Wgenews aug13

ENEWSLETTER

AUGUST 2013

Welcome to the Washington Gardener Enewsletter!

This enewsletter is the sister publication of Washington Gardener Magazine. Both the print magazine and online enewsletter share the same mission and focus — helping DC-MD-VA region gardens grow — but our content is different. In this monthly enewsletter, we address timely seasonal topics and projects; post local garden events; and, a monthly list of what you can be doing now in your garden. We encourage you to subscribe to Washington Gardener Magazine as well for indepth articles, inspirational photos, and great garden resources for the Washington DC area gardener.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This enewsletter is only sent out as a PDF via email to current subscribers. Without your support, we cannot continue publishing this enewsletter nor Washington Gardener Magazine! Our magazine subscription information is on page 9 of this enewsletter. If you know of any other gardeners in the greater Washington, DC-area, please forward this issue to them so that they can subscribe to our print magazine using the form on page 9 of this enewsletter. You can also connect with Washington Gardener online at: • Washington Gardener Blog: www.washingtongardener.blogspot.com • Washington Gardener Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Instagram Feed: http://instagram.com/wdcgardener • Washington Gardener Pinterest boards: http://pinterest.com/wdcgardener/ • Washington Gardener Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WashingtonGardener/ • Washington Gardener Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/washingtongardenermagazine • Washington Gardener Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/WDCGardener • Washington Gardener Web Site: www.washingtongardener.com Sincerely, Kathy Jentz Editor/Publisher Washington Gardener Magazine

Reader Contest

Spring 2013 Issue

Our Spring 2013 Washington Gardener Magazine issue is now out. The cover story is on creating Great Garden Soil in seven easy steps. You’ll also find in this issue: • Squash Growing Tips • Plant Profile of Asters • 2013 Photo Contest Winners • Eastern Hemlocks Threatened • Never Let Weeds Go to Seed • A DayTrip to 11 Smithsonian Gardens • Avoiding Crape Murder • Duo of Native Azaleas • Lovely Native Carolina Spiderlily • And much, much more... To subscribe, see the page 9 of this newsletter for a form to mail in or go to www.washingtongardener.com/index_ files/subscribe.htm and use our PayPal credit card link. Summer 2013 issue is in the works with a cover story on Faerie Gardens!

For our August 2013 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, Washington Gardener is giving away 7 False Solomons Seal (Smilacina racemosa or Maianthemum racemosum) plants courtesy of Sunshine Farm & Gardens to one lucky winner. (Value: $35+.) False Solomons Seal is a long-lived, easy-to-grow, almost shrub-like in appearance, perennial plant. It will bring you, your friends and your visitors decades of pleasure in your garden. It typically grows in average soil in all types of light conditions from deep shade to filtered sunlight. The deep green, glossy, arching foliage is persistent all the growing season long and the attractive, long-lasting, elegant, feathery, creamy-white blooms light up the whole garden in early to mid-spring. Sunshine Farm & Gardens (http://sunfarm.com/) is the brainchild of Barry Glick, who takes full responsibility for all of the chaos and havoc surrounding the incredible palette of rare and unusual, but mostly idiot-proof plants. In the past 32 years, they’ve managed to amass a diverse collection of well over 10,000 different, hardy to zone 5 perennials, bulbs, trees and shrubs from every corner of the Earth on their 60-acre mountain top at 3000 feet in beautiful Greenbrier County WV. To enter to win the set of 7 False Solomons Seal plants, send an email with “Sun Farm” in the subject line to WashingtonGardener@rcn.com by 5:00pm on Friday, August 30. In the body of the email please include your full name, email, address, and tell us: What has been the Biggest Garden Pest this year and why. The winners will be announced and notified by September 1. Some of the entry responses may be used in future online or print articles.

Quick Links to Recent Washington Gardener Blog Posts • Container Gardening Tips from the US Botanic Garden • How to Submit Items to Washington Gardener Magazine • Gladiolus: You Can Grow That! • Okra and the Potato Thieves • White House Kitchen Garden Video See more Washington Gardener Blog posts at WashingtonGardener.Blogspot.com.

