Give summer stressed plants a helping hand Story and photo by gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers


protect plants before they become threat- ened.


Make sure to give your plants proper


care throughout their lifetime. Water thor- oughly and as needed. Then mulch the soil surrounding your plants with shredded leaves, evergreen needles, or other organic materials. These conserve moisture, keep roots cool and moist, suppress weeds, and improve the soil as they break down.


boost and keep both vegetable gardens pro- ducing and flowers blooming. Busy summer schedules can lead to plant


D


neglect and less-than-picture-perfect gar- dens. When you team this with summer heat and drought that can lead to wilting, brown leaves, and poor growth, and add insects and diseases that can further weaken and damage plants, gardens can really suffer. An exciting new organic tool for garden-


ers is now available to help. Plant strength- eners, like JAZ sprays, help boost plants’ natural defenses so they are better able to deal with environmental stress, neglect, as well as insects and disease attacks. Scientists found that when plants expe-


rienced stress from drought, temperature extremes, insects or diseases they produced certain molecules that activated their natural defenses. They isolated these molecules, ap- plied them to other plants, and found that the treated plants were better able to toler- ate stress. Plant strengtheners contain such mole-


cules that increase natural defenses in plants. One such family of molecules is the jas- monates, originally identified in the jasmine plant, that increases hundreds of natural de- fense molecules in treated plants. Some of the natural defenses make the plants more resistant to pathogens and others help re- duce damage from drought, heat and salt. While proper care can help increase a


plant’s natural defenses, plant strengthen- ers give them an extra boost to help plants thrive even during periods of environmen- tal stress. These organic products act like vitamins or immunizations, helping plants deal with extreme and often unpredictable weather, pest, and disease challenges. You can even keep healthy plants perform-


ing their best by proactively using a plant strengthener. By doing so, you’ll boost a plant’s immune system before environmen- tal stresses hit and ultimately help it thrive as it faces serious challenges throughout the remainder of the season. It’s a great way to


No ordinary moisture.


You work and play hard everyday — so do your hands. Together you create and inspire growth. Ureaka!TM


Healing Hand


Cream, made with urea, restores and protects for soft, healthy skin. Why use urea (yoo-ree-uh)? It rehydrates and retains moisture, repairs dry, chapped skin, and relieves itchiness. UreakaTM


is long


lasting and fast absorbing for your busy days. Formulated to help working hands, especially in wet situations.


Gardeners Hand therapy for


Rehydrate, Repair, Relieve


Fragrance free Paraben free


Recommended & used by health care professionals


Made in Canada h


on’t let summer stressors ruin your landscape’s good looks. Instead give your plants’ natural defenses a


y And, if your plants experience the same


problems each year, it is time to make a change. Move stressed plants to more suit- able growing conditions. Match the plant to the light, soil, and moisture it prefers. Replace diseased plants with resistant variet- ies and provide proper care. By taking these steps and investing a bit


of time and energy you’ll be sure to create a beautiful, healthy and productive landscape.


NOW AVAILABLE


Available in drugstores across Canada. Visit Ureaka.ca for a UreakaTM Watch The Manitoba Gardener on Shaw TV Channel 9


location near you. Summer 2012 • 11


©2012 Germiphene Corp. | NPN 02246682


N


o


a


o


e


r


r


d


c


i


d


n


a a


r


n


m


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32