>> THIS IS LITERALLY CRAWLING WITH BEES.

>> WOW.

>> I JUST THOUGHT A PINK ONION, WHY NOT TRY IT?

>> OUR HOSTAS DO WELL IN MINNESOTA AND THEY LIKE OUR TEMPERATURES.

>> WE HAVE THINGS BLOOMING FROM EARLY SPRING TO LATE FALL.

>> IT'S FUN TO IMAGINE WHAT THIS PLACE WILL BE LIKE IN A FEW YEARS.

>> WE'VE JUST GOTTEN STARTED.

♪ SHARON: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "GREAT GARDENING."

I'M YOUR HOST, SHARON YUNG, AND AS USUAL WE HAVE OUR EXPERTS WITH US HERE TONIGHT.

THEY ARE GARDEN PROFESSIONAL DEB BYRNS ERICKSON AND HORTICULTURIST AND EDUCATOR BOB OLEN.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM GARDENERS ACROSS OUR REGION WHO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR EXPERTS.

WE HAVE PHONE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS TAKING TAKING YOUR PHONE QUESTIONS THIS EVENING.

CALL LOCALLY AT 218-788-2844, OR SIMPLY EMAIL US AT ASK@PBSNORTH.ORG.

WE'RE TAKING QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE SHOW TONIGHT.

SO CALL OR EMAIL US NOW WHILE WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S SHOW WITH A LOOK AT THE WEATHER IN OUR REGION.

>> NICE.

NICE, HUH?

>> NICE GRASSES.

BOB: WE'RE FINALLY GETTING SOME GREEN GRASS.

TOOK A LITTLE WHILE.

DEB: YEAH.

SHARON: I REALLY LOVE SEEING THESE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

DEB: EVERYTHING GREENING LIKE THAT.

BOB: DAY-TO-DAY, MOVES VERY QUICKLY RIGHT NOW.

DEB: THE CROCUS AND THE TULIPS.

MORE GRASSES.

NICE.

IT'S NICE.

PRETTY SOON, THERE WILL BE BUDS.

BOB: THERE WE GO.

DEB: NICE GREEN GRASS.

SHARON: WHAT A CHANGE FROM LAST WEEK.

DEB: RIGHT?

BOB: QUITE A CHANGE IN ONE WEEK.

WE'VE HAD MOISTURE AND WILL GET A LITTLE BIT MORE WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DRY.

WE HAD DROUGHTY CONDITIONS SO THIS IS ALL GOOD.

SOME SEEDUM.

DEB: I THINK IT IS.

MORE GRASSES.

BOB: AND THAT WILL CHANGE DRAMATICALLY JUST IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

HEY -- DEB: THE WILLOWS ARE OUT.

BOB: SIGNS OF SPRING.

DEB: LOTS OF POLLEN.

BOB: LOTS OF POLLEN.

SHARON: WE'RE DEFINITELY CREEPING UP ON SUMMER.

AND YES, PUN INTENDED.

IT'S GOING TO START GETTING BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE.

AND SPEAKING OF BEAUTY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO INVESTMENT IRENE AND CHARLES CARLSON AND THEIR GARDEN IN WRIGHT, MINNESOTA.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> I'M IRENE CARLSON.

>> AND I'M CHARLES CARLSON.

>> AND THIS IS WRIGHT, MINNESOTA.

AND WELCOME TO OUR GARDEN.

>> WE BOUGHT THE FARM IN 1992.

AND IT WAS A WORKING DAIRY FARM FROM 1903.

BUT THIS GARDEN, THIS IS OUR THIRD ATTEMPT ON THE PROPERTY FOR A GARDEN.

>> AND ONE DAY HE DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO OPEN UP THE FIRST LITTLE AREA SO IT STARTED OUT SMALL AT FIRST AND OVER THE YEARS IT HAS GROWN.

SO WE GROW ALL VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ITEMS.

SOME EARLY IN THE SPRING.

AND THEN SOME THAT WE HARVEST IN THE FALL.

IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE GARDEN, WE HAVE A LOT OF COOLER SPRING CROPS.

THE LETTUCES, BOCK CHOY AND WE HAVE PEAS, TOMATOES, PEPPERS.

>> AND SHE DOES A LOT OF COMPANION -- >> PLANTING.

>> THAT'S HOW IT'S SECTIONED OUT.

CERTAIN PLANTS LIKE TO BE WITH CERTAIN PLANTS.

>> YEAH.

>> AND WE ROTATE THE CROP EVERY YEAR IN A INTO DIFFERENT SECTIONS.