August Garden To-Do List

Spotlight Special New Crape Myrtle with Stunning Black Foliage

BLACK DIAMOND™ is a revolutionary new series of crape myrtles with spectacular black foliage and five brilliant flower colors to choose from. The stunning black foliage emerges in early spring and lasts until leaves drop at the first hard frost. Planted in full sun, plants hold their stunning dark foliage color over the entire growing season and bloom late-spring through late-fall. Reaching only 10- to 12-feet tall, and 8-feet wide, these semi-dwarfs are perfect for urban landscapes, small spaces and containers. The BLACK DIAMOND™ crape myrtles were originally bred by a USDA research scientist and feature five vivid color selections including ‘Best Red,’ ‘Crimson Red,’ ‘Red Hot,’ ‘Blush,’ and ‘Pure White’. New colors in the series are planned for release by J. Berry Nursery in 2014. In field trials, BLACK DIAMOND™ plants show an improved resistance to both powdery mildew and leaf spot; fungal diseases that can be a problem for most crape myrtles. In order for any crape myrtle to thrive, hold their foliage color, resist disease and bloom properly, they need to be planted in a full sun location. Crape myrtles are not shade plants and even part shade conditions will reduce blooms and leave plants susceptible to disease. A versatile shrub, BLACK DIAMOND™ makes a show stopping specimen, anchor plant or blooming row hedge; it can also be grown in containers as a patio or pool plant. Plants can be hand-pruned or sheared to the ground to maintain a 4- to 6-foot blooming row hedge. The BLACK DIAMOND™ crape myrtles are available for purchase at home improvement stores and independent garden centers. Gardeners can visit “Where to Buy” at www.blackdiamondblooms.com to locate closest retail outlet. 2

Here is our comprehensive garden task list for gardens in the greater DC metro region for August 16-September 15. Your suggestions and additions to this list are most welcome: • It is harvest time and also a good time to start taking stock if what worked well for you this season and what didn’t. • Buy raspberries and peaches at a local pick-your-own farm or visit a local farmer’s market. • Let the lawn go dormant for now, it will green back up in the coming rains. • Check your local garden center for end-of-summer bargains. • If your pond water gets low from prolonged drought, top it off with tap water and add a dechlorinator according to package instructions. • Wash out birdbaths weekly with diluted bleach solution. • Water thoroughly especially if you receive no rain for more than 5-7 days. • Turn your compost pile weekly and don’t let it dry out. • Start shopping for spring bulbs. • Divide and cut back bearded iris and peonies. • Check your pond pump for debris and clean it out every few weeks. • Watch for slug damage and set out traps or Sluggo bait. • Check for mosquito breeding grounds. Dump out any water that sits stagnant for more than three days. • Weed. • Cut back any leggy Asters or Mums. • Take garden photos and make notes in your garden journal. • Start collecting plant seeds for next year and for trading. • As the days get cooler, plant hardy mums. • Prune evergreens to get in shape for fall/winter. • Hand pick or cut out any bagworm cocoons. • Harvest your herbs often and keep them trimmed back to encourage leafy growth. Dry them indoors, if you can’t use them right away. • Bring Christmas cactus and Poinsettias indoors if you took them out for the summer in preparation for holiday blooming. Fertilize them and put them in a place where they’ll get just 10 hours bright light per day. • Inspect for powdery mildew. If seen, prune back perennials to create needed circulation. Discard properly (i.e. not in your compost bin). • Clean your hummingbird feeders and add new sugar-water every three days. • Renew your container plantings which may be looking a bit ragged at this point. Pinch back overgrown plants. Pull out any spent ones and pop in some substitute annuals or mums. Keep them well-watered and add a little liquid fertilizer every few weeks to keep them going through early autumn. • Switch your deer deterrent spray. • Start seeds for fall annuals such as pansy, calendula, and kale. • Plant fall crops such as Chinese cabbage, lettuce, radish, mustard, broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, turnips, and beets. • Order garlic, onions, and shallots for fall planting. • Attend a county fair and enter some of your garden bounty. • Preserve gourds and dry flowers for display in the fall. • Apply grub control to your lawn. • Divide hostas and daylilies. • Deadhead Garlic Chives before they go to seed. Makes a nice cut flower.

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Some tips for getting your cool season crops started in the hot summer: • Use a row cover to protect the seedlings from sun scorch and ravenous bugs. • Add compost to your growing beds as you pull out spring/summer crops and add your fall ones. The soil is likely depleted of many nutrients by now. • Plant in the shade of other edibles that will soon be pulled like corn, tomatoes, and beans. • Put the seeds in twice as deep as recommended on the seed packet, This will keep them moister and increase germination rates.

