The fair is over and school will be starting in a couple of weeks, so fall cannot be too far behind.

I believe our lawn has looked the best this year. Mowing days seem to be winding down. I know my hubby is going to be happy about that. This is a good time to take a walk around your area to see what has worked and what has not.

As I have stated before, I have really had a time with the rabbits. I'm sure it is because I do not have a cat anymore and I really miss not having one. It is almost impossible to have a cat with this busy road. One thing that did not work out so well has been the sweet potato vines I had planted around the rock of my small pond. The rabbits just pull them out of the ground and then left them—it wouldn't be quite as bad if they would eat plants, but they don't. Oh well, I am just glad that I have what have. It really has been a nice growing season so far.

GARDEN QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Q) Could you tell me about growing the wildflower Queen-Anne's Lace? Can I start it from gathered seeds? A) The beautiful dainty-leaved Queen-Anne's Lace strongly resembles its edible cousin, the carrot. And indeed, wild carrot is still the British name for the plant that Americans, depending on their locale, call Queen-Anne's Lace, cow parsley, fool's parsley, or bird's nest plant. Queen-Anne's Lace is a biennial that typically grows from 1 to 3 feet tall. It prefers full sun and well-drained to dry soil, though it will tolerate almost any ground that isn't constantly wet. It can be found growing along the roadsides and in open meadows. Once established in an area, it sows itself easily, or the seeds can be harvested when the heads have turned dark. The plant's white flowers are superb for fresh bouquets it you don't mind the pollen shed, and they are also good for drying (be sure to pick them before the seeds ripen).

Q) Is it too late to divide bearded irises? I know it should be done after they finish flowering. A) August is a good month to divide your bearded irises. The best time is shortly after flowering. The reason for this is so the plant can recover before fall. So try to do it as soon as you can.

Q) Will peonies bloom the first summer after transplanting? A) If you were able to get them back in the ground say last fall so they could get ready for the winter –then the answer is yes. They should bloom the following season. But after dividing this is not always the case. Dividing is a severe operation to this plant. It results in the loss of roots in which food is stored. If the divisions are very small, it may take 2 to 3 years before the plants are sufficiently vigorous to bloom.

Q) Would you give me an idea on what is making ragged holes in the leaves on many of my plants, especially the leaves near the ground? A) Most likely slugs or snails are the problem. They hide during the day, emerging at night or on overcast or rainy days to feed on low-hanging leaves. They prefer damp soil in a shady location and are most damaging in summer, especially in wet regions or during rainy years. Hostas are highly susceptible, although slugs like any plant with young or tender foliage. The solution: keep the garden clean to minimize hiding places. Handpick, or trap them by placing saucers of beer near plants. Slugs will also collect under inverted grapefruit halves or melon rinds. Salt kills slugs and snails but may damage plants. Poison bait is available at garden centers. Because slugs and snails find it difficult to crawl over rough surfaces, barrier strips of course sand or cinders placed around beds will deter them. Spading in the spring destroys dormant slugs and eggs.

Q) Could you give me some guidelines for caring for my lilac bush; such as pruning, ECT? A) As I am sure you must know, lilac bushes need sunshine. The less sunshine they receive the fewer the flowers. If they do not receive enough air circulation, they will be prone to powdery mildew. This usually does not kill the bush but it does put it under stress. Transplanting injury, lack of sufficient water, too much fertilizer, or air pollution can sometimes cause the leaves to turn brown.

Pruning your lilac bush if a very good idea, this can be done anytime after they bloom. The best way is to prune out most of the young suckers and all of the dead or diseased wood. Some of the older branches should be cut out also, to allow more light to reach the branches in the center of the plant. To control the height of your bush, you might consider cutting it down to within a foot of the ground and start entirely new plants. If you feel this is too drastic, you can thin out 1/3 of the branches over a 3 year period; this allows for continuous blooming. For those bushes that have all the growth at the top, leaving the lower part very unsightly, it is recommended that these bushes be cut down to with in a foot of the ground. You will be surprised how nicely they grow back.

If you are looking for something special to do then do we have a treat for you….mark your calendars for Saturday August the 15^th at 10am for a Garden walk at Hummel's Hill 6089 Chicory Knoll, Charleston. This is very very interesting. Certainly worth your time and it is free.

If you have any horticulture questions, call the U of I Extension office 345-7034. Volunteer
Master Gardeners are in the office on: Monday—2 to 4 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday—9-11 a.m.

This column is based on information and materials at the University of Illinois Extension office, located at 707 Windsor Road, Suite A., Charleston, 61920; phone 345-7034; or web site: www.extension.uiuc.edu/coles/