>> COMPANION PLANTING IS TO CUT DOWN ON LIKE INSECTS AND FUNGUS AND ALL THAT.

SO LIKE IN OUR POTATO PATCH WE HAVE THAT SURROUNDED WITH CABBAGE BECAUSE THE TWO ARE REALLY GOOD COMPANION.

AND THAT CARLOTS AND ONIONS I DO TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT DETERS RABBITS AND DIFFERENT THINGS BECAUSE THEY SMELL THE ONIONS AND DOESN'T SMELL LIKE SUCH A GOOD TREAT.

SO YOU KIND OF WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THINGS SPACED OUT QUITE A BIT.

AND THIS YEAR, WE TRIED SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH OUR TOMATOES.

WE WATCHED A COUPLE OF YOUTUBERS AND THEY DID THE FENCE POST WITH THE STRINGS.

AND I'M ACTUALLY LIKING THAT A LOT MORE.

THERE'S A LOT MORE AIR FLOW.

A LOT LESS PEST PROBLEMS AND A LOT LESS DISEASE.

AND ALL OF THE TOMATOES AND STUFF SEEM TO BE PUTTING ON REALLY GOOD.

AND THEY'RE DOING VERY HEALTHY.

AND THE SUN FLOWERS I PLANTED ONE YEAR FOR THE BEES.

AND THEN THEY KIND OF END UP FALLING ALL OVER.

SO IN THE SPRING, WE KIND OF DIG SOME OF THEM UP AND REPLACE THEM WHETHER FOR SHADE OR WHERE WE NEED MORE OF THE POLLINATORS TO COME IN AND HELP US OUT.

>> HOW DO YOU WATER?

>> RIGHT HERE.

>> THIS IS MY WATER BOY.

>> I WATER IT RIGHT HERE.

IT TAKES ABOUT THREE HOURS EVERY DAY TO SOAK IT PRETTY GOOD.

AND IT'S JUST ABOUT AN EVERY DAY DEAL.

AND WE HAVE TWO WELLS.

AND MORE OR LESS JUST DRAGGING THE HOSE, SETTING UP RAIN BARRELS, TAKING FROM THEM AND CARTER BY HAND.

AND IT'S -- IT'S A STRUGGLE BUT I ENJOY IT.

>> COME HOME FROM WORK AND I GRAZE MYSELF THROUGH HERE.

AND SNACK ON PEAS AND CARLOTS AND CELERY AND JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT AND NICE TO WALK THROUGH YOUR GARDEN AND I THINK WE'LL HAVE THIS FOR FOR SUPPER.

SHARON: ONE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL GUARD -- GARDEN THEY HAVE.

DEB, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH OUR VIEWERS THIS WEEK?

DEB: THIS WEEK, THIS WEEKEND, I HAD SO MANY PEOPLE I HEARD THEM TALKING ABOUT THEIR CALIBRACHOA BASKETS AND CALIBRACHOAS AND A WONDERFUL PLANT BUT IT DOES HAVE ITS CHALLENGES.

PEOPLE SAY I'M GOING TO TRY IT AGAIN.

MAYBE THIS YEAR.

AND SO I THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE PEOPLE NEED A FEW TIPS ON WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR CALIBRACHOAS OR CALIS.

AND THEY ARE SPECTACULAR.

THE COLORS, THE BICOLORS, THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE THEM.

AND SO THEY ARE WORTH THE CHALLENGE THAT THEY BRING.

AND SO I WAS JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT REALLY CAN LEAD TO SUCCESS WITH THE CALIS AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THAT HAS COLOR LIKE THOSE.

SOME KEYS ARE HIGHLIGHT.

THEY WANT FULL, WARM SUN.

THEY'RE FROM BRAZIL.

AND SO -- AND THEY KIND OF GROW ON THE OUTBREAKS OR ON ROCK SURFACES SO THEY DON'T NEED A WHOLE LOT OF SOIL.

THEY JUST NEED A WHOLE LOT OF LIGHT AND THEY CAN TOLERATE A LOT OF WIND, TOO.

SO IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

MAKE SURE THAT ARE GETTING ENOUGH LIGHT.

AND THAT -- IF THEY'RE NOT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TELL THEY WON'T BE BLOOMING MUCH.

AND THEY WON'T BE USING THE WATER.

ANOTHER THING IS LOWER P.H.

SO THEY HAVE A P.H.

NEED THAT'S ABOUT 5.6 TO 6.

AND SOME MICRORISING MIXED WITH YOUR SOIL CAN HELP THEM TO HAVE BETTER USE OF IRON.

BECAUSE THEY NEED IRON.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE MICRORISE HELPS BUT THE P.H.

