Make hay while the sun shines
By Joanna Dunlap Kirby
Contributing gardening columnist,
Owner and operator of a cut flower farm in Garrard County
We have just passed the mid-mark of the year and the summer solstice. Daylight hours will now be a few minutes shorter each day as we head deeper into summer. There are still many chores to be done in the garden, but there are a few that need to be done sooner rather than later (make hay, so to speak, so we don’t procrastinate by putting things off).
I almost have all my garden mulched heavily with good, clean straw. I place it around any plants that are tall enough, as well as in all my walkways in the garden areas. You can use many types of mulch for this job, such as chopped up leaves, grass clippings (without any sprays), pine needles, straw, etc.
I know that some gardeners prefer to do the ‘lasagna method’ with newspapers and cardboard in lieu of purchasing mulch. This also works well and will break down easily into the soil.
Putting mulch down will help keep in moisture as well as help to keep weeds from overtaking your garden (thankfully). I always feel that I have attained freedom from weeds at this point, once everything is mulched.
Another important goal to reach is making sure any containers are being fertilized during the growing months. Every time we water, a little more of the good properties of the soil are “washed away,” and need to be amended. Find a good, all-purpose fertilizer such as water- soluble ‘Miracle-Grow’ or ‘Peters,’ and add this per label instructions to your water schedule. This will make a huge difference to anything that you may be growing.
There are plant-specific fertilizers on the market, so do a little research so that you will buy the right product.
I just planted my second crop of beans on my cattle panel, which is 16 feet long and about 5 feet tall. It is a great addition to my vegetable garden and has proved very useful for many climbing plants such as pole beans, cucumbers, lima beans and gourds. I have a wonderful French green bean in bloom now, and another crop about three weeks behind this one. I am a huge fan of green beans and don’t want them all to come on at the same time (unless I am planning to can them).
It’s almost time for our local county fairs, and it’s one of my favorite summer activities.
When I was working full time, I had to schedule time off to prep and enter my flowers and vegetables. Now I just set aside the time for myself to cut, condition and enter my favorite plants. But what fun it is to see what other exhibits come in the door.
We have certainly had a good bit of rain in the last two weeks, and it has been a blessing, as we were in a moderate drought status in central Kentucky. However, we need to remember that any new plantings, as well as seedlings, need an inch of water a week. We have a rain gauge that lets me know exactly how much rain we have received. It’s important to pay attention to rainfall, as our Kentucky weather can change in an instant and sometimes not in a nice way.
My spring blooming bachelor buttons are starting to fade away. However, I am going to try an old method by cutting them back, fertilizing them and hoping that they will re-bloom. If you have any climbing roses, you can prune them after they have bloomed. This will encourage new canes to sprout up and harden off before fall. If you have gladiolus bulbs planted, make sure to cut them on a slant and leave as much foliage as you can on the remaining plant. This will ensure good corms for next year.
Even though it is still early summer, it is now time to order your spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, crocus, etc. There are many ‘special deals’ running now from good suppliers. They will be delivered to your door in plenty of time for fall planting, which will arrive before we know it.
This year I am going to get very brave, put on my big girl boots, and try to tackle (prune) my “going crazy” Wisteria vine. It has spent several years quickly making its way up an old apple tree, across the roof of a shed, and sending runners in all directions. I understand that they will benefit from a hard pruning.
We shall see…
Happy Gardening!