Ask the Plant Doc

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    When is the best time to start fertilizing my lawn?

    Start with Easter time, schedule your feedings around the holidays and you should be all set, take a look at our Seasonal Calendar for dates.

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    Is this a good time to prune roses?

    We're getting close, but it's still a little early. Pruning stimulates growth, so wait until mid March or so when the weather is a bit warmer.

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    Can unused Richlawn winter turf food be used on the lawn this spring? It's been stored in the garage over the winter.

    Yes. Fertilizer stored in the winter will still be good this spring. Apply it about the 3rd week of March. That is also a great time to aerate the lawn.

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    When is it a good time to plant grass seed in the Denver area?

    April and May are great months for seeding or over-seeding lawns in Denver, and the front range of Colorado. If that isn't possible, September and early October are good too. We have a grass seed mix that is blended for our area called Richlawn Pro-Turf. It will be available at independent garden centers.

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    Do you have a fertilizer you recommend for vegitable gardens?

    We have a product that is designed for just that purpose. It is Gro-Rich Garden Fertilizer. It has a 5-10-5 analysis and is organic-based. It can also be used on other types of plants.

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    One of your fertilizers says it is OMRI approved. What does that mean?

    "OMRI" listing means that a product was tested and certified to be 100% organic by a third party organization. It is beneficial to the consumer because it means the product can be used for organic food production etc.

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    When is it a good time to begin planting vegetable seeds outdoors, and what can be planted first?

    Cool season vegetables can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked in mid to late March. This includes onions (sets or plants), spinach, leaf lettuce, radish, turnips, and other cool-tolerant types. Read the seed packets for more details on soil temperature requirements and suggested times of sowing. More information on Vegetable Gardening is found in the Month-by-Month Gardening in the Rocky Mountains book (Cool Springs Press).

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    I have a VERY messy strawberry bed, mostly strawberries, but also some bind weed and thistle grows there. I Would it be helpful to hoe rows, and in the rows put the soaker hose which now just curls throughout the bed. It is very messy with old plants and "new" runners (from last year obviously). It is beginning to show some green, so it is awakening now. (I can't call the radio show.)North central-east Jefferson county area. Thank you!

    One of the most practical approaches to this strawberry bed that is invaded with perennial weeds is to renovate it entirely. Now is great time to select new runners (plants that are from last year and vigorous) and transplant them to a new area that is weed free. Then, you might want to lay some clear plastic over the old bed and weeds and do some "solar sterilization" to kill the old plants and weeds. Be sure to secure the plastic down tightly with bricks or landscape pins. We will feature this question on the radio program to discuss organic weed controls.
    Happy strawberry gardening!
    John

    Discover the secrets to successful gardening in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region in John's books, Rocky Mountain Gardener's Guide and Month-by-Month Gardening in the Rocky Mountains (Cool Springs Press). Follow your lawn, garden, and landscape scheduled activities throughout all the seasons. Look for John's books at your favorite bookstore.

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    I have a neighbor on each side of me who do not maintain their yards. I have used Richlawn for years and use nothing else. However I have a problem with dandelions from my neighbors. What product do you recommend?

    Dandelions can be prevented with a natural pre-emergent called corn gluten. It is available at organic gardening resources on line or call around to some of your local garden stores. This will only prevent the seeds from growing, so the mature plants will have to be dug out or spot-treated. Persistence is the best solution to clearing up a dandelion problem. On the other hand, if you can't beat 'em, eat 'em. They're great with a vinaigrette dressing.

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    I have a tall tree, I think it is a Ponderosa pine. Last year it seemed, from a distance to be rusting (the needles). Up close the needs are striped (around, not along), but not the whole needle, about the middle to the end. This late winter-early spring the needles which were striped up close are just rust color from about the middle to the tips of the needles. Typically we are DIYers, but I suspect we may need to hire a professional. My husband will be very resistant to this suggestion. Thank you for any tips or insight you can give us.

    Pines are very vulnerable to "wind burn" or desiccation and they symptoms you describe indicate this may be the culprit. Please send along a picture of a close-up of the needles so we can confirm. Otherwise, have a professional arborist take a look and give you his diagnosis. The best treatment is to wait and see, and just practice good management with deep, infrequent watering. If the soil is compacted, a good aeration would be helpful.

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    Our back lawn has lots of trees and the lawn doesn't get much sun. The grass is very thin. What do we use to thicken it up and get new growth. Thank you for any help you can give us.

    A thin lawn resulting from large shade trees is best treated by overseeding with a shade tolerant grass such as "Chewings fescue" or "red fescue". You can also use a combination of these fescue grasses. Core aerate the area to be re-seeded prior to seeding. Spread a very thin layer (one-eighth of an inch) of EKO Topdressing over the seeded area to retain moisture and hasten germination.

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    Can I fertilize and overseed my lawn with your product in the spring?

    Yes, you can use either Pro-Rich or Richlawn Turf Food when you overseed in the spring. Both are organic-based and are safe to use when overseeding your lawn.

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    I have a flower bed of irises that are getting crowded and they don't bloom very well. Can I cut them back now and should they be divided? Love your radio show.

    Iris beds can be cleaned up in the spring by removing dead leaves and other debris that may have accumulated over the winter. However, it is best to wait until after they bloom to lift and divide, since doing it too early will affect this year's blooming. Usually, late June through July is a good time to renovate an iris garden.

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    Hi John, I heard you on KOA Saturday morning and you mentioned an organic corn product that can be used now to prevent dandelions, etc., and also serves as a fertilizer. I'd appreciate if you would let me know what that material was. I don't know that I'll be able to hear your broadcast on KHOW, so thought I'd email you instead. Thanks, Kathy Ranwez

    The organic pre-emergent for dandelion seeds is corn gluten. It can be found in a product called Concern which is available at the Wild Bird Centers in Denver, 303-758-7575, and Parker, Colorado 303-805-5982; very natural and safe to use where we have pets, wildlife and children in our landscapes; breaks down to a fertilizer for the lawn and soil. Apply before the seeds have a chance to germinate.


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