What to Plant Now for Fall Harvest By Kathy Jentz Summer can get away from us easily. With its long days and slower rhythms, it can lull us into a state of complacency and we forgot that there are many urgent time-sensitive tasks we need to accomplish in the edible garden, if we want a fall harvest. Some people refer to this as “second season harvesting.” Cool season edibles that should be started from seed between August 1 and September 15 include: • Arugula • Broccoli • Cabbage • Cauliflower • Collards • Fennel (bulbing) • Kohlrabi • Lettuce • Mesclun Mixes • Onions • Radishes • Spinach • Watercress

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• Beets • Brussel Sprouts • Carrots • Chard • Endive • Kale • Leeks • Mache • Mustard • Parsley • Rutabagas • Turnips

Here are a few good sources for timing your fall plantings: • “Planting Dates for Vegetable Crops in MD” from the University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center. Posted online at: http://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_images/programs/hgic/Publications/HG16%20Planting%20Da tes%20for%20Vegetable%20Crops%20in%20Maryl and.pdf • “Fall Planting Chart” in the September/October 2008 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. (The back issue order form on page 8 of this enewsletter.) • “Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates” from the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Posted online at: pubs.ext. vt.edu/426/426-331/426-331_pdf.pdf. About the Author Kathy Jentz is Editor/Publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine. She plans on starting another round of green beans as well as planting garlic, spinach, and broccoli in her community garden plot.

Now is the Time to Divide Iris

Your bearded iris are ready to divide in mid to late summer. You should do this every 2-3 years to prevent over-crowding resulting in fewer blossoms. Use a garden spade or fork to lift up a clump of iris rhizomes. Try not to damage the roots system. Then knock off the extra soil around the rhizomes. Next, pull apart the rhizomes. They should separate from each other fairly easily. Discard any rhizomes that are damaged or mushy. Now cut the foliage back to about 6 inches high as shown here. Cut out any foliage that is dead. You can now take a garden knife and split up the rhizomes. Be sure the knife is sterilized. You will want to end up with a good-sized (3 inch) section of rhizome that looks healthy. Finally, you can re-plant the iris. Pick a planting site in full sun and dig a hole just a couple inches deep. You will place the rhizome on top of the soil and fill around it and barely cover it. Water it in well. Any extra pieces of healthy iris rhizome you can store in a paper bag and share with your fellow gardeners.

Vacation Plant Care

If you are going to be away from home for more than a few days, your plants may suffer in your absence unless you take a few precautions to ensure their survival. Here are a few tips to consider before you leave town: ~ Ask a friend or neighbor to be a plant watering buddy. You water their plants when they are away in exchange for them taking care of yours. ~ Try some of the new products on the market to provide water over an extended period of time. These include gel spikes for containers, gator bags for trees and shrubs, drip irrigation lines, and soaker hoses on timers. ~ Water deeply before you go and apply a fresh layer of mulch to hold the moisture in. ~ Move container plants to the shade and away from winds. ~ Don’t forget about indoor plants as well. If no one can water while you are out, moving them all into the bathtub and filling it with a couple inches of water is one method to keep them alive in the short term.

Washington Gardener Book Club Autumn 2013 Pick

For our next selection Washington Gardener Magazine Book Club, we are reading Beatrix Farrand: Private Gardens, Public Landscapes by Judith Tankard. We have reserved a meeting room at the Tenleytown DC Library on Wednesday, October 9, 2013, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. The room allows food and drink and you may bring your dinner and/or snacks to share. We checked and made sure that the DC library and other local library systems currently have several copies available for borrowing of Beatrix Farrand: Private Gardens, Public Landscapes. The book club meetings are FREE and open to anyone who would like to attend. Please RSVP to “WG Book Club” at WashingtonGardener@rcn. com. We limit attendance to 20. If you need to cancel, please let us know ASAP so we can give your spot to someone else, should we have a wait-list. At this autumn meeting we will also decide the slate of books for our 2014 club selections. So please come with your suggestions for garden-related books that will make for good reads and discussions. We will announce the date for the next book club meetings after each previous meeting. We meet roughly once each quarter. WASHINGTON GARDENER ENEWS © 2013 Washington Gardener Magazine. All rights reserved.

