Woodburn Tulip
Festival
Our hosts visit the Woodburn Tulip Festival at
the Wooden Shoe
Bulb Company for the 21st annual
Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest
(1-800-711-2006).
This event showcases the fields full of beautiful tulip blooms and
runs from mid-March to the 23rd of April. Karen Bever
showed us over 18 acres of tulips and daffodils in bloom and Barb
Iverson shared information about Rembrandt tulips with Judy. Every
weekend there are a variety of things to do including pony rides,
wooden shoe making, steam tractors, wine tasting and other
entertainment for a small fee of $5 a car. The rest of the week it is
free! Even when the weather is a little damp, the fields never
disappoint.
Slug Control
These little pests will devour your new plants and vegetables. If
you are looking for way to keep them in check, William covers some of
the different ways you can detour them. He talked about the different
baits available, some of the scent traps and even copper tape which
gives them a shock. There are various ways to handle them including
chemical and natural methods, and if you have pets or small children
you need to make your choices wisely. Take the time to find the method
that’s best for you.
Starting Seeds
Indoors
Now is the time to start some of your seeds
indoors in anticipation of the coming spring and summer. Judy is
joined by Sue Berg of
New
Dimension Seeds to show you how to plant your seeds and what types
you can plant now to get a head start on the season. The basic rules
for success include starting with a quality soil and fresh seeds. Sue
also mentioned that you may want to remember the size of the pot that
you use. She moves and thins her small plants seedlings to bigger pots
to give them the best start before they go in her garden. Check out
your local garden center for a great selection of seeds.
Container
Rejuvenation
If your containers are a little tired we can
show you how to give them a fresh start. William gets some helpful
hints from Renate Aebi at
Al’s Garden
Center (503-726-1162) in Sherwood. She told us how to use
structure and color to build a winning hanging basket, but first she
dumped our old baskets in the trash! She was trying to prove a point.
You may want to start your basket fresh, with new soil, plants and
fertilizer. If you really love an old plant in your basket, put it out
it in your garden. Renata also showed us how to mix perennials and
annuals to get great color all season long. She also rotates her
annuals to freshen up her pots every couple of months.
Lawn Moss
If you live in the Northwest you have moss. We
talked to Norm McCreight of
Lilly Miller
about moss
in your lawn and why it is such a problem in the Northwest. This week
we address moss in your grass. This is one of the biggest problems
facing the homeowner. Norm gave us some tips on getting rid of the
moss and what you should do to keep it from coming back. He also
warned us not to let the moss control get on buildings, patio or
clothing. Moss control contains iron and that will cause a stain. The
best way to keep moss out? Give your lawn tender loving care and help
your grass become strong. A strong lawn will keep the moss out!