GARDENER
Independently owned and operated since 1996
PUBLISHER
Michael Cavanaugh
EDITOR
Elizabeth Cavanaugh
CONTRIBUTORS
Amy Albright
Markis Hill
Lenora Larson
Anthony Reardon
Corinda Stallbaumer
Steven Stoll
Anne Wildeboor
Scott Woodbury
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The sweet sound of summer
You would think the July heat would keep this gardener indoors, but au contraire. I spend plenty of time in the garden. My back hurts from deadheading and weeding, I’ve worn out another pair of gloves, and my nails haven’t seen polish in months. I have a daily dance with the garden hose so the newly planted perennials have a chance to survive. And the birds hover on the wires overhead while I scrub their moldy tub. Yep, there’s plenty to do and a little heat and humidity can’t keep me away.
My most favorite times in the garden are early in the day and just before dusk. The temperatures are mild and the garden is quiet, offering serenity and a peaceful stay.
Coffee in hand first thing in the morning, it’s the perfect time of day to survey the landscape. I start by stepping across the street to get a different view. Do I like what I see? What’s the first thing I notice? Spent blooms? Washed out mulch? What needs my attention now and what
can wait another day.
Then in the evening as the world catches up on local news and the sun is finishing its day, that’s when I can’t wait to get in a little garden time. With Felcos in hand, I head for the coreopsis and daylilies, wonderful summer bloomers that have performed beyond expectation. I snip a couple of blue blossoms off the hydrangea for kitchen color. And off in the distance, as if on cue, I see the cat stand up from between the boxwoods to stretch in the evening air. Any complications of the day that may have been resting on my shoulders seem to simply fade away.
The garden offers so much more than just pretty blooms and lush foliage. Yes, those things are nice and who doesn’t love to hear compliments on a successful garden. But for me, it’s the place to slow the pace, to tame the troubled. No matter what’s happening in our lives, the garden gives us a place to think, and time to rest. It is our listening friend when we’re stressed and need to be
heard. When our bodies are filled with the noise of the day, the garden can be our sanctuary of peace. This is why I garden.
So find a shady spot in your garden. See the beauty before you. Stand amid the tranquility. Breathe in the calm. Listen for the sweet sound of summer.
I’ll see you in the garden!
Missouri Wildflowers Nursery
573-496-3492, fax: 573-496-3003 www.mowildflowers.net mowldflrs@socket.net 9814 Pleasant Hill Rd Jefferson City MO 65109
We’ll be back in September to the KC area for more native plant sales. Watch for more info here, on our website, and social media.
Thank You for using native plants in your landscaping endeavors.
Thank You for helping wildlife through your use of native plants.
Thank You for supporting native plant nurseries with your purchases. It helps them grow.
DAY TRIP! The Nursery is open year round at our Brazito location (address above), 9 to 5 weekdays Weekends now through July 6 and Aug. 30 through Oct. 12. Saturdays 9 to 5, Sundays noon to 5.
At the Nursery only, quart pots are $6.95 and small pots are $3.50, if you pick the plants.
Question: My tree has brown spots all over the leaves. They started small and slowly increased in size as time went on. What are they and what do about it?
Markis’ Answer: That is probably a fungus that attacks the leaves, leaving some necrotic spots, or dead tissue. Rust and other leaf spot diseases infect the plant in spring when there are wet conditions. This spring had a lot of rainfall and mild temperatures, which are great conditions for foliar diseases. Most damage is largely aesthetic, and in the worstcase scenario, your plant will defoliate early. However, it is a source of stress for the plant and opens the door for opportunities for other diseases and pests. It is important to know that if this disease infects your plant, then every year there is a chance that this same disease can reinfect the plant if you are not using chemical or cultural practices to limit the disease.
TROUBLE WITH GROWING CUCUMBERS
Question: I’m worried that my cucumbers aren’t going to produce. The last time I tried to grow them, the flowers bloomed, but then they fell off, and that was it. What happened?
Anthony’s Answer: The cause of unproductive blooms in the vegetable garden often lies in insufficient pollination. In cucumbers, the ovaries surrounding the seeds of the bloom will only expand into a fruit if properly pollinated. If they are not, you will likely be facing deformed fruit or no fruit altogether.
Ask the Experts
Pollinator-friendly adjacent plants like zinnia, marigold, sunflower, nasturtium, and milkweed can help. In essence, give the pollinators more of an incentive to come to your garden. Also, be sure to watch insecticide usage near the plants, taking all adequate precautions to protect pollinators. If insecticide cannot be
Markis’ Answer: This sounds like the work of Japanese beetles, an invasive pest that has a wide range of trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers. If you are seeing skeletonized leaves or leaves with veins and margins still intact while the rest of the leaf is gone, you can bet there are beetles nearby. They have very few
abstained from altogether, it should be applied wisely, early in the morning or late in the evening, while pollinators are not active. Also, watch for the overuse of nitrogen, as excess nitrogen leads to heavy leafy growth with minimized fruiting.
JAPANESE BEETLES HARD AT WORK
Question: There are leaves on my roses that look like something is eating the inside of the leaves and leaving the veins. What is it, and how do I stop it?
predators here in the United States. Each summer, they are guaranteed to return to our area. They spend around 10 months in the soil and emerge in the summertime as adults to wreak havoc on our plants. In large enough populations, the larvae of these beetles can also cause noticeable damage to turf.
If you see these beetles on your plants, get a bucket of soapy water, hold it under them, then proceed to knock them into the bucket. The soap in the water makes it difficult for them to crawl out of the bucket,
eventually leading to their drowning in the water. This method might not lead to the eradication of insects in the US, but it is an immediate, chemical-free way of controlling them. For more information and management options, please visit the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA website (www.aphis. usda.gov) for the complete Homeowner’s Handbook.
MITIGATE SQUASH BUGS BY DELAYED PLANTING
Question: I’ve refrained from planting zucchini this year because I wanted to give my garden a break from squash bugs, deterring them from coming back. Someone told me that if I plant them now, they will be less of a problem for me. Is this true?
Anthony’s Answer: Planted later into the summer and far after their recommended planting time, squash can, in fact, be much more successful at evading significant impact from squash bugs. Following this practice, the plants miss several key weeks of critical development stages of the pests. By the time the crop goes into the ground, the squash bugs have already bred and proliferated elsewhere, leaving the squash to grow in peace. However, keep in mind that a second generation of squash bugs is imminent in the latter half of the summer. With the first generation absent from a garden space, their concentration will be limited when they (likely) find your later-planted squash. Ultimately, this will minimize the potential for their damage as other control methods are also then employed at their arrival.
