Groups Please call (636)441-5048 to make your reservations!

You can visit us online at: www.DanielsFarmandGreenhouse.com

Pony Rides Nights & Weekends Pony Express Train • Indian Corn • Straw Mazes Fall Hours: M-F 9-6 Sat 9-5 Sun 10-5 “We grow color for your home!”

352 Jungermann Rd. • St. Peters, MO 63376 • 636-441-5048

OCTOBER 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

MISSOURI Green

Industry Conference December 6, 2012 St. Charles Convention Center St. Charles, MO

EDUCATIONAL TRACKS INCLUDE

ORNAMENTALS, LAWN CARE & LANDSCAPE, SPORTS TURF, GOLF, EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE & SAFETY, IRRIGATION & WATER MANAGEMENT, AND PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TRAINING RECERTIFICATION (CATEGORY 3, ORNAMENTALS & TURF)

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GROWING & MARKETING NATIVE PLANTS FOR SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES, SOILS IN ORNAMENTAL BEDS, AND TREE CARE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR VARIOUS CERTIFICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE DISCOUNTED PRICING FOR MISSOURI MASTER GARDENERS, STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS

Full Schedule and Online Registration at

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The Cornucopia Corner Overland Farmers’ Market

October Harvest

2500 Woodson Road Overland, MO 63114 www.OverlandFarmersMarket.com

Here are some fruits and veggies you might find in the garden or your local farmers’ market this month:

Vegetables

Visit us for locally grown seasonal produce, homemade bread and sweetrolls, entertainment and special events. Food available for purchase. Centrally located and accessible by public transportation. Have fun and eat well. We look forward to seeing you at the market!

2012 Farmers’ & Produce Markets Ferguson Farmers’ Market

20 S. Florissant Rd. Ferguson, MO (314) 324-4298 Knoelker@sbcglobal.net www.FergusonFarmersMarket.com and FACEBOOK Hours: May 5th-Oct. 27th, Sat. 8am-noon Open for our 10th season with fresh, local and organic produce and fruits grown within 100 miles and picked within 24 hours by the friendly farmers who grow them. Special events weekly with chef demos, food contests, kids’ art activities and fresh produce samplings. 48 tents include live music, food booths, specialty bakery goods, meats, cheeses, artisans, plants, and many farmers. GET FRESH. SHOP LOCAL.

Historic Soulard Farmers’ Market

730 Carroll Street St. Louis, MO 63104 (314) 622-4180 http://stlouis-mo.gov/soulardmarket.com Hours: Open Year Round - Wed. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm, Sat. 6am to 5pm.

Soulard Market is the oldest farmers’ market west of the Mississippi and continues to be a unique and vibrant venue for shoppers from the metropolitan area. Vendors offer fresh veggies and fruits, handmade cheeses, fresh flowers, meats, poultry, seafood, unique spices, clothing, jewelry and prepared food items. Free parking close to the Market.

12

This is the last month for this year’s Market Guide, but the professional farmers are still harvesting plenty of fresh, locally grown produce to supplement your own home-grown harvest.

Plus, this month, there’s even more going on at most markets, with lots of festive seasonal activities for the entire family. Be sure to check out the markets on this page and the pumpkin patches featured in our annual Pumpkin Patch Roundup on page 10.

Just because our Market Guide is ending for the year, take note of those markets that continue to stay open through the winter holidays. They will continue to offer late-season produce, seasonal decorating ingredients and even more family fun events!

Thanks to the Markets who have sponsored this page in 2012, and thanks to the readers who have supported them by choosing to buy their fresh, locally grown produce at one of these markets.

See you next year!

Beans Beets Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Cucumbers Eggplant Garlic Greens Herbs Horseradish Kohlrabi Lettuce Okra Onions Peas Peppers Popcorn Potatoes Pumpkins Radishes Rhubarb Spinach

Squash Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes Turnips

Fruits

Apples Blueberries Canteloupe Grapes (wine) Nectarines Pears Plums Raspberries, red Watermelon

Jt’s Sauteed Fresh Ideas Kale Yes , It’s a superFood!

courtesy www.elanaspantry.com

Hours: 8am-12:30pm Saturdays May-Oct.

4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2” pieces 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium red onion, chopped 1 clove of garlic, minced 1 bunch kale, trimmed and chopped into 1” strips celtic sea salt to taste In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat. Remove bacon from pan and place on paper towel to drain. Reduce to medium low and add olive oil and onion. Sauté for 15 minutes until carmelized. Add kale and garlic, sauté for 5 minutes uncovered. Return bacon to pan and cover with a lid for 1-2 minutes until wilted. Add salt and serve.

This recipe adapted from http://www.elanaspantry.com/sauteed-kale/ Please share some of your favorite recipes with us.

You can FAX your recipe to 314.968.4025 or email us at info@gatewaygardener.com.

The Gateway Gardener™

OCTOBER 2012

Tips for Growing, Buying and Cooking Fresh, Locally Sourced Food for Your Table

Festive Flint Corn for Fall!

