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Melinda Myers, known for her gardener friendly and practical approach to gardening, has more than 25 years of horticulture experience in both hands-on and instructional settings. She has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in horticulture from University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a certified arborist and the author of 19 books, and was a horticulture instructor with tenure at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Click here to see her video tips.


The green way to be weed-free

Question: Do you have any suggestions for controlling weeds in my flower gardens? I am looking for some environmentally friendly ways to manage the weeds.

Answer: Pulling or cultivating weeds is a traditional and very effective non-chemical weed control method. Unfortunately it requires time and persistence. Some gardeners find weeding very therapeutic while others don’t have or want to spend their time this way. Save some time by mulching the garden. Spread a thin layer of shredded leaves, herbicide-free grass clippings or other organic material over the soil surface surrounding the plants. The mulch prevents many weeds from sprouting while conserving moisture.

There are some relatively new more environmentally friendly weed killers on the market. Some use vinegar, plant oils or soaps to burn off the top of the weeds. You will need several applications to control perennial weeds. Use these with care as they can burn off the leaves of any plant they touch. Corn gluten can be used as a pre-emergent weed killer. It prevents some seeds, good and bad, from germinating.

Try a combination of techniques for best results. Mulch your gardens to prevent many weeds from sprouting, pull weeds as they arise and then, if needed, spray just the weeds with one of the more environmentally friendly products. Be sure to read and follow label directions whenever using natural or traditional garden chemicals.



Divide and counter failing blooms

Question: My ‘Happy Returns’ repeat blooming daylilies have lots of green leaves and very few flowers. They flowered profusely throughout the first few years in my garden. How can I get them to bloom again?

Answer: I find repeat blooming daylilies do best when divided every three or four years. Regular division makes is easier for you to dig and divide the fleshy rooted daylilies and encourages the plants to bloom throughout the season. Try dividing them in late summer or early fall for a better bloom next year.





Drying your own tomato seeds

Question: My uncle gave me seeds from some heirloom tomatoes. The tomatoes were great and I would like to save the seeds so I can grow the tomatoes in next year’s garden. Please advise.

Answer: Saving seeds is a great way to pass along and grow a bit of family tradition. Try the fermentation technique to separate the tomato seeds from the gel, reduce seed-borne diseases and improve germination.

Select several fully ripe tomatoes from healthy plants. Cut the tomatoes in half and scoop or squeeze out the gelatinous substance, seeds and all, into a bowl. Label the bowl with the name of the tomato you are saving. Add quarter to half a cup of water and set the bowl aside in a warm dark place for three or four days. Remove the moldy film that forms on the water surface. Now add fresh water, stir and allow the good seeds to sink to the bottom of the bowl. Remove any floating seeds, pulp, and debris. Pour off the water annd save the good seeds that sunk to the bottom. Spread the seeds on newspaper or a paper plate to dry. Once dry, store the seeds in a labeled airtight container in a cool dark place. A plastic 35mm film canister or an envelope placed in an airtight jar make good seed storage containers. Place dried and packaged seeds in the refrigerator or any other other consistently cool location.





ADD YOUR COMMENTS OR SEND YOUR QUESTION TO MELINDA

Comments to date: 2. Page 1 of 1.

Bernice,  Kent, England

Posted at 7:41am on Saturday, September 22nd, 2007

The new chemicals for weed control don't sound worth the trouble if they could so easily kill the plants you're trying to grow. What's so wrong with putting aside ten minutes a day to pluck up weeds? As our Prince Charles said sometime ago, people in the world today are living their lives too fast.

Terri,  Eastern seaboard

Posted at 7:24pm on Saturday, September 15th, 2007

Thanks for the tips, Melinda. As someone who's lost one too many plants, I have a question. Is there a fool-proof method or device to know when and how much to water a plant?

 




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Melinda Meyers

UNIVERSAL GARDENER
by Melinda Meyers



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