NEEDS TO BE LOWER.

OTHERWISE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET YELLOW FOLIAGE AND GOING TO GET REALLY BRITTLE.

AND SO YOU MIGHT NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR P.H.

IF THEY DO START TO SHOW SIGNS OF YELL OWING.

AND CAREFUL WATERING AND CAREFUL WATERING PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRST ON THIS.

BECAUSE DO NOT OVERWATER CALIBRACHOAS.

THEY WILL COLLAPSE.

THEY CAN DIE REALLY EASILY IF YOU OVERDO IT.

AND SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS WHEN THEY HAVE A FULL CANOPY LIKE WHEN THEY'RE -- THEIR BASKET IS FULL, THEN THEY -- THEY REALLY CAN SHED A LOT OF WATER.

SO YOU CAN WATER A LITTLE BIT HEAVIER.

BUT WHEN THEY ARE -- LIKE THAT PICTURE THERE.

THAT FULL CANOPY, IF THAT'S OUTSIDE, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET SATURATED AS QUICKLY.

AND SO THEN JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE WATER.

NOT OVERWATERING AND ONE OTHER THING THAT COULD CAUSE FAILURE IS RIPOUT.

THEY CAN GET ROOT DISEASE VERY WELL AND THE MICRORISING HELPS WITH THAT AND ESPECIALLY SOILS, LIGHT SOILS OR SHARP SOILS REALLY HELP IN KEEPING DRY.

AND WILL REALLY HELP YOU WITH YOUR CALIS.

THEY LIKE TO HAVE A LOT OF FERTILITY.

BUT FERTILITY CAN ALSO RAISE THE P.H.

SO YOU GOT TO KIND OF KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE THINGS.

BOB: THAT'S GREAT.

CAN YOU DEFINE MICRORISING A LITTLE BIT?

DEB: SO IN THE SOIL, SO WHAT WE USE IS SOMETHING THAT IT HAS A RELATIONSHIP IN THE SOIL THAT HELPS THE ROOTS ABSORB MORE.

NUTRIENTS THAT ARE THERE.

AND IT'S A COHESIVE RELATIONSHIP IN THE SOIL THAT HELPS THEM BE MORE EFFICIENT IN THE USE OF -- IN THE USE OF NUTRIENTS.

BOB: THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY'RE NATURAL.

DEB: UH-HUH.

YES.

BOB: AND THEY HAVE THIS SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP.

AND THEY DO RELEASE NUTRIENTS.

AND YOU CAN GET IT FROM CERTAIN MIXES.

DEB: RIGHT.

YOU CAN BUY IT ALREADY IN THE MIXES WHICH IS GREAT NOW.

BOB: YEAH.

SHARON: AND I LOVE THAT.

JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION, GREAT RESULTS.

DEB: UH-HUH.

SHARON: THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEB.

NOW, THOSE OF YOU AT HOLM KEEP EMAILING AND CALLING IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO GET TO A COUPLE RIGHT NOW.

PATTY IN CHLOE KAY WANTS TO PLANT APPLES IN A CLEARED FIELD.

WHEN SHOULD THEY PLANT AND WHAT VARIETY AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW?

BOB: WOW.

CLEARED FIELD.

WELL, NUMBER ONE, YOU REALLY WANT TO THINK ABOUT -- GOT A GOOD LOCATION.

FULL SUN FOR APPLES IF YOU CAN FIND IT.

BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT DEER CONTROL.

I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY AT A PREMIUM.

AND PLANT THEM RIGHT NOW A PERFECT TIME TO GET STARTED.

THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD VARIETIES AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE SHE'S LOCATED.

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ZONE THREE, ZONE FOUR?

AND WE'VE ALL GOT FAVORITES.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA INTRODUCTION THE HONEY CRISP, MUST CAUTION PEOPLE THAT IS A ZONE FOUR APPLE.

NEVER WAS INTRODUCED AS A ZONE THREE.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN PLANTED FARTHER NORTH.

BUT OVER TIME, IT JUST ISN'T VERY PRODUCTIVE.

SO IF YOU'RE ZONE THREE, YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO SOME OF THE ORIGINALS LIKE HARRELSON, HAROLD RED.

KNOWS ARE GREAT VARIETIES.

-- THOSE ARE GREAT VARIETIES.

AND ZESTAR, ZONE THREE, HAS HONEY CRISP GENETICS AND DOWN NEAR THE LAKE, ZONE FOUR, THAT DOES OPEN UP A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL VARIETIES.

MANY THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR YEARS.

I THINK OF CORTLAND AND FIRESIDE.