By Mara Higdon

P

umpkins, winter squash, to one strong plant every 15 gourds,and flint corn are inches. You can use scissors commonly seen around to cut the weaker seedlings this time of year decorating down without disturbing the people’s homes, yards, and shallow roots of the corn tables. Flint corn, commonly plant. Because of these shallow called Indian corn, is an edible root systems, be cautious when native grain. Try growing it and weeding around the plant. The teach kids about the historical root systems spread after one connection between plants month of growth. Be diligent and people throughout the about weeding in that first Americas. Native Americans month and mulch with a light grew flint corn to grind into layer of leaf mulch. Soaker flour and ate it as hominy hoses or drip irrigation are when kernels are cooked ideal for watering corn steadily whole. Popcorn is also throughout the season. Lay another variety of flint corn planting corn, planting cover a soaker hose down before crops in the same area such as applying the mulch and give that is fun to grow and eat. clover or hairy vetch can add the corn seedlings about 1 inch In order to have flint corn much-needed nitrogen. You of water a week. Regular ready to harvest in the fall, you can also prepare your soil by watering is critical to even need to plant your flint corn adding 20-30 lbs. of compost corn kernel formation. kernels early in the spring. It per 100 square feet before takes at least three months for planting. Use blood meal or Harvest the corn after the the flint corn to mature. There a diluted fish emulsion once silks have turned brown by are many varieties of flint the thinned seedlings are pulling the corn from the main corn, many of which come in established. stalk. Pull back the corn husk solid colors such as blue or and reveal the kernels. They To ensure that all your corn is pink. When picking a location should be dry and firm. If properly pollinated, plant the to plant your corn, be sure to using for eating or decoration keep flint corn separate from corn in blocks rather than long you will want to hang them your sweet corn or they may rows. Each block should be at somewhere cool and dry for a cross pollinate. Also, if you least three rows wide. Five few days. If you are interested want to keep your flint corn a rows in 10-12 foot long blocks in saving kernels for the next solid color at harvest time, be is ideal. years’ crop, remove the largest sure to plant differing colors Plant 3 kernels together kernels and store in a ziplock so they do not cross pollinate every 8-15 inches. Once the bag in a dark dry place until also or you will end up with seeds have germinated, thin the following spring. multicolored corn kernels. If a multicolored corn cob is what Mara Higdon is the Program Director you are looking for then you at Gateway Greening, Inc. They focus on community development can plant them all together. through gardening throughout the Corn is a very heavy feeder so St. Louis area. You can reach her at it is important that you amend (314) 588-9600 x22 or by email at your soil before planting and mara@gatewaygreening.org. after corn stalks have grown about 6-8 inches tall and also at 18 inches tall. Before OCTOBER 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

Stuckmeyer’s Farm Market and Greenhouse 249 Schneider Rd. Fenton, MO (636) 349-1225

Hours: April-Oct. Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm Visit our family-operated farm market and greenhouse. We offer a large selection of flowers and vegetable plants from early spring thru mid-summer. Fresh, homegrown vegetables are available mid-April thru October. The month of October is family “Farm Fun Days” featuring hayrides, pumpkins and Stuckmeyer-grown mums!

Stuckmeyers.com

Schlafly Farmers Market Schlafly Bottleworks

7260 Southwest Avenue Maplewood, MO 63143 (314) 241-2337 farmersmarket@schlafly.com www.schlaflyfarmersmarket.com Hours: April-Oct. Wednesdays 4-7pm.

Come and buy local, farm fresh eggs, pork, lamb, beef, herbs, mushrooms, artisanal loaves, flowers, pasta, chocolate and more, straight from the source.

The Land of Goshen Community Market

South of the Courthouse Edwardsville, IL (618) 307-6045 www.GoshenMarket.org Hours: May 12-October 20th Saturday mornings 8am-noon An open-air farmers’ market that is a great source for locally grown, fresh, naturally ripened farm products, tasty baked goods with locally grown ingredients, and wonderful art and gift ideas. Live entertainment and free demonstrations add to the festive atmosphere. A safe, wholesome place for kids and the whole family.

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Fabulous Fall Container Ideas!

Summer containers are great for, well, summer; but if your containers are still sporting the usually hot, tropical celebrities, first of all congratulations for managing to keep them alive all summer, but more to the point, it’s time a change! The crisp, colorful days of autumn cry out for warm, earthy tones to give your fall

containers the sense of the season. We asked a few of our local garden center experts to help inspire us with some plantings of their own. Some took advantage of leftover summer stock, accenting with fall flavors, while others did a complete makeover. I hope the results spark an idea or two for you!

Holiday Pot

bright dangling teeny yellow leaves, ‘Burgundy Glow’ ajuga for striking foliage of pink, green and white, coralbell Heuchera for its exceptional form and hues, yarrow Achillea with interesting blossoms, seed heads plus ferny foliage, and finally, ‘Ascot Rainbow’ Euphorbia. Then, transform your pot for each holiday by sprinkling it with seasonal and festive decorations.

