One of the Fun Things About Fall

By Dennis on October 8, 2009

Who doesn't need a granite garden ball, or about 1,300 other what-nots

Who doesn't need a granite garden ball, or about 1,300 other what-nots

So, last weekend was my anniversary.  My wife and I like discovering unexpected places and we road trip alot.  This weekend, while on just such a road trip a discovered a deliciously quirky gift store in Wytheville, VA.  Learn more here.

It is a gift store attached to a restaurant attached to a collection of kitsch.  The restaurant itself was pleasant and carried the ambiance of a place that was actually built in 1776.  The owners have done their best to keep the centuries of history alive.  That is where the ‘neat’ factor went off the chart!

In what can only be described as a backyard garden they had a collection of rabbits and birds and whatever else nature had brought their way.  The

 ummm....because your bird bath looked empty without the Monet print?

ummm....because your bird bath looked empty without the Monet print?

collection of various plants was amazing, I can only imagine what it would

look like in the spring or summer.  You know the way some people are able to keep their gardens perfectly disheveled and have it look wonderful.  That is the best description of this backyard oasis.  Planned chaos.  Organized mayhem.  And that, that was just the entree to what lay in wait inside the gift shop.

The gift shop was 1/3rd garden store, 1/3rd flea market finds, and 1/3rd roadside truck-stop gift-shop.  things are packed in so tightly that you can hardly move, but you have to, because around each tucked away corner there is a new treasure to be found.  Fr

 A very large rabbit will keep you company while you sit and contemplate life in the backyard garden.

A very large rabbit will keep you company while you sit and contemplate life in the backyard garden.

om lawn ornaments and statuary to sun catchers and things that make you say “Whaaaat?”  they have it all. 

That’s what make Fall so perfect.  Good weather and the time to go

discover serendipitous places. So, if you are ever on I-81  going to look at leaves in the Blue Ridge Mountains and you are looking for a great place to spend some time, or if you have a person to buy for that is impossible to surprise any more, I highly recommend you swing by 1176 Log House.

If you have a favorite ‘undiscovered place’, or  a favorite place for garden whimsy, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment or a link in the comment section to share with our community here at mymontys.com blog.

 
 

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(Mis)Use of Herbicides

By Dennis on October 7, 2009

Ran across this story today from ABC News it is all about pigweed and their new resistance to herbicides.  Pigweed is a fairly common weed across most US, particularly southern, farmland.  The only problem is it has now developed resistance to the herbicide traditionally used to kill it.

To hit the high points, resistance-all resistance, happens when an organism comes into contact with something that does not kill it completely.  That is why your doctor always tells you to take all ten days of your anti-biotic, for example.  In this case, let’s say you have 100 weeds in the field,  they all get sprayed either completely or partially.  Let’s assume that the farmer got a good kill and 98 of the 100 plants died.  The two that survived – either due to incomplete spraying or genetic mutation – now are able to cross polinate and reproduce seed.  That seed now carries the trait for resistance.  As more of these plants grow and survive year to year, the numbr increases until all you have left are the survivors; those with the naturally selected genetic trait for resistance.

So, why am I talking about a farm problem on a L&G blog.  For this reason; you are prone to the same potential problems.  Resistance can develop to insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides in your lawn and garden and in a relatively short amount of time you will have bug, weed, and disease problems that you can no longer control.

So, what can YOU do?  Well, here are a few easy steps to decrease the liklihood of raising your own super-pests in your garden and lawn:100_1849

1.  Follow directions completely.  Don’t assume that you can or should cut back on the rate to save a few $$.  If the plant is exposed but not killed, you have laid the groundwork for resistance.  Don’t put more chemical in the tank than is called for, the overspray can linger in the environment and again, give a little exposure in a diluted state and foster resitance.