SHARON: STATE FAIR.

BOB: STATE FAIR.

YOU CAN PLANT IN ZONE THREE AS WELL.

SO THERE'S -- THERE'S JUST A HOST OF THEM.

BUT I THINK MAKE SURE YOU GOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD AND HARDY.

PLANT IT NOW.

DON'T PLANT IT TOO DEEP.

AND THEN BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT DEER CONTROL.

DEB: YEAH.

THOSE DEER.

SHARON: WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO CUT BACK LIE LACKS?

-- LILACS?

DEB: AFTER THEY BLOOM.

BOB: AND PEOPLE LET THEM GO 10 YEARS AND THE FLOWER IS UP EIGHT FEET AND THEN THEY WANT TO PRUNE THEM.

THAT'S VERY CHALLENGING.

SHARON: WHEN SHOULD CEDAR BUSH BE TRIMMED?

BOB: A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY THERE, ACTUALLY.

DEB: UH-HUH.

AND ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S ANY WINTER KILL IN THERE.

BOB: YOU CAN PRUNE THAT OUT ANY TIME.

DEB: LOOK MOSTLY AT.

BOB: OUR NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR OR ARBOVITAE PRUNE THEM IN THE SPRING AND AS THE NEW GROWTH IS EMERGING AND YOU CAN PRUNE THEM THROUGH AUGUST.

SHARON: KELLY FROM CLOQUET HAS BLUEBERRIES IN THE WARM WEATHER AND GOT COLD AGAIN AND WILL THEY SURVIVE?

BOB: THEY WILL.

DEB: YEAH.

BOB: THEY'RE USED TO THIS USUALLY.

WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER SPECIES I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO INTRODUCE SOME OF THE NEW APRICOTS BUT BLUEBERRIES PART OF THE NATIVE PLANT CULTURE IN THE AREA AND THEY WILL BE JUST FINE.

SHARON: TWO VIEWERS WITH SIMILAR QUESTIONS.

DENISE AND MIKE HAVE WILD RASPBERRY PLANTS AND WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF THEM.

AND THEY'RE OUT OF CONTROL.

AND MIKE IS EVEN PULLING THEM UP FROM THE ROOTS BUT IT'S NOT A REASONABLE OPTION.

WHITE -- WHICH CHEMICALS ARE THE SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR WILD RASPBERRIES?

BOB: HE'S RIGHT.

THINK ABOUT TAKING THEM OUT.

BECAUSE THEY'RE A RESERVOIR FOR VIRUS.

SO IF WE SEE A LOT OF WILD RASPBERRIES IN A PLOT WHERE SOMEONE WANTS TO PLANT CULTIVATED RASPBERRIES, WE SUGGEST THAT THEY GET RID OF THE WILD ONES.

THEY SAID PULLING UP FOR MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE AN OPTION.

YOU HAVE TO GET ALL THOSE UNDERGROUND RYE ZONES OUT.

BUT I THINK GOING BACK TO SPRING, THE YOUNG TENDER SPROUTS WITH GLYPHOSATE, THAT WAS NAME BRAND ROUND-UP, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL, OTHER ACTIVE INGREDIENTS.

SHARON: READ THE LABEL.

AND KNOW WHEN TO APPLY, HOW OFTEN.

BOB: THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THAT CAN BE VERY SAFE.

AND IT WILL DETERIORATE WHEN IT HITS THE GROUND.

SHARON: GOOD ADVICE.

KURT ALBORN HAS A RODE DENDREON COVERED AND NOW THE LEAFS HAVE CURLED AND WILL IT SURVIVE?

DEB: AN AZALEA?

BOB: WE DON'T KNOW.

PROBABLY -- IF IT'S A RHODY, WE GOT P.G.M.

'S WHICH ARE JUST FINE AND THE FINISH SERIES.

DEB: RIGHT.

BOB: AND I REALLY THINK WE HAD A VERY DRY FALL SO BEGINNING TO SEE SOME OF THE RESULTS OF THAT.

AND I THINK IT'S A -- THE DRYNESS.

IF IT'S GROWN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, IT'S GOING TO COME BACK.

IT WASN'T -- OTHER THAN THE FACT WE WENT IN VERY DRY.

IT WAS NOT A REAL HARSH WINTER.

I THINK IT'S FALL DAMAGE.

SHARON: MARILYN IN SAGINAW HAS A PLANT -- HOW WARM TO PLANT IN THE GARDEN?

DEB: YOU CAN'T LET IT FREEZE.

THAT IS -- THAT'S ITS THRESHOLD IS FREEZING.