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TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~ August 16 - September 15, 2013 • Friday, August 16, 6-8:30pm Basil Bonanza in Columbia Heights City Blossoms 5th Annual Basil Bonanza — Part party, part potluck, this event is open to the community. We encourage people to pick basil in our garden the week before, and then bring a basil potluck dish to share. In addition to food, there will be several kids activities, including face painting, hula-hooping, an art project, dancing, and more. There is no cost to attend. Girard Garden is located at 1480 Girard Street NW, near the corner of Girard Street and 15th Street. Information at www. cityblossoms.org or 443.854.1669.

Magazine’s 6th Annual

Tomato Tasting

at the Silver Spring FreshFarm Market It’s ‘Big Boy’ vs. ‘Mortgage Lifter,’ hybrid vs. heirloom, the tomato wars have just begun. Everyone is sure that their tomato pick is the tastiest. Join Washington Gardener Magazine at the FreshFarm Market in downtown Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, August 24 from 10AM-12NOON for a Tomato Tasting. Best of all, this event is FREE! Farmers at the market will contribute their locally grown selections — from super-sweet ‘Sungold’ to notso-pretty ‘Cherokee Purple’ — and we’ll explore which tomatoes make the short list of favorites. We’ll have tomato growing tips, tomato recipes, tomato activities for kids, and much more — all to celebrate one of summer’s greatest indulgences — the juicy fresh tomato. 6

• Monday, August 19, 6:30-8:30 pm Introduction to the Prince William County Master Gardener Program Find out about becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer with Virginia Cooperative Extension. Development Services Building 5 County Complex Dr. Prince William, VA 22192. Free, but registration is necessary, call 703-792-7747. • Wednesday, August 21, 7:30-9:00pm Herbs To Enrich Our Food, Health & Environment The Takoma Horticultural Club Presents: Pat Kenny, Montgomery County Master Gardener. Held at Historic Takoma, Inc., 7328 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD. While working as a medical illustrator for over 30 years for a “modern medicine research factory” in Bethesda MD, Pat Kenny simultaneously followed her heart and mind in the path of nature and studies about herbal plants. This event is free and open to the public. No reservations required. Please bring a snack to share and wear a recycled nametag. Find out more about the Takoma Hort Club at www.takomahort.org. • Saturday, August 24, 9am-4:30pm and Sunday, August 25, 12-3:30pm 30th Annual Begonia Show and Sale Feast your eyes at this show sponsored by the Potomac Branch of the American Begonia Society. Expand your plant palette! Be tempted with splashes of color and shape for homes and greenhouses that last long after frosts have put our

outdoor gardens to bed! The sale offers a wide variety of begonias, including subtropical species. FREE. For more information, call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173. • Saturday, August 24, 10am-12:00N 6th Annual Washington Gardener Magazine Tomato Tasting, At FreshFarm Market in downtown Silver Spring, MD, sample the multitude of tomatoes at market and vote on your favorites. Stop by for tomato recipes, growing tips, and much more... The event is FREE and open to the public. Wear a bib! Details at http://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/. • Starting August 26 Fall Landscaping Classes at Montgomery College Montgomery College offers a variety of horticulture courses that will benefit just about anyone — the professional landscaper, turf manager, horticulturist, Master Gardener, or amateur plant lover! Courses are offered at the Germantown and Takoma Park Campus and at Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood, MD. • August 27-October 1* Tuesdays, 6:00-7:30pm Beekeeping Course The DC Beekeepers Alliance is offering a six-week course on how to responsibly and successfully keep honey bees in urban areas and beyond. No prior experience is necessary. Participants attending all six classes will receive a beekeeping certificate for attending the course. Visit http://dcnewbees. eventbrite.com/ to register and for detailed information. Meetings at St. Steven’s Church, 525 Newton St., NW, Washington, DC 20010 (near the Columbia Heights Subway Station on the Green/Yellow Line). *Field days will be offered, dates to be announced. For details, contact: mfarrah@udc.edu or 202.274.6682 . • Saturday, September 7, 9am-5pm The Heritage Harvest Festival Thomas Jefferson, America’s “First foodie,” championed vegetable cuisine,