2.  Change up your strategy.  Whne possible use different chemistries to combat the same problem seasonally (or even within a season when you can).  This will keep the pests guessing and keep them from building defenses to any one particular chemical. Additionally, use the mildest herbicide possible for adequaqte control.  For example, don’t use a total-kill prodcut when a little 2, 4D will do the job.  that will leave the big boys for particularly troublesome pests.

3. Let some weeds survive in areas where their removal is not critical or manually remove them.  This will keep the susceptibility gene alive and well in the genepool.  The resistance gene will start off as a mutation, and be selected against in the breeding process in the early stages.  By leaving these surviors you will keep the population as a whole susceptible.

4. Make sure that the weather is suitable.  Wind can cause drift – blowing the herbicide where you do not want it to be.  This can kill or injure plants that you did not intend but also can give low doses to others who then become survivors.  Rain and temperatures can affect how efficiently different chemicals work.  If the weather isn’t right (consult your garden center or the chemical label) you will not get complete results again, giving rise to survivors.

Chemicals can have benefits for use in lawn and garden settings.  However the misuse of these products can have long-lasting results for you, your gardening dreams, and for the over all environment.  Responsible use should be of utmost importance for those who seek to use chemical alternatives in their gardening practices.

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Fall Application of Plant Food

By admin on October 7, 2009

Helpful information for growing beautiful plants

Monty’s Plant Food application usage in the fall will lead to healthier plants and more vibrant blooms. The fall usually has homeowners slowing down on fertilization of their plants. The rule has been do not over fertilize before winter because the plants will produce new growth that cannot withstand freezing temperatures. This statement should be recognized for the amount of nitrogen and fertilizers that must breakdown before absorption takes place. Monty’s fall formula will provide needed elements to prepare for winter as well as enhance the blooms as well as strengthen the stems. Monty’s 2-15-15 provides the needed nutrients as well as the ability to absorb external nutrients that the plant cannot normally absorb because of the structure that it may be in. A treatment of Monty’s Liquid Carbon Soil Conditioner will greatly benefit lawns and gardens.

The commercial growers can benefit from this product because of the tremendous growth that will result when using on Pansies, Chrysanthemums and other fall blooming flowers. The product can be used by foliar and/or root drench. The application of this product will enhance the grower’s ability to have a premium plant that will generate highly levels of income.

When selling bulbs our product will provide the essential nutrients to bulbs newly planted as well as established. Monty’s Plant Food will increase root development as well as root surface absorption. These applications will assure that the day lily grower will begin establishing stronger vibrant blooms throughout the following season.

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A Rose by any other name, just wouldn’t be the same

By Dennis on October 1, 2009

A Rose hybridizer just paid Monty’s Plant Food Company and Monty Justice the highest compliment possible.  They named a rose after him.

Monty Justice poses with the latest edition to his garden, a hybrid officially named "Monty's Joy"

Monty poses with the latest edition to his garden, a hybrid officially name "Monty's Joy".

When anyone hybridizes a new variety of rose, they get the privilege of naming it.  Many times they will name it after a celebrity, a meaningful person in their life, an exotic place, or something else of significance to them. 

Well, when one hybridizer recently revealed their new hybrid, they name it “Monty’s Joy”.  A fitting tribute for the man who has dedicated so much of his life to beautifying our lives with roses. Here is Monty posing with one of his eponymous roses.

In case you are wondering “Monty’s Joy” is a mauve colored mini-flora rose.  One place you can purchase them is here at K&M you will see the cultivar listed on page three of their offerings;  the phone number is right up top.

I can’t let it go without saying that Monty would want you to know, Monty’s real “Joy” is his lovely wife, Becky.
 
Oh, and if you are wanting to get this or any rose transplanted successfully.  I suggest checking out the mymontys.com website for our gardening tips, our video on preparing bare-root roses, and to learn more about Monty’s 4-15-12 fertilizer which will likely end any evidence of transplant shock in your flower beds.