SO 32.

SOLID 32.

BOB: AND YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL.

BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE THINK WE'RE WARMING UP A LITTLE BIT, WE'RE SEEING FOR THE MOST ABOUT JUNE 10 OR SO WHEN THE LAST POSSIBILITY OF FROST.

SHARON: BE PATIENT.

BOB: YES.

SHARON: THANK YOU FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS.

NEXT WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THE LOCAL DIRT.

DEB: THAT'S PRETTY.

WHAT IS THAT?

SHARON: IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

DEB: BEAUTIFUL.

ALMOST LIKE A PUBLIC GARDEN.

BOB: YEAH.

I'M IMPRESSED.

DEB: THE LAND TANA AND THE SOLOTIA.

THE TULIPS.

IT COULD BE QUICK ENOUGH ALMOST.

BOB: ALMOST DIZZY.

DEB: IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

LOOK AT THOSE TULIPS.

AND NO DEER IN THERE?

BOB: THAT'S FOR SURE.

THEY DO LOVE -- DEB: THEY HAVE SOME DEER CONTROL THERE.

BOB: ZEBARTH.

BEAUTIFUL PHOTO AS WELL AS THE GARDENS.

DEB: YEAH.

BOB: BILL DOES SUCH A NICE JOB.

SHARON: AND I LIKE THIS.

THIS CROWDING REALLY ELIMINATES A LOT OF THE WEEDS THAT COULD -- YOU COULD GET A LOT MORE WE HAD PRESSURE.

BUT IF YOU HAVE THINGS TIGHT LIKE THAT, THEN THEY CAN STAY REALLY WE HAD FREE.

DEB: AND SELECT THE DWARF VARIETIES AS WELL THAT FIT NICELY AND WILL STAY COMPACT FOR THEM.

HERE WE GO.

NICE.

SHARON: SUN FLOWERS.

DEB: UH-HUH.

ALWAYS STELLAR.

BOB: ALL BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES OF LOCALLY GROWN GARDENS.

SHARON: WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU'VE GOT GROWING THIS SEASON.

WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE GARDENING TO TALK ABOUT.

NOW, BOB, WHAT HAVE YOU GOTTEN IN STORE FOR OUR VIEWERS THIS WEEK?

BOB: I WAS SO PLEASED TO SEE THE GRASS BEGINNING TO GREEN UP.

SO I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO TALK ABOUT GRASS A LITTLE BIT AND MAYBE CLEAR UP A FEW MYTHS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR IN A GRASS SEED MIX OR A SOD MIX IF YOU GOT IT -- AND KEEP BLUEGRASS, THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT, THE PERENNIAL GRASS FOR FULL SUN.

OTHER PERENNIALS CREEPING RED FESCUE GOT TO BE A LITTLE CAREFUL AND DON'T WANT THE TALL FESCUES BUT THE CREEPING RED FESCUES WORK REAL NICELY IN THE SHADE BUT NOT REALLY WEAR TOLERANT AND NOT -- NOT FOR YOUR SOCCER FIELD CERTAINLY BUT THEY ARE VERY MINIMALLY -- THEY REQUIRE MINIMUM WATER.

THEY REQUIRE MINIMUM FERTILITY.

SO THEY'RE VERY GOOD OPTION ON A SHADY LOCATION.

RYEGRASS, WE'VE GOT IN A LOT OF MIXES BOTH ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS WHEN WE GET A TOUCH WINTER AND A TOUGH WINTER BECAUSE WE WENT IN DRY AND DIDN'T HAVE SNOW COVER EARLY AND 20 BELOW, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PERENNIAL RIES.

THEY'RE GOING TO DIE UNDER THESE SITUATIONS JUST LIKE THE ANNUALS WILL AND YOU HAVE TO REPLANT.

BUT MAYBE ABOUT 5% OF THE MIX AND YOU CAN ADJUST WHEN YOU'RE BUYING A MIX, SHADE OR SUN, YOU CAN LOOK FOR MIXES THAT -- AND THESE ARE GROWTH PERIODS DURING THE SEASON.

SPRING OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF BLADE GROWTH.

THEN WE GET DORMANT IN THE SUMMER.

IN THE FALL, THIS IS WHEN YOU REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT LAWN.

BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING UNDERGROUND RYE ZONE GROWTH THAT COMES FROM THAT IN THE FALL.

SO I LIKE TO USE -- IF YOU MAKE A COUPLE OF APPLICATIONS OF FERTILIZER, LOOK AT MAYBE MEMORIAL DAY IN THE SPRING OR LABOR DAY IN THE FALL THE LONG WEEKENDS JUST ABOUT THE RIGHT TIME -- TYPE OF YEAR WHEN YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT DOING SOME ACTIVE MANAGEMENT.

