HELPFUL HINTS FOR A HEALTHY GARDEN Prepared by Jackie Smith University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener, Carver/Scott Counties 2017 © Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved..

Extension Master Gardeners are accredited by the University of Minnesota Extension to provide free, unbiased horticultural and environmental best practices. Our goal is to enhance local quality of life through informed decision making.

Helpful Hints for a Healthy Garden: Beyond the Basics Soil Plant Care Pest Prevention

Soil: one basic you can’t skip Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants

Healthy Soil HINT - Add Organic Matter Cover crops Compost

Cover Crops spring & fall

Cover Crops in November

Compost

Direct Composting (not just for vegetables)

Trench Composting

Incorporate Healthy Crops Early and Often

Plant Selection Right Plant for Right Place Look for pest resistance

HINT: Select appropriate plants using your Zone, soil type, sun exposure, wind, and water availability.

HINT: Before planting Look for Resistant Varieties

MONARDA, PHLOX Look for mildew resistant varieties

ROSES Look for blackspot resistant varieties

CUCUMBER ‘COUNTY FAIR’ Resists Cucumber Beetles, Bacterial Wilt

BUTTERNUT SQUASH Resists Squash vine borers

SWEET CORN tight husks at tip resist corn earworm

MALABAR SPINACH (BASELLA) laughs at heat

CHINESE CABBAGE highly resistant to imported cabbage worms (grow for fall crop)

VF1,2NSTA only helpful if you have that problem

HINT: Do your own variety trials

BASIC: Provide Great Plant Care Light Temperature Moisture Season Air Circulation Sanitation

HINT: Bright Light! – required for seedlings

HINT: Harden off transplants, including purchased plants

HINT: Protect at Planting

Growing HINTS Vegetables

HINT: You can transplant corn

HINT: get a head start on the season with transplant protection

HINT: Straw bales/shade cloth cool the soil & air at the other end of the season

HINT: Plant for a fall crop of cool season vegetables

No Insects on this spinach!

HINT: without proper moisture most plants will fail ______________ HINT: without proper moisture most plants will fail

HINT: Provide support and thin plants for good air circulation!!!

HINT: Grow double pepper plants and provide support

HINT: Hilling and mulching potatoes conserves water, prevents greening

HINT: No mulch on Squash – Less attractive to squash bugs

Growing HINTS Ornamentals

HINT: MULCH (see handout) Control Weeds Regulates Soil Moisture Some mulches add to Soil Structure

HINT: Mulch may not be a good idea if you have slugs

HINT: Support Perennials early

Perennials that like support: Peonies Smooth Hydrangea Delphinium Some lilies Plants in lower light conditions

Perennials that do well with pinching: Chrysanthemums Asters Perovskia Tall sedums Eupatorium Veronica Phlox

HINT: Pinch blooms on new plantings Fruit Trees – first year Strawberries – first month

Perennials that bloom longer with deadheading Platycodon Campanula Gaillardia Coreopsis Delphinium

More that bloom longer with deadheading Digitalis Phlox Lupine Achillea Rose

Perennials with increased plant vigor if deadheaded Most bulbs True lilies (ovaries only)

Deadhead to prevent rampant seeding Aquilegia Dicentra Centaurea Lamium

Perennials that reseed nicely (leave just a few seed stalks) Hosta Daylilies Scilla Puschkinia

Surprise Results

Deadhead for improved appearance (cut back to crown of plant) Hemerocallis Hosta Iris Astilbe

Deadhead for improved appearance (cut back to crown of plant) Aruncus Ligularia Oriental Poppy

HINT: Remove bloom stalks as they appear (personal preference) Hosta Stachys Penstemon Husker’s Red

Perennials to shear back for fresh leaf growth Aegopodium Geranium

More Perennials to shear for fresh leaf growth Artemesia Alchemilla Lamium

More perennials to shear back for fresh leaf growth Euphorbia (spring blooming spurge) Phlox subulata Nepeta Phalaris

HINT: Some Perennials benefit from thinning Phlox Boltonia Monarda Raspberries

HINT: Divide perennials when they show these symptoms Fewer blooms Smaller blooms Stunted or slow growth Empty center in plant clump

Perennials to divide in summer/fall Peonies Iris (every 3 years) Lilies Oriental poppies Strawberries Rhubarb

Perennials to divide in spring: Most perennials that bloom after mid-June Ornamental grasses

Winter protection for perennials Remove any diseased tops after they turn brown Allow healthy plants to stand to catch snow Mulch after top inch of soil is frozen

IPM HINTS All plants

IPM = Integrated Pest Management Start with basic good gardening practices Add knowledge of pests & problems Prevent whenever possible

IPM = Integrated Pest Management 4. Use chemical treatment only if no other solution is available, and the alternative is not acceptable!

IPM = Integrated Pest Management Hints are not meant to be an all inclusive class in IPM – just a few ideas to get you started

Vegetables: Rotate your crops

HINT: Look closely. Aphids everywhere, but help is on the way!

HINT: Encourage natural predators Protect our amphibians & reptiles

HINT: Plant a Trap Crop (Eggplant and Nicotiana preferred by Colorado potato beetles)

HINT: You may need to avoid roses if Japanese beetles become a problem

HINT: Physical Barriers - nylons on squash

Traditional Cutworm Barrier

HINT: Prevent insect damage with row covers – remove at bloom

HINT: Row Cover as Rabbit Fence

HINT: Handpick insects in all of their life stages

HINT: Keep peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers off the soil HINT: Keep peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers off the soil. Prevent soil contact with simple pea brush

HINT: Mulch, Elevate, and Space Widely

HINT: Water, soap, and oil can work wonders

HINT: Bt (Bacillus thurengiensis) for Brassicas var HINT: Bt (Bacillus thurengiensis) for Brassicas var. san diego for Potatoes – spray early and often

HINT: ….try a container if all else fails

HINT: Pull and destroy plants with virus

Tonight’s Class – Beyond the Basics Soil Plant Care Plant Selection Pest Prevention

HELPFUL HINTS FOR A HEALTHY GARDEN Jackie Smith Carver Scott ExtensionMaster Gardener Carver Scott Help Line: 952-466-5308 www.carverscottmastergardeners.org