ANTHONY REARDON | Horticulture Agents | MARKIS HILL
Anthony and Markis are the horticulture agents for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension, each specializing in edible crops and ornamentals, respectively. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson. ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.
Pollination of the vegetable bloom is key for fruit development.
TREE LEAVES WITH BROWN SPOTS
A Passion for Daylilies
My love for flowers took root at an early age thanks to my grandmother, who would give me starts of her tall bearded irises. Tending those first plants sparked a lifelong appreciation for gardening but it was years later—at my very first visit in the early 2000s to an American Daylily Society (ADS) display garden—that I was bit pretty hard by the daylily bug. The variety, elegance, and resilience of daylilies captivated me instantly, and that spark quickly turned into a full-blown obsession.
Today, my garden is home to around 650 named cultivars, each with its own unique form, color, and charm. What keeps me so enchanted by these plants is not just their beauty, but their incredible diversity and hardiness. I’m especially inspired by the work of two hybridizers who have been in the biz for many years, Judy Davisson and Curt Hanson.
Their creations are easily recognizable, push boundaries of what daylilies can be and usually have witty and hilarious names.
As a young hybridizer, my own goal is to breed large, 10-inch unusual form daylilies atop tall, 50-inch+ scapes. I dream of flowers that not only impress with size and form but command attention and bring motion and life to the garden—blooms that twist, curl, and dance above the foliage like living sculpture.
The daylily (Hemerocallis) has a long and rich history. Native to Asia, particularly China, Korea, and Japan, daylilies have been cultivated for centuries both for their ornamental beauty and culinary value. In traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, the flower buds are considered edible and have been used in soups and herbal remedies.
Daylilies were introduced to Europe in the 16th century and to
STEVEN STOLL
North America in the 19th century. However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that modern hybridizing efforts began to transform these humble perennials into the spectacular garden stars we know today. Thanks to the tireless work of hybridizers across the world, there are now over 100,000 registered cultivars, ranging from miniature blooms to gigantic, ruffled, and patterned forms in nearly every color imaginable—except blue.
Daylilies are often celebrated not only for their aesthetic qualities but also for their easygoing nature. They tolerate a wide range of soils, are drought-resistant once established, and thrive in USDA Zones 3–9. They’re also largely pest-resistant and require minimal care compared to many perennials, making them a favorite of both novice and expert gardeners alike.
What started with my grandma’s
irises has grown into a deeply fulfilling passion that connects me with a broader community of growers, collectors, and artists. Every new bloom in my hybridizing program is a small act of creativity and discovery. I still get a thrill each season when the seedlings begin to flower—especially when one hints at the tall, unusual form beauty I am striving to create.
Daylilies are not just flowers. They are history, art, and joy all rolled into one. Whether you are new to the hobby or a seasoned grower, there is always something new to discover in the world of daylilies.
The Mo-Kan Daylily Club will have a Public Sale of double fan daylily bundles at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday, September 6th at 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. or sold out. Cash or Credit Only.
Steven Stoll is the vice president of the MoKan Daylily Society and has been a member for two years. His garden is located outside Braymer, MO.
Daylily ‘Purple Tarantula’
Asiatic lilies and Daylily ‘Star Trooper’
Daylily ‘Wild Dreams’
Photos by Steven Stoll.
It’s not Summer without Fireflies!
Firefly Petunias: by day, they look like ordinary white petunias. But in the evening, they emanate a soft glow that looks like moonlight, and they’re fragrant, too - the perfect addition to enhance your evening patio or porch time. Now only $29.99 each or 3 for $80 ($26.67 ea.) while supply lasts!
Summer Sales - see our Facebook page or visit store for details.
1430 Hwy. 58 Lbpavlak@gmail.com. Cell/text: 573-682-7193. Sun. 1-5 pm
Please Note: CLOSED Friday July 4th for Independence Day! ~ Follow us on Facebook for all the Latest News & Specials ~
BLUE SPRINGS
Westlake, 1205 N 7 Hwy
Westlake, 918 SW 7 Hwy
BONNER SPRINGS
Westlake, 626 S 130th St
FAIRWAY
Hen House, 2724 W 53rd St
INDEPENDENCE
Westlake, 415 E 24 Hwy
KANSAS CITY, KS
Hen House, 8120 Parallel Pkwy
KANSAS CITY, MO
Planter’s Seed Company, 513 E Walnut
Soil Service Garden Center, 7130 Troost
Suburban L & G, 4 W 135th St
The Greater Kansas City Water Garden Society Presents 2025 Aquatic Frolic Tour
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
I-70 Aug 9 Tour #5, Cass County
Tickets for all 5 tours are $15. Good for all tour dates and locations.
More information about the tour is available on the WGS website www.kcwatergardens.com, or on the Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City Facebook page.
Sutherlands, 311 W 72nd St
Westlake, 1000 Westport Rd
Westlake, 5009 NE Vivion Rd
Westlake, 6201 Independence Ave
Westlake, 104 W 63rd St
Westlake, 9715 N Ash Ave
LEAWOOD
Hen House, 11721 Roe Ave
LEE’S SUMMIT
Randy’s Lakeview Nursery, 1820 NE County Park Rd
Westlake, 103 S M-291 Hwy
Westlake, 444 SW Ward Rd
Westlake, 3511 SW Market St
LENEXA
Hen House, 15000 W 87th Pkwy
Suburban L & G, 9275 Dunraven St
Westlake, 15225 W 87th Pkwy
Westlake, 10080 Chestnut St
LIBERTY
Family Tree Nursery, 830 W Liberty
LOUISBURG
Swan’s Water Gardens, 4385 W 247th St
N KANSAS CITY, MO
KC Pond, 1557 Swift
OLATHE
Hen House, 13600 Blackbob Rd
Sutherlands, 16665 W 151st St
Westlake, 1185 W Santa Fe
OVERLAND PARK
Family Tree Nursery, 8424 Farley
Hen House, 11930 College Blvd
Hen House, 6900 W 135th St
Suburban L & G, 10501 Roe Ave
Westlake, 9301 Santa Fe Dr
Westlake, 11200 Antioch Rd Westlake, 6327 W 119th St Westlake, 7821 W 151st St
PRAIRIE VILLAGE
Hen House, 4050 W 83rd St
Hen House, 6950 Mission Ln Westlake, 4049 Sommerset
RAYMORE
Creekside Market, 800 E Walnut St
RAYTOWN
Westlake, 10130 E 350 Hwy
SHAWNEE
Earl May Garden Center, 21700 Midland Dr
Family Tree Nursery, 7036 Nieman Rd Westlake, 12230 W 63rd St
SMITHVILLE
Pack’s Hardware, 116 N US Hwy 169
LAWRENCE
Westlake, 601 Kasold Dr Westlake, 711 W 23rd St
Botanical Dreams, 612 N 2nd St
OTTAWA The Wet Lilies
It’s Summertime and the Living is Easy for Some Perennials
As summer temperatures persist for long stretches of time and rain becomes more scarce, finding plants that can hold up to extremes is increasingly important to conserve resources and ensure plant survival. July is a good time to walk gardens and nurseries to take stock of plants that are up to the challenge. Many native prairie plants are up to the summer heat and drought challenge. Making observations and taking notes about plants that are thriving in July is an excellent way to identify resilient plants for your landscape. At the top of my list are Salvias, Rudbeckias, and Brunneras.
