Quotation of the Week: "I should like to enflame the whole world with my taste for gardening. There is no virtue that I would not attribute to the man who lives to project and execute gardens." — Prince De Ligne

Battling Black Spot

By Tamara Galbraith Ask rose enthusiasts what one plant disease they would vote off the face of the planet, and their answer will inevitably be Black Spot. It is the bane of the rose growing world, and has been for many years. Thanks to the introduction of many new rose cultivars with built-in Black Spot resistance, this problem isn't what it used to be. But what if you are nursing a rose that isn't quite so sturdy? As the name suggests, this fungal disease appears as circular black spots surrounded by a ring of yellow on infected leaves. Remove and destroy infected leaves and canes, and take these actions to prevent Black Spot from completely owning your rose: 1. First, don't irrigate late in the evening before water has a chance to evaporate from leaf surfaces. Better yet, water at ground level and don't wet the leaves at all. Also, make sure there is plenty of air flowing around and through each plant. Fungi love to grow in moist, stagnant air, so prune your roses periodically, especially after each bloom period. 2. If you do find yourself with a case of Black Spot, act quickly, as it can take over an entire rose bush in no time. A teaspoon of baking soda per quart of water is an effective fungus fighter. Some say milk works well. My personal preference is Neem oil, which boasts both insecticidal and fungicidal qualities, and won't harm beneficial insects. Another great product is Bayer All in One Rose and Flower Care. We like this product because it feeds the plant, controls insects and does a job on diseases like black spot. * There is a $5 mail-in rebate right now.

Lai Allison - Mark Stepien Green Thumb Garden Pros

Our May Specials

Click to View

Nosh on Nasturtiums

By Tamara Galbraith Ranking high on the beauty scale among the many edible spring flowers are nasturtiums. Growing best when the weather is still cool, nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) can fill a trellis quickly due to the plant's climbing habit. The dainty yellow, red or orange trumpet-shaped flowers and round leaves also look lovely dangling from a hanging basket. As is the case with many annuals, nasturtium doesn't like extreme temperatures, so be prepared for it to die after a frost or simply shut down when summer's meanest heat sets in. A better idea is to chow down on nasturtiums before either weather event happens; all parts of the plant are edible and have a nice peppery flavor not unlike cress. While growing nasturtiums, keep a watch out for aphids, as they apparently like the flavor of this plant too. Periodic doses of Neem or insecticidal soap should do the trick. You can also use Bayer Rose & Flower Insect Killer. This one is easy to use, just attach it to the end of your hose and turn the water on. No measuring or mixing, it dilutes automatically and last up to 30 days. The active ingredient is Cyfluthrin - one of the newest safe garden products introduced by Bayer, which works effectively as well.

The Grace of Ornamental Grasses

By Tamara Galbraith One of the many challenges in creating an interesting landscape is the incorporation of varying plant heights. Some plants will eventually grow tall at the back of the border, sure, but what if you need height now? Enter ornamental grasses...the clumping variety, that is. Several ornamental grasses spread via underground rhizomes and can become invasive, so check with your local nursery if you're unsure about what to plant. The non-spreading varieties should provide all the interest you need anyway. Ornamental grasses are incredibly low maintenance, grow quickly, and are naturally disease- and insect-resistant. The swaying, breezy movement they provide is unparalleled in its beauty. Not only that, but ornamental grasses come in a variety of shapes and sizes suitable for any landscape. There are beautiful purple fountain grasses, spikey cool blue grasses, dazzling golden grasses and silvery Japanese grasses. There's even a dwarf variety with adorable tufts on the end called, aptly, Rabbit's Tail Grass. Once established, most ornamental grasses require very little fertilization or water. Give perennial grasses a crew cut (down to 4"-6" above ground level) in late winter to encourage new spring growth.

Assorted Grasses

ZEBA Product Seminar Friday May 5th - Ventura

John Graham (former owner of Whitney Farms Organic Products) will be at our Ventura location this Friday May 5th, from 9 to 4 to discuss the his new ZEBA garden product.

John Graham

May Is The Time To:

Continue to plant summer vegetables Plant morning glories Plant irises Plant tropicals Plant tuberoses Replace cool-season bedding flowers with flowers to bloom in summer Replace parsley, if you haven't already done so Plant a giant pumpkin for Halloween Purchase, plant and transplant succulents, including cacti and euphorbias Mow all grass lawns Thin out fruit on deciduous fruit trees Divide and repot cymbidiums that have outgrown their containers Prune camellias if you have not already done so Clean and prune azaleas Divide and mount staghorn ferns Prune winter- and spring-flowering vines, shrubs, trees, and ground covers after they finish blooming Continue to tie up and sucker tomatoes Remove berries (seed pods) from fuchsias after flowers fall Propogate daylilies by planting their proliferates; cut off spent bloom stems Remove the seed pods from white fortnight lilies, but leave the bloom stalks on the plant Feed citrus, and avocado trees Feed fuchsias, tuberous begonias, water lilies Feed cymbidiums that have finished blooming, for growth Fertilize camellias after bloom Side-dress vegetable rows with fertilizer Feed all container-grown succulents with a well-diluted complete liquid fertilizer Fertilize peppers when flowers first show Water cymbidiums, roses, vegetables As the weather becomes drier water all garden plants regularly Do not water succulents Spray junipers and Italian cypress for juniper moths Control mildew Control flea beetles on dichondra Control pests on vegetables Control weeds among permanent plant by mulching or cultivating Control weeds among vegetables and flowers by hand pulling Keep bamboo from running into your neighbor's garden Keep cymbidiums in semishade, but where they will get some sun Mulch camellias and azaleas

Bayer Advanced Insect Killer

Bayer Advanced™ Rose & Flower Insect Killer Concentrate The Bayer Difference A Dual Action systemic insect killer that protects up to 2 times longer than competitive products. QUICK FACTS Kills On Contact Keeps on Protecting Against Insects for Weeks Easy, Accurate Measuring & Mixing Exclusive Rose Care Product of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®
KILLS	WHERE TO USE	WHEN TO USE
Aphids, Bagworm, Boxelder Bugs, Elm Leaf Beetles, Grasshoppers, Gypsy Moth, Japanese Beetles, Lacebugs, Leafhoppers, Leafminers, Mealybugs, Mosquitoes, Sawfly Larvae, Scales, Spittlebugs, Thrips, Whiteflies	Flowers, Roses, Trees, and Shrubs	When insects or damage first appear
HOW IT WORKS
Pour 1/2 oz. (1 tbs.) into Easy Measure-Up™ Cup and dilute in 1 gallon of water.
SIZES
16 oz. - Makes up to 32 gallons of spray

What You'll Need: 2 cups cooked shredded chicken 1 1/2 quarts chicken broth 3/4 cup orzo pasta 5 ounces chopped fresh spinach 3 eggs 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Step by Step:

Bring chicken and broth to a boil in a small soup kettle or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add orzo; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add spinach, reduce the heat and simmer 8 to 10 minutes. While soup simmers, beat eggs and lemon juice until frothy in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk several ladles full of the hot soup into the eggs, being careful not to curdle the eggs. Turn off the soup kettle; return egg and soup mixture to the pot and stir well. Season with salt and pepper and serve at once. Yield: 4 servings