Many People Do Not Like Political Jokes…..Is That Because They’ve Seen Too Many Of Them Elected?
Thank heaven for the beautiful rain we received last week and I am hoping this last Monday contributes more to our area although the lower temperature will be nice if nothing else.
It’s been a year now since that shot was taken at Trump. A poor shot, but a shot none the less. What I would like to know is what happened to the older man who was found near Mari Lago that was supposedly going for his own hole in one. Trump made a lot of money and support after the first attempt and I believe that the second was a trumped (no pun intended) up attempt. Not a word of this man has been mentioned since no name, no trial, no nothing.
Meanwhile Musk is rather quiet on the platform of the new America Party but maybe he’s just sharpening up his Chainsaw to make it. I see him as a cross between a mechanized Paul Bunyan ad Daffy Duck on slightly better than the leader of the Republican Party.
Pruning at this time of year is the removal of dead, damaged, diseased and wayward branching parts of plants and shrubs.
Deadheading is the removal of faded flowers before they can set seed by pinching or cutting. This causes the production of regrowth hormones which makes the plant produce new blooms and can also contribute to fuller plants and larger blooms. This is not done to any plant that is expected to produce fruit from its blooms.
There are only a few annuals and perennials that do not need deadheading to remain healthy and beautiful. This includes Coleus, Lantana, Sweet Potato Vive, Impatience, Calibrachoa, Wave Petunias, Ferns, Hosta and Hibiscus. All others do need it and will only flourish with this easy but time consuming bi weekly chore.
Petunias should have the dead or near dead flowers and the stem supporting the seed pod removed by pinching or cutting it back. Many just pull the dead flowers off and this is just not sufficient.
The plant will be spending its energy on producing the seed instead of creating more blooms. It will become leggy and straggly with poor flowers if any in a very short time. Other reasons for the Petunia not producing the flowers it should will be improper lighting or the wrong fertilizer. Petunias need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day and a fertilizer that is high in Phosphorous such as bonemeal and plenty of water. It likes moist soil.
Geraniums too need fairly frequent deadheading and the blossom and the supporting stem should be taken back to the node that it is growing from. I tend to remove even blooms that are just starting to turn as the job lasts longer and the blooms grow back quickly.
Roses depending on the type of Rose should be cut back to either the first or second set of 5 leaves which are referred to as true leaves. The lower on the plant that you have to go to get to this true leaf cluster will determine the length of the time for the plant to regenerate the new stem and bloom. It will also determine the strength of the stem and size of the next bloom produced. Be sure to know each type of Rose you grow and its pruning and deadheading requirements. Watch Roses carefully for fungal issue which may require you prune away more stems to ensure good air movements.
Happy Gardening!
Samantha Nason
BS Ranch & Greenhouses
250 547 6567
sam1nason@gmail.com