Evolution

From Abigail Lapides Sugar Creek Gardens Here’s an idea for an autumn pot that can easily be morphed into a winterseasonal display covering two holiday seasons in one! Use dwarf Albert spruce for structure,

Mixing Old New

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with the

From Sandy Richter Sandy’s Back Porch Don’t pitch that summer pot—just primp it up a little!

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1011 N. Woodlawn • Kirkwood, MO 63122 314-965-3070

www. SugarCreekGardens.com

The Gateway Gardener™

1674 N. Bluff Rd Collinsville, IL 62234

(618)344-8841

OCTOBER 2012

is that you don’t have to toss Perennials everything from your spring Plus! creations. Just pull out what From Annie Stanley isn’t doing well and plop in Sappington Gardens some cool season plants. Here Planting are three different options to w i t h consider! perennials gives you #1 Sangria Ornamental Pepper, the bonus mum, straw flowers and “Fizzy of planting Mix” pansies-they are too cute. them in #2 Chili Chili Ornamental the ground Pepper, straw flowers and before it freezes. Adding edibles purple flash ornamental pepper gives great color and texture, work beautifully with this carex and provides a way to grow annual grass. cool-season vegetables. Mix #3 Fiber Optic grass, black pearl ornamental pepper, cabbage with a touch of color from this petunia look beautiful together.

• Indoor Lighting

• Hydroponics

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Scary Easy!

From Jamie Sunfield Hillermann Nursery & Florist This picture is a great inspiration for most homeowners and plant enthusiasts!

Use a mixture of awesome plants including croton, ornamental cabbage and pennisetum! Add a little scarecrow and voila! It’s so easy, but packs a punch! And don’t be afraid to add some silk to your containers! It comes in handy when your plants are nice and big, but not showing any color!

Bring Conservation Home

• Dreaming of your own wildlife sanctuary?

• Fascinated by hummingbirds, butterflies or creepy/ crawlies?

• Not sure how to get started or which native plants are best? and match with purple fountain grass, gaura, rudbeckia, hardy mums and chinese cabbage.

Use real or artificial gourds, pears and leaves for accents.

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HAPPY DESIGNING!

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OCTOBER 2012

Call (314) 599-7390 or check out our habitat assistance and certification program at:

The Gateway Gardener™

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Fall Décor available (Mums, Pansies, Pumpkins, Gourds, Straw & Cornstalks) Pink Roses purchased during October: 20% of proceeds to American Cancer Society.

16825 North Outer 40 . Chesterfield MO 63005 . 636-532-9307 (Located at Boone’s Crossing Exit)

www.chesterfieldvalleyinc.com

15

Make a Kokedama text and photos by Ellen Barredo • Bucket to mix soil in

ou ask…What is Kokedama?

Well Kokedama is the Japanese art form of enclosing a plant’s root mass in moss. Kokedama means “moss ball”. This trend is growing and can be quite fun. A current spin off of the Kokedama trend is String Gardening.

The moss balls are suspended with string.

Y

Mixing the perfect soil This is the tricky part is finding the soil components.

There are many bagged soils that may work for Kokedama. The soil must be a heavier soil, which may contain peat moss, peat, clay, a small amount of sand, or perlite. Bagged garden soil comes to mind, perhaps mixed with an indoor potting soil. A ratio we have seen online is 70% peat soil and 30% clay/garden soil. Play around with different mixtures to come up with the best recipe that won’t fall apart.

Kokedama originated through a combination of both Nearai and Kusamono bonsai styles. Nearai style bonsai is when the plant grows tightly root bound in the pot, and then taken out of the pot to stand and enjoy. The root and soil would maintain its shape when taken out of the pot.

Kusamono style bonsai features potted arrangements of wild grasses and flowers in unique pots or trays. The container may be anything from rock or wood to ceramic. Kusamono was originally used to show the seasons and was often presented with a moss gathering at Fall Decorating the top of the soil.

Made EASY with

Drop Pots!

Materials Needed

• Bagged soils. We used Perfect Play which is a heavier soil. The soils will be discussed in more details below.

• Moss, long fiber is best • Cotton crochet thread or

fishing line • Scissors • Water Wire Spruce up Your Patio in • SECONDS! No Planting. No Planning!

Just pull your tired, worn-out summer container plants and drop in our ready-to-grow Autumn-themed designs.

Sandy’s Back Porch

Hours: M-F 9-5:30 Sat 9-4 Sun 10-4

(618) 235-2004 2004 West Blvd.

Belleville, IL 62221

www.SandysBackPorch.com and “Like” us on

16

Pat’s Concrete 8038 Hwy 30 Dittmer, MO

•Bird Baths •Fountains •Benches •Statues 636-274-1516

www.patsconcrete.com Open Nov/Dec Sat. &Sun. weather permitting-call for hours

We used a peat moss based soil and mixing with pitching mound clay, courtesy of Perfect Play soils. The most important step is to mix your soil well! Use a small amount of water to make the clay and soil bond together. The clay must be thoroughly mixed in with the peat-based soil so as not to crack over time when displayed. Your soil should be sticky and pliable once the water is added and the soil and clay are carefully mixed.

