Garden Spot - May in the Village and Resident Gardens - May 2004

May in the Village Gardens

Garden maintenance in the Village begins officially in May. Garden beds are weeded weekly to keep weed populations in control. Garden soils are turned monthly to incorporate nutrients from decomposing mulch and compost, as well as to allow better drainage and air flow through soil structures. Overgrown perennials will be divided, and a balanced, slow release fertilizer will be applied to all Village planting beds. For the first time, the Village will begin a monthly application of the organic fertilizer Milorganite to plantings which are vulnerable to deer grazing. According to Linda Johnson, resident gardener and professional landscape designer, the odor from this product repels deer and encourages them to change their feeding path. She recommends starting the applications as soon as possible and following up with regular applications of other products like Tree Guard and Liquid Fence.

May in Resident Gardens

To help get a head start on the "weed war", residents can apply a non-selective, nonresidual herbicide such as Round-up early in the season. It is recommended that directions are read and followed carefully. Because spring bulb flowers will begin to fade, it is recommended that bulb placements be recorded to facilitate new bulb planting in the fall. A lot of garden "dirt" will occur between now and autumn, so trusting bulb placement to memory is not advisable. For fertilizing purposes, Osmocote and Hollytone are recommended for regular and acid loving plants, respectively. Should residents choose to use Milorganite for deer purposes, the product will not interfere with other fertilizers and can just be sprinkled around the deer "buffet" plants.

All recommended products and advice regarding their use can be found at reputable local garden centers.

Horticultural Terms:

Turning the soil
Digging down into soil no more than 3", then turning and loosening the soil, taking care not to disturb new perennial roots or shoots. Digging deeper can bring up unwanted dormant weed seeds, as well as clay, rock, and compacted soil clods.

Dividing
In the spring, when perennial foliage is 2"-3" high, insert spade and lift entire plant, taking care not to cut into roots. Working from the outside of the clump inward, shake the clump and carefully separate into small, viable divisions. If the inside is too tough, a sharp, serrated knife may be used to cut the clump into pieces. Plant the new divisions immediately, and water every day until the new plant is established.

Balanced, slow release fertilizer
A fertilizer that provides equal parts of the three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. The contents are formulated into coated pellets which dissolve gradually over a period of time from three to six months.

Village of Lincolnshire Garden Walk, 2004

Nominations are being taken for gardens suitable to show at the Lincolnshire Garden Club/Village of Lincolnshire Garden Walk on Sunday, June 13, 2004. The Walk will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and includes five resident gardens, two Village parks, a display of paintings by members of the Lincolnshire Art League, and a box lunch at the Village Hall. Nominations can be made by calling the Village Hall at (847) 883-8600.