Plant Care

Here's some helpful information on plant care and plant information:

The Washington State Tree

Western Hemlock

Mikes Corner

Here comes the change of seasons. The heat of summer has worked its' magic and beautiful flowers abound in our unique little corner of the world. Gardeners are buried in zucchini, corn, and tomatoes finally.

This year is especially extraordinary. Across America many new gardeners have planted their plots large and small. Many grew up watching their parents grow gardens but, had chosen to not grow gardens themselves. Now many are converting lawns into food and flower production. Experienced gardeners and plant sales people have been asked hundreds of how-to questions.

The joys of gardening make it worth all the efforts. The wonder of planting a seed and watching a plant emerge is pure magic. We get to see that plant grow large and then it shares its gift. Sometimes tasty treats for the stomach and other times it’s treats for the eyes and nose.

Then cooler weather coupled with occasional rain arrives. The flowers start to fade and the vegetable production slows. After few days of wind and rain our little paradise begins to look bedraggled. This doesn't have to be the end of the gardening season.

However, if you do decide to not grow more this year consider planting a cover crop. Cover crops help limit erosion of our precious soil. When you are ready to plant next year simply till the cover crop into the soil which improves the health of it.

The fall planting season is going on full speed ahead in many gardens. The month of September is the perfect time to plant bulbs, shrubs, trees, and new lawns.

Among the plant choices for fall we have:

Plant These Seeds Outdoors

Arugula, Asian Greens, Beets, Carrots, Endive, Fava Beans, Garlic (cloves), Lettuce, Kale, Onion sets, Radishes, Salad greens, Shallots (bulbs), and Snow Peas. Now is the time to plant cover crops in idle garden beds.

Plant Starts of These Plants

Kale, Lettuce, Mache, Peas, Salad Greens, Sorrel, Flowering Cabbage and Kale, Snapdragons, Mums, and Winter Pansies

It is a great time to divide Perennial Flowers and Herbs. While you have the plant out of the soil is a perfect time to add minerals and fertilizers of your choice. The vitality of plants in a freshly worked bed is amazing to see.

Bulb beds need to be thinned and have compost, aged manure and other soil building materials such as compost and fertilizers added.

Lettuce and other greens planted from seed, or quicker yet, nursery starts will grow into luscious full heads before winter’s arrival. In our climate it’s possible to garden nearly year round.

MIKE’S PLANTING TIPS

The last frost date for our area is
Mother’s Day. After that date it is safe to plant
summer crops without fear of frosts killing them.

Before Mother’s Day you can plant cool
weather crops such as: perennial flowers,
shrubs, trees, raspberries, perennial herbs,
lettuces and such.

Planting Tips: If you wish to plant tender
crops prior to last frost date, you will need to
protect them at night. You can protect them low
cost with 1 gallon milk jugs with the bottom cut
out and lid off, an upside-down cardboard box,
a laundry basket covered by a tarp or blanket,
or an upside-down 5 gallon bucket. Whichever
means you choose needs to be applied at dusk
and removed by 8 or 9 AM.
If money is no object there are glass bells
and other cloches, such as the European
gardeners employ.

Sweet Basil, for those inquiring about
growing it, is a warm weather crop and needs
the soil to be 60 degrees before it will perform
well. The soil in Clark County does not reach
that until about July first. (Provided by Mike Posey)

All Natural Rose Care

Western Hemlock

Invasive and Noxious Weeds list for the State of Washington

Washington State University Master Gardners

WSU - Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Food, Farm, & Natural Resource Systems

Cocoa Mulch
A heads up when purchasing mulch
for your garden. While it has been reported
by the manufacturer that most cats & dogs
will not touch it, Cocoa Mulch, available in
a number of well known garden supply
stores has been reported to have caused
the recent deaths of several dogs who
decided it smelled good enough to eat and
ingested large quantities. While the mulch
has no warnings printed on the label, it has
been found to be highly toxic to dogs and

cats, with the manufacturer now claiming
50% of dogs eating the cocoa mulch can
suffer physical harm to varying degrees,
primarily due to a lethal (to dogs and cats)
ingredient contained in the mulch in the
form of cocoa bean shells called
“Theobromine”. It’s best to be informed
and knowledgeable when purchasing
mulch and other garden supplies that could
end up being harmful to pets and wildlife.
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Did you know?

State Flower
Coast Rhododendron
In 1892, before they had the right to vote, Washington women selected the coast rhododendron as the state flower. They wanted an official flower to enter in a floral exhibit at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Six flowers were considered, but the final decision was narrowed to clover and the "rhodie," and voting booths were set up for ladies throughout the state. When the ballots were counted, the rhododendron had been chosen as the Washington state flower. In 1959, the Legislature designated the native species, Rhododendron macrophyllum, as the official flower of the state of Washington.

State Fruit
Apple
Washington is the nation's top apple-producing state, so it is appropriate that the apple was named a state symbol in 1989, the centennial year. A favorite fruit around the world, the apple comes in many different colors, sizes and varities. From the beautiful blossoms of spring, to the heavily laden branches in autumn, the apple trees of eastern Washington represent one of the largest industries in the state. The Washington apple is certainly one of the most recognized symbols of the state worldwide.

State Vegetable
In 2007, the Walla Walla sweet onion was designated as the official vegetable of the state of Washington.
The Walla Walla Sweet is from Walla Walla and is only grown properly in the Walla Walla Valley. The Walla Walla Sweet finds its origins on the island of Corsica. Over a century ago, a retired French soldier found a sweet onion seed there and brought it to the Walla Walla Valley. The sweet onion had impressive winter hardiness well-suited for the climate of southeastern Washington. Soon he and other immigrants in the area began harvesting the seed. After several generations of careful hand selection, the sweet onion developed greater sweetness, size, and shape. Today, there are many growers producing Walla Walla Sweet onions on farmland in the Walla Walla Valley. Sweet onion season is mid-June through September.
The measure was a class project for a seventh-grade honors social-studies class at Eatonville Middle School. In prior years, the bill had also been a project of a Kirkland Junior high school

State Tree
Western Hemlock
In 1946, an Oregon newspaper teased Washington for not having a state tree. The Portland Oregonian picked out the western hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla for us, but Washington newspapers decided to choose their own and selected the popular western red cedar. State Representative George Adams of Mason County pleaded with the Legislature to adopt the western hemlock. The hemlock, he said, would become "the backbone of this state's forest industry." Adams' bill passed the Legislature and was signed into law in 1947.