Next, form the soil into a ball. The ball’s size may range from the size of an orange to the size of a small grapefruit. You should be able to drop this ball several inches into your bucket and it should not break apart. This is the base of your Kokedama.

Insert your thumbs slowly into the middle of the ball, using your hands to keep the form of the outer sphere. This is the hole your plants root system will go into.

Now for the Plant!

Kokedama can be done with almost any variety of smaller indoor plants. Smaller plants will be easier to handle and won’t grow too large too quickly. Think about the light where you will display it when choosing your plants.

Take your chosen plant out of the container. Gently shake off excess soil. You might dunk the roots in water, which will help eliminate any unnecessary soil. You may also have to trim roots.

Insert your plant’s root mass into the soil ball. Gently form the soil around the root mass, adding more of the Kokedama soil if necessary. Be careful not to get the soil too high around the plant’s stems.

Now cut a long piece of fishing line or string, perhaps 3 yds. You will also want to cut a few pieces of wire two inches in length and The Gateway Gardener™

OCTOBER 2012

bend in half to create a floral pin. Make a loop at one end of the string, insert pin through the loop, and insert the pin close to the bottom of the clay ball.

Moisten your moss in a container of water and squeeze out excess water. Start the mossing procedure by placing and pressing the moss around the soil ball. This procedure may require two people.

Once the soil is covered with moss it is now time to bind it with string and tie it off. This is where two sets of hands help the procedure go more smoothly.

One person holds the ball and may be adding moss and one person is winding the attached string binding the moss to the ball. Note: do not crowd the plants crown with moss. Leave enough room at the top of the moss ball in order for the plant to breathe.

After you have made your Kokedama, you need to water it, so prepare a bucket that contains enough water to cover the green moss ball (not the plant) and let the ball soak in the water for about 10 minutes.

At this point you will either display your Kokedama sitting or you may decide to make a string hanger and suspend it!

Remember, as with any procedure you may end up modifying it!

Offering Professional: • Consultation & Design • Plant Health Care

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We have the answers for the ultimate lawn!

If you have any questions please feel free to call us at Bowood Farms!

I would like to thank my coworkers Jessica and Kathy for working through the Kokedama procedure so we could share it with the Gateway Gardener!

Specialists in Care & Enhancement of Estate Gardens

Winterizer Ellen Barredo is a Missouri Certified Nursery Professional with more than 30 years in professional horticulture. She works at Bowood Farms and can be reached at (314) 4554-6868 or ebarredo@msn.com.

• Helps build vigorous root systems during winter for all types of grasses.

• Ideal for trees, shrubs, ornamentals and evergreens.

• Promotes winter hardiness.

• You can tell the difference in how your grass multiplies in the spring.

Tree & Shrub Drench • Fall is the best time to apply.

• Protects Trees and Shrubs from Damaging Insects • One Application Protects up to 12 Months • Easy to Use—Just Pour in Water and Pour Around Plants.

Look for these and other ferti-lome products at your favorite independent nurseries and garden centers.

OCTOBER 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

17

Dig This!

Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News Performer Creates “The Gardener” Living Statue

During normal business hours, Harry Sneed is otherwise known as Harry the Handyman, owner of a home improvement company. But when not performing home repairs and remodeling, Harry puts his creative talents to a number of endeavors, including writing, speaking, dancing, and recently, a project called “Art That Lives”; real-life, breathing (though barely noticeably) “statues”. His most recent incarnation is called “The Gardener”, a bronzed, ivy-draped Farmer Brownlooking character that has been entertaining visitors to Historic Old Town St. Charles, standing motionless for long periods until startling bystanders as he unexpectedly comes to life. Harry says the inspiration for his character came from the gardens and flower-lined cobble-stoned streets near his Old Town residence. For more information on upcoming appearances or how you can hire him for events, visit www.ArtThatLives.com.

the 2012 Arborist of the Year Award at the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Conference in Portland, Oregon on August 15. Society of Commercial Arborist (SCA) President Steve Chisholm presented the award.

Steve cited Tim’s dedicated service to the industry including President of the St. Louis Arborist Association, ISA Test Committee Chair, SCA President, BCMA Committee and ISA President 2009-2011.

New All Natural Products Now Available Locally

Stan Clement of Crestwood, Missouri, has recently started a new company, Agr-O-Sol, to market a line of all-natural gardening products to homeowners in the St. Louis area.

The products, which are organic, university tested and have been used in agricultural applications for years, include Bountiful Harvest®, a bio-stimulant soil drench or foliar application to increase bio-organism activity in the soil; Earth’s Bounty Sea Minerals, a nutritive foliar spray and soil amendment; Super-Cal, a liquid calcium supplement; and others. The products are currently carried at Frisella Nursery in Defiance, Missour, and Stan is currently seeking additional retail outlets. For more information, visit www.

Agr-O-Sol.com or call Stan at (314) 397-4303.

