WDSE WDSE >> I JUST THOUGHT, A PINK ONION, WHY NOT TRY IT?

>> THE HOSTEL DOES WELL IN MINNESOTA, THEY LIKE THE TEMPERATURES.

>> WE HAVE THINGS BLOOMING FROM EARLY SPRING TO LATE FALL.

IT’S FUN TO IMAGINE WHAT THIS WILL BE LIKE IN A FEW YEARS.

>> WE’VE JUST GOTTEN STARTED.

SHARON: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "GREAT GARDENING."

I'M YOUR HOST SHARON YUNG.

AS USUAL, WE HAVE OUR EXPERTS WITH US.

THEY ARE GARDEN PROFESSIONAL DEB BYRNS ERICKSON AND HORTICULTURIST AND EDUCATOR BOB OLEN.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM GARDENERS ACROSS OUR REGION, WHO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR EXPERTS.

WE HAVE PHONE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS.

HERE TO RECEIVE YOUR QUESTIONS THIS EVENING.

CALL LOCALLY 218-788-2844 OR E-MAIL US AT ASK@ PBSNORTH.ORG.

WE'RE TAKING QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE SHOW, SO CALL OR EMAIL US NOW WHILE WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S SHOW WITH A LOOK AT THE WEATHER IN OUR REGION!

>> THERE WE GO.

WE ARE STILL WAITING.

WE HAD THIS WONDERFUL RAIN AND YOU WATCH HOW THAT CHANGES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> AND THIS WEEKEND WITH WARMER WEATHER.

>> A LITTLE ICY.

I NOTICED A LITTLE ICE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

WE ARE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO SPRING.

I KIND OF LOVE THAT EXCEPT I HAVE TO GIVE THAT INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION.

[LAUGHTER] >> MAYBE SOME CLEANUP THERE.

UNLESS YOU ARE LEAVING IT FOR THE BEES.

BE CAREFUL AND CLEAN UP.

THE BEES ARE ACTIVE AND THEY USE THAT FOR HOUSING.

>> THAT’S RIGHT.

AND STAY OFF THE WET SOIL.

SHARON: LOOKS WONDERFUL.

THE WEATHER IN OUR REGION LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO TURN TO SUMMER.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, LET’S TAKE A TOUR OF WHAT THE WHITESIDE BLOOMERS DID LAST SUMMER IN ELY, GUIDED BY GARDENER AND VOLUNTEER GROUP MANAGER KATHRYN FARION.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE ARE IN ELY’S WHITESIDE PARK.

I WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE LAND FOR THIS PARK WAS DONATED OVER 100 YEARS AGO BY THE WHITESIDE FAMILY.

A FEW YEARS AGO, WE HAD A CENTENNIAL, AND MEMBERS OF THE WHITESIDE FAMILY WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS FESTIVITY.

IN THE LATE 80’S, THE PARK WAS REDESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THESE WALKWAYS WHICH ARE CALLED LIKE AN X, VERY LONG WALKWAYS.

AT THAT POINT, THE PARK COULD DESIGN AND PUT IN WHAT WE CALL A LONG GARDEN.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH THE PARK FOR THE ELY GARDEN CLUB WHICH SURVIVED FOR ABOUT 50 YEARS, 40 MEMBERS STRONG.

THIS WAS PUT IN IN THE LATE 1980’S IN THE GARDEN CLUB IS NO MORE.

WE CALL OURSELVES THE WHITESIDE BLOOMERS WERE JUST A VOLUNTEER GROUP TO MANAGE THIS PERENNIAL GARDEN, THIS GARDEN AND THE OTHER GARDEN THAT WE WILL SEE FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS.

THE ELY GARDEN CLUB HAD TO DISSOLVE BECAUSE THE NUMBERS WERE SO SMALL.

WE FELT THAT WE DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE THIS GARDEN CANNOT BE TENDED, SO THE FEW REMAINING MEMBERS JUST JOINED AN AD HOC GROUP THAT WE NAMED OURSELVES THE BLOOMERS.