FERTILITY ALWAYS, THERE'S A LOT OF ADVERTISING GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

WE WANT TO APPLY NUTRIENTS ONLY WHEN THE PLANTS ARE GREEN AND ACTIVELY GROWING SO THEY CAN PICK THAT NITROGEN UP AND TURN IT INTO PLANT TISSUE.

FALL AND SPRING IS WHEN WE REALLY WANT TO BE FERTILIZING IN.

IN THE CASE OF A STRAIGHT FERTILIZER YOU WANT TO APPLY JUST BEFORE THE RAIN OR IRRIGATED IN AND CONSIDER SOME OF THE SLOW RELEASE SULFUR QUOTED PRODUCTS AND SOME OF THE ORGANIC COASTALLED PRODUCTS AS WELL.

-- COME POSTED PRODUCTS AS WELL.

YOU GOT BOTH YOUR PERENNIAL BROAD LEAFS AS WELL AS CRAB GRASS NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE LOOK AT BOTH.

PERENNIALS WE KNOW WHAT THAT'S ABOUT, PERSONALLY AND DANDELIONS AND CREEPING CHARLIE FOR CONTROL.

BUT CRAB GRASS PEOPLE WANT TO CONTROL IT ALL THE TIME.

BE SURE YOU GOT CRAB GRASS AND WE'LL SHOW YOU A PICTURE OR TWO COMING UP HERE.

THIS IS QUACK GRASS, NOT CRAB BUT QUACK.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT UNDERGROANED RYE ZONE.

I GOT SOME EXAMPLES THATCH RIGHT HERE.

IN THE STUDIO.

AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE'VE GOT GREEN LEACHY TISSUE AT THE END.

WE'VE GOT THIS UNDERGROUND -- THIS IS STEM TISSUE, WHICH WILL POP UP, LEAF TISSUE AT EVERY NOTE ALONG THE WAY HERE.

SO THIS IS A TYPICAL QUACK GRASS.

WE'VE GOT THAT AND VERY COMMON.

THAT IS NOT A CRAB GRASS.

CRAB GRASS IS AN ANNUAL.

IT'S A BUNCH GRASS.

AND IT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THIS EXAMPLE WHERE WE'VE GOT JUST THE ROOT SYSTEM AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT UNDERGROUND RYE ZONE OR UNDERGROUND STOLEN SO CRAB GRASS IS A BUNCH GRASS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN A QUACK GRASS.

HERE'S A PHOTO OF THE SAME EXACT THING.

AND BE SURE AGAIN IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE -- THERE'S WHAT CRASH GRASS LOOKS LIKE.

WE NEVER HAD ANY IN THE AREA BUT WE'RE SEEING A LITTLE BIT CREEP IN AS OUR TEMPERATURES HAVE WARMED UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.

A NUMBER OF CONTROLS BOTH PRE-EMERGENT AND POST EMERGENT BUT SURE YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM BEFORE YOU DO ANY TREATING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF COMBINATION WEEDS AND FEEDS OUT THERE.

NOW, TYPICALLY, A WEED AND FEED, HERBICIDE AND FERTILITY, AS OPPOSED TO STRAIGHT FERTILIZER APPLY WHEN THE WEEDS ARE WET SO THE GRANULES STICK TO THE WE HAD SURFACE.

AND I WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THATCH CONTROL.

DEMICHELE PHI A FEW THINGS.

WE HAD A LOT OF SURFACES BEING SOLD FOR CONTROLLING THATCH.

MY QUESTION AGAIN IS ARE YOU SURE YOU GOT THATCH?

LET ME SHOW YOU A PICTURE.

THAT'S THATCH.

THAT WAS TAKEN FARTHER SOUTH.

YOU NOTICE THAT LIGHT TAN AREA.

THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF TISSUE UNDERGROUND STEMS AND RIZOMES PRODUCED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

NOW FIND THATCH IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

HERE'S A SHOT OF TURF AREA.

I JUST TOOK.

YOU CAN'T FIND ANY THATCH.

I'VE LOOKED HARD FOR THATCH IN THIS AREA.

SO DON'T -- WE DON'T PRODUCE A LOT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT REAL ACTIVE GROWTH THAT'S OCCURRING.

SO BE VERY AWARE.

DON'T DETHATCH IF YOU DON'T HAVE THATCH TO BEGIN WITH.

PLUG AIRIFICATION PULLING CORES UP A VALUABLE SPRING TRA AS OPPOSED TO DETHATCHING FOR US THIS FAR NORTH.

