GARDEN FANATIC: Saving daylight counts

“Nothing is poetical if plain daylight is not poetical...” “” G. K. Chesterton

“Daylight Saving Time is achieved by advancing the clock one hour.” “” The World Almanac

The crack of dawn is my favorite time of the day. At the hint of first light, Buster and I spring out of bed. I make my way toward the shower and Buster barks insistently to be let outside for his diurnal duties. We may not actually be poetry in motion, but we love the morning and just can’t wait to get it started.

April stirs a gardener’s blood with a host of gardening opportunities in Laguna. The largest selection of flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees are available this month. Your favorite nursery is literally overflowing with tempting spring bloomers, guaranteed to make your garden beautiful.

Read on, and let’s get back to the garden with the Plant Man.

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Q. What is that orange stuff on my rose leaves?

A. Rose rust is a fungus that appears on the underside of the leaves first. The onset of moderate temperatures and the presence of moisture allow the spores to infest roses. Spray either Funginex or Orthonex at seven-day intervals for best control. Keep the ground beneath your roses raked up and clean.

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Q. What’s the best annual color now?

A. I would recommend planting ranunculus, primroses, pansy, viola, snapdragon, cosmos, phlox and bedding begonias for brilliant color in April.

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Q. Is it time to plant vegetables?

A. Vegetable planting is well under way. Seeds of most kinds may be sown now, such as beets, carrots, corn, lettuce, peas and radishes. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and eggplant may be found from starters.

Q. Will Daylight Saving Time have an effect on my plants?

A. Only that your plants will have more attention from you, because you’ll have an additional hour of daylight for evening gardening.

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Q. Should I prune my fuchsias?

A. Catharine has begun to prune our fuchsias, so I guess it’s OK.

Prune them to make them bushier this month and to stimulate new growth.

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Q. I forgot to fertilize last month. Am I too late?

A. Absolutely not. But the sooner you do so, the quicker your plants will benefit.

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Q. How do I get rid of scale on my indoor palm?

A. Scale is an insidious problem, I generally recommend moving the plant outdoors and using a combination of a highly refined oil spray with Malathion. If it is impossible to move the plant, repeated usage of an indoor plant insecticide may eventually work. Don’t let this one get out of control and remember to spray the underside of the fronds.

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I’m never happy when we initially spring forward for Daylight Saving Time; however, the past few weeks of later daylight have been admittedly useful. With the rain past, I’ll have time to plant my tomatoes this weekend. And I’ll stay up later, too, spending time contemplating all the daylight I have saved. See you next time.

STEVE KAWARATANI is married to writer, Catharine Cooper, and has one cat and three dogs. He can be reached at (949) 497-8168, or e-mail to plantman2@mac.com