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Thank youClick Herehttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScgbPTB3BrbkZhsuIS5nXGabLga4aamZgsNe2M66CuQuSPCTw/viewform?usp=sf_linkThe Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener Radio Show fromMarch – Oct weeklyHeard on Joy 1340 AM & 98.7 FM Milwaukee, WI Saturday mornings 7-8 AM CST https://tunein.com/radio/Joy-1340-s30042/Heard on WCRN 830 AM Westborough/Boston, MA Saturdays 8-9 AM EST https://tunein.com/radio/WCRN-AM-830-Full-Service-Radio-s1112/Heard on KYAH 540 AM Delta/Salt Lake City, UT Saturdays 1-2 PM MST Reply Sundays 9-10 PM MST https://www.yahradio540.com/listen-live/Heard on KDIZ 1570 AM Minneapolis, MN Saturdays 4-5 PM and replay Sundays 2-3 PM CST http://player.listenlive.co/57071Heard on WAAM 1600 AM & 92.7 FM Ann Arbor, MI Sundays 7-8 AM EST https://tinyurl.com/p68cvftHeard on WOGO 680 AM & 103.1 FM Chippewa Falls, WI Sundays 9-10 AM CST https://www.christiannetcast.com/listen/player.asp?station=wogo-amHeard on KFEQ 680 AM & 107.9 FM St. Joseph/Kansas City, MO Sundays 10-11 AM CST http://www.680kfeq.com/live-stream/Heard on WNAX 570 AM Yankton SD Sundays 10-11 AM CST https://tunein.com/radio/Radio-570-s36447/Heard on WRMN 1410 AM & 96.7 FM Elgin/Chicago, IL Sundays Noon-1 PM CST https://www.wrmn1410.com/Heard on KMET 1490 AM & 98.1 FM Banning, CA Tuesdays 9 - 10 AM PST https://www.kmet1490am.com/Check out https://thewisconsinvegetablegardener.com/Email your questions to Gardentalkradio@gmail.comOr call 24/7 leave your question at 1-800 927-SHOWIn segment one Joey and Holly talk about the best ways to keep your grass green and health all summer long. https://www.thedailygardener.com/keep-lawn-green-in-summer-heatSegment 1: keeping the grass green all summer long Not all grasses are the same Some people might not realize this, but there are many different types of grass. Some grasses, known as cool-season grasses, do better in cooler, northern latitudes. Conversely, hot-season grasses do better in the warmer south.Cool-season grasses and hot-season grasses have different life cycles. The main growing spurts for cool-season grasses are spring and fall while hot-season grasses grow most in the heat of summer.The important thing to note here is that you should select a grass that is appropriate to your climate. If you have the “wrong” type of grass for your region, it will be much harder to keep your lawn green all year.Water deep and often but it isn’t just as simple as watering more when the weather heats up.When it comes to watering, preparation for the summer months should take place all year since you need to “train” your grass to become hardier.Water early You should water your lawn early in the morning – so water that doesn’t penetrate the surface will evaporate off instead of keeping your lawn moist all night. Again, a sprinkler controller is ideal for this.Moist conditions are ideal breeding grounds for fungal infections, and ensuring your lawn is watered but dry will help prevent these kinds of infection from setting in. This, in turn, will help keep your lawn healthy and more able to withstand the heat of the summer.*Mow the grass higher than you think If you want to keep your lawn green all year, never cut it to less than about 3” or 3½”. This will allow it to remain healthy and will also provide more shade for the delicate root system.Furthermore, never cut more than a third of the lawn’s total height at any one time. It’s much better to cut little and often rather than scalp your lawn each time you cut it.Keep your mower working right Whether you use a riding lawn mower, a self propelled lawn mower, an electric cordless lawn mower or any other type, it is important to keep it properly maintained.The most important part of this is ensuring blades are kept sharp – blunt blades tear grass rather than cut it, and this will damage the plant, making it more susceptible to browning.Do not mow in the sun if you care about your lawn Never mow your lawn in the heat of the summer sun – the combination of heat stress and being cut at the same time can seriously damage grass. Mow early in the morning or in the later afternoon.Feed your lawn Your lawn also needs regular feeding in order to stay green all year. Most experts recommend feeding your lawn every six to eight weeks.However, sometimes, this can cause the grass to grow to high too fast. To combat this, you should prefer lawn fertilizer with a lower nitrogen content.There is a no one answer to feeding your lawn it is a lawn by lawn situation and the type of grass you have TrafficGrass that is constantly trampled on or is used as a sports pitch is placed under a lot of stress, and during the summer months, this can quickly cause it to turn brown. Even if you usually walk or play on your lawn, it might be better “keep off the grass” in summer.Brown grass is not a problem – but green looks much betterWhile brown grass is not a problem in itself, you may understandably prefer the look of a lush green lawn year-round. Achieving this is not simply a case of extra watering during the summer months – but as long as you know the steps to take, keeping your grass green even in summer should present no particular problems.In segment