Whats Up in the Garden by Jackie Dohlman, Master Gardener

Tips on Snow Molds, Pruning Butterfly Bush, and Dividing Rhubarb Plants

Areas of my lawn that were covered with snow for most of the winter aren’t greening up. What could be wrong?

Snow molds may be responsible for the brown spots in your lawn. Two snow mold diseases, gray snow mold and pink snow mold, occur in Iowa. Gray snow mold is caused by two species of the fungus Typhula, while pink snow mold is caused by the fungus Microdochium nivale.

Symptoms of snow molds first appear when snow melts in late winter or early spring. Circular, straw-colored patches appear in the lawn as the snow recedes. Patches caused by gray snow mold may be a few inches to a few feet in diameter, while those caused by pink snow mold tend to be smaller, less than six inches across. These patches may continue to enlarge if the grass remains cool and wet. Grass in the patch may be matted and wet, with pink or gray colored fungal growth over the patch or on the edge. Gray snow mold causes small, pinhead-sized, round structures (sclerotia) to develop on the leaves and crowns of the grass plants.

Damage caused by snow molds is usually not serious. Affected areas typically green up, though more slowly than the rest of the lawn. Gently raking the affected areas may help to dry them out and prevent further fungal growth. In future years, problems with snow molds can be minimized by avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization in fall, keeping the grass mowed until growth stops in fall, raking fallen leaves, and by not throwing or piling snow on problem areas. Affected areas will need to be overseeded if they fail to green up.

How should I prune my butterfly bush in spring?
The butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is actually a medium-sized, woody shrub. However, it’s often regarded as a herbaceous perennial in Iowa because the plant typically dies back to the ground each winter. In late winter/early spring, prune the butterfly bush back to within a few inches of the ground. The butterfly bush grows back rapidly after the dead wood is removed and blooms on the current year’s growth. The 6- to 12-inch-long flower spikes may be white, yellow, pink, blue, violet, or purple. By the end of summer, plants are often 5 to 6 feet tall.

When can I divide my rhubarb plants?
Early spring is the best time to divide rhubarb plants. Dig up plants as soon as the ground can be worked in spring. Divide each plant into sections with a large knife or spade. Each section should have at least two to three buds or shoots and a large section of the root system. Replant immediately. Set the divided sections in the ground at the same depth as they grew previously. Water thoroughly. Continue to water the plants on a weekly basis (during dry weather) through the remainder of the growing season.

Got gardening questions? Contact the Hortline at (515) 294-3108 (Monday - Friday; 10 a.m. -12 noon and 1 - 4:30 p.m.) or send an e-mail to hortline@iastate.edu. For more gardening information visit us at Yard and Garden Online at http://www.yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/

photo courtesy of Miss Chien at flickr.com

Home Show Expo in Iowa Falls Saturday

Saturday you can find me at the Iowa Falls Fire Department.  

That's at 321 Stevens Street.  

It's the Home Show Expo.  So I won't be the only one there.  There's quite a few of us.  We will have booths and samples and literature and just plain good conversation.

Each of us also gets to give a 1/2 hour presentation.  I'll be doing a program on cleaning your home with green products.  Denise will be talking about Watkins and I think she's bringing food samples! 

Don't be square.... be there! 

Sleep Tight .. Sleep Right

Tips for getting a good night's sleep

Getting a good night's sleep is important. According to information published by the National Sleep Foundation getting less than seven hours of sleep a night for seven consecutive nights can significantly impair alertness and motor performance. And a growing body of medical evidence links inadequate sleep with anger, anxiety, sadness, and daytime memory loss.

University of Pennsylvania researchers found that when study subjects were allowed to sleep only 4.5 hours a night for one week, they reported feeling more stressed, angry, sad, and mentally exhausted, with overall scores for mood and vigor declining steadily during the test period.

Noise levels (too high or too low), a room that is too warm or too cold and/or has too much light, and a noisy or restless bed partner are a few of the environmental factors that can influence the length and quality of our sleep.

Another factor is the sleeping surface itself: A mattress and pillows with the proper body support are essential to a good sleeping environment.

It's also important, particularly for those who suffer from allergies and asthma, that the sleeping surface be clean and dust-free according to The Soap and Detergent Association. Sheets should be changed at least weekly. Other bed linens, including mattress pads, blankets and comforters, should be washed at least four times a year. And don't overlook the pillows! They, too, should be washed frequently.

Check the pillow's label for care instructions. If the label is missing, try these general instructions. Wash the pillow on the gentle cycle, and then run it through the rinse cycle two or three times to remove all traces of detergent. After rinsing, run it through the washer's spin dry cycle at least twice to remove as much moisture as possible. Machine dry. Make sure the pillow is dry all the way through; several cycles may be required.

photo courtesy of creative commons attributes at flickr.com

Rabbit Workshop 4-15

All 4-H and FFA rabbit project members are invited the 4-H Foodstand at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, Wednesday, April 15, 7:00 p.m.

Topics to be covered include: rabbit tattooing, and a rabbit skillathon. Rabbits must be tattooed and have identification forms turned into the Franklin County Extension Office by May 15 to exhibit at the Franklin County Fair.

Members are encouraged to bring rabbits that need tattooed. Cost is $.50 per ear. For more information contact the Extension Office, 641-456-4811 or Darshan Feldman at 641-373-3049.

Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like: Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880 Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-579-6227 Long Branch Supper Club – 641-458-8027 Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234 Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378 Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114

photo courtesy of flickr.com