New Partnership for North County Community Garden

Gateway Greening and St. Louis County Library are partnering to offer a community garden space for residents of the northwest area of St. Louis County, including Hazelwood and Florissant.

Prairie Commons Community Garden will be located at Prairie Commons Branch, 915 Utz Lane, Hazelwood, MO. Interested participants are encouraged to sign up for garden plots and additional leadership opportunities.

“Libraries already provide a center for community development and activity. The addition of a community garden space in North St. Louis County will build upon the libraries contributions and allow neighbors to come together, grow fresh food and carry on the rich tradition of gardening,” said Mike Sorth, Gateway Greening executive director. “Gateway Greening’s partnership with St. Louis County Library allows us to further expand our reach and services beyond Metro St. Louis.”

Gateway Greening’s partnership garden at Prairie Commons Branch will be their first garden in the Northwest St. Louis County area. Gardens at additional branches are being considered for the future.

Area Arborist Receives International Award

Tim Gamma, Past President of the St. Louis Arborist Association and owner of Gamma Tree Experts, received 18

The Gateway Gardener™

OCTOBER 2012

Rare Birds

Text and photo by Connie Alwood

I

f one is willing to travel, two of chick. Biologists have taken the “extra” the rarest birds in North America, eggs and incubated them in a laboratory, ironically, are also the easiest to raising the young in captivity. Attempts see. Last year I decided to see both. are under way to establish non-migratory Within minutes of arriving at my Whooping Cranes in Florida. It will be destinations, I was looking at them. several more years before we see the For the first rarity, I traveled to Aransas results.

National Wildlife Refuge near Corpus Christi, Texas. I decided to take the The Whooping Crane is the tallest bird boat excursion for $45, where one can in North America. The numbers of its easily glide by the wintering grounds cousin, the slightly smaller Sandhill of the Whooping Crane. Only a few Crane, are well-established. In fact, of hundred of these birds still exist. I was the 15 species of cranes in the world, fortunate to see not only the adults, the Sandhill Crane is by far the most but several young. These birds mostly numerous; whereas, the Whooping Crane nest in Wood Buffalo National Park in is the most endangered. Both cranes are the Northwest Territory in Canada, but omnivorous, eating mostly crustaceans, Whooping Cranes come September, they make their way frogs, snakes, but also berries and wheat. down to the Corpus Christi area, where in the 1940s, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife While the Whooping Crane is a large up housekeeping, the male continues to Service established Aransas NWR for these sing, proclaiming his territory to other male bird, the Kirtland’s Warbler is a diminutive wintering cranes. One need not take the Kirtland’s. one. Like all North American warblers, the boat excursion, for later on a drive around Kirtland’s (named after a doctor and an the area, I saw several more of the cranes; When I use the word “rare” here, I’m not amateur naturalist) is mostly an insectivore, however, the boat offers a chance to see talking about a bird that accidentally shows yet it will occasionally take small fruit. several species of birds from the LongIt was only in 1950s that scientists billed Curlew to Seaside Sparrows, discovered these warblers’ “A rare bird...means that the birds with an experienced crew pointing wintering grounds in the Bahamas. out the various species.

Although the USFWS needs to numbers or populations are so low that the species is on the Endangered constantly maintain a Jack Pines The following June, I drove up to forest where the birds can breed in List.”

Grayling, Michigan, located near Michigan, there is no similar need the top of the “mitt,” but still in in the Bahamas, where the warbler up in a place where it’s not supposed to the Lower Peninsula. The U.S. Fish and be, such as on December 31,1991, when a actually spends most of its time.

Wildlife Service in conjunction with the Ross’s Gull, which breeds in the paleoarctic, Michigan Audubon Society operates a tour blew into Riverlands in St. Charles County. Nine North American bird species have from May 15th to July 4th. After showing up No, a rare bird (or rara avis for the Harvard become extinct, including most likely the at the Ramada Inn at 7 a.m., we took a short crowd) for our purposes means that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and the Bachman’s drive to the Huron-Matisee National Forest birds’ numbers or populations are so low Warbler, both birds that formerly bred in just outside of town, where we watched a that the species is on the “Endangered the St. Louis area. Several organizations are Kirtland’s Warbler singing on territory in List.” “Loss of habitat,” which is a kind working to keep The Whooping Crane and the only habitat it will use for nesting— of euphemism for man’s destruction of the Kirtland’s Warbler species from falling Jack Pines, a scrubby little tree. The warbler their natural habitat, is the main reason. into that horrendous list. makes a nest on the ground under the tree. Extensive persecution by man is another

By September the Kirtland’s Warbler will reason. Both contributed to the demise of head south migrating to its winter grounds the Whooping Crane, our rarest species as Connie Alwood is a in the Bahamas. Fewer than 200 pairs far as numbers are concerned. There were Master Gardener and existed in 1900. The census of singing male only 21 wild birds in 1941. In 2011 the co-author of Birds of Kirtland’s Warbler in 2011 was 1,828— number was 437, making it by far the most the St. Louis Area: quite a leap in numbers. The warblers are endangered species in North America. The Where and When to easy to count for the male sings from these Whooping Crane, named after its trumpet Find Them. small trees incessantly, looking for a mate. like call, lays two eggs, but raises only one After a female arrives and settles in to set OCTOBER 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

19

After Surviving the Heat, It’s Time to Ready the Roses for Cold

T

he summer of 2012 will not be forgotten anytime soon. We had the longest string of 100-plus-degree days in July since 1934. With eleven nights with lows in the 80s and 28 days with temperatures in the 90s, is it any wonder we gardeners wilted? The drought didn’t help either. If you were like me, keeping the gardens watered was a full-time job.

