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From fertilization to irrigation, Mike helps listeners out with workable solutions to their problems.
Whether indoor or outdoor, Mike brings timely information to gardeners that helps them with topics such as when to plant bulbs for spring, when to prune trees and how to care for an indoor green house.
Mike brings St. Louis the best gardening advice available. His years of experience, as a St. Louis horticulturist and lecturer at the Missouri Botanical Garden, has made him a household name among St. Louis' gardeners. Mike is also on the faculty of St. Louis Community College at Meramec.
When it comes to gardening, Mike has St. Louis' greenest thumb.
KMOX.com Garden Hotline-- Update by Mike Miller April 2007
FIRST OF ALL-your time spent in garden, whether a single pot on a balcony, vegetable garden, lawn, among trees, shrubs, vines or lawn should be enjoyable-NEVER FORGET TO HAVE FUN
Always Remember-Be Patient and Thank your favorite garden center staff they are working hard to make your time, experience enjoyable, worth while so you’ll leave knowledge and everything needed
Annuals, Vegetables-install cool season (pansies, lettuce, cauliflower, lettuce)-resist warm season marigolds, impatiens, tomato, pepper petunias, begonias, etc. until late in month ground warms, triggers root, top growth, ultimately flowering.
Any Mail Order / Bare Root Plants-unpack ASAP, place in bucket of water for 12 hours soak for several hours-considering adding root stimulators to water
Bed Areas-existing spaces minimize walking in wet areas compacts soil making future root growth more difficult, adversely impact drainage, remove all debris-reduces disease potential, creating new-evaluate, check for sitting water, locate underground utilities, control vegetation if needed, measure sq. ft., improve soil with amendments 2 cu. yds per 100 sq. ft., work into ground, 2” of amendments at a time will raise area 6”, rake surface insure slope away from structures
Birds-keep feeder full encourage young to stay, fill bird bath
Bulbs-fertilize (powder-water mix) everything daffodils, crocus, etc. don’t fold, tie leaves limits growth potential, tropicals (cannas, caladiums, dahlias etc.-newly purchased or stored), pot and grow indoors to break dormancy, plant outdoors late in month
Empty / Used containers, pots, window boxes-clean (minimize disease), fill-well drained potting mix consider one with water absorbent gel beads, season long fertilizer, water to push out air pockets
Fertilize-(label rate) any growing (shrubs, ground covers, vines, roses, etc. exception trees / lawn
Houseplants-over-wintered or new-place in no afternoon sun location for 7-14 days (minimizes leaf sun burn, then if plant sun lover should be ready for full day of sun but still be conscious of leaf burn
Lawns-sharpen mower blades (reduce disease potential) cool season (blue grass / fescues)-core aerate / power rake, overseed or lay sod, fertilize only new planting with starter / winterizing then water, warm season (zoysia) mower blade height 2 ½-3”, first signs of greening power rake / dethatch then mow blade height 1 ½” –do not bag clippings-biodegrade as organic fertilizing
Moles-locate greatest activity, flatten tunnels, if next day popped up, level again-place spear or choker traps, cover with bucket to minimize triggering by curious pets, kids or adults, no kill within 24 hours move traps and continue process
Mulch-(composted shredded leaves, bark) depth 3-4” trees / shrubs (keep off bark-rotting), 1-2” perennial, annuals, ground covers (do not bury crown-rotting) water immediately
Pruning-any broken, dead (non leafed) stems, branches, 45 degree cut reduces disease potential
Purchasing plants-spend time check leaf / stem-consistency of size, color, rigidity, upright growth avoid any thin or stretched out, overly dry or soggy-or moldy smell, insect presence, purchase only healthy, once home place out of direct sun and water-keep damp until planting, hold 1 week or less
Roses-remove 1/2 mulch-watch for leaf disease (black spot, mildew, etc.)-if noticed spray fungicide
Transplanting / Dividing / Installing-ASAP perennials, ornamental grasses, ground covers, vines, roses, shrubs, trees, etc. have location ready, water before, place with 10-20% root higher than surrounding ground, back fill and water, check daily do not allow wilting
