Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

Crystal Rennicke

I love fall. To me, it is one of the most beautiful times of the year here in Wisconsin. Starting October 1st, our new photo challenge theme will be “fall.” But you can start submitting your favorite fall photos now. Click here for more information.

Looking for people with common interests? Check out the Groups section in our online community. There you’ll find hummingbird enthusiasts, wildlife gardeners, thrifty backyarders and more! Join a group today and see what everyone’s talking about! http://community.birdsandblooms.com/groups/

Happy Gardening!
—Crystal

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READ ON TO DISCOVER...

• Plant of the Month
• Yard Smarts
• Question of the Month
• Frugal Backyard Tip
• Submit Your Story

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

Plant of the Month

Flirtation® Pink Twinspur
Botanical name: Diascia hybrid.
Mature Size: 8 to 12 inches high; 8 to 10 inches wide.
Hardiness: Annual, except Zones 7 to 10.
Light: Full or partial sun.
Features: Charming pink flowers bloom profusely all season. Great for early spring planting. Look for Flirtation® Orange twinspur in 2010!

Uses: Use in hanging baskets, combinations, window boxes and landscapes.

For more information, click here.

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RDA, Inc./GID

Yard Smarts

Spray Away Deer
If deer like to nibble on your roses and shrubs, try this recipe to keep them away. Beat 12 to 18 eggs in a blender, then mix with 5 gallons of soapy water. Spray the liquid on plants (except those with fruits or vegetables that you plant to eat), reapplying after any heavy rains.–Sandy Miller, Toledo, Washington

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Question of the Month

RDA, Inc./GID

Frosty Flowers
Q: Every year my dahlias bloom in early autumn and only have a few flowers. What’s happening? –Joseph Pavelchak, Robbinsville, New Jersey

Melinda: This is a common experience. Northern gardeners that plant dahlias tubers directly in the garden in late spring usually do not see flowers until late summer or fall.

After the short bloom, it’s already time to dig up the roots, store them for winter and then replant in spring.

For better results, start the roots indoors in mid-March, growing under artificial lights or in a sunny window until the danger of frost has passed. Then move the hardened off transplants into the garden. This extra work should result in earlier blooms.

You can improve flowering even more by leaving more roots per eye when dividing your dahlias. With more tuberous roots and stored energy, you’ll have better flowering.

For more answers from Melinda, click here.

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Frugal Gardener Tip

Missi Haggard

Prolonging the Harvest
Here’s a tip for gardeners who can’t let those green tomatoes go to waste. Use the plastic flats that transplants come in and fill them with your unripe tomatoes. Place the filled flats in a room inside your home and cover with a sheet of newspaper. Check on them every day, removing the ripe ones and discarding any that go bad.
  My goal is to have fresh sliced tomatoes for Thanksgiving dinner! –Barbara Janes, Mt. Zion, Illinois

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Submit Your Story

We’re looking for your best money-saving birding and gardening tips for our “For Less” section. If we use your photo submission, we’ll send you $25!

Submit your story»

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