SHARON: THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOB.

REMEMBER, THERE IS STILL TIME FOR YOU TO CALL OR EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS.

LET'S GET TO A COUPLE MORE.

LINDA IN PROCTOR HAS A NEIGHBOR WITH SIX-FOOT TALL SPRUCE TREES THAT HAVE A LOT OF MULCH AROUND THE BASE.

WILL THIS DAMAGE THE TREES?

BOB: ABSOLUTELY.

WE DON'T LIKE THESE VOLCANO MULCHING AROUND THE BASE.

STEM TISSUE DOES NOT RESIST MOISTURE.

SO YOU'RE HOLDING MOISTURE IN THERE AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY ROT THAT TREE OFF.

AND IT CAN BE THE EARLY DEMISE OF THE TREE.

MULCH SHOULD BE ON THE GROUND AND NONE OF THAT WOODY MATERIAL SHOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH THE STEM OF THE PLANT.

SHARON: OK. DEB: HOLDING MOISTURE.

BOB: HOLDS MOISTURE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SHARON: DAVID IN KENWOOD WANTS TO KNOW IF IT'S SAFE TO REMOVE STRAW ON PERENNIALS NOW?

OR WHEN SHOULD IT BE REMOVED?

DEB: WELL, WITH WHAT WEATHER IS COMING, IT LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD BE -- WE SHOULD BE GETTING TO THAT TIME.

IT LOOKS LIKE -- THE GROUND TEMPS ARE REALLY WARMING UP.

THE AIR TEMPS ARE REALLY WARMING UP.

SO I WOULD BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU DO IT BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO START.

THIS WEEKEND WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD TIME.

BOB: YOU CAN SEE SOME THINGS ARE EMERGING FROM THE MULCH.

USUALLY THEY'RE PROTECTED AT THAT POINT.

BUT IF YOU HAVE REAL TENDER MATERIAL, YOU CAN PULL THE MULCH OFF ON WARM DAYS BUT LEAVE IT THERE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO GET 28 DEGREES OR SOMETHING YOU CAN PULL IT BACK AND THEN PROTECT IT.

SHARON: THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

STEVE: IN DULUTH IS WONDERING IF HE SHOULD TILL LAST YEAR'S MULCH STRAW AROUND TOMATO PLANTS INTO THE SOIL OR REMOVE IT AND START FRESH?

BOB: I WOULD PUT IT DOWN.

I WOULD TILL IT IN AND STARTING TO BREAK IN.

YOU NEED A LITTLE EXTRA NITROGEN THERE.

BUT THAT WILL HELP WITH THE BREAKDOWN.

WE DON'T WANT A LOT OF FERTILITY ANYWAY WITH TOMATOES.

WOO HE WANT THEM STRESSED A LITTLE BIT SO WE DON'T WANT EXTRA NITROGEN.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY PROBLEM WITH JUST INCORPORATING THAT -- IF WE'RE TALKING AN INCH OR TWO.

IF YOU HAD SIX INCHES THAT'S ANOTHER STORY I WOULD RAKE THAT OFF.

SHARON: ALL RIGHT.

SUE IN WILLOW RIVER WANTS TO KNOW IF SHE CAN CUT THE TOPS OF CARATS PURCHASED IN THE GROCERY STORE -- CARROTS PURCHASED IN THE GROCERY STORE AND CUTTING OFF THE BOTTOM OF STORE-BOUGHT BROCCOLI AND GROWING IN A POT WILL WORK AS WELL?

DEB: THE BIANNUAL WE WOULD GET SEED IF IT ACTUALLY WORKS AND I DON'T THINK IT DOES WORK.

YOU SEE THOSE HACKS WHERE THEY SAY OH, YOU TAKE OLD CELERY AND GROW NEW CELERY.

BOB: YOU CAN PROBABLY GET IT TO RESPROUT AND CONTINUE TO GROW.

BUT WE GROW CARROTS ANNUALLY EVERY YEAR FROM SEED.

THAT'S THE WAY TO HANDLE CARROTS.

SHARON: PROBABLY THE BEST BET.

BOB: I REALLY THINK SO, YES.

SHARON: WORTH A SHOT.

IT WON'T HURT ANYTHING TO TRY.

JULIA OUT ON PARK POINT HAS A YELLOW CALA BULB THAT DOES BEAUTIFULLY BUT NOT FLOWER.

THE PINK ONES FLOWER BUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE YELLOW ONES?

DEB: THAT'S INTERESTING.

ON CALAS THEY DO HAVE MEMORY FOR TEMPERATURE.