Salvias are one of my favorite groups. We grow a variety of Salvias, ranging from culinary and medicinal sages, to tender perennials that are often grown as annuals in our zone, to hardy perennial natives and cultivars. They all prefer full sun but can tolerate a few hours of shade and will adapt to a variety of soils, though they do best with sharp drainage.
We use the Salvia nemorosa culti-
vars ‘May Night’, ‘Rose Marvel’, and ‘Crystal Blue’ extensively in landscape installations for their heat and drought tolerance, compact size, long bloom time, unique texture, and attractiveness to pollinators. From deep purple to magenta pink to icy blue, there’s a Salvia to complement any planting. Deadheading spent flowers will produce additional rounds of long-lasting blooms. Pair them with coneflowers (Echinacea), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), milkweeds (Asclepias) and grasses for long-lasting summer color that won’t wilt.
Native Salvia azurea or pitcher sage is another excellent plant, with sky blue blooms in midsummer on 3-4’ plants. Cutting pitcher sage back by half in mid-May will produce a more compact and full plant with more flowers. Combine it with native false aster (Boltonia asteroides), wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium), and rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccafolium) to grow a visually cooling mid to late summer prairie pollinator bed.
The genus Rudbeckia offers an
extraordinary variety of natives and native selections. Rudbeckias are keystone plants, supporting 20 species of caterpillars and 29 species of specialist pollinators. Their dried seed cones attract goldfinches and other seed eating songbirds through winter, and their stems provide habitat for nesting native bees.
The native Rudbeckia hirta has huge 3-4” golden yellow flowers with brown centers. Although the plants can be short-lived, you’ll never notice because they self seed. Grow them in full sun where they’ll reach up to 3’ tall.
Rudbeckia maxima, also called giant cabbage leaf coneflower, is more about the big, bold, blue foliage than flowers. Think of it as a hosta for full sun. Tall, 3-5’ tall spikes holding yellow blooms that resemble small sunflowers emerge in summer from the basal foliage clumps. They’re especially lovely mixed with lowgrowing, finely textured grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) to contrast.
Where space is tight, native se-
lections like Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Little Goldstar’ and Rudbeckia hirta ‘Golden Sunspot’ bring the same bright blooms and summer toughness on compact plants that top out at 12-18” tall.
For shade gardeners, nothing beats Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) for tough shade garden plantings. They’re deer resistant, and we’ve had good luck with them growing to full size under mature shade trees where hostas shrink. Striking silver foliage is detailed with dark green veins, and different cultivars like ‘Jack Frost’, ‘Alexandria’ and ‘Alexander’s Great’ grow a range of distinctive leaf sizes and variegations. Brunneras typically grow 1216” high with a spread of 16-24”, and produce delightful, long-lasting, tiny blue flowers in clusters each spring. They contrast beautifully with other plants and provide a pop of light in shady spaces.
With the right plants your summer garden can thrive while you enjoy a cold beverage on the patio.
Amy Albright and her husband, Doug Davison, own Vinland Valley Nursery, a full service organic nursery and greenhouse that includes a huge selection of native plants and features a U-pick flower garden, workshops and a garden shop just south of Lawrence, KS. Their team includes experienced landscapers, plant growers, and artists, including their three daughters who grew up in the business.
Brunnera
Rudbeckia hirta
Salvia azurea var. grandiflora
Salvia nemorosa ‘May Night’
Landscape Design, Installation and Maintenance
25 Things I Love about Native Plants – Part 1
During my first spring in Missouri (1992), I was picking up a load of native plants from Pan’s Garden near Mountain View, Missouri. Owners Angel and the late Tom Kruzen served me a memorable breakfast: pink mayapple jelly and biscuits, pancakes and maple syrup from local trees, and wild leek omelettes. I remember it like it was yesterday. Wild leeks (Allium tricoccum) are a delicacy that should be harvested only from plants grown in your backyard, because wild harvesting can be harmful to their populations and habitat. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery and Prairie Moon Nursery, grow them from seed and sell them retail. They are easy to grow in shady gardens. Trim a small portion of the spring leaves (for your eggy delights) for the first few years, and when you have large enough plants, you can cook with the bulbs.
I love fresh green plants pushing up through the ground in
In recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Grow Native! native plant marketing and education program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, veteran native plant horticulturist Scott Woodbury shares insights on some of his favorite native plants. Part 2 will be published in the August 2025 issue.
early spring. For me, this welcome sight marks the turning of the seasons and bids farewell to the doldrums of winter. I became a horticulturist in April 1979. That spring, I noticed bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, not native) shooting up like asparagus, as if it were the first time a plant had emerged from its winter slumber. Ever since, I have been addicted to plants, especially native plants that quickly pop out of the ground, like wild indigo (Baptisia spp.) and hollow-stemmed Joe Pye (Eupatorium fistulosum).
Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) and sedges (Carex spp.) often exist in marginally maintained lawns, especially in shade. Seldom are these plants introduced, but they are woodland-remnant plants that have held on, from a time before European settlement. While to some the plants may signal a weedy lawn, to others, like me, they are delights of spring. They are most noticeable in
early April when spring beauty is in bloom. Perfectly maintained lawns don’t have them, but “unimproved” lawns tend to harbor a few species. I recently consulted on a project that had five species of native sedges and common violet covering about 30% of the “weedy lawn” under a massive old sweet gum.