IT IS A VOLUNTEER GROUP.

WE ADVERTISE AND WORK WITH THE CITY AND WE GET THE JOB DONE SOMEHOW, BECAUSE IT IS A PERENNIAL GARDEN.

IT IS NOT AS HARD TO TAKE CARE OF AS YOU WOULD THINK.

THIS GARDEN IS A SHOWSTOPPER BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BLUEBERRY ARTS FESTIVAL, AND THE HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL.

IT BRINGS IN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE .

I SOMETIMES JUST SIT HERE TO HEAR PEOPLE SAY, WHAT A WONDERFUL GARDEN.

HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THIS?

IT IS QUITE A BEAUTIFUL CREATION -- BEAUTIFICATION, SHOWSTOPPER ADDITION.

THIS IS LIKE AN ALPINE PRIMROSE THAT BLOOMS RIGHT WHEN THE DAFFODILS BLOOMING.

BEING A PERENNIAL GARDEN, WE HAVE IRISES AND WE HAVE LILIES OF ALL TYPE.

WE HAVE DWARF AND JAPANESE IRISES.

THE LILIES, WE HAVE ALL TYPES AND RIGHT NOW THE DEER ARE ENJOYING ALL TYPES OF VIRUSES.

WE HAVE A FLOWERING PLANT, DONATED BY AN ELY RESIDENT.

WE HAVE GERANIUMS BLOOMING RIGHT NOW.

WE DESIGNED THE GARDEN TO HAVE DIFFERENT COLORS AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND TO HAVE COLOR THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

IT’S ABOUT A 17 WEEK SEASON THAT THE GARDEN HAS.

>> I HAVE ENJOYED THAT GARDEN FOR SO MANY YEARS.

THANK YOU TO YOU AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CONTRIBUTION.

SHARON: WE WILL BE BACK TO VISIT CATHERINE AND THE WHITESIDE PARK IN THE SHOW.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH VIEWERS THIS WEEK?

DEB: I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT SALVIA.

SALVIA IS A REALLY GREAT ANNUAL PLANT AND HERBAL PLANT AND A FEW PERENNIALS, IT IS AN UNDERRATED ANNUAL FOR SURE.

A LOT DON’T USE IT AS THEY SHOULD BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO DEER RESISTANT WHICH IS HUGE.

YOU CAN MIX IT IN WITH A PERENNIAL BED AND HELP KEEP AWAY THE DEER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A STRONG FRAGRANCE TO THE LEAF.

ALL SALVIA ARE GREAT FOR POLLINATORS.

THEY HAVE A GREAT SHAPE FLOWER THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR NECTAR OUT OF.

THEY ARE ALSO VERY LOW MAINTENANCE, SO THEY CAN TAKE FULL DROUGHT AND SON.

AND THEN THERE’S THE HERBAL SALVIA WHICH IS SAGE.

IT IS THE ORIGINATOR OF OURSELVES.

THE WORD ACTUALLY MEANS TO BE SAVED IN LATIN.

SO IT HAS BEEN USED SINCE ROMAN TIMES AND THE BENEFITS INCLUDE, CAN INCLUDE, DEPENDING ON YOUR QUALITY OF SALVIA OR SAGE, MEMORY IMPROVEMENT, IT CAN TREAT DIABETES SYMPTOMS, AND CAN WITH GOOD DIET BALANCE CHOLESTEROL.

I CAN WITH GOOD DIET CAN COMBAT SOME OBESITY THINGS.

AGAIN, WHEN YOU ARE PICKING SALVIA OR SAGE, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF WHEN YOU PICK IT BECAUSE IT CAN ALSO TREAT MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS AND BE FOR ANTI-DIARRHEAL ACTIVITIES.

WHEN YOU PICK IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE IF IT IS BLOOMING -- THIS IS THE HERB.

YOU WANT TO PICK IT REPEATEDLY SO THAT YOU GET MORE OF THE MEDICINAL.

ONCE IT STARTS TO BLOOM, IT WILL CHANGE THE WHOLE PROFILE OF THE PLANT AND CHANGE THE BENEFITS YOU GET FROM IT.

