Iris means rainbow

Most of us have our main planting done by now, but there’s usually room to try something new. One thing to keep in mind, is to read labels while you’re drooling over this plant and that in the stores. Many of them are not hardy for this area and may be listed for zone 10 or higher. We live in zone 6, which gets much colder.

If you’d like to grow a canna, tropical hibiscus or calla lily, for example, remember that it will not survive the winters here. If you want to try plants like these, either enjoy it as an annual or bring the plant inside for the winter. That might work.

You really don’t have to wait until those tulip and daffodil leaves turn brown to cut them off. Three weeks is all they need in order to build up the bulb for next year.

If your yard is being plagued by mushrooms, don’t bother trying to spray them dead as sprays don’t work on these. They are a fungus with none of the green tissue the spray targets. These grow where something is decomposing underground, usually tree roots. Eventually, there won’t be any more material for them and they will die out. In the meantime, pick them and toss them into the trash bin.

Straw-berries need to be fertilized, but not now. Wait until early August. Most other plants will enjoy being fed now. Blueberries need to grow in acid soil. In this area, our soil is neutral despite the old wives’ tale about pine needles making it acid. In order to acidify your blueberry patch, mix in 1 cup of sulfur per plant every spring.

Gladiolas should be planted now. To have blooms for a much longer period, plant 1/3 of them now, 1/3 in two weeks and the remaining 1/3 two weeks after that. Planting them deeply will help to keep the tall blossoms upright. Some fertilizer in the hole at planting time will increase the flowering potential.

Are you seeing powdery mildew? Some of the most susceptible plants are roses, rhododendrons, columbine, lilacs, bee balm, phlox and lupine. Pick off the affected leaves. Then spray the whole plant with a fungicide. Letting plants get too dry makes them very susceptible to mildew and other ailments. Crowding is another cause.

Be sure to do any pruning on your lilac bushes now. There is only a one month window to do this after the bloom season ends. This timing covers any of the spring blooming shrubs such as forsythia.

On the other hand, if you have lilacs and don’t want them, they can be killed. As you cut each trunk or sprout to the ground, immediately brush that cut surface with a liquid Brush Killer. This is also the only way to kill quaking aspens.

Be sure to mark you calendar for June 4. That’s the date for the River City Garden Club’s annual plant sale held at 416 E. 3rd Ave. in Post Falls. Hours are 9 to 3.

I got this sage advice from a friend. “If you rest, you rust.” Probably true.

Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. She has belonged to garden clubs in 3 states and now serves as secretary for the River City Garden Club in Post Falls.