TOP AREA GARDENING EVENTS DC-Area Gardening Calendar ~ Upcoming Events ~August 16 - September 15, 2013 plant experimentation and sustainable agriculture. Taste a bounty of heirloom fruits and vegetables and learn about organic gardening and seed-saving during this fun, affordable, family-friendly festival — unlike any other — held on the breathtaking West Lawn of Jefferson’s Monticello. Further information at: www. heritageharvestfestival.com • Saturday, September 7, 10am-3pm Friends of Brookside Gardens Plant Sale Lots of rare and wonderful plants. Come early for best selection. Sponsored by Friends of Brookside Gardens. Outside the Visitors Center, Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902. Details: www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside. • Saturday, September 7, 10am-12n Extending the Season - Fall Vegetable Gardening At the Chinn Library, 13065 Chinn Park Drive; Prince William, VA 22192. Free. Learn from the Master Gardener Cook’s Garden Team Leader, Paul Gibson, how to extend your growing season and get your garden ready for winter with cover crops. Free, but registration requested 703-792-7747 or master_ gardener@pwcgov.org • Saturday, September 7, 3:00pm Summer Sips Put on your party clothes! Enjoy the beauty of a late summer garden as you partake of appetizers and beverages crafted from our own local, very fresh, produce. Capacity limited; registration required by August 23. Cost: Resident: $25; Non-Resident: $30. Ages: 21 & up Location: Riversdale House Museum 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park 20737. For details, contact: 301-8640420 or http://history.pgparks.com. • Saturday, September 7, 10am-12pm Great Garden Recipes Instructor: JuJu Harris, Mobile Market Outreach Coordinator Get inspired by Chef JuJu at this tasty workshop. Using fresh, local ingredients, she’ll show you how concoct a

sumptuous meal, then we’ll share lunch on the farm. Bring your kids! Fee: $30. Arcadia Farm, 9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309, 571-384-8845, info@arcadiafood.org.

wiring, and repotting. National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. Free. U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002. Phone: (202) 245-2726 or www.usna.usda.gov.

• Sunday, September 8, 9am-3pm Field Day: Medicinal Plants ID Spend the day outside learning to identify and uses of medicinal plants. At the Centro Ashé Farm, Bryans Road, MD More Info and Pre-Registration Required www.centroashe.org.

SAVE THE DATE:

• Saturday, September 14, 9am-12N Got Wildlife? Get tips on handling nuisance critters and encouraging beneficial wildlife species where you live. From Garden to Table – Want to know proper handling, storage and preparation tips for that garden produce? Join us at the Teaching Garden for lessons on using your harvest. *Master Gardener Plant Sale* Taught by VCE - Prince William Master Gardener Volunteers. Teaching Garden at St. Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA 20136. Registration is requested call 703-792-7747 or email master_gardener@pwcgov.org •Sunday, September 15, 1-5pm Greenbelt Garden Tour FREE tour of 17 gardens in Historic Greenbelt. The theme is “Less Lawn, More Life”, so tour gardens are mostly something other than lawn – perennials, patios, seating, etc. Pick up brochure at the Greenbelt Museum (10B Crescent Rd), OR find all the information you need (addresses, photos and descriptions of each garden) at www.greenbeltlive.com/garden-tour. That link will also contain a custom Google Map to guide you to all the gardens. •Now through September 29 (Fridays through Mondays only) 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Exhibit: Becoming a Bonsai Images, text, and artifacts demonstrate the steps involved in creating a bonsai and illustrate the processes that transform a common crape myrtle into a charming bonsai through pruning,

• GreenFest DC September 21-22 at the DC Convention Center. See www.greenfestivals.org.

• Fall Garden Day at Green Spring Saturday, October 5, 9am-3pm Green Spring Gardens is in its glory in the late summer and early fall. Come see for yourself and support one of Virginia’s most innovative and exciting public gardens. The Fall Garden Day is a FROGS (Friends of Green Spring) sponsored fundraiser filled with an expanded plant and craft sale, gardening information, children’s activities and music. Proceeds help acquire plants for the garden and add to Green Spring’s educational efforts. Free admission. For more information call Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173. Still More Event Listings See even more event listings on the Washington Gardener Yahoo discussion list. Join the list at http://groups.yahoo. com/group/WashingtonGardener/. Event Listing Submissions To submit an event for this listing, please contact: Wgardenermag@aol. com and put “Event” in the email subject head. Our next deadline is September 12 for the September 15 edition of this enewsletter featuring events taking place September 16-October 15.