AND THEN THE PRETTY POLLINATOR OF THE ANNUAL, THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT COLORS, ALL DIFFERENT BREEDING.

GREAT THINGS THEY ARE DOING IN COLORS, IN SIZE.

THEY GO ALL THE WAY UP TO 40 INCH WITH BLACK AND BLUE WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL, TALL SALVIA.

THE COLORS AGAIN, BLUE, RED, ORANGE AND PINK.

THEY CAN BE GROWN IN ANY KIND OF CONTAINER.

THERE’S A NEW SMALL ONE CALLED HUMMINGBIRD FALLS AND IT’S A BLUE FLOWER.

HE PUT IT IN A BASKET AND THE POLLINATORS GO CRAZY FOR IT.

BEES, HUMMINGBIRDS.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL BLUE.

THEY WANT FULL SUNSHINE, GOOD DRAINAGE.

EVERYTHING LOVES THEM, EXCEPT FOR THE DEER.

BOB: THAT’S GREAT.

A NICE SHOT OF THE DOUBLE FLOWER AS WELL.

THE BREEDERS HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.

REMEMBER WHEN THEY JUST USED TO BE RED AND GREEN?

NOW YOU HAVE ALL THESE OPTIONS.

WONDERFUL.

SHARON: THANK YOU, DEB.

THOSE OF YOU AT HOME, KEEP EMAILING AND CALLING IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE WILL GET TO A COUPLE RIGHT NOW.

CINDY AND DULUTH HEIGHTS MALL HAS A SWEET SIX-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON WHO GAVE HER A SUNFLOWER PLANT THAT HE PLANTED AS A CLASS PROJECT.

IT IS NOW ABOUT SIX INCHES TALL.

WHAT ARE GOOD TIPS TO KEEP THIS PLANT THRIVING AND HEALTHY UNTIL SHE CAN PLANT IT ASSUMING IN JUNE?

DEB: I WOULDN’T GET IT TOO WET.

THAT’S MY CONCERN WITH THOSE LITTLE PROJECTS.

YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR GRANDCHILD’S PLANT TO DIE.

OVERWATERING CAN BECOME AN ISSUE .

AND HUMIDITY, THEY DON’T LIKE A LOT OF HUMIDITY.

WHEN THEY ARE SMALL, THEY CAN GET POWDERY MILDEW.

IT DEPENDS ON THE VARIETY OR HOW TALL IT GETS.

FOR TRANSPLANTING, I WOULD WAIT FOR IT TO GET UNTIL FULL SIZE.

BOB: SOME GOOD POINTS.

AND AGAIN, YOU WANT TO DO AS LITTLE WITH IT AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK WAITING UNTIL THE FROST HAS PASSED.

FIND GOOD LIGHT.

AND THEN YOU WILL TRANSPLANT THE EARLY PART OF JUNE.

SHARON: YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE GIFTS FROM THE GRANDBABIES SPECIAL.

RILEY FROM ESCO ACQUIRED TRIP SOME SOIL ADDITIVE IT IS NOT SURE HOW MUCH TO USE AND WHERE IT SHOULD BE USED.

BOB: WOW.

[LAUGHTER] IT GETS A LOT OF CREDIT BUT I’M NOT SURE WHAT FUNCTION HE REALLY HAS.

IT IS MAGNESIUM SULFATE.

THERE’S PLENTY OF SULFUR AND MAGNESIUM IN THE SOILS.

I DON’T KNOW IF IT HAS A GREAT DEAL OF VALUE UNLESS SMALL AMOUNTS MAKE YOU FEEL A LITTLE BETTER.

MAYBE THERE’S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THAT.

DEB: SOME KIND OF MARKETING.

BOB: MAGNESIUM SULFATE, THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPOUNDS THAT I DON’T THINK HAS A GOOD USE OF THE GARDEN.

SHARON: THANK YOU.

TERESA AND DULUTH WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO PREPARE A STEEP SLOPE THAT HAS A WEEDY GRASS TO PLANT A POLLINATOR GARDEN.