two Joey and Holly go over 6 plants you can grow for safetyMake Sure They’re In Front Of Weak SpotsYou also want to be strategic about where you put your plants. For instance, if you have a fence that runs around your property, plant some thorny bushes in front of it or at least in the corners where someone is more likely to climb over.Under windows Get Plants That Are Thick, Tall, and WideIf an intruder can simply step over or through them, they aren’t going to do you any good. At the same time, you don’t want your plants to be too tall. After all, you still want to be able to see the street from your house. You’re building a barrier, not a wall.1. Get Plants That Are Thick, Tall, and WideIf an intruder can simply step over or through them, they aren’t going to do you any good. At the same time, you don’t want your plants to be too tall. After all, you still want to be able to see the street from your house. You’re building a barrier, not a wall.2. Make Sure They’re In Front Of Weak SpotsYou also want to be strategic about where you put your plants. For instance, if you have a fence that runs around your property, plant some thorny bushes in front of it or at least in the corners where someone is more likely to climb over.Another place to plant thorny bushes is in front of your windows. If burglars can’t break through a window without getting torn up by one of your plants, they might not even bother.You may want to take things a step further and create an entire perimeter around your property with a layer or two of home security plants. It’s going to require more yard work, but if you feel safer as a result, then it might be worth it.The Best Home Security PlantsHere are some of the most effective plants for home security:1. BlackberryIf you want a thorny plant that’s going to grow as quickly as possible, the Blackberry should be one of your top choices.No, this is not one of the most attractive plants, but it can grow to be over five fight high in a short amount of time, and it’s packed with thorns and prickles that will tear up any attacking party.The biggest downside to the Blackberry bush is that because it grows so quickly, you need to dedicate time to pruning and trimming it. As long as you’re willing to do that, it’s a good choice.2. Rosethe rose bush is well known for its thorny branches that also cause infection when they pierce the skin.The rose plant is also very beautiful and can add value to your home and property. The gorgeous flowers it produces are among the most recognizable in the world. If you happen to have a wife who loves roses, you’ll have no trouble talking her into this option.3. BARBERRYThe genus Berberis includes over 400 different species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs with varying heights of three to 10 feet.Shade tolerant, drought resistant, and hardy to Zone 4, barberry grows in almost any type of soil and requires very little maintenance.Often planted as ornamentals, the attractive foliage conceals a darker side. The branches are covered with leaves that have a single thorn at each node, which makes barberry ideal for creating a dense, spiny hedge, or an impenetrable barrier.Some non-native species are considered invasive and growing them is banned in some states, so be sure to check your local bylaws before you plant. Also note that not all varieties have thorns.4. BLACKTHORNBlackthorn, Prunus spinsoa, has had a pound of my flesh on more than one occasion in the autumn.The small dark berries, called “sloes,” are a favorite of mine for making sloe gin. They are tart, but with plenty of added sugar, will transform a bottle of gin into a delicious liqueur in time for Christmas.Collecting sloes, however, is no fun. They grow on a deciduous shrub with dense branches and evil thorns.Reaching through the branches for the small berries can be a painful experience thanks to the large spikes on its dark, almost black, bark.The thorns stick out at right angles on the intertwined branches and can be up to two inches long. Growing in dense thickets, the blackthorn is commonly seen in its native England, along the edges of open fields.Suitable for growers in Zones 4-8, blackthorn shrubs can grow up to 10 feet tall, and with minimal pruning can create a formidable barrier around the perimeter of a property. Alternatively, it can be pruned into a neat but dense and impenetrable hedge.Being deciduous, it will drop its leaves in winter, and look somewhat scraggly. Its pretty white flowers herald the arrival of spring, appearing before the foliage.Fast-growing blackthorn will tolerate almost any soil, and is somewhat salt-tolerant. Once established, it needs very little care except regular moisture – so it’s not suitable for very dry areas without additional irrigation.Blackthorn will grow in part-shade or sunny locations. It’s best kept away from your house as it isn’t particularly decorative (especially in winter) and its height can compromise visibility.Be extra careful when you are working with this plant, as the thorns have a nasty habit of breaking off under the skin and turning septic. Bear this in mind if you have pets, children, or are planting near paddocks used by livestock.5.HONEY LOCUSTThe honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos, is a fast growing, deciduous tree native to the central US.It looks like something out of your worst nightmare, with large clumps of thorns protruding from its trunk and branches – some up to eight inches long.Honey locust thrives in Zones 3-8, and will grow into a shrubby, thorny clump unless pruned to encourage a single trunk.A member of the Fabaceae family, honey locust flowers in late spring, with fragrant, cream-colored blooms.It produces seed pods that mature in the fall, and bright green foliage gives way to autumnal yellow.According to an article by Robert J. Warren, from the Department of Biology at Buffalo State University, the honey locust was cultivated by the Cherokee people for its medicinal and culinary properties.This fast-growing ornamental tree can reach a lofty 90 feet tall at maturity. It thrives in average soil, and is drought, salt, and heat tolerant.You can find bare root honey locust treesThe Caspian locust, Gleditsia capsica, is native to central Asia and locations bordering the Caspian sea. Suitable for growers in Zones 6-9, even the thorns on this tree have thorns!Young specimens provide a nasty barrier, and as it matures, the trunk will show no mercy to opportunist climbers.Caspian locust thrives in full sun and well-draining, but average soil.The thorns on both of these species are monstrous, and need to be handled with respect. They will easily rip through all but the toughest leather gardening gloves, and eye protection is essential.6. JAPANESE QUINCENative to eastern Asia, the Japanese quince, Chaenomeles speciosa, is suitable for growers in Zones 5-9.This is a thorny, deciduous flowering shrub that produces tart, edible fruit. Growing in a mounded form, it matures to five to six feet tall and wide.Its tangled, prickly stems can be pruned into a hedge, providing a spring profusion of pretty blooms in shades of pink, red, or white.Several cultivars are available, such as ‘Falconnet Charlet,’ that blooms in early spring with salmon-pink flowers. It is suitable for planting as a thorny privacy screen, or as a back of border specimen plant.‘Double Take Orange’ is a compact cultivar that tops out at four to five feet tall, and produces clusters of double-petaled bright orange blooms in early spring.Ideal for low hedging, or planting underneath windows or as a part of mixed borders, it has ornamental appeal as well as providing a thorny welcome to anyone who comes close.A white-flowered cultivar, ‘Nivalis’ is suitable for training up a trellis against a wall, to provide a pretty, but spiky climber. Untrained, it will top out at eight feet tall, with the same characteristic tangled, thorny branches.C. japonica is a smaller species that thrives in Zones 5-9. It grows two to three feet tall and three to six feet wide in a dense, branching form. A profusion of flowers bursts forth in early spring, followed by light green foliage.Sometimes called dwarf quince, this species is suitable for low hedging, or planting in any location where you require visibility over the top of plantings.Japanese quince is fast growing, and performs best in a full sun location with well-draining soil. It’s highly adaptable and will tolerate dry or clay soil as long as there is good drainage.Once established, plants are drought and heat tolerant.In segment three Joey and Holly talk with their guest, Isa Hendry Eaton http://www.isabird.com/about and Jennifer Blaise Kramer http://jenniferblaisekramer.com/ are the authors of the book Small Garden Style. Isa is a garden designed and Jennifer is a lifestyle writer. They have both written for a number of well known publications. They both reside in california with their families. 1. What was the inspiration for your book, Small Garden Style - A Design Guide for Outdoor Rooms and Containers? 2. What is a helpful tip from your book for our listeners? 3. You talk about lawn alternatives - what is a lawn alternative and some examples? 4. You suggest using succulents and other decorative plants for some of these designs - what are some great succulent care tips? 5. How can we find out more about you? Is segment four Joey and Holly answer gardeners questions CanningQ: I have a question about canning Mrs Wages salsa. I am new to canning and it says for pint jars.. could I use half pint jars instead just process the same time? Thank uA: Yes you can do that.Unfinished compost in the gardenQ:Thank you for all your hard work on the Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener radio show.Is it bad, ok, or good to use unfinished compost in garden? We have run out of space in our compost bins and our raised beds could use some additional soil. I’ve heard that it could take nitrogen out of the soil but it could also improve worm life (and therefore worm castings). Does the answer change between halfway versus mostly composted materials?Thank you for your help! A: Thank You for the email and question, in regards to half finished or almost finished compost yes it will suck some of the nitrogen out of the soil. However as you indicated it will increase soil microbial life and the worms as it will continue to break down. I certainly would go ahead…
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