There is a special something that comes from pine tree candles, the fast new growth at the end of pine branches in spring. It’s happening in my yard right now. Last year, my shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) grew 2 feet from three consecutive flushes of pine candles. Oak and hickory are similar, with their buds rapidly expanding in spring. This marks a good time to go hunting for morel mushrooms. Shortleaf pines are fast-growing. They are tall and narrow and fit into small urban spaces.
I love flowers of American lin-
den (also known as basswood) trees (Tilia americana), which bloom in late spring. I love their sweet fragrance, and how they are a magnet for bees during the day and moths by night. I especially enjoy gathering fresh flowers from a ladder, drying them, and later steeping them in hot (not boiling) water for a lovely herbal tea. Add dried strawberry or raspberry leaves for extra complexity and color. Other intensely fragrant tree flowers that I enjoy including in teas are honey locust and Kentucky coffee tree blossoms.
If you have an affection for edible native plants, as I do, here are two other wild edibles to consider: mulberry (Morus rubus) and blackberry (Rubus spp.). I like to use them to make caipirinhas cocktails, the national beverage of Brazil (made with cachaca, which is distilled sugarcane juice). Recipes are easy to find. I modify the recipe by muddling blackberries along with
Scott Woodbury was the horticulturist at Shaw Nature Reserve for 30 years and stepped down from that position in June 2022. He continues to work on contract for Shaw Nature Reserve to carry out native landscaping education and has launched his own business called Cacalia: Native Garden Design and Wilding. Find suppliers of native plants, seeds, and services at the Grow Native! Resource Guide: www.moprairie.org.
5 American Linden flowers
the limes to make a colorful, yummy adult beverage. Blackberries have wicked thorns, so you may consider thornless varieties for your garden at home. I saw some recently for sale at Maypop and Bowwood Farms.
The most amazing shows are performed on the tiniest stages. I’m referring to bees who perform buzz pollination on rose petals, a vibratory dance worth seeing. At home in Brentwood, I grow Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) in the trampoline garden, where it meanders all over the place, popping up in blank spaces and attracting bees.
I love that showy evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa) reminds me of bison every time I see it growing. I saw this plant growing at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas, marking the spot where buffalo wallowed 150 years ago. Here is a summary from George Catlin on encountering a massive herd of bison in 1832.
“…we met the most immense herd crossing the Missouri River — from which we were highly delighted to make our escape. It was in the midst of the ‘running season,’ and we had heard the ‘roaring’ of the herd (several miles from them). When we came in sight, we were actually terrified at the immense numbers that were streaming down the green hills on one side of the river, and galloping up and over the bluffs on the other. The river was filled, and in parts blackened, with their heads and horns, as they were swimming about … I rose in my canoe, and by my gestures and hallooing, kept them from coming in contact with us, until we were out of their reach.”
George Catlin sketched this scene in 1832, during his long voyage on the Missouri River. (Catlin, Letters and Notes, vol. 2, no. 32, 1841; reprint 1973)
(continued on page 12)
Wild Leeks 1
Baptisia 2
Joe Pye 2
Spring Beauty 3
Shortleaf Pine 4
Mulberry 6
Blackberry 6
Carolina Rose 7
Carex 3
Photo by Mervin Wallace.
Photo by Mervin Wallace.
Photo by Prairie Nursery.
Photo by Mervin Wallace.
Photo by Scott Woodbury.
Photo by James Faupel.
Photo by Mervin Wallace.
Photo by Mervin Wallace.
25 Things
(continued from page 11)
I have a love-hate relationship with cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum). I’ve seen indigo buntings drinking dew that pools in the cups formed by the plant’s perfoliate leaves. I’ve even seen strands of American toad eggs in there. What bugs me is how aggressively this plant spreads in the garden from seed. Every seed is fertile and has the power to take over.
Certain plants are super-foods for pollinators, including milkweed (Asclepias spp.), mountain mint (Pyncthanthemum spp.), blazing star (Liatris spp.), ironweed
(Vernonia spp.), goldenrod (Solidago spp.), aster (Symphyotrichum spp.), and Joe pye (Eutrochium spp.). Two other super-food plants are willowleaf aster (Symphyotrichum praealtum), attractive to monarch butterflies in late summer, and aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium), which supports a wide range of butterflies and bees in fall. I love them both, though willowleaf aster is an aggressive, suckering plant that belongs in grassland restorations or large, steep hillsides for erosion control rather than formal native gardens.
My favorite jam is made from wild plum (Prunus spp.). It’s tart and rich in flavor. Acquiring a basket of plum fruits, though, is easier said than done. Plums trees require elbow room and are selfinfertile. You need at least two to three seedlings to get effective cross-pollination and fruit production. The other thing that’s tricky is that most plum species produce fruits the size of a nickel. That’s a lot of work pitting fruits. I find that planting big fruit plum (Prunus mexicana), which has fruit the size of a quarter, makes fruit harvest more productive.
Seldom does an opportunity arise where horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) can be used in the garden. It has highly aggressive runners, overcoming any plants growing nearby, except trees and shrubs. I recently designed a garden for a modern house that had a unique architectural feature: a concrete wall that formed an enclosed box with the house on the back side. It was the perfect place for horsetail. I considered giant cane, but horsetail seemed to be a better scale for the house. Who doesn’t love horsetail?
To be continued in the August issue.
Photo by Mervin Wallace.
Photo by Mervin Wallace.
Photo by Mervin Wallace.
Photo by Scott Woodburry.
Photo by Mervin Wallace.
Photo by Mervin Wallace.
Willowleaf Aster 10
Cup Plant 9
Goldenrod 10
Blazing Star 10
Wild Plum 11
Horsetail 12
Rose Report
I’m hungry – I’m thirsty – I’m blooming
It’s July. Hot, maybe dry, and the spring flush of the roses is fading, insects and disease are prevalent! What is important now is to make sure the roses are as strong and healthy as they can be by maintaining the roses.
Roses are ferocious feeders during the spring and summer months. There are many rose fertilizers available that assist the roses to be the best they can be. I prefer to use combination products (fertilize, disease control, insect control), preferably systemic. Adding amendments like fish emulsion and organic nutrients help the roses in weathering the hot summer days.
With the hot weather, it becomes very important for the roses to be watered just as we humans need to stay hydrated. The best option is to deep water one inch of water per week. Spraying the roses with a sprayer or overhead irrigation causes many diseases like black spot and other fungus diseases. Don’t trust the weather reports rain totals. The garden might not receive as much rain as the weather station. Evaluate the status of the garden to ensure that each rose bush has enough water to sustain growth and strength, but not too much to weaken the plant.
