The big news here is that our new Blog - "The Seasoned Gardener" seems to be a hit on the Web (no pun intended).  For those of you who don't know, the Seasoned Gardener  is for those people who I call "Baby Bloomers" who are finally sending their youngest off to college, exiting the workforce after about 35 years, and who now find themselves with more time to garden but less energy to dedicate to the hobby.  We are using more Aleve than fertilizer, and yet the allure keeps us coming back. 

 

The Seasoned Gardener is for all gardeners, but the focus is on those products, ideas and methods which will help us, the Baby Bloomer generation survive the rigors of gardening. 

 

The great thing about the blog is that it allows all gardeners to communicate with each other on topics that they have in common, and for answers to questions they have.  I hope you will drop in and lend your voice to the dialog. 

 

Late Summer Gardening - Lawn Renovation and Re-seeding 

 

Late summer hit like a ton of bricks this year with hot dry weather across much of the US.  However, since the early part of the year was very conducive to great gardening in most areas, this late summer heat wave actually led to some spectacular late summer gardens.  If you're a vegetable gardener, you are probably inundated with zucchini to the point where you can 't even give it away.  Tomatoes, eggplant and peppers all seem to gang up on you at this time of year and the frenzy to harvest, consume and share your crops is an ongoing task. 

 

However busy you are in your garden now, it is also the time to start thinking about your fall gardening activities.  I was reminded of this fact when I saw potted chrysanthemums appearing in stores this week.  Fall bulbs can't be far behind. 

 

One critical task that you should be thinking about at this time of year is overseeding or rennovating any lawn areas in your yard.  Generally, if a lawn area is more than 50% weeds (come on now, you know it is) you will be more successful renovating than trying to eliminate the weeds.  Late August is the best time to reseed in cool season grass areas. 

 

What? 

 

That's right, late August is the best time to reseed or renovate lawns in the cool season grass areas.  Although most people associate grass seeding with spring, the late summer has a lot of advantages when it comes to seeding.  Here's why:

 

• Most weed seeds have already germinated making weed control and competition for moisture with the new lawn less of a hassle.
  
• The soil is warm, and the sunlight is still intense enough to help germinating seeds along more quickly than in the spring  when soil is cool

 

• We are entering cooler and wetter weather - ideal for growing grass

 

• Grass roots grow even in the winter producing a stronger plant in the spring

 

Whether you are reseeding, over seeding or replacing an entire section of lawn, late summer is the best time to do it.  Check with your local garden shop or go online to your state Master Gardener organization for more information on lawn care in the fall.

 

What Is It And Why Is It In My Garden?

 

                                                                 David Dennis - NAMA

                                                              

It's strange looking.  It smells bad.  It attracts flies and it's growing in your garden.  What the heck is it? 
 

Lots of folks are seeing a strange, unusual and unsettling organism growing in their gardens these days.  This carrot orange fungus with a dark green slimy cap looks almost pornographic as it grows, and then fades from your garden mulch.  What is it?

 

Its a variety of fungus called the "Elegant Stinkhorn"  a somewhat uncommon fungus which likes to surprise gardeners at this time of year.  Like most fungi the ESH does no harm to the garden, and there are really no effective ways to rid yourself of the interesting visitor.

 

For More information on the Elegant Stinkhorn and other stinkhorns and mushrooms check out this site, or google "Stinkhorn" for more information. 

 

What could be more fun than inviting your gardener friends over to see your "Stinkhorn?"

 

SG

 

Don't Blame The Dog! - Slime Mold In Your Mulch

 

 

You may have noticed some "not so good looking" things in your mulched beds recently. These are "Slime Molds" an interesting but not pretty fungus which is common in mulched areas this time of year. Slime molds are opportunistic organisms which don't have chlorophyll, the green colored pigment in grass and leaves which allows plants to make their own food. As a result slime molds take their nutrients from decaying plant materials including mulch. There are hundreds of varieties of slime mold, two of my favorites are "Dog Vomit" shown left (Photo by Patrick Coin - Duke University) and "Scrambled Egg" which looks like it's name. 

 

Slime Molds are ugly but they are not damaging to plants. If your gardening esthetics make you want to get rid of them simply scoop them up and throw them away. If that's not what you want to do, you can chop them up with a rake or hoe, and wash the parts away. If you notice a brownish cloud of spores when you chop, you will probably have insured another episode for next year.

 

There are no commercially available preventers for slime mold, thus no way of treating for it. However removal is an easy way to keep it under control. Even in a normal year you will see these organisms, but in a year like this one with variable moisture and high heat they are a sure thing.

 

In addition to slime molds, you may also see mushrooms, puffballs and "Stinkhorns" which are, as their name implies, slightly smelly. Again, picking and tossing is an easy way to remove them.

 

SG