IF SHE USES A BIODEGRADABLE WEED SUPPRESSANT MATT, DOES SHE NEED TO KILL THE GRASS BEFORE PLACING IT AND DOES SHE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT EROSION?

DEB: THAT MAT, THAT’S INTERESTING.

DEPENDING ON THE COLOR AND HOW SHE APPLIES IT, THAT COULD KILL A LOT OF IT, AND IF SHE USED THAT TO HELP SUPPRESS THE WEEDS BEFORE THEN SHE WENT INTO PLANTING IT, YOU COULD HAVE WEED SUPPRESSION THAT WAY.

THE ONE THING I WOULDN’T RECOMMEND, I WOULD NOT ALWAYS FALL FOR THOSE BE A COMBINATION OF SEED MIXES.

I HAVE AN ISSUE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GENERALLY MADE FOR OUR AREA.

SO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT POLLINATOR PLANTS ARE HARDLY -- HARDY, SO GET FROM A GARDEN CENTER THAT KNOWS WHAT WE ME -- NEED TO.

BUT THE B MIXES, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

BOB: IT DEPENDS ON THE GRADE.

IS THERE GOING TO BE EROSION?

THERE SURE CAN BE.

IT GOT STRAW MATS, MADE IN WEST DULUTH, I USE THE MET A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION SITES.

YOU GET THOSE DOWN AND THAT CAN BE A GOOD JOB -- STARTING POINT.

YOU CAN PUT THE POLLINATOR PLANTS THROUGH THAT.

SHARON: MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

MIKE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO PRUNE AN APPLE TREE?

BOB: GUESS WHAT.

TONIGHT IS THE BEST TIME.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE LATER.

SO HANG ON JUST A LITTLE BIT, MIKE.

SHARON: PERFECT.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS.

NEXT, WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THE LOCAL DIRT.

♪ >> THAT’S A BEAUTIFUL PLANT.

MORE LUPINE.

DEB: THE BUMBLEBEES ARE LOVING IT.

THEY ARE POLLINATING AND MAKING MORE SEED TO DROP MORE.

HOLLYHOCKS.

AND GERANIUMS.

GERANIUMS CAN BE LOOKING LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW.

I’M SURE THEY ARE STARTING.

THE ONIONS ON TOP, THAT LOOKS LIKE ONIONS, WELL DONE.

SHARON: THOSE ARE JUST GORGEOUS.

DEB: THEY SHARON: ARE.

I AM FOR THE SUMMER.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU’VE GOT GROWING THIS SEASON.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE GARDENING TO TALK ABOUT.

BOB, WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR US THIS WEEK?

BOB: I THOUGHT WE WOULD TALK ABOUT APPLES AND PRUNING THE APPLE TREE.

THIS IS THE IDEAL TIME, REALLY.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE TREES OUT THERE JUST BEFORE THE PROGRAM.

DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE, MANY OF THEM HAVE NOT BROKEN BUT SO YOU REALLY WANT TO GET THEM PRUNED UP.

IT’S A LOT EASIER.

WITH A LOT OF LEAVES, YOU ARE LOOKING FOR STRUCTURAL STRENGTH SO YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE THE BRANCHES ARE.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE OFF A LOT OF THEM THAT WERE CROSSING.

THERE WILL BE LESS DISEASE PRESSURE.

YOU HAVE TO SEE IF WE’VE GOT ANY OAKS.

YOU DON’T WANT TO DO ANY PRUNING AFTER THE BUDS HAVE BROKEN BECAUSE THAT LEAVES OPEN WOUNDS.

IF YOU PRUNE RIGHT NOW, YOU WILL GET NEW GROWTH THAT WILL HEAL UP REALLY QUICKLY.

THE THING ABOUT A DORMANT PRUNE IS IT STIMULATES NEW GROWTH WHICH IS WHAT YOU WANT.

IF YOU PRUNE AT OTHER TIMES DURING THE SEASON, YOU HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT CAN RESTRICT.

RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO BE DORMANT PRUNING.

BY DORMANT, WE MEAN BEFORE THE BUDS LEAFED OUT.

IF YOU HAVE DAMAGED MATERIAL, CROSSING WHERE DAMAGE IS WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER, THESE I WOULD TAKE OUT AT ANY TIME.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MOST TREES INCLUDING APPLES, WE WANT A CENTRAL LEADER OR A MAINSTEM.

THIS IS RATHER CRITICAL.

YOU WILL BE PRUNING OUT ANY BRANCH THAT COMES OUT WITH A LOVE REALLY SHARP ANGLE.

YOU WANT TO DIRECT THE GROWTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TREE.

YOU WANT TO OPEN THE TREE UP AND MAKE SURE THERE’S GOOD AIR DRAINAGE AND SUNLIGHT PENETRATION.

THEN WE WILL TALK A BIT AND SHOW YOU THE SPIRIT YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL MAKING THOSE CUTS.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO FLESH CUT.

YOU WANT A BRANCH COLOR.

THAT’S WHERE THE TISSUE IS, THE CELLS ARE DIVIDING.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE, A VERY TIGHT BUT THAT WAS JUST TAKEN.

THE BUDS ARE STILL DORMANT.

MAYBE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE VIEWING AREA, THEY’VE ALREADY BEGUN TO BREAK, BUT FOR MOST PEOPLE YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO TO PRUNE UP YOUR APPLE TREES.

HERE’S A TYPICAL TREE.

YOU WILL NOTICE STEEP ANGLES.

SHARP TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE TREE.

WE WILL SHOW YOU A FEW OTHERS.

HE WILL TAKE A CUT AND CUT OFF THE DOUBLE STEM AND THEN THERE YOU GO, YOU TOOK IT OFF RIGHT THERE AND THAT LEADS YOU WITH A CENTRAL LEADER AND THE TREE RIGHT HERE THAT WILL PRUNE THEM OUT WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG.

IT’S A LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO TRAIN THEM WHEN THEY’VE GOT A FEW YEARS.

THE CENTRAL LEADER RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER, LATERAL COMING OFF TO THE SIDE.

THIS IS THE KIND OF LATERAL BRANCH YOU WANT TO LEAVE.

IT COMES OFF AT A STEEP 90 DEGREE ANGLE.

YOU WILL NOTICE AT THE END OF THE PRUNING SHEARS, YOU SEE THE BRANCH CALLER.

THE LUMP NEXT TO THE STEM IS WHERE THE REPRODUCTIVE STEMS ARE.

YOU DON’T WANT TO FLESH CUT, YOU WANT TO CUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT.

THERE IS THE STEEP ANGLE.

THAT WILL SUPPORT THE FRUIT LOAD .

THE WOUND IF YOU DON’T CUT INTO THE BRANCH COLOR WILL HEAL UP AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

SHARON: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET’S GO BACK TO THE WHITESIDE PARK IN ELY TO FINISH A TOUR OF THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.

>> WE LET THIS GARDEN BE A LITTLE MORE ECLECTIC.

WE HAVE A JOB PIE WEED THAT IS NOT BLOOMING YET, WHICH IS KIND OF UNUSUAL.

WE HAVE A PLANT CALLED A SOAP WORKED THAT IS NOT BLOOMING AT BUT WAS DONATED BY LOCAL VOLUNTEER AND THAT BLOOMS IN THE FALL, REALLY NICE.

WE HAVE SORT OF A DIFFERENT TYPE OF VARIETY OF PLANTS HERE.

THEY SPREAD A LOT EASIER BUT WE TRY TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS PARK IS WE GET WHAT WE CALL VOLUNTEER PLANTS.

WE GET A LOT OF SUNFLOWERS WHICH GET VERY SHOWY IN THE FALL.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A SORGHUM PLANT THAT MUST HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED BY A DEER.

IN THE LATE 90’S, THIS GARDEN WAS DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED BY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS OF THE GARDEN CLUB.

