Wichita gardener’s almanac for July 25
Plant — Beans, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, endive, cauliflower, beets.
Bagworm damage — Where bagworms weren’t dispatched earlier in the summer, you may see damage now, Ward Upham of K-State says. Before spraying, make sure bagworms are present and that they’re alive; predators and parasites may have taken care of it for you, Upham writes in the Horticulture 2015 newsletter.
Upham says that foliage must be thoroughly covered with an insecticide. Your options include the organic spinosad, which is very effective on bagworms, Upham says. Other insecticides he lists are acephate (Orthene), permethrin (numerous trade names), cyfluthrin (Bayer Vegetable and Garden Insect spray), bifenthrin (Bug Blaster II, Bug-B-Gon Max Lawn and Garden Insect Killer), lambda-cyhalothrin (Spectracide Triazicide, Bonide Caterpillar Killer) and spinosad (Conserve; Borer, Bagworm, Leafminer and Tent Caterpillar Spray; and Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew).
Time to divide iris — The Wichita Area Iris Club is having its iris sale this weekend (see details below), so that means it’s time to divide bearded iris in the garden. You can do it through August, but late July and early August is the ideal time frame, Upham says.
Garden events
Iris sale — The Wichita Area Iris Club will have a sale of iris rhizomes, including many tall bearded iris, this weekend – from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday during Tomato Day at the Extension Center at 21st Ridge Road, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Botanica. Admission to the sales is free.
Tuesdays on the Terrace — Jasmine & Jolly Ranchers will be the theme of the next Tuesday on the Terrace, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Botanica. The Rough & Tumble will play music, and dinner and drinks will be for sale. Admission is $7, $3 for members.
“Take Better Photographs in the Garden” talk — Ric Wolford of Douglas Photographic Imaging will be at Botanica on Wednesday to talk about three steps to enhancing outdoor photography. His lunchtime lecture, at 12:15, is included in Botanica admission. Lunch will be for sale from Truffles for $8 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Annie Calovich
This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Wichita gardener’s almanac for July 25."