Beyond that not much got done in my yard because I am not as heat tolerant as I used to be. My roses however came through just fine. I did do a very deep watering once every week and did not fertilize after May and no liquid feed in the heat. It is important to remember that deep watering once a week is much more beneficial than several fifteen minute sprinkles during the week. Disease was

By Diane Brueckman

down because of the heat and dry air. Black-spot spores die in the temperatures we experienced this summer. With the disease pressure down the need to spray was reduced. If you noticed that the blooms on your roses were smaller than usual and the colors were not as bright that was the down side to the heat. Some roses that took the heat extremely well were the Griffith Buck roses. I grow ‘Country Dancer’, ‘Winter Sunset’, ‘Pearlie Mae’, ‘Golden Unicorn’ and ‘Prairie Princess’.

A

word about ‘Prairie Princess’; this shrub puts out some very long canes and is best planted on a support and trained as a climber.

I put one in my shrub border last year and she is all over the place and is about to be moved

to a better location. Some other plants that really loved the heat were ‘Peace’, ‘Easy Does It’, ‘Hot Cocoa’, ‘Pumpkin Patch’ and, of course, ‘St. Patrick’.

insecticidal soap. If your yard is fairly confined you should think about putting out Milky Spore or another grub control. Many people I have talked to say they have done this and have had far The rugosa roses tolerated the fewer beetles. drought very well. My ‘Sarah Van Fleet’ never got watered Roses are tough but not this summer because of her indestructible. If your roses location (far from my hydrants). were not well watered during I would have hauled water if I the drought and heat, you saw her suffering but she didn’t must make sure that you keep and has been blooming away them well watered now before since the beetles left. All this going into winter. Also, don’t goes to prove my theory that let up on disease prevention. roses are tough plants and Disease returns with the cooler actually take heat very well. temperatures and higher Speaking of beetles, I had many humidity. I watch the weather beetles this year, as usual. I put and if the conditions for disease out my traps and filled 5 bags. will be present, I spray the roses.

I also, plucked them off the blooms and dumped them in a In October, you should stop bucket with horticultural oil and pruning and deadheading your roses. By not pruning and deadheading the plants can save the energy to go into winter stronger instead of putting out new growth that in all likelyhood would not survive the frosts. Let any new growth harden off so it can make it through the winter. Cutting roses for a bouquet is fine but instead of deadheading just pluck off the petals to keep the garden neat. It is also a good idea to rake up all of the fallen leaves and petals that may harbor disease spores.

Diane Brueckman is a retired rosarian with Missouri Botanical Garden, and currently owns Rosey Acres in Baldwin, Illinois. You can reach her at (618) 785-3011.

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The Gateway Gardener™

OCTOBER 2012

Bountiful Harvest®

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www.KirkwoodMaterial.com OCTOBER 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

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Upcoming Events write us at PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122, and we’ll get the information to you. So share your joy for gardening and join a garden club or favorite plant society today!

Meetings, Classes, Entertainment and More Updates to this information are often posted on our online events calendar at GatewayGardener. com, so check there for the latest details. If you have a smartphone, scan this code to go directly to the Upcoming Events online calendar.

Give us the details of your upcoming gardening, lawn or landscaping event and we’ll add it to our website and include it in our next issue. Deadline for printing in January/February issue is December 1st.

How to reach us: Mail: PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122 Fax: (314) 968-4025 Email: info@gatewaygardener. com

FUN FOR KIDS

(Please also see our Pumpkin Patch feature in this issue for other fun family activities taking place at area farms and markets.)

Oct. 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th 10am-3pm—Kids’ Activities at Hillermann’s.

Make a Sunflower Birdfeeder (10/6);Make a Birdhouse (10/13); Make a Family Sign (10/20); Make a Pumpkin House (10/27). Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www. hillermann.com.

Oct. 6th 9am—All About Bats— Children’s Garden Club.

For the Garden at Haefners.

6703 Telegraph Rd. (314) 8460078. www.forthegarden.net.

Sponsored by St. Louis County Parks and Recreation.

PLANT SALES SHOWS

AND

Oct. 13th 9am-4pm—U. City in Bloom Bulb Sale. Bulbs that are both good quality and recommended for their sustainability. Preorders for bulbs to be picked up the day of the sale can be at www.

