The Rainbow Gardeners of Shelby County always welcome new members and guests to our monthly meetings. We get together at CJ Highmarks, 2599 Michigan St. in Sidney, on the second Tuesday of each month at 12:00 for lunch and programs. Feel free to call or e-mail for more information. We have a great line-up of programs for 2009. Here’s a preview of our upcoming meetings:

• April 14 – Sharon Allen will introduce us to some new annual flowers and plants as well as some of the tried-and-true old favorites.
• May 12 – Jackie Thoma will demonstrate the use of live plants in the design, creation, and care of Living Wreaths.
• June 9 – Juanita Wilkins, a Master Judge from the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, will share tips (and hopefully some secrets) to designing floral arrangements that will garner blue ribbons at the Shelby County Fair Flower Show.

Meanwhile, as we all think Spring, here are some worthwhile gardening tips from our members:
If you have not already done so, late winter is a good time to cut back the dead, dried stems of fall-flowering perennials such as asters, sedum, and goldenrod. Ornamental grasses and mums can be left uncut, but be sure to whack them down when new green shoots begin to appear.

Invasive plants can be controlled by digging them out or by using systemic herbicides. Products such as RoundUp (glysophate) or Finale (glufosinate) should be sprayed on green foliage. Both of these chemicals are neutralized in the soil and will cause no damage to other flowers or shrubs that are planted in the same place. Systemic herbicides work best when it’s sunny with no rain in the forecast. Two applications, 4 days apart, may be needed for the toughest weeds and invasive plants.

Early spring is a good time to fertilize established trees and shrubs that are at least 1 year old. Take care not to over-fertilize. This can cause weak stems and leaves which attract insects. Use compost whenever possible to improve soil texture and feed these plants organically.

Have an aquarium in your home? When cleaning out the tank, use the biologically-enriched water on indoor and outdoor plants. Fish waste and uneaten fish food in the water are great fertilizers that won’t burn even the tenderest of plants. Dead goldfish? Don’t flush him down the toilet. Give him a proper burial, and plant him in the ground, too.

Take care of houseplants when you can’t get outside. If your indoor plant container has crusty white stuff along the rim (likely salts), it’s time to scrub out the pot. Tip the container upside down, gently remove the plant, and shake off some of the soil near the surface. Place the plant in a temporary bucket or container. Soak the container in hot water and a cup of vinegar, and then scrub with a scouring pad. Repot adding fresh potting soil or compost.

Spring means starting some plants from seed. It’s easy to do, and it’s a great way to save money. Check out Amos Memorial Public Library’s online catalog for books and other resources (http://66.213.84.39/aquabrowser/) that will save time and offer valuable suggestions. There are also many sites on the internet that novices and experienced gardeners alike can browse. Among the best to get you started:

• Our Ohio: http://ourohio.org/index.php?page=sowing-seeds-indoors
• Master Gardeners, Ohio State: http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/mg/manual/prop.htm
• Rob’s Plants: http://www.robsplants.com/seed/starting.php
• Cleveland Plain Dealer: http://www.cleveland.com/insideout/index.ssf/2009/02/steps_for_starting_your_seeds.html

Each year, members of the Perennial Plant Association select an outstanding plant from the 3 or 4 nominated the previous year. The winning plant is chosen based on several factors:

• Suitable for a wide range of climates
• Pest and disease resistant
• Readily available at retail garden centers
• Interesting for more than one season
• Easily propagated

This year’s choice is a beautiful, ornamental grass. Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ is widely available and easily grown in Ohio. Its bright yellow foliage changes in the fall to pinks and reds, and it can be grown in sun or shade. It can be used as a border plant or as a flowing ground cover. Forming a clump of about 18” x 18”, this grass overwinters well in zones 5-8 (Shelby County is Zone 5) and is not invasive.

Another group dedicated to providing growers and gardeners with the newest and best plants to grow from seed is All-American Selections. Since 1933, side-by-side trials have been held in all parts of the country to see which flowers, fruits, and vegetables produce the most consistently high-quality results during a 2- to 3-year period. Winning the All-America Selections award is almost akin to earning FDA approval for a new medication. This year’s winners can be viewed at the All-America Selections website: http://www.all-americaselections.org/Winners.asp. They include Eggplant ‘Gretel’, Melon ‘Lambkin’, Squash ‘Honey Bear’, and Viola ‘Rain Blue and Purple’.

Thanks for visiting our webpage, and be sure to stop in at a future meeting of Rainbow Gardeners of Shelby County. We offer terrific gardening programs on a variety of topics, a chance to make new friends, and opportunities to make our local communities more beautiful.

Viola ‘Rain Blue & Purple’