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Monty takes a new award

By Dennis on October 1, 2009

Those who are fans of the products and the plants have DENALI ROSEalso become a fan of the man, Monty Justice. So, since I just found out some exciting news about our favorite rosarian, I thought i would share it with you.  Monty just won, ‘King of the Rose’ at the Tenarky district competition.  He won the award with his exhibition of a Denali Rose, pictured here. (BTW…too much PBS for me apparently but Denali is a word from the Inuit peoples in Alsaka; it means ‘The High One’ and was used as a name for one of their gods and for the mountain which ultimately was renamed for President McKinley).

After speaking with Monty, he told me he was headed to a competition in Nashville this weekend.  He did tell me what type of rose he would be displaying.  BUT, I think I will keep that to myself.  (wouldn’t want to tip off the other exhibitors).  Good Luck Monty!

On a related note, he also just won the judges class at a Rose Show in Evansville, IN.  As a judge at the show he was not allowed to enter in the standard competition, but the judges have their own class and our Monty took top prize.  Monty told me “When you are going up against other judges, everyone knows the right things to do in terms of presentation, so it is always a very tough class to win.”

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4 Reasons to Test Your Soil Now.

By Dennis on September 30, 2009

Right now is an excellent time to conduct a soil test. For more information on how to do an adequate soil test and for directions on submitting soil for testing, you can check with your local County Extension Office or click here for an excellent in-depth article on how to conduct a soil test.

That should take care of the ‘how’ buWhat's In Your Soilst how about the ‘why’.  Fall makes an excellent time to do you soil test for several reasons.

1. You were always on my mind – You know where your garden produced and where it struggled, you can still remember the exact location of brown patchy grass in mid-summer.  Those problem areas may have some soil or nutrient based problems.  Remembering where they are is a good first step to fixing them.

2. If I only had the time – Now that you are out of the heat and rush of in-season activity this is one chore that is easy to do and gives you an excuse to get your hands in the dirt one last time before winter sets in. This chore is one that is easy to overlook in the rush of planting, fertilizing, composting, harvesting, etc. So now, while you have the time, get a small spade and a bucket and enjoy the brisk fall air.

3. Do it right, Do it once–  My dad always told me, “Son, if you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” Honestly, it aggravated me then but it makes sense. Timing is everything and during the early days of fall your soil is in the ideal condition for testing: moisture is adequate, soil temperature is in the ideal range (60-75 degrees F), and pH levels are most likely to be properly reflected.  You would hate to base decisions on faulty information, right now your soils are most likely to reveal the truth about itself.

4. Time, pt. 2– Not only do you need time, but your soils need time.  If your test indicates any issues that need to be addressed there will still be time to amend those situations and allow the corrections to take place over the next 4-6 mos. before spring arrives.  If you wait till spring, by the time you get your tests back you will be wrist deep in planting and may put off the needed corrections. PLUS, your soils won’t have time to incorporate the improvements and make all of the new nutrients available to the plants. So another year goes by with less than ideal results.  For example, if your pH is too acidic, adding calcium is easy but it will take your soil a full 18 mos. to fully incorporate it.  By starting now, at least some of the calcium can be broken down by spring and start to provide relief.  Remember to lower soil pH add calcium; to elevate it, add sulfur.

Soil tests are fairly easy to do and by knowing your soil types and condition you can choose the best plan, and the best plants to grow the garden of your dreams.  So, get started today and you will be well on your way to a more beautiful, more vibrant, more productive garden or landscape next spring.

BTW, once you receive your soil test results back, if you have compaction issues, then we recommend Monty’s Liquid Carbon.  If you just need a dose of nitrogen then look to Monty’s 4-15-12 or Monty’s 2-15-15 at this time of year.

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Add, Divide, and Relocate Now

By admin on September 28, 2009

The last week of September is the perfect time to dig in and move your plants.

Cooler weather makes working outdoors more comfortable, and fall is the season when trees and shrubs can be moved and added and many summer-blooming perennials such as daylilies, phlox and astilbe divided and shared.

