HOME ON THE RANGE
I got a special treat this Father’s Day weekend. I got to attend the Symphony in the Flint Hills...and it was amazing!
My wife and I attended this event for the first time last year. Once we were there, we knew we’d be back.
It’s just so amazing! I love Flint Hills, and the prairie that covers them...I can really geek out over that! Add in a symphonic performance in the middle of all that beauty, and you’ve got a very special experience.
We made the journey this year, joined by both our daughters, a boyfriend, and several good friends. Everyone was blown away. It was an absolutely wonderful event.
The beauty of the Flint Hills, as always, was breathtaking, the performance was nothing less exceptional, and the cattle drive...there’s always a cattle drive...was climactic as always. Like I said, it was amazing.
But now, it’s done. And I don’t just mean done until next year, I mean really done...as in it’s over, it’s finished...there will be no more. This was the 20th...and sadly...final event...ever. Sadly, this show won’t be “going on”. It’s going to be missed by a lot of people...including me.
I guess I’m just going to have to get my Flint Hills fix in other ways!
We’re lucky to be so close to such an amazing place. I’m sure for some, it’s boring; just a big sea of grass they see out their car windows as they are cruising down the interstate at high speed.
And it is a big sea of grass, but once you step into it, it’s a whole new world.
It’s an ocean of green full of wildflowers of every color...everywhere. I’m always blown away by the beauty I experience when I take the time to park the car and allow myself to experience it up close and personal.
There’s a lot there to discover. We’re lucky to have it so close.
There has been a lot more interest in growing native plants in recent years. A lot of that is driven by an appreciation and better understanding of the prairie. We talk more about pollinators, native wildlife, creating better habitat, and taking advantage of the inherent toughness of native plants.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Landscaping trends have even changed over recent years. Naturalistic landscaping has become more popular and more acceptable. Little by little, more and more folks are beginning to appreciate the beauty of grasses and perennials (aka, wildflowers) as landscaping staples. Gone are the days of everything needing to be trimmed high and tight.
I’m glad to see these changes taking place, and I’m glad to see it continuing to become easier to bring a little bit of the prairie directly into our own lives through our gardens.
I think that’s a good thing...a very good thing.
—Cameron
SLUGS… YUCK!
Regular rains are nice, but they can also bring with them some problems...like slugs.
You may have noticed lately small holes on plant leaves. Whether it be small, smooth round holes in the center of the leaf, or jagged irregular holes throughout the plant, the most likely culprit is the common slug.
These slimy, not-so-attractive pests are lovers of moist, damp places and take advantage of rainy weather to emerge and feast on our plants, leaving these holes. Typically, you will not see them as they prefer to do their damage overnight in the cover of darkness, but left unattended, they will damage and sometimes destroy your plants in a matter of weeks.
There are many things that you can do to help prevent and even fight these creatures before they have had a chance to make a meal of your garden.
Keeping your area free of debris and leaves will prevent them from having hiding places to take up residence. Putting down a barrier between them and your garden is another good way to help prevent their damaging habits. Things like Diatomaceous Earth poured around plants can create a line of protection that they will struggle to cross, preventing them from getting under leaves and feeding.
Hi-Yield Snail & Slug Bait or Sluggo Snail Bait both provide effective control, and natural predators can be of a lot of help too. Promoting birds, frogs, and certain insect activity in your garden will help.
While we’re talking about pests in your garden, don’t forget to be on the lookout for moles in your yard too.
Moles eat grubs and other insects, tunneling underground to find their meals. They push dirt outside of their holes, so looking for mounds of dirt in your soil is a good way to find them. Common repellents like Fertilome Mole Go can help.
Whichever pest you find yourself needing help for, stop in today and let one of our friendly staff get you just what you need to handle them.
Happy Planting!
—Melissa Anderson, Store Manager
RAINY WEATHER FUELS DISEASE ACTIVITY!
Rain can be a great thing in moderation; however, with the wet weather can come some issues with your plants and trees to look out for. Rainy weather can lead to leaf diseases like anthracnose, leaf spot, and powdery mildew.
Anthracnose is characterized by dark lesions on leaves, stems, and fruit, often leading to premature leaf drop. Powder Mildew appears as a powdery-like substance covering leaves, whereas Leaf Spot causes small circular brown or black spots on leaves. Leaf spot and powdery mildew both inhibit photosynthesis in which can weaken a plant.
There are a few things that can help with leaf diseases. Removing fallen leaves and infected plant debris to reduce the spread of fungal spores, remove and dispose of heavily infected branches to prevent the spread of disease, thin dense foliage to improve air circulation and drying time and of course apply a good fungicide (Fertilome Copper Fungicide, Fertilome F-Stop or Fertilome Fungicide 5) to infected plants to help prevent the spread of the fungus.
Though we can’t always predict the rain, knowing what to do when you see the effects of wet, damp periods will greatly increase your chances of having a successful growing season with your plants. As always, we are here to help if you need just a little more advice or just want to get some information on what you’re personally experiencing.
Let us know if we can help!
—Cameron Rees
Tips to help your veggie garden thrive during the summer!
Watering is one of the most important aspects of a healthy summer garden. Deep watering less frequently will help the roots to dig deep into the soil, making it less susceptible to heat and drought. Shallow watering keeps the roots closer to ground level and less likely to bounce back from heat stress. Watering in the morning is best so plants don’t get stressed during the heat of the day from lack of water. During heat waves, you may find yourself watering more. Also, when watering, try to just water the soil and not the plant.
Mulch is the next most important. Mulch helps keep moisture in the ground and also acts like a barrier between the ground and your plants. Keeping soil-borne diseases at bay. Alfalfa mulch is one of the best mulches available for vegetable gardens. Not only does it help keep moisture in and suppress weeds, but it also is a source of slow-release nitrogen and other nutrients. It will stimulate beneficial soil microorganisms to help alleviate some post problems.
Provide shade to those plants that may be struggling in the heat. Use shade cloth in the heat of the day to take some stress off the plants.
Stay on top of pests! Monitor regularly and act quickly if you see any pests or foliage issues. The quicker you can get them under control, the better chance you have of a fruitful garden.
more EVENTS, SALES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Keep an eye on this section in the future for all the important info and extras you won’t want to miss!
IT’S TIME TO REDEEM AND SAVE!
Skinner Buck$ Summer Redemption Period is underway! Now through July 3rd! See details below!