Your Ad Here

Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/MidAtlantic area? Washington Gardener Enews goes out on the 15th of every month and is a free sister publication to Washington Gardener magazine. Contact wgardenermag@aol.com or call 301.5886894 for ad rates. The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: wgardenermag@aol.com.

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YOU CAN REQUEST A SINGLE COPY OF BACK ISSUES FOR $6 EACH OR, ANY 6 BACK ISSUES, FOR $24 OR ALL 30+ BACK ISSUES FOR JUST $100. PRICE INCLUDES POSTAGE AND HANDLING. PLEASE SPECIFY THE ISSUE DATE(S). ORDER MUST BE PREPAID BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. SEND YOUR ORDER TO: WASHINGTON GARDENER, 826 PHILADELPHIA AVE., SILVER SPRING, MD 20910

MARCH/APRIL 2005 • Landscape DIY vs. Pro • Prevent Gardener’s Back • Ladew Topiary Gardens • Cherry Trees

MAY/JUNE 2007 • Roses: Easy Care Tips • Native Roses & Heirloom Roses • Edible Flowers • How to Plant a Bare-root Rose

MAY/JUNE 2009 • Top Easy Summer Annuals for DC Heat • Salad Table Project • Grow and Enjoy Eggplant • How to Chuck a Woodchuck

MAY/JUNE 2005 • Stunning Plant Combinations • Turning Clay into Rich Soil • Wild Garlic • Strawberries

JULY/AUGUST 2007 • Groundcovers: Alternatives to Turfgrass • How to Pinch, Prune, & Dead-head •William Paca House & Gardens • Hardy Geraniums

SUMMER 2009 • Grow Grapes in the Mid-Atlantic • Passionflowers • Mulching Basics • What’s Bugging Your Tomatoes • Growing Hops

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Water Gardens • Poison Ivy • Disguising a Sloping Yard • Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 • Succulents: Hardy to our Region • Drought-tolerant Natives • Southern Vegetables • Seed Saving Savvy Tips

FALL 2009 • Apples • How To Save Tomato Seeds • Persimmons

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005 • Container Gardens • Clematis Vines • Sponge Gardening/Rain Gardens • 5 Insect Enemies of Gardeners

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • Gardening with Children • Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • National Museum of the American Indian • Versatile Viburnums

WINTER 2009 • Battling Garden Thugs • How to Start Seeds Indoors • Red Twig Dogwoods • Unusual Edibles to Grow in Our Region

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005 • Backyard Bird Habitats • Hellebores • Building a Coldframe • Bulb Planting Basics

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 • Dealing with Deer • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Indoor Bulb Forcing Basics • Delightful Daffodils

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 • Garden Decor Principles • Primroses • Tasty Heirloom Veggies • U.S. Botanic Garden

MARCH/APRIL 2008 • Patio, Balcony, Rooftop Container Gardens • Our Favorite Garden Tools • Coral Bells (Heucheras)

SUMMER 2010 • Fragrance Gardens • Watering Without Waste • Lavender • Potatoes

MAY/JUNE 2008 — ALMOST SOLD OUT! • Growing Great Tomatoes • Glamorous Gladiolus • Seed Starting Basics • Flavorful Fruiting Natives

FALL 2010 • Vines and Climbers • Battling Stink Bugs • Russian Sage • Garlic

JULY/AUGUST 2008 • Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses • Edible Grasses to Graze On • Slug and Snail Control • Sage Advice: Sun-loving Salvias

WINTER 2010 • Paths and Walkways • Edgeworthia • Kohlrabi

MARCH/APRIL 2006 • Top 10 Small Trees and Large Shrubs • Azaleas • Figs, Berries, & Persimmons • Basic Pruning Principles MAY/JUNE 2006 • Using Native Plants in Your Landscape • Crabgrass • Peppers • Secret Sources for Free Plants JULY/AUGUST 2006 • Hydrangeas • Theme Gardens • Agave • Find Garden Space by Growing Up SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 • Shade Gardening • Hosta Care Guide • Fig-growing Tips and Recipes NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 • Horticultural Careers • Juniper Care Guide • Winter Squash Growing Tips and Recipes • Layer/Lasagna Gardening JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 • Indoor Gardening • Daphne Care Guide • Asparagus Growing Tips and Recipes • Houseplant Propagation MARCH/APRIL 2007 • Stormwater Management • Dogwood Selection & Care Guide • Early Spring Vegetable Growing Tips • Franciscan Monastery Bulb Gardens

