FOR RELEASE THE WEEK OF APRIL 5, 1999:
Some of my bulbs are not coming back strongly–or at all. What could have gone wrong?
Any of several things, says Stuart Parkinson, University of Idaho extension educator. If the bulbs haven’t been thinned, they may be so overcrowded that they’ve lost vitality and are dying out from poor nutrition, water shortage or diseases.
Were the leaves and flowers spotted or blighted last year? Did you notice a slimy growth or gray, fuzzy mold on the plants? That’s botrytis. Control it by removing old leaves and flowers, maintaining room between bulbs and treating bulbs with Captan before planting.
Other fungal diseases, which cause stunted and yellow growth and mushy and dried-out bulbs, may also be at the root of your problem. To prevent them, handle bulbs very carefully to avoid damaging them, discard any bulbs that show signs of rot, and protect healthy-looking bulbs with an approved fungicide.
Finally, your culprits could be four-legged. Small mammals like gophers and voles can feed on bulbs, killing them outright or making them vulnerable to infection.
When is the best time to fertilize lawns in Idaho?
To coordinate your lawn’s physiological growth with fertilizer applications, you’ll want to apply fertilizers in the spring, early fall and late fall, says Darrell Bolz, University of Idaho extension educator.
Fertilizing during the summer months in order to maintain dark-green growth doesn’t match the growth patterns of our area’s cool-season grasses. Indeed, Bolz says nitrogen applications should be avoided during the hot summer months.
To prevent grass from burning, apply quick-release fertilizers like ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulfate only in the early spring or fall. Generally, you’ll want to keep rates at or below 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Slow-release fertilizers, however, can be used at higher rates.
If you rely on organic fertilizers, Bolz says they’ll work best for you when they’re applied during the warmer temperatures of spring or early fall.
What are the most common mistakes backyard gardeners make when growing potatoes?
The first is their choice of variety, says Steve Love, University of Idaho potato variety development specialist. "Here in Idaho, we love that Russet Burbank potato, but it doesn’t usually grow well in situations where we’re managing conditions for many different crops. Instead, choose something like Frontier Russet, Nooksack, Gem Russet, Red Norland or IdaRose.
The second mistake: Getting your seed from the wrong source. Never use potatoes from last year’s garden or the grocer’s shelf. They could carry plant viruses that will affect your crop. In addition, many grocery potatoes have been treated with a chemical that will prevent sprouting.
Third: Cutting seed pieces too small. "You need to make sure the seed piece is big enough to support the sprout as it begins to grow," says Love. "A good rule of thumb is about 2 inches long and almost as wide. Each piece should have at least one eye–and two or more is better."
Fourth: Ignoring the late blight fungus, which attacks garden potatoes (and tomatoes) as aggres-sively as commercial crops. "Plan on using a good fungicide in your garden on a regular schedule," says Love.
We’ve just bought our first home. What kinds of exterior "spring cleaning" should we do?
After the last of the winter weather, check for loose or missing shingles and for leaks around flashings, says Tom Karsky, University of Idaho extension safety specialist.
Inspect gutters; if they’re clogged, rainwater will overflow onto the siding and possibly cause moisture problems. Make sure downspouts carry rainwater safely away from the home’s foundation; if they pour water out onto the ground, it will seep back into the basement.
Check your paint job. If the exterior is dirty, wash it from the bottom up, then rinse it
from the top down, to avoid leaving dirty streak marks. Inspect patios, porches and driveways for cracks and holes that may need filling and resurfacing.
Check for damage as you take down storm windows and put up screen doors and windows. Trim broken tree limbs and prune shrubs. Remove dry leaves and debris from under porches, wooden stairs and window wells.
While you’re at it, inspect your air-conditioning system and have repairs made now, before summer begins. Give the fireplace a thorough cleaning, close the damper and consider calling in a chimney sweep.