GARDEN CLUBS AND ucityinbloom.org. Sale tent PLANT SOCIETY located on the sidewalk on the west side of the St. Louis MEETINGS Bread Co. Sales support UCB’s Interested in Joining a Garden planting of hundreds of new Club or Plant Society? We bulbs annually in the public have meeting dates, locations flower beds in our community. and contact information on Call (314) 973-3541 for info. more than 50 area garden th clubs on our website at www. Oct. 20 America GatewayGardener.com. Don’t 9am-5pm—Mid Regional Lily Society Sale. have access to the internet? Just call us at (314) 968-3740, or New cultivars and old favorites

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are sold by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. Beaumont Room, Ridgway Visitor Center, Missouri Botanical Garden.

Included with Garden admission. . th st Oct. 20 & 21 9am-5pm—Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society Sale. New cultivars and old favorites are sold by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. Orthwein Floral Display Hall, Missouri Botanical Garden. Included with Garden admission. http://stldaffodilclub. org.

Oct. 27th-28th 9am-5pm—Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Annual Show and Sale. New cultivars and old favorites are shown by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. Show in the Beaumont Room; Sale in the Garden Room, Ridgway Visitor Center. Included with Garden admission. Missouri Botanical Garden.

CLASSES, LECTURES AND EVENTS

Through October 31st 9am-5pm daily— Plastic Pot Recycling. Recycle plastic garden pots, cell packs and trays.

Plastic should be separated and empty of soil with no metal hangers; no clay pots or food plastic accepted. Please separate #6 plastic cell packs and trays from #2 and #5 plastic pots into the recycling trailers. West parking lot of the Garden’s Monsanto Center, 4500 Shaw Blvd. at Vandeventer. (314) 577-9441. Look for Plastic Pot Recycling at several satellite

collection centers throughout the metro area through Sept. 30; for a complete list of participants, visit www.mobot. org/plasticpotrecycling.

Oct. 1st-28th 10am-3pm—Fall Color Festival. Family activities with a free fall play area, craft table and photo area daily.

The kids can go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt. We’ll even have a scarecrow station where you can build a scarecrow with your family. Special Kids Activities will be available from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturdays. Lunch at the Outdoor Kitchen will be available on Saturdays! Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www. hillermann.com.

Oct. 3rd 1:30-3pm, repeated 7-8pm— Best Practices for Working with Youth: Growing Minds and Gardens. During this webinar you will learn how to actively engage volunteers in inquiry based learning and how the brain processes that information.

The session will also explore ways to adapt activities with different age groups, suggest group management strategies, and review risk management policies. Call to register. U. of I. Extension offices at 901 Illinois Avenue in Waterloo (618) 9393434 or 1 Regency Plaza Drive Ste. 200, Collinsville (618) 3444230.

Oct. 6th 10am—Beautiful Spring Gardens Begin in the Fall. Now is the time to plant bulbs and prepare for spring perennials.

Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood.

FREE. Call (314) 965-3070.

10 and 11am—Fall Berries for the Birds and DIY Fall Combo Classes. At 10am, learn

The Gateway Gardener™

OCTOBER 2012

about beautiful fall berry plants that are both attractive and will attract birds to your yard.

At 11am, learn how to create your own beautiful fall combo planters. You can even bring your containers with you and make your creations. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-2396729, www.hillermann.com.

Oct. 6th & 7th 9am-5pm—Annual Best of Missouri Market. Over 120 Missouri food producers and crafters offer fresh produce, baked goods, fresh and dried flowers, herbs, handcrafted items, baskets, wooden toys, custom jewelry and more.

Live music and a Kids Corner with cow milking, pumpkin decorating and barnyard animals. Outdoors under tents, rain or shine. $12 adults (13-64), $10 seniors (65+), $5 children (3-12), $5 members. Buy tickets in advance online at www. mobot.org. No trams.

Oct. 7th 2pm–Practical Pruning. Tom Mee will take you on a handson presentation trimming and shaping a variety of plant material throughout our gardens and grounds. Learn how to prune your young shade trees so they grow with beauty and strength, and how to prune your flowering trees and shrubs so you never risk losing a bloom.

Frisella Nursery, frisellanursery. com, (636) 798-2555.

Oct. 9th 1pm—Coneflowers Gone Crazy. Trial gardens across the country have started to address the question of which ones are the best, and have trialed Echinacea species. This program will look at the simple facts. Call to register. $5 for b/w handouts or $10 for color. U. of I. Extension offices at 901 Illinois Avenue in Waterloo (618) 939-3434 or 1 Regency Plaza Drive Ste. 200, Collinsville (618) 344-4230.

7-8:30pm—What if the

OCTOBER 2012

Storm Hits Your Trees? 2012 Tap Root Speaker Series.

Discussion on storm-damaged trees and the first priorities for safety and tree longevity.

How does a homeowner hire a professional arborist for help?

For professionals. CEU credits available. Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave. Call (636) 970-3000 to pre-register Thursday prior to event date. $15 pre-registered, $20 at door.

Oct. 11th or 12th 1-4pm—Native Plant School: Small Flowering Trees, Shrubs and Vines Part 3. Bring your questions, comments, photos, drawings, and plant specimens for discussion.