As temperatures rise, the roses will open and fade faster. Deadheading becomes a necessity. Removing spent blooms helps the rose focus on new growth rather than trying to sustain the old blooms or attempting to create rose hips. Deadheading is a way to inspect the health of the roses as well as to prune for shaping the bush.
One important issue to healthy roses is making sure the rose bush does not produce growth from below the crown on a grafted rose. As you deadhead and prune the roses, ensure there is no growth coming
Another July challenge are insects, especially Japanese Beetles. Avoid spraying any insecticides so as to not kill the good insects. This becomes a balancing game. For Japanese Beetles, my advice is to manu-
from below the crown. This would be from the root stock and will overrun the grafted part of the bush if allowed to continue to grow. Remove this growth and ensure the crown is at or below the soil level. The attached photo to this article is an example of what I call “gone wild” or root stock has taken over. While it is beautiful, it is not the tea rose that was intended to be there.
CORINDA STALLBAUMER Consulting
Rosarian
ally pick the beetles and dump them into soapy water. If done early in the morning, the beetles are easier to remove. I am also experimenting with companion planting. Allium and garlic planted this year to try to convince the beetles to go elsewhere.
There are two excellent articles on the Kansas City Rose Society website. One article is about deadheading roses with a link to a more
in-depth article (https://www.kansascityrosesociety.org/deadheadroses). The other is a great resource for common rose attackers that helps identify the possible issues with alternatives for solutions (https://
www.kansascityrosesociety.org/ rose-insect-pests).
Use the resources listed below to learn more about rose care and the many types of roses:
Kansas City Rose Society website www.kansascityrosesociety.org
American Rose Society website www.rose.org
Help with specific questions RoseHelp@KCRoseSociety.org
Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden www.kansascityrosesociety.org/ about-the-rose-library
In St. Joseph, contact Bob at Moffet Nursery and Garden Shop, 6451 NE State Route 6, St. Joseph, MO (816) 233-1223.
Corinda Stallbaumer is an American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian and a Missouri Master Gardener in Buchanan County maintaining the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion Memorial Rose Garden in St. Joseph, Missouri. She continues to bring increased rose interest to St. Joseph and surrounding areas.
A tea rose that has reverted to root stock.
Japanese beetles
Bring the Heat: Summer Stars for Your Garden
The weather this spring has been lovely. As I have been enjoying the moderate temperatures and timely rains, I keep thinking that eventually the moisture is going to shut off and the heat is going to arrive. It is pessimistic to think that way but let’s be fair, last July was our warmest month of the year. We had decent rain at the beginning of the month in 2024, then pretty dry the rest of July.
As gardeners in the midwest we are accustomed to these shifts. It’s how we prepare our gardens for these swings that is key. Choosing plants that can handle our hot, dry, summer months with ease is vitally important! Let’s focus on preparing the garden or even your containers for the dog days of July.
Let your plants have periods of dry/stress! You need to condition them that it’s ok to be dry and force them to push their roots deep in the soil. If you constantly water, you
will have shallow roots because the water is available right there. When you do water, water deeply. Soaking down in the soil and if in a container soaking so the water is draining out the bottom of the pot. If you have an irrigation system do NOT run it every day. Water deeply once or twice a week at most, depending on the temperatures and the moisture that falls from the sky. This tough love will pay off!
There are different levels of stress. Don’t cave to a little wilting. A little wilt shouldn’t damage your plant long term. My hydrangeas get some afternoon sun and they sometimes wilt. But once the sun sets they are fine. Yes, wilting for a long period can damage the plant cells and disrupt or damage blooms. But wilting is just a plant’s way of adapting to the environment/conditions. Make sure you do some investigating, check the soil, make care decisions based on information and
evaluation. Not “Oh no it’s wilting! I must water immediately.”
Understand your location and the challenges of each. Hot, west afternoon sun, tree competition, rocky soils, clay soils. Besides picking appropriate plants for these conditions, can you help your plants overcome these challenges? Amending soil with good organic matter, mulching to help retain moisture, adding additional shade possibly to help relieve some of that west sun. Try to give your plants any help you can.
There are both perennials and annuals that handle hot and dry with ease, that are not only tough, but beautiful. Here are a few of my hot/ dry favorites:
Lantana- These summer annuals are a must in the summer garden. Once established their woody stems hold moisture in like a fortress. Their blooms are clusters of small tube shaped flowers. They are butterfly and hummingbird magnets! They
come in pretty much every color except green and blue. You have small scale Lantanas like the Little Lucky series that get about 10-12 inches tall and wide, while others get 2030 inches tall/wide like the Luscious series.
Euphorbia- There are a multitude of annual options out there. I am still on Team Diamond; Diamond Frost, Diamond Mountain and Diamond Snow are the best of the industry in my opinion. They are tough yet add a delicate airiness to containers and landscapes. Look for Diamond Mountain when you drive in our front gates this summer.
Rudbeckia- Annual and perennial, they are both tough. They add cheerful, long-blooming flowers to the landscape and are great as cut flowers too. At the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, we are trying some new annual varieties this summer: ‘Pawnee Spirit’ and ‘Sunsport Bicolor’. We have had
Anne Wildeboor, a Kansas State University graduate in Agriculture/Horticulture, has over 20 years of experience in public horticulture, including roles at Powell Gardens and the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. She loves sharing her passion for plants with the public and working alongside dedicated staff and volunteers.
ANNE WILDEBOOR Horticulturist
Lantana
White Diamond Frost Euphorbia Rudbeckia Nepeta
Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.
Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens.
good success with our annual Rudbeckias coming back the next year.
Nepeta- I am going to keep talking about this perennial. Sorry, but not sorry, because it truly is fantastic! I love how easy it is, how long it blooms and how little I have to do for it to show off. Try ‘Kitten Around’ or ‘Cat’s Meow’ or ‘Junior Walker’s Low’.
Salvia/Perovskia/Sage- I am going to lump these all together. Annual, perennial, herb. Different genuses, same common name, maybe because they all have similar likes for their growing conditions. Sages can take the heat in stride and must have well drained soil.
Gomphrena- The flowers on these little Globe Amaranth blossoms have little to no moisture in them. They are very much like crepe paper flowers you made as a kid. Without that moisture present the blooms aren’t affected by the weather conditions.
