Boy, the
chill returned this week! We saw the temperatures dip and the
rain return. It was a nice little breather, but bring back
the sun! We are hooked on gardening again. To see how
excited we are, check out this weeks show!
This week we
featured...
Crystal
Springs Rhododendron Garden
We went to see the
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden from the garden for
their big Portland Rhododendron Show and Plant Sale, which
happens every year on Mothers' Day weekend.
Dick Cavender talked to William about the events
happening at the garden this weekend. He also covered some
care issues dealing with rhodies, and threw in a little
history too. We also saw the Rhododendron ‘Crystal Springs’
for which the garden was named. The garden is maintained by
volunteers and funded by the plant sale that the Rhododendron
Society is conducting. For more information check out the
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden website, or call
503-771-8386.
AMS – Soil
Amendment
Drainage issues seem to be the main
trouble with lawns here in the northwest. David Curtis from
AMS showed us a new process that gets drainage problems for
good. AMS has a product called Axis that is a dry
diatomaceous earth that is injected into your soil to change
its structure. It not only helps with your drainage problems,
it can give you a healthier lawn and garden, and save you a
bunch of money on watering. If you are interested in having
AMS come to look at your lawn, you can contact them at
www.axisplayball.com,
or call 503-367-3640.
Call Before
You Dig
These days, when you put a shovel in the
ground you can end up with more than a warm feeling from
working in the soil! Now, a lot of the utilities you come to
depend on are buried in your lawn and garden. It is important
to learn where your gas, power, communication and water lines
are before you dig. We learned what you should do from Gary
Hyatt with
NW Natural Gas and the Dig Safely Oregon program. The
important message to remember: "Call before you dig." 48
hours before you dig, you can call 1-800-332-2344 for someone
from NW Natural Gas, and your other utilities, to come out and
mark your lines.
Cat
Solutions
We all love our feline friends, except when they are in our
gardens where they shouldn’t be. Judy shows you various
solutions to the problem including the Scarecrow motion
sensitive sprinkler, Cat stop, Repel Dog and Cat repellent,
lavender sprigs, plastic forks, pointed stakes or bird
netting.
Ponds and
Water Features
The long
winter is over and your pond or water feature needs to be
whipped into shape for the upcoming summer. Cleaning it is
not as hard as you may think. Brian Tsugawa from
Tsugawa Nursery (360-225-8750) showed us a wide variety
of products that are available to the homeowner. Whether
your problem is algae or decomposing leaves, there is a
product that can solve your problem, including a product
made out of barley straw! To find a product best for you,
contact Tsugawa Nursery or your local pond supply store.
Gloves
Having the right tool for the job makes gardening easier.
That includes protecting your hands. Judy shows us a wide
range of gardening gloves available, from ultra thin latex
to heavy duty leather. You’ll find gloves in all shapes,
colors and sizes, including ones designed for specific
garden jobs like pruning your roses. Look to replace your
garden gloves at least once a year.