Wichita gardener’s almanac (March 28, 2015)

Snow on the trees — This time of year, every week brings new revelations of color that change our landscape. This week, there is more green in the grass and in trees such as weeping willows, along with the yellow cheer of daffodils, the pinks of almonds and cherries, and, most of all, the big fat clusters of white blossoms on ornamental pear trees. (The pear flowers are also the ones that stink.) Fortunately, the temperature has stayed above freezing, though hail and wind hastened some flower fall on Wednesday night.

Plant — Cabbage, broccoli, endive, cauliflower, lettuce, potatoes, radishes, onions, peas, spinach, strawberries, rhubarb, turnips, beets.

Root stimulator — Plants that go into cool soil often develop a purplish tinge if not watered in with a starter solution or root stimulator, Ward Upham of K-State says. That’s because plants often do not easily take up phosphorous from cool soils. A fertilizer whose phosphorous number is high puts the nutrients close to the roots so they can take it up, Upham writes in this week’s Horticulture 2015 newsletter. You can buy it or make your own from a fertilizer that contains more phosphorus than nitrogen or potassium such as a 5-10-5, 10-20-10 or 11-15-11. Here are Upham’s instructions: Mix 2 to 3 tablespoons of the fertilizer in a gallon of water several hours before you plan to use it. The fertilizer won’t completely dissolve, but enough will go into solution to make a difference. Use about 1 cup of transplant solution for each transplant.

Weed prevention in flower beds — Hoeing and mulch can reduce weeds in garden beds. Pre-emergence herbicides – Dimension (dithopyr) in Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed and Grass Stopper, and Bonide Crabgrass & Weed Preventer, or Treflan (trifluralin) in Hi-Yield Herbicide Granules Weed and Grass Preventer, Miracle Gro Garden Weed Preventer, and Preen Weed Preventer – also can help if you can’t hoe, Upham says. The herbicides kill young plants as they start to grow, more effective on grassy weeds such as crabgrass than on broadleaves such as dandelions and spurge, Upham says. They need to be applied before weed seed germinates and should be watered in with 1/4 inch of water, he says. Be sure that the ornamental plants in the garden area are on the label, and follow label instructions.

Apple tree sprays — To prevent cedar apple rust and apple scab on apple trees, start sprays of the fungicide myclobutanil (Immunox) in April, Upham says. Be sure the formulation you choose is for fruit. For greater effectiveness on summer diseases, consider switching to Captan or to a fruit spray mixture about June 1, Upham says. Adding a spreader-sticker will help even more.

Garden events

One week to the farmers market — The Kansas Grown Farmers Market will open for the season on April 4 in the parking lot of the Extension Center at 21st and Ridge Road. Hours will be from 7 a.m. to noon. The Tree Fest at the Extension Center will be one week later this year, on April 11.

Michael Pearce talk — Michael Pearce, The Eagle’s outdoor writer, will be at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston on Monday to talk about his field stories, photos and new “Kansas Outdoors Cookbook.” The lecture will be at at 6:30 p.m. and costs $2. The arboretum is at 177 W. Hickory St. in Hesston. Information: 620-327-8127, dyckarboretum.org.

Lavender talk — Mike Neustrom of Prairie Lavender Farm, one of four lavender farms in Kansas, will be at Botanica on Wednesday to talk about the challenges of growing the fragrant, perennial herb on the prairie. Neustrom’s farm is in Bennington, just north of Salina. His lunchtime lecture, at 12:15, is included in Botanica admission. Lunch by Truffles will be for sale for $8 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Spring for kids at Botanica — Forts have been going up around Botanica this week leading up to the opening weekend of Tulips, Fairies & Forts on Saturday. Performers, crafts, games and other activities will be featured from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Saturdays through April 8. Poppy the Clown will be visiting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday. The activities are included in Botanica admission ($7 adults, $5 ages 3 to 12) or membership. People also can enter a fairy house competition for a $5 fee; see rules and registration at botanica.org, or call 316-264-0448.

Annie Calovich

This story was originally published March 26, 2015 at 4:59 PM with the headline "Wichita gardener’s almanac (March 28, 2015)."