Sedum- I have been looking at new groundcover sedums for a few spaces. I love all the different texture and color options. I am going to give a few of the ‘Rock N Grow’ series a try. I am singing AC/DC when I look at the ‘Back in Black’ variety. Sedum ‘Angelina’ is one of my lime green favorites, it’s small but mighty and the color change throughout the year is awesome.
Kniphofia- I think this is a new one for some gardeners. The Red Hot Poker is the common name and exactly what the flower looks like. They come in hot colors and love full sun with well drained soil. Check out ‘Mango Popsicle’ or any of the “smokin” varieties in the ‘Pyromania series’.
I wish you luck in your gardening endeavors this summer. Enjoy these long summer days with your plants! Each year presents new challenges and fun. We always miss these hot, dry, summer days in December.
Miami County Garden Tour Sept. 5 & 6
Sponsored by the Marais des Cygnes Extension District Master Gardeners, the sixth biannual Miami County Fall Garden Tour returns September 5 & 6. “A September to Remember” features five diverse country gardens near Paola and Louisburg. Visitors will experience a range of garden design styles including an English estate garden, natural landscapes and outdoor art galleries. The butterfly and wildlife gardens, including the restored prairie, unveil unique ecosystems, while the vegetable, high tunnel and flower cutting gardens showcase specific garden functions. We introduce two of the five gardens now, with the remaining three showcased in the August issue.
Mrs. O’s Farm: Texanna Ollenberger, An Old-fashioned Vegetable and Flower Farm
In 1996, Texanna moved to the 20-acre property which included a magnificent historic farm house built in 1908. She revitalized the abandoned vegetable beds by heavily mulching to create enviable WEEDFREE gardens. Her crops include asparagus, rhubarb and sprawling zucchini, melons and pumpkins. Texanna preserves her harvest from herbs, berries and fruit trees through canning, drying and freezing. However, Texanna demonstrates that a farm focused on food production can also be beautiful and artistic. She has added multiple flower beds with bulbs, daylilies, irises, gladiolas and roses mixed with heirloom annual flowers to entice bees and butterflies. More color is provided by containers of tender perennials like geraniums scattered along the pathways and in decorative nooks. A large collection of fun garden art, including repurposed tractor parts and antiques, will delight visitors as they stroll the pathways through the many “garden rooms.”
Long Lips Farm: Lenora Larson, Mixing Wildlife Habitats and Artistic Design
Long Lips Farm contains the four primary Kansas ecosystems within its 27 acres, including a prairie remnant and a wetland. These diverse habitats attract wildlife to the 2-acre garden as demonstrated by the multiple certifications for butterfly, pollinator and wildlife habitats. Hardscaping provides the cohesive design element with masses of over 500 species of ornamental and native plants placed in the English Estate style landscape. Lenora has scattered the specific plants to support butterfly caterpillars, foraging pollinators, and birds throughout the beds. Look for the “Cat Food” signs that identify butterfly caterpillar host plants! Despite Lenora’s passion for insects, beauty is the first priority with a focus on the color pairing of purple and chartreuse to provide drama. The garden also serves as an outdoor art gallery with metal, ceramic and concrete sculptures, including 69 fish that swim among the plants. Long Lips Farm demonstrates that you do not need to compromise on beauty when you welcome wildlife to your garden.
Tour Details
Admission is just $20 per person for both days. Purchase tickets at the K-State Research and Extension Marais des Cygnes District - Paola Extension office at 913 N. Pearl St. Suite #1, Paola, KS before the tour, or at any garden site during the event. Cash or checks accepted. Start your adventure at any garden. Please remember that pets and strollers are not allowed. For more information, see our Ad on page 5 with the QR Code for a map and addresses. Also visit: www.facebook.com/mdcemg, www.maraisdescygnes.ksu.edu, or call the Paola Extension Office 913294-4306.
Black & Bloom Salvia
Gomphrena
Black Stonecrop Sedum Kniphofia Mango Popcicle
Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.
More Butterflies in Your Garden
Remember when your family took summer road trips in the Midwest and the car’s windshield would be covered with dead bugs? Now the car arrives spotless because the insects have vanished. We know why: massive pesticide use, loss of habitat, and climate change. Even we experienced butterfly gardeners are seeing fewer butterflies. The moths are gone too. I’ve stopped setting up my mercuryvapor light for mothing because no one shows up.
How can we remain butterfly gardeners?
First, adjust your expectations. Migrating Monarchs are on the slippery slope to extinction. We must continue planting milkweed to save them, but don’t measure your success by the number of Monarchs you see in your garden. Unlike Monarchs, most butterflies do not migrate, they live in your yard year-round. Even if you have everything a new or rare species of butterfly needs, it’s unlikely that a gravid (pregnant) butterfly could survive to find your garden as she flies through clouds of insecticides. She must also avoid hungry predators, automobiles and inclement weather. Which butterflies still flutter in your yard? Most of us have Cabbage Whites, Sulphurs and Skippers. Perhaps you’ve been disdainful because of their smaller size and plentiful numbers, but these are your successful resident butterflies in a changing world.
The Cabbage White
Cabbage Whites are the most numerous butterfly in the United States, although they are not na-
tives. Their arrival from Europe in the 1600s was an unfortunate accident because their caterpillar is the infamous “Cabbage Worm” that eats all members of the mustard (AKA “cole”) family, including wild mustards, cabbage, broccoli and kale. Even though broccoli is my favorite vegetable, I welcome the many Cabbage Whites in my garden. If you encourage rather than kill these caterpillars, you will have clouds of charming white butterflies from March through October. Your vegetables will need protection and row covers seem to be the best solution.
Don’t use insecticides, which kill all butterflies and bees. Even the organic control, Bt (the spores of Bacillus thuringiensis) does not differentiate between Cabbage Whites and Monarchs. In the landscape, we need a large inedible host plant. For me, that is colewort, Crambe
cordifolia, a magnificent specimen plant. I also grow ‘Redbor’ kale for the green caterpillars, so beautiful against the burgundy leaves. (Note: two native moths, Cabbage Loopers and Cross-lined Cabbage Worms, also eat mustards. I smash them on sight.) Cabbage Whites have continuous broods during the growing season and wake up early from their winter diapause. They can be a consistent source of lepidopteran joy.
Summary
Don’t pin your definition of success on seeing Monarchs or other large charismatic species. Focus on the butterflies that already call your garden “home” such as the much more numerous smaller butterflies. You can still feel like a successful butterfly gardener enjoying Cabbage Whites, Hairstreaks, Skippers and Sulphurs.
