ALASKA'S NEWSPAPER

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Gardening

TALK DIRT TO ME

A few facts about insects in Alaska

The Cooperative Extension Service Office, 2221 E. Northern Lights Blvd., will offer a hands-on bug lab at noon on July 16. A class on slugs and snails will be held during the same time period on July 23. Call them at 786-6300 to reserve your space.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Break out the hose while enjoying the gorgeous weather

A week of 70-degree days without rain preceded by a few weeks of darn good weather can make you think you are, indeed, in Heaven. I am betting some of your plants are not quite as happy.

TALK DIRT TO ME

A chat with primula addict Jane Baldwin

There are about 475 different species of primula world wide grouped into about 37 different sections based on plant similarities. Jane Baldwin talks about her own primulas.

JEFF LOWENFELS

July is prime time for some lawn TLC

This is a great time of year to over seed your lawn. Get a bag of grass seed and apply it in areas where the grass is thin. You can sprinkle it by hand or get one of those inexpensive, hand cranked jobbies that spreads seed.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Gardens get slimed

It appears out of nowhere, like a ninja dressed head to toe in black, and creeps down the path silently, oozing up in the gravelled crevices between the flagstones I have placed so carefully.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Help knock out noxious weeds this week

Here is a new Web site you all should bookmark: www.weedwar.org. It is maintained by Citizens Against Noxious Weeds Invading the North (CANWIN). I bet you didn't even know this was Alaska Invasive Weeds Awareness Week. This site will not only tell you all about that, Gov. Palin's proclamation and all, but has pictures and descriptions of the invasive weeds each and every one of us needs to be aware of. Hats off to Troy and Lori Zaumseil who started the 501(c)(3) non-profit group.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Don't forget about gardening safety

From little ol' splinters to pulled muscles to broken bones to pnuemonia to blood poisoning -- it's a jungle out there, we're the explorers and we need to take care.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Warm weather triggers aphid infestation

The warm weather and lack of rain thus far this season has resulted in quite a sticky situation in Southcentral. These are the ideal conditions for aphids, those 1/8-inch, pear-shaped insects that suck the sap and juices from plants and excrete a sticky goop.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Defending against cutworms

I use old plastic milk jugs cut up into rings to protect cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and any other plant that is susceptible to cutworms. I sink the ring about halfway into the soil to protect the stems of the young plants.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Enjoy the sunshine, but don't forget to water

You all know the rule: Make sure your gardens get at least one inch of water a week between you and Mother Nature. Usually we don't have to remember the rule as Nature's rain does all the work. Well, lately Mother has been skipping out on carrying her share of the load.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Gloves pass the test

I'd be willing to bet you've got piles of mismatched work and garden gloves tossed here and there.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Think of hungry when planting

The containers are out on the deck, the hanging baskets have been retrieved and hung, and by now most of us have mowed the lawn at least once. The weather has been fine and you should have at least a good portion of the gardens in, if not all done. But are you forgetting a couple of very important, "must do" things?

TALK DIRT TO ME

Lawn 'volcanoes' a good thing

"Each summer the mounds of dirt (like small volcanoes) in my lawn are getting more and closer together. Can you tell me what is causing these mounds and what I can do to stop the progression?"

JEFF LOWENFELS

Hard to kill, easy to fool

Horsetail has reared its ugly head. It can't be killed with Round-Up or other weed killers (which you should not be using anyway).

JEFF LOWENFELS

Harden before you plant

Yes, you really do have to harden off plants outside for several days before they can be planted in the ground or containers. This applies to plant sunburn and drying from the wind and lower-than-greenhouse humidity.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Water's what lawns need most

Whew! A few days of sunshine and folks go lawn crazy. True, it seems like we have had more sun this spring than we had all last summer, but let's remain calm. There is a great likelihood that in just a month or so you will start to hate your lawn. Doing too much work on it now is part of that problem. Besides, this is, after all, just a hobby. Let's try and keep it from getting to be work.

Local events for gardeners

Plants, tips, clubs, meetings

TALK DIRT TO ME

Author discusses Hands-on Harvest

Author Rose Marie Nichols McGee, president of Nichols Garden Nursery in Oregon, will be speaking at the Alaska Master Gardeners day-long workshop Hands-on Harvest on Saturday. Registration is $75. Lunch is included.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Time to stock up on starts

Now is the time to be stalking the vegetable starts at local nurseries. There are never enough vegetable starts to go around in normal years (a good reason to start your own if you can), but this year there is a huge increase in interest in growing vegetables and that means even more scarcity. Now, not the day the all-clear is given to plant outdoors, is the time to seek and buy from your local nursery. Wait, and you will most definitely lose.

Local events for gardeners

Plants, tips, clubs, meetings

TALK DIRT TO ME

Mixed-garden pro speaks out

Tracy DiSabato-Aust, garden designer and author of three books, will speak in Kenai on Friday and in Anchorage on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Alaska Wild Berry Theatre. We had a chance to ask her a few questions before her appearance.

PHOTOS

Alutiiq visors

Three generations of Linds make Alutiiq hunting visors for collectors and museums.

PLAY

Wayne & Wanda

Offering clarity on the mixed-up world of relationships.

READER-SUBMITTED

Dad & Me

Give dad a shout-out by showing off photos of you together.

PHOTOS

Traditional kayak

Troy and Ethan Wilkinson are the latest generation in a dynasty of kayak makers.

BLOG

Play Blog

Check out the Play Blog, an insider’s guide on everything from music to pop culture, local dining, drinking, art and nightlife.

READER-SUBMITTED

Your cabin

Remote cabins are a way of life in Alaska, each holding its own personal touch. Share your place and check out others

SLIDE SHOW

Rabbit Creek flowers

Volunteers plant flowers in the median at Rabbit Creek Road and Seward Highway.

PHOTOS

Mike Stepovich

View photos pulled from our archive of Alaska's most nationally recognized and covered governor, not named Palin.

VIDEO

Museum

Director James Pepper Henry offers a tour of the Anchorage Museum expansion.

Ash helps gardeners but take precautions

What's 2009's must-have plant?

It's planting time; stay off the grass

Beekeepers look forward to a warmer summer

Gnomes roam, even in Alaska

Pre-spring questions from the gardener's mailbox

Melting snow means gardening classes are packed

Bloomerang lilac on the market

Keep the faith: Spring is coming

Put your supplemental lights away; spring is near

Undoubtedly, Redoubt will leave ash in your garden

Wanted: a good greenhouse

Mushroom guru won't leave you in the dark at ABG

Get to work now if you want to harvest garden grub

March is critical for planning your summer plantings

Alaskans can be good bean counters

Seed your gardening knowledge with proper terms

Gardeners grow a wedding

Try your hand at leeks -- and add some mushrooms

Streptocarpi a plant worth getting hooked on

Alaska testers eye the 'Party Potato'

Live plants beat toxic roses for Valentines gift

Redoubt's potential ash could help your gardening

Talk Dirt blog opens garden's door

Peony paradise

State peonies have commercial appeal

Books whet your appetite for upcoming garden season

Check out flowers in London

Specialty seeds can give you red sunflowers, big vegetables

Think greenhouses to warm up

Fertilizer price increase is looming

Local events for gardeners

State fair bloom quest never ends

Heirloom emporiums may hold Alaska-tough seeds

Cruising catalogs gives gardeners a start on new year

Lights in ice warm hearts

Waxwings a sign of the season

Local events for gardeners

Still lifes of vegetables, fruit are a delight to view

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