Session includes hands-on tours and demonstrations.

Audience participation encouraged. $15 ($12 Garden/SNR members).

Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve.

For reservations or more information, call (636) 4513512 or visit www.shawnature. org.

Oct. 12th 5-7pm—Native Plant School: Book Review 2: Noah’s Garden (Chapter’s 7-13). $15 ($12 Garden/SNR members).

Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve.

For reservations or more information, call (636) 4513512 or visit www.shawnature. org.

Oct. 13th 9am-2pm—Autumn Herb Gathering. Webster Groves Herb Society members have been creating wonderful herbal products throughout the summer to sell. Great ideas for Holiday gifts, plus garden books, and herbal how-to demos presented throughout the day.

Guest speaker Deborah Lee, vice president, Illinois Herb Association. Rolling Ridge Nursery, 60 N. Gore, Webster Groves. See www.wgherbs.org for more.

The Gateway Gardener™

vertical lines available, and climbers can choose to ascend more than one line as time allows.

Must be at least 8 years old. 12 climbers per session. Missouri Botanical Garden; also offered at the Shaw Nature Reserve (see www.shawnature.org for details). Choose from sessions 10 and 11am—Fall Shade Trees at 9:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm or and DIY Home Landscape 3:30pm. $43 per child or adult Classes. At 10am learn all climber(child price includes about shade trees for the yard Garden admission for one and landscape. At 11am learn accompanying adult chaperone). tips and tricks to install a DIY Advanced registration required; Landscape Project. Create a www.mobot.org/classes or (314) beautiful landscape for your 577-5140. home. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www. October 20th hillermann.com.

10am-4pm—Great River Road Chestnut Roast. Taste fresh 10am—Fairy Gardening, Mini roasted chestnuts and other Landscaping for Containers delicious foods of the fall harvest. and Gardens. Learn the art of Arts and crafts, fun activities creating miniature landscapes for the kids, fresh food, local with doll-sized shrubs, vendors, demonstrations and perennials, annuals and more. entertainment. Live broadcast Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 of the KTRS-55AM Inside Out Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. garden and home improvement FREE. Call (314) 965-3070. radio program. Forrest Keeling Nursery, 88 Forrest Keeling Ln., Oct. 14th Elsberry, MO. (573) 898-5571.

2pm—Withstanding the Weather. These last two years 10 and 11am—DIY Home have been exceedingly difficult Landscape and Sleep Tight on the botanical members of Water Garden Classes. - At our household. Without proper 10am learn tips and tricks to care, the severe drought coupled install a DIY Landscape Project. with extreme temperatures Create a beautiful landscape for could prove to be their day of your home. At 11am learn how reckoning. Join an open forum to put your water garden to bed to discuss areas of concern, for winter. Hillermann Nursery and a viable course of action & Florist, 636-239-6729, www. for our plants. Frisella Nursery, hillermann.com.

FrisellaNursery.com, (636) 7982555.

Oct. 27th 3-6pm—5th Annual Booth th Oct. 14 and 28 Wood Halloween Event. Kids Canopy Climb.

Explore will enjoy pumpkin painting, a majestic trees like never before. scavenger hunt and free snacks.

In this one-and-one-half-hour Costumes encouraged! Bowood experience, a certified tree- Farms, 4605 Olive Street in the climbing instructor will teach Central West End. Go to www. you to ascend on your own bowoodfarms.com for more into a tree canopy. Then sit information, or call the garden on branches, limb-walk, lie center at (314) 454-6868. in hammocks or relax in a FREE. suspended chair while learning about forest canopy biodiversity and conservation. Several 10am-4pm—Art Walk. Artists and fine craftsfmen display and sell their work in a beautiful garden setting. Garden Heights Nursery, 1605 S. Big Bend Blvd. Richmond Hts., MO. GardenHeights.com.

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FOR THE GREENEST LAWN ON THE BLOCK TOP DRESS WITH STA-CERTIFIED COMPOST

AFTER AFTER

BEFORE

BEFORE

Visit St. Louis Composting’s five area locations for the largest selection of STA-certified compost, mulch products and soil blends. Top Dressing will reduce water consumption and increase nutrients in your soil.

BELLEVILLE, IL

3521 Centreville Ave. 618.233.2007

VALLEY PARK, MO 39 Old Elam Ave. 636.861.3344

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO (This is a drop off facility only) 314.423.9035

ST. LOUIS, MO

560 Terminal Row 314.868.1612

FORT BELLEFONTAINE COMPOST FACILITY

13060 County Park Rd. 314.355-0052

Visit us online at www.stlcompost.com

Step-by-Step Guide to Top Dressing: - Core aerate the lawn, concentrating on the most heavily trafficked sections.

- Apply a ½ inch layer of Field and Turf compost, using the Ecolawn Top Dresser - Smooth the surface using a rake or weighted drag mat to break down soil plugs and backfill holes - Spread grass seed, lightly rake, and water – making sure all seeds are covered with soil/compost layer to guard against winter damage - Water as needed, keeping the soil moist until seeds germinate