THEY DON'T WANT BELOW 70 DEGREES.

BUT THE PINK IS BLOOMING, RIGHT?

SO I WOULD GUESS IT'S JUST IN THE GENETICS THAT THE PINK MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT HARDIER AND MIGHT NEED NOT AS MANY LONG DAYS TO GET TO BUD.

THE OTHER ONE MIGHT HAVE THE GENETICS THAT IT NEEDS MORE LONG DAYS OR MORE TEMPERATURE TO ACTUALLY BLOOM.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S MORE OF A GENETIC BREEDING THING.

BOB: DEB, HAVE YOU NOTICED A LOT OF THE WHITE AND LIGHT YELLOWS THEY'RE NOT QUITE AS AGGRESSIVE.

DEB: THEY NEVER ARE.

IN ANY PLANT MATERIAL.

NO.

SHARON: GOOD TO KNOW.

MARGY BOUGHT BULBS IN PENOI AND SHOULD SHE REFRIGERATE?

BOB: IT'S A SPRING FLOWERING BULB SHOULD HAVE GONE IN LAST FALL OR SUMMER, THEY COULD -- WE'RE A LITTLE BIT EARLY.

I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO RUSH THAT.

DEB: RIGHT.

I'M -- IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF BULB SHE DID GET.

BOB: AND THE PEONIES.

THEY HAVE TO GO IN.

DEB: BECAUSE THEIR EYES ARE PROBABLY BREAKING ALREADY.

ON THAT -- BOB: NOT DE -- NOT TOO DEEP.

DEB: IT WILL NEVER BLOOM.

BOB: TWO INCHES THAT TOP BUD.

TWO INCHES BELOW THE SOIL SURFACE.

TWO FINGERS.

SHARON: READY TO BE PLANTED NOW?

BOB: I WOULD PUT THEM IN NOW.

SHARON: NO REFRIGERATION.

A TWO-PART QUESTION IN DULUTH.

HOW EARLY CAN THEY PLANT LETTUCE SEEDS IN OUTSIDE POTS AND TWO, LET'S START WITH THAT ONE.

DEB: YOU CAN DO IT NOW.

BOB: LETTUCE IS ONE OF THE LEAFY GREENS THAT'S RESISTANT TO FROST.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT SPINACH.

WHICH WE LOVE IN OUR SALADS, TOO.

IT WILL GROW REAL WELL THIS TIME OF YEAR.

BECAUSE IT'S COOL.

BUT VERY FROST SENSITIVE.

SO THEY'RE TOTALLY DIFFERENT VEGETABLES.

LEAFY GREENS.

SHARON: ALSO STARTED EIGHT DA LIMIT.

A CORNS INSIDE A MONTH AGO AND THEY HAVE GROWN FAR QUICKER THAN EXPECTED.

THEY'RE ABOUT A FOOT TO A FOOT AND A HALF ALREADY.

WISCONSIN RED VARIETY.

SO THEY ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE ZONE.

HOW SOON CAN THEY PLANT THEM IN THE GROUND OUTSIDE IN A SUNNY LOCATION?

DEB: THAT GROUND IS GOING TO BE COLD.

SO THAT -- I WOULDN'T.

BUT YOU COULD.

IF THEY'RE GETTING TOO TALL YOU CAN ALSO TAKE CUTTINGS OFF.

IT'S A GREAT THING TO DO.

IT'S TO CUT THEM BACK.

TAKE THOSE CUTTINGS AND YOU CAN STICK THEM IN DIRT AND MAKE MORE.

AND THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT IS IF YOU DO TAKE THE CUTTINGS, THE CUTTINGS WILL ACTUALLY BLOOM QUICKER BECAUSE THOSE CUTTINGS HAVE BEEN PROGRAMMED TO BLOOM SOONER THAN THE REST OF THE PLANT.

THE LOWER PLANT.

SO IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.

YOU COULD DO IT OR YOU COULD JUST CUT IT BACK, TOO.

IF IT STARTS TO STRETCH AND GET OUT OF CONTROL.

SHARON: GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING ON "GREAT GARDENING."

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED TONIGHT'S EPISODES.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THE QUESTIONS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO ANSWER THE PHONES TONIGHT FOR YOU ALL AND OF COURSE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR GARDENING EXPERTS, DEB BYRNS ERICKSON, AND BOB OLEN, FOR SHARING THEIR TIME AND THEIR EXPERTISE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME WITH EVEN MORE TIPS TO HELP YOU GROW ABYSM AND SUCCESSFUL GARDEN THIS YEAR.

HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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