COME SEE MY GARDEN!
Long Lips Farm will be one of five featured gardens on the Miami County Garden Tour September 5 & 6. You will see my 27 acres of habitat surrounding a two-acre English Estate Garden with both ornamental and native host and nectar plants scattered throughout the lush landscape. Handouts will be available to answer your questions. For more information, see our Ad on page 5 and an article on page 15 describes Long Lips Farm.
LENORA LARSON Butterfly Maven
Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardener, Idalia Butterfly Society and Kansas Native Plant Society member, Lenora Larson gardens and hosts butterflies in the cruel winds and clay soil of Paola, Kansas. She may be contacted at lenora.longlips@gmail.com.
Colewort is over 6 feet tall when blooming. The huge leaves feed Cabbage Whites and pollinators adore the honey-scented flowers.
A male Cabbage White nectaring on Loosestrife.
Photos by Lenora Larson.
Upcoming Garden Events
Heartland Hosta and Shade Plant Society
Sat, Sep 13, Hospitality at 9:30a brief meeting, speaker 10a-12p; at the Woods Chapel Community of Christ Church, 500 NE Woods Chapel Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064. Guests are welcome.
Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society Sun, Jul 20, 1:30-3:30p; at Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes St, Kansas City, MO. Everyone is invited and refreshments will be served.
Leavenworth County Master Gardeners
Wed, Jul 9, 11a; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Hosta Expert and Douglas County Master Gardener Jeanne Klein will discuss Shade Gardening and particulars of working with hostas and shade plants to beautify your garden. The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For more info contact Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700.
Leawood Garden Club
Tues, Sep 23, 10:30a; at Cure’ of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS. We are honored that our first guest Speaker will be Cameron Kincaid, Senior Manager of the GrassPad in Olathe, KS. He is going to speak on “Turf Maintenance in the Fall”. Cameron has been with GrassPad for 22 years, so he knows a lot! Stop by and see him at 425 N Rawhide Dr in Olathe. We hope you’ll join us. We look forward to seeing our friends and making new ones!
Olathe Garden & Civic Club
Tues, Aug 19, 1-2:30p; at Grace United Methodist Church, 11485 S Ridgeview Rd, Olathe, KS 66061. August Meeting & Floral Design Class **Free & Open to the Public** Join us as we prepare for our annual flower show in September! Featuring floral design instruction from Karen Barnhart, an NGC Floral Arrangement Judge.
Raytown Garden Club
Tues, Jul 1, 10a; at Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church, 6429 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO 64133. Program will be “Using Native Plants in Container Gardens to Provide Sanctuary for Bees, Butterflies and Birds”, presented by Lu Tarr, Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau. Guests are always welcome. For more information please check out our Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub.
Daylily Open Garden Tour
Fri, Jul 4 and Sat, Jul 5, 9a-1p; at Hart’s Daylilies, 7460 W 255th, Louisburg, KS. Celebrating 33 years. Pre-orders taken for August delivery. Over 700 varieties to choose from. Call or text 816/769-4600 for more information.
Garden Railroad Tour Sat, Jul 12, 8a-4p; Sat, Jul 26, 8a-4p; and Sat,
Aug 23, 8a-4p. Adults and kids are invited to tour a variety of unique train gardens at homes in the greater Kansas City area. They are like a miniature world with model trains running through garden landscaping, with small houses and buildings, trees, plants, water features, bridges and tunnels. The admission for this selfguided tour is $10 per car which includes seeing all the gardens on tour. The host, MO-KAN Garden Railroaders will donate 50 percent of the proceeds to Harvesters. For tickets and tour guide, go to www.mokangardenrailroaders.org.
Water Garden Society Tour
Jul12, Jul 19, Aug 2, Aug 9. See our ad on page 7 for details. Also visit kcwatergardens. com/2025-tour.
Tour of the Dennis Patton Hosta Garden
Tues, Jul 15, 1-2:30p; Olathe Garden & Civic Club at Deanna Rose Farmstead, 13800 Switzer Rd, Overland Park KS 66221. **Free & Open to the Public** Featuring a Master Gardener-led tour of this hosta garden, recognized by the National Hosta Society.
Conservation Adults: Ladies Night Out
Tues, Jul 15, 6-8p; at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 NW Parks Rd, Blue Springs, MO. FREE. Let’s get outside for a fun-filled sunny summer evening of outdoor adventure under the sky! Discover how to use an atlatl, test your archery skills, dip your toes into kayaking and participate in other outdoor activities that will enhance your experiences in nature. Join us for our annual Ladies Night Out at Burr Oak Woods. Wear close-toed shoes and bring a water bottle with you. Walk-in ages 16+
Community Garden Tuesday Talks
Tues, Jul 15, 6:30-7:30p; at Harmon Park, W 77th Pl & Delmar St, Prairie Village, KS 66208. The Prairie Village Community Gardens and the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Office are partnering to offer a series of monthly educational garden workshops. These sessions will be held on the third Tues of every month from April through Sept. In case of inclement weather, the workshops will take place at the Harmon Park Pavilion. All are welcome to attend these free workshops. Bring your lawn chairs and notebooks!
Summer Petal Dollar Day/Vase Day Jul 15-19; at Paula’s Petals, 33607 E 199th St, Pleasant Hill, MO. Florist. Greenhouse. Flower farm. Earn Petal dollars- $1 for every $10 spent. Bring in your unused vases, bowls, pedestals to swap for Petal Dollars. www.paulas-petals.com, call or text for more information 816-929-0522, or visit us on Facebook.
Summer Nights in the Greenhouse Jul 18 and Aug 15; at Vinland Valley, 1606 N 600 Rd, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Join us and stay late third Fridays in July and August for evening shopping, mocktails, and relaxation. vinlandvalleynursery.com; 785-594-2966
Volunteers Needed for Garden Cleanups Sat, Jul 26, 9-11:30a; at Kaw Point Riverfront Park, 1403 Fairfax Trfy, Kansas City, KS. We will supply trash bags but suggest that participants wear their own work gloves, sturdy shoes or boots, and long pants. We will also be weeding the rain gardens and maintaining the woodland restoration. Questions? Contact us at: friendsofkawpointpark6@gmail.com.