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 • Autumn Edibles — What to Plant Now • Beguiling Barrenworts (Epimediums) • The Best Time to Plant Spring-blooming Bulbs • 14 Dry Shade Plants Too Good to Overlook NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 • Outdoor Lighting Essentials • How to Prune Fruiting Trees, Shrubs, and Vines • 5 Top Tips for Overwintering Tender Bulbs • Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 • Compost Happens: Nature’s Free Fertilizer • Managing Stormwater with a Rain Garden • Visiting Virginia’s State Arboretum • Grow Winter Hazel for Gorgeous Winter Color MARCH/APRIL 2009 • 40+ Free and Low-cost Local Garden Tips • Spring Edibles Planting Guide for the Mid-Atlantic • Testing Your Soil for a Fresh Start • Redbud Tree Selection and Care • Best Viewing Spots for Virginia Bluebells

SPRING 2010 • Community Gardens • Building a Raised Bed • Dwarf Iris • Broccoli

SPRING 2011 • Cutting-Edge Gardens • Final Frost Dates and When to Plant • Bleeding Hearts • Onions SUMMER 2011 • Ornamental Edibles • Urban Foraging • Amsonia/Arkansas Blue Star • Growing Corn in the Mid-Atlantic FALL 2011 • Herb Gardens • Toad Lilies • Sweet Potatoes • Cool Weather Cover Crops WINTER 2011 - EARLY SPRING 2012 • Green Roofs and Walls • Heaths and Heathers • Radishes SPRING 2012 • Pollinator Gardens • Brunnera: Perennial of the Year • Growing Yacon SUMMER 2012 • Tropical Gardens • Captivating Canna • Icebox Watermelons

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Coming Soon!

Washington Gardener Magazine’s DayTrip columns compiled into one handy publication — available soon in both paper and e-book versions. Great gift idea!

Your Ad Here

Are you trying to reach thousands of gardeners in the greater DC region/Mid-Atlantic area? Washington Gardener Enews goes out on the 15th of every month and is a free sister publication to Washington Gardener magazine. Contact wgardenermag@aol.com or call 301.588-6894 for ad rates. The ad deadline is the 10th of each month. Please submit your ad directly to: wgardenermag@aol.com.

In Our Next Issue... Miniature/Faerie Gardens

Annmarie Garden in Solomons, MD

Garden Tour Season Wrap-Up Growing Great Carrots!

If your business would like to reach area gardeners, be sure to contact us by August 25 so you can be part of the next issue of our growing publication! oooooooooooooooooooooooo

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Send a check or money order for $20.00 payable to Washington Gardener magazine to: Washington Gardener 826 Philadelphia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910

Magazine Excerpt: ASK THE EXPERT by Debra Ricigliano

Is Lichen Bad for my Dogwood Tree?

We have a dogwood tree in our front yard that I am very concerned about. The tree must be at least 20 years old. For the last couple of years, I have noticed a pale sort of greenish crusty fungus growing on the trunk and limbs. Do you know what this fungus is? Should I be concerned about it and what should I do? The growths on your tree are called lichens and are also found on rocks and wooden fences. Lichens are composed of a fungus and algae. They work together to support the growth of the organism, referred to as a symbiotic relationship. The algae manufacture carbohydrates by photosynthesis and the fungus keeps the algae moist, preventing it from drying out. Lichens tend to grow on the bark of slower-growing, older trees. They often appear on dead limbs or branches that died from reasons unrelated to the lichens. Treatment is not necessary; lichens do not cause disease. However, you should prune out any dead wood and keep the tree watered during drought periods.

Best Timing for Crape Myrtle Pruning?

When is the best time to prune a crape myrtle and how should they be pruned? It is not necessary to prune crape myrtles to keep them vigorous or to produce more blooms. They flower on new growth produced in the spring. Many people cut back all of the stems to a uniform height. This is not the proper way to prune them. In certain circles, this is referred to as “crape murder.” Prune to keep the natural shape of the plant. Some thinning of branches can be done to open up the shrub and suckers can be removed from the base of the plant... Want to hear more gardening advice from our garden expert? Read the rest of this KnowItAll column in the Spring 2013 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine. See how to subscribe below to start with this issue.

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