Water Bog Garden-clear / clean surroundings, basin, waterfalls, pots of debris, change out water if needed, check survival of hardy plant, discard any showing soft of bruised areas, make divisions
Wildlife-shrub twigs cut at 45 degree angle-likely rabbits, tree bark stripped deer or rabbits, bulb or new herbaceous plants eaten deer or rabbits-can use Hav a Hart trap, random gnawing field mice-use mouse traps, remove all frayed bark-smooth edges with razor blade knife, no pruning sealers
When Walking-in yard look for-Diseases (fungus, bacteria, virus), Insects (mites, Japanese beetles, tent caterpillars, bagworms, white flies, slugs, etc.), Weeds (henbit, crabgrass, dandelion, wild garlic or onions, etc.) wintered over in various life stages: spores, eggs, larva, or adults, seeds or perennial root systems-IDENTIFY ASAP-CONTROL if needed this can make gardening life easier-more fun for remainder of year
Biography
Mike Miller joined KMOX in August 1993 as the first host of the KMOX Garden Hotline.
Questions and listener comments spans the whole world of plants; soil improvement for a shaded flower bed, best type of grass seed for very sunny yard with kids and dogs, how should an orchid be repotted, or what about fertilizer around spruce trees, how much water do tomatoes require and how to keep the squirrels from digging up bulbs, or what does a lady bug look like and are they good for the landscape.
Mike provides listeners with useable and practical information related to their individual question or situation. Whether indoor tropicals and houseplants or the outdoor trees, shrubs, ground covers, and roses Mike's timely hints and tips make it easier for area gardeners to have fun while achieving their goals. There is no question that does not deserve respect if the listener has taken the time to call in. Whether in the spring concern about daffodil leaves, summertime where did all these moles come from, what is that shrub that looks like it is burning in the fall, to wintertime care for the poinsettias or what kind of bird is this visiting the feeder? Mike helps.
Always ready to share a laugh or offer sympathy Mike understands that a great deal of time and effort goes into growing and keeping any plant or landscape idea alive in this region. His 25 years of landscape and design experience have included; horticultural staff at Missouri Botanical Garden, cofounder of predatory insect store, Missouri state licensed for pest, disease and weed management, guest speaker at University of Illinois seminars, Missouri Department of Natural Resources and adult and master gardener education at Missouri Botanical Garden, participating member of the Forest Park Forever and Lafayette Square Park Restoration teams, and author of four gardening books focused on specifc plants, care and gardening in the region.
Mike is a published garden book author and had articles featured in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, St. Louis Gardener Magazine, and compiles monthly informational updates for the KMOX website. Mike has been traveling host for several groups of KMOX listeners trips included Europe, Canadian Rockies and the western United States where he discusses plants and their environments being seen and then relates this to peoples' gardens, yards and landscapes back home. Mike Miller Designs is his landscape planning / consulting firm with designs found from historic Ste Genevieve and Washington, MO. to Godfrey and Sparta, IL.
Miller is a St. Louis native and has a home in the historic Soulard neighborhood with his wife, Tracy Anne. There Mike maintains a house and courtyard full of plants from azaleas and begonias to yews and dwarf maples. Mike is also a four-year Air Force veteran, formally educated in southern California. Mike and Tracy take pleasure in strolling in the diverse neighborhoods and parks within the 14 county St. Louis metro areas, listening to a wide range of music, and traveling, and ethnic foods.
Contact Information
Email: mike.miller@cbsradio.com
Due to the volume of e-mail that Mike recieves, he may not be able to answer every email. Mike appreciates every e-mail he receives and loves hearing from listeners. Make sure to listen to the The Hansens/KMOX Garden Hotline every Saturday from 9-11am and get great gardening tips! |