Sharing the Love of Gardening
Tues, Jul 29, 6-7p; at Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64112. Sharing the Love of Gardening tells the stories behind 75 years of Kansas City’s Westport Garden Club. Presented by Kristie C Wolferman & Marianne Kilroy. Kristie C. Wolferman, who also wrote The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: A History, and professional photographer and club member Marianne Kilroy, discuss how the group evolved from a women’s garden club into an organization focused on education and action in conservation, horticulture, and native plants.
African Violet Display and Sale
Sat, Aug 2, 10a-2p; at West iND Inclusion Center, 10908 Winner Rd, Independence, MO 64052. The Kansas City African Violet Study Group presents a display and sale of African Violets. Come and learn about different varieties of African Violets and how to grow beautiful plants. Event is free. Cash, Venmo or Paypal for sale plants.
Daylily Public Sale
Sat, Sep 6, 8:30a-3p or sold out. Loose Park Garden Center.
Miami County Fall Garden Tour
Sep 5-6, 9a-5p. “A September to Remember”, sponsored by the Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardeners returns. Five country gardens near Paola and Louisburg are showcased, including a certified butterfly and pollinator garden, a restored prairie, a high tunnel and herb garden, a container and art display, and an extensive cutting garden. The $20 ticket is good for both days and can be purchased at your first garden stop or at the Paola Extension Office. Watch for our ad with a map and descriptive articles in the July and August issues of the Kansas City Gardener. More information will be available on www.facebook.com/mdcemg, www.maraisdescygnes.ksu.edu or call our Paola Extension Office 913-294-4306.
CLASSES | WORKSHOPS
Strawbale Gardening Revisited Thurs, Jul 10, 11:30a; Sunflower Room of the Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Presented by Reggie Moten. We last looked at straw bale gardening in 2016, when 3 of our EMGs experimented with growing vegetables in straw bales. There were mixed results, but overall, they succeeded. Reggie Moten, a Wy Co EMG, oversees the Righteous Roots Garden in northeast Wyan-
dotte County and has been having great success growing in straw bales. He will update us on the techniques, and all the ways in which straw bales can be utilized, including upright growing on trellises. The class is open to public. Registration is not required. A $10 class fee (cash or check) will be payable at the door. Questions? Call 913-299-9300.
Gladstone Children’s Garden Day Sat, Jul 12, 9a-12p; at Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum, 4109 NE Pleasant Valley Rd, Gladstone, MO 64119. Young children and their parents can experience visiting an active vegetable garden, take part in garden-themed activities, participate in a scavenger hunt for garden items from bugs to vegetables and flowers. They can experience MU Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) digging potatoes and leave with a sack filled with potatoes, onions, turnips and other vegetables that may be ready for harvest at the time. Extension Master Gardeners will also be on hand to answer any gardening questions. Families welcome, children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult
Bug Extravaganza
Sat, Jul 19, 10a-2p; at Lakeside Nature Center, 4701 E Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64132. Join Lakeside Nature Center for this native wildlife event and observe a working beehive and a caterpillar zoo. There will be information tables that feature insect life cycles, supporting pollinator species and insect predators. MU Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City Children’s Programs will be presenting “Flower Power.” Children will learn about the anatomy of flowers. They will discover plants can self-pollinate, cross-pollinate and that some true self-pollinators don’t need pollinators at all. Learn how and why flowers are pollinated, and what happens afterwards. For more information visit https://lakesidenaturecenter.org/
Growing and Caring for Blueberries
Successfully in Kansas
Thurs, Aug 7, 11:30a; at Sunflower Room of the Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Rick Mareske, owner of The Garden at Dogwood Forest, agroforestry expert, and commercial level blueberry producer, will present. Blueberries thrive in more acidic soil than we have in this part of Kansas, yet many of us want to grow them. It is possible to succeed and Rick Mareske will show us how. The class is open to public. Registration is not required. A $10 class fee (cash or check) will be payable at the door. Questions? Call 913-2999300.
List garden events like classes, workshops, club meetings, and plant sales for FREE!
Send details to elizabeth@kcgmag.com Deadline for the August issue is July 10.
GARDEN CALENDAR
July list of what to do in the garden.
LAWN
• Mow bluegrass and tall fescue at 3 to 3 1/2 inches.
• Mow Zoysia at 1 1/2 inches.
• Fertilize Zoysia to encourage summer growth with a high-nitrogen fertilizer.
• Let grass clippings fall to return nutrients to the soil.
• Look for summer diseases such as brown patches; treat as needed.
• Sharpen mower blades for a clean cut.
• Replace the lawn mower air filter and change the lawn mower oil per owner’s manual.
• Prepare to control perennial grassy weeds such as crabgrass, fescue, and nimblewill.
• Take a soil test to prepare for fall lawn renovation.
• Water deeply and less often for deep roots and a healthy lawn.
FLOWERS
• Remove faded flowers from annuals to stimulate more buds for late summer color.
• Deadhead perennials to prevent seeding and encourage plant growth.
• Replenish mulch layers; 2 to 3 inches deep is ideal.
• Cut fresh bouquets for enjoyment.
• Lightly fertilize annuals monthly for best flowering.
• Dig, divide, and replant crowded irises.
• Dig, divide, and replant daylilies.
• Fertilize roses for fall blossoms.
• Fertilize and water container gardens.
• Complete the final pinching of chrysanthemum tips for bushier plants.
TREES AND SHRUBS
• Water newly planted shrubs and young trees (planted within the last three to five years) during dry weather.
• Keep plants mulched to conserve moisture and cool roots.
• Remove sucker growth from the base of trees and along branches.
• Prune diseased, dead, or hazardous limbs.
VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
• Harvest fruits of your labor and enjoy.
• Control weeds’ growth to preserve water and nutrients.
• Fertilize vegetables to encourage plant development.
• Watch for foliar disease development on lower tomato leaves and treat with a fungicide.
• Prepare for fall gardening. Plant potatoes, broccoli, and other fall crops.
• Spray sweet corn to control corn earworms as silks emerge.
• Be on the lookout for pests in the garden and control.
• Remove old raspberry canes after harvest.
MISCELLANEOUS
• Keep compost pile moist for fast processing and turn occasionally.
• Take photographs of the garden to document success and for future planning.
Johnson County K-State Research and Extension recommends environmentally-friendly gardening practices. This starts by identifying and monitoring problems. Cultural practices and controls are the best approach for a healthy garden. If needed, use physical, biological or chemical controls. Always consider the least toxic approach first. Markis Hill is the horticulture agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.
July Shrub Specials
We’re embracing summer with monthly Shrub Specials. Visit Suburbanlg.com for this month’s deals.
