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Garden Planner: Mar/Apr 2004

Iris 101, helpful watering hints, and which birds you’ll be seeing in your spring garden.
By Becky Winn |


March and April

Spring Fever: Ah, spring. It’s beautiful outside and you’re itching to get into the garden. But be patient. Though early March finds nurseries loaded with gorgeous greenhouse-grown starts for summer herbs, vegetables, and flowers, many summer annuals are cold tender and, if you jump the gun, you could find yourself buying basil two or even three times. March 16 is our average last frost date, but don’t rely on it; it is an average.

 

In Bloom: Iris
Irises are showstoppers this time of year. The tall bearded irises are bigger, have more ruffles, and are available in more colors than ever before. Your grandmother might have had four or five different colors, but now there are literally thousands. Dallas has a great climate for growing irises, so check them out and get ready to fall in love with the fleur-de-lis.

Iris How To:
• Plant in a shallow trough, 3 inches deep and 6 inches across, in well-drained soil. Leave the top 1/3 of the bulb above the soil.
• Do not over water, or they will rot.
• Fertilize in the spring and fall before flowering. A good rule of thumb is to fertilize on Valentine’s Day and Halloween. 
• After blooming, cut flower stalks off at ground level and sprinkle with Ajax. The bleach kills bacteria that might invade the new cut. 
• Divide after four years, in September.

Get Your Own
Skip the mail-order routine and buy from these local growers instead.

Argyle Acres, 910 Pioneer Circle East, Argyle. 940-464-3680. 
Charlie Brown, 3114S FM 131, Denison. 903-463-4084.
T.B.s Place, 1513 Ernie Ln., Grand Prairie.
Dell Perry, 800 Purcell Dr., Plano. 972-517-7219.
Hillcrest Gardens, 3365 Northaven Rd. 214-352-2191.
Wild Prairie Farm and Market, 148 Travis Rd., Decatur. 940-626-9797. www.wildprairie.net.

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Did you know?
Peony buds produce a sticky, sweet nectar that ants love. Old wives tales and even some
scientists say the ants help the buds to open. In any event, don’t be alarmed and don’t apply pesticides. The ants won’t harm the peonies—and may even help them. And as soon as the buds open, the ants move on.

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Watch the Water

You may not want to hear it, but sprinkler systems are rarely adequate for new spring plantings, and they’re never enough for new trees and large shrubs. Which is not to say “pour it on.”

The No. 1 cause of plant mortality is over watering.
Normally the key is to water plants deeply and infrequently. New transplants, though, require more frequent, shallow watering until their root systems are established. When watering large plants, take care to soak the root system well with a hose once or twice a week, depending on how hot it is outside. If it dries out, the root ball can be difficult to re-hydrate, and without sufficient water the plant will suffer and perhaps die. This is particularly true with azaleas or anything planted in peat moss. Although peat moss holds moisture exceedingly well, it becomes a water repellent when it dries out completely.

When planting a tree of any size, water it thoroughly a couple of days before installation. If the soil is moist, but not wet, the root ball will stay intact and won’t be as heavy.

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More On Irises

Prime Spots for Iris Ogling

Samuell-Grand Park, 6200 E. Grand Ave. 214-670-1383.

Farmers Branch Historic Park, 2540 Farmers Branch Ln., Farmers Branch. 972-406-0184.

The Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd. 214-327-4901.

Fretz Park, 950 Belt Line Rd. 214-670-6203.

Beside the road on Belt Line between Hillcrest and Coit, where a neighborhood iris lover has embellished the roadside for love of the plants.

Can’t-miss Events for the Iris Enthralled

The Iris Society of Dallas spring flower show. April 18, 1-4 p.m.  Fretz Park, 950 Belt Line Rd. Call  972-231-9594 for more information.

National Convention for the Society for Louisiana Irises. April 25-27. Holiday Inn Select, 10650 North Central Expressway. Call 972-231-9594 for more information. www.louisianas.org.

The Iris Society of Dallas annual sale is the best place to buy iris rhizomes. July 31 and Sep 11. North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd. Call 972-231-9594 for more information.

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Fine Feathered Friends

Look up every once in a while. There’s a flurry of bird activity at the moment. Here’s what to keep an eye out for.

March
Screech, bard, and great horned owls are nesting. Look for owlets emerging this month and next. Robins, purple martins, and cedar waxwings are migrating through. Male goldfinches are turning bright yellow just in time for mating season.

April
White-crown, white-throated sparrows are stopping by on their migratory path. Hummingbirds are passing through on the way to their nesting places and will be back in the summer. Look for warblers at your feeders. Watch for owlets.

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