If you have summer-blooming perennials that are past their prime, don’t be shy about cutting them back to ground level and composting their tops. Then decide whether they need to be dug up and divided.

For most perennials such as daylilies, phlox and grasses, you can remove the more vigorous side shoots and toss out the dead, dry center of the plant.

Replant the side growth into soil that has been improved with compost and you’ll see a whole new attitude next spring.

In the vegetable garden, continue to harvest crops, especially those that could be damaged by frost such as tomatoes.

You can harvest green tomatoes to ripen indoors by uprooting the entire tomato plant and hanging it upside down from the rafters of a garage or shed. Tomatoes do not need sunlight to ripen.

Check the blossom-end of each green tomato and if you see a dark, green, star-shaped mark, then the tomato is mature enough to ripen on its own.

The secret to keeping your tomatoes from rotting is to give them good air circulation once you bring them indoors. Do not allow them to touch one another.

Arrange your green tomatoes on a tray or table and harvest them from indoors as they turn red, tossing out any that show brown spots before they pass on their bad habits to the others.

Source: The Olympian

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Tales from the garden

By Dennis on September 28, 2009

 Howdy everyone. My name is Price Allan and I will be doing a bulk of the writing and posting on this site along with our President, Dennis Stephens, our web wonk Syd and a few others that we will drag in from the garden from time to time.

It is my joy to have found a job where I get to mix hard science, gardening, meeting people, and a little bit of fun with video and photography.  It is part of my responsibility to travel thsi great country of ours and take pictures, shoot video, and to learn as much as I can.  Then, boil it all down and get the word out to you.  So I hope that you will keep checking in and more importantly will send me your e-mails and your photos and tips about what you are doing to make your gardens such a success.

In the meantime, if you would like to learn how to tranplant bare root roses we have a video for you form Monty himself. How to Transplant Bare Root Roses

I will leave you with that, and look forward to hearing from you, and speaking with you later.

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Great Fall Gardening Tips From University of Minnesota

By admin on September 26, 2009

(shameless lifted from here)

While some might consider September the end of another gardening season, it might also be considered a beginning for enjoying the harvest of the garden or planning next year’s activities. This time of year you may notice some central themes helpful in remembering seasonal garden and yard care tips, such as: watering, cleaning up, moving, harvesting, and preparing for next season, just to name a few. As always, this September gardening list is far from all-encompassing, yet a good reminder of where to start.

Watering

Providing adequate water in fall is especially critical for increasing plant survival in winter and providing year-round health:

  • Help your plants prepare for the long winter by adequately watering plants. This is especially true for trees and shrubs planted in the last 5 years. Provide these plants 1.0 – 1-.5 inches of water per week.. See Fall Watering advice for more information.
  • Follow this month’s Lawn care checklist: late summer – early fall, (#3 out of the seven fall lawn care practice to consider)
Cleaning Up

A little clean up now can prevent a lot of weed and disease problems in the future.

  • Remove weeds and diseased plant materials from your gardens. Do not compost diseased plant materials in your home compost. For more information on other fall clean up recommendations, see Fall is Clean Up Time.
  • Remove overripe fruits from plants or the garden so as not to encourage insects or other stray critters.
Moving plants
Harvesting & Storing
  • Apples are ripe when the starches have converted to sugars. You can feel the starch on your teeth when you bite into an unripe apple. Just because it’s red doesn’t mean it’s ripe. If you want to become more proficient in your apple tasting abilities, see  Apple Tasting Training with host University of Minnesota apple breeder David Bedford,
Preparing for next season

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A Great Online Resource for Gardeners

By admin on September 25, 2009

Plant Information Online!

Use Plant Information Online to discover sources in 1103 North American nurseries for 109474 plants, find 385136 citations to 147286 plants in science and garden literature, link to selected websites for images and regional information about 14872 plants, and access information on 2539 North American seed and nursery firms. Plant Information Online is a free service of the University of Minnesota Libraries.

Click here to see it

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