HER SON WAS AN EAGLE SCOUT AND THE FAMILY, HE MAINTAINED IT FOR A WHILE IN THE GARDEN CLUB SORT OF TOOK OVER AFTER THEY COULD NOT MAINTAIN MUCH LONGER.

IT’S A FUN GARDEN.

IT’S MORE SHADY, IT CAN GROW A MORE LOCAL TYPE OF PLANT AS OPPOSED TO HAVING SUCH SPECIFIC PERENNIALS.

RIGHT NOW WE MEET AT THIS GARDEN AT 9:00 A.M. EVERY TUESDAY, AND THEN AT THAT POINT IF YOU SHOW UP AND YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED, I WILL TAKE YOUR NAME AND I EMAIL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED EVERY WEEK.

GENERALLY RAIN OR SHINE, I’M USUALLY HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE IS GREETING, IF ANYONE IS NEW.

WE ONLY WORK ONE TIME A WEEK FOR AN HOUR.

IF WE GET LIKE SEVEN PEOPLE, THEN IT GOES REALLY FAST.

IT IS A MATTER OF READING, MULCHING, AND IN THE FALL WE HAVE TO SEPARATE ALL THE SPREADING THAT THE PERENNIALS DO.

REALLY JUST MAINTAIN THE GARDEN.

WE WEED AND WE DEADHEAD, WE MULCH AND IN THE FALL WE DIG UP THE SPREADING PLANTS.

IT IS NOT THAT HARD OF A GARDEN TO MAINTAIN.

IT SOMEHOW LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL WITH AS LITTLE AS.

WE DO.

SHARON: IT IS TRULY A SPECIAL GARDEN THEY HAVE CREATED IN ELY SO MAKE SURE TO STOP BY.

THERE’S STILL TIME FOR YOU TO CALL OR EMAIL YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

HENCE ANSWER A COUPLE MORE.

IN WASHBURN, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN IT’S SAFE TO PLANT ONION STARTS.

BOB: I WOULD SAY IT’S JUST A LITTLE EARLY.

ONIONS GO THE LAST WEEK IN APRIL, FIRST WEEK OF MAY ARE THE BEST TIME TO PLANT.

STARTS ARE LOOKING FOR THE LITTLE BULBS THAT GROWN OUT, STARTS OUR TRANSPLANTS.

FIRST WEEK OF MAY IS ABOUT IDEAL.

SHARON: JEFF IN LAKEWOOD WANTS TO KNOW IF IT’S TOO EARLY TO APPLY THE FIRST APPLICATION OF CRABGRASS PREVENTER OR FERTILIZER.

BOB: FERTILIZER, DEFINITELY TOO EARLY.

WE DON’T HAVE GREEN GRASS YET.

CRABGRASS, IT WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER HERBICIDES.

CRABGRASS HAS A LOT OF SEED AND YOU WANT TO PREVENT THAT FROM GERMINATING.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE TEMPERATURES IN THE SOIL UP A LITTLE BIT.

WE STILL HAVE FROST IN THE GROUND.

AFTER GREEN UP, MAYBE SECOND WEEK OF MAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SHARON: A VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHEN THEY CAN PLANT GLADIOLUS BULBS.

DEB: HOW MUCH DOES IT HAVE TO BE?

BOB: YOU STILL WANT FROST.

YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

THE RAIN WILL TAKE THE FROST OUT IN A HURRY.

DEB: WHERE IS HE AT?

SHARON: WE DON’T KNOW THE LOCATION.

BOB: YOU DON’T WANT TO GET THAT COLD.

THERE’S NO POINT IN GOING THERE EARLY.

TWO OR THREE WEEKS OUT.

SHARON: DORIS FROM RENSHAW WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE’S SUCH THING AS A DWARF BLEEDING HEART, AND IF SO HOW MUCH SPACE DO THEY NEED WITH MARK DEB: THEY ARE DOING SOME REALLY NICE BREEDING OF THE NEW ONES.

THEY CAN BE JUST A FOOT TO A FOOT AND A HALF WIDE AND THERE ARE SOME REALLY NICE ONES.

EVEN VALENTINE, THE RED ONE THAT IS A TRUE READ, IS MORE PETITE BUT THEY ARE BREEDING MORE AND MORE ALL THE TIME.

MORE FOR SMALLER GARDENS BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THEY FEEL PEOPLE ARE NOT HAVING AS BIG OF GARDENS.

SHARON: THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

JAN FROM DULUTH WANTS -- MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW PETUNIA THAT WILL GLOW-IN-THE-DARK.

DEB: IT IS LIKE ANY BIOLUMINESCENCE PETUNIA FIREFLY, LIKE ANY OTHER KIND OF SOLAR DEVICE, THE AMOUNT OF SUNSHINE AND IT GETS, THAT IS HOW MUCH SOLAR LIGHT YOU WILL GET AT NIGHT.

IT NEEDS A GOOD AMOUNT OF FERTILIZER ALSO AND NOT TOO WET.

THEY ARE A LITTLE SENSITIVE TO TOO MUCH MOISTURE.

IT’S A LOW GLOW AND IT’S PRETTY CONSTANT DURING THE NIGHT.

I HAVE NOT GONE OUT ALL NIGHT TO CHECK TO SEE BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER AND HOW MUCH SUNSHINE WE’VE HAD.

BUT I WOULD LOOK FOR 10:00 TO MIDNIGHT WILL BE A GOOD WINDOW.

BOB: VERY INTERESTING.

THE BIG QUESTION IS, WILL WHAT YOU SAVE ON THE ELECTRIC BILL COVER THE COST OF THE PLANT?

[LAUGHTER] DEB: NO.

BUT VERY COOL.

SHARON: JEROME IN DULUTH HAS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

HE WAS TOLD THAT HE SHOULD NOT PLANT A LILAC CLOSE TO THE DRIVEWAY.

THEY SAID IT WOULD PUSH UP THE DRIVEWAY.

HOW ABOUT THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE?

DEB: DEPENDS ON THE VARIETY.

THERE ARE ONES THAT ARE MEANT TO BE MORE PETITE.

BOOMERANG, SOME DWARF BLUE -- WHOM RINGS THAT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE FOUNDATION AND NOT HURT THE DRIVEWAY.

YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND ONE THAT IS MORE CONTAINED IF YOU REALLY WANT ONE.

IS SHARON: THERE A WAY TO CONTAIN IT?

OR JUST BY THE VARIETY?

BOB: YOU BY THE VARIETY.

THE UPPER PORTION OF THE PLAN IS SHORTER IN STATURE.

IF YOU’RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, BY THE DWARFS.

THE ROOTS ARE RESTRICTED.

SHARON: KATHY AND INTERNATIONAL FALLS HAS A FRIEND DIVIDING AND ELDERBERRY BUSH.

HOW DEEP SHOULD BE PLANTED AND WHAT EXPOSURES SHOULD HAVE AND SHOULD IT BE FERTILIZED?

DEB: FULL SUNSHINE.

IT’S INTERESTING THEY ARE DIVIDING IT.

THEY COULD HAVE AIR LAYERED AND HAD EXTRA ONES BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH YOU’RE GETTING OFF AND HOW MUCH YOU WILL DIVIDE IT OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE A VERY WITTY SPECIMEN.

NOT MUCH.

BOB: YOU COULD START THOSE FROM SEED, YOU CAN TAKE CUTTINGS IN THE RIGHT SITUATION.

THAT WOULD BE BETTER THAN TRYING TO DIVIDE IT.

SHARON: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING ON "GREAT GARDENING."

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED TONIGHT’S EPISODE AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO ANSWERED THE PHONES TONIGHT.

AND, OF COURSE, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR GARDENING EXPERTS, DEB BYRNS ERICKSON AND BOB OLEN, FOR SHARING THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE.

WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME WITH EVEN MORE TIPS TO HELP YOU GROW A BEAUTIFUL AND SUCCESSFUL GARDEN THIS YEAR.

HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