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Planter Box, April 13

Rocky Mountain News

Published April 13, 2007 at midnight

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WHAT'S IN BLOOM?

Periwinkle (Vinca minor): A stalwart of the shade garden, periwinkle creates a dense, ever-expanding carpet of deep green leaves. In spring, this ground-hugging perennial produces pretty, five-lobed lavender flowers. Some varieties sport white or reddish purple blossoms, while another breaks the monotony of deep green with variegated leaves striped with yellow. Periwinkle is invaluable as a carefree ground cover in tough, dry areas in all but the deepest shade.

- Rob Proctor

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Cursed with a black thumb? You need Gardening Basics for Dummies by Steven A. Frowine (Wiley, $21.99). This thick paperback walks you step-by-step through topics like getting ready for gardening, selecting plants, improving your lawn and creating vegetable beds. Color photographs, illustrations and humor encourage you along, while warning symbols help you avoid common problems that caused you frustrations in the first place.

- Betsy Lehndorff

TIPS OF THE WEEK

• TLC for roses: Prune roses when the buds start to swell, removing all dead, weak and crossing canes. For more info, check Planttalk Colorado topic Rose Basics. Log on to planttalk.org or phone 1-888-666-3063 and enter topic number 1725.

• Don't delay: Trim and remove last year's dead perennials before new season growth and spring bulb foliage gets too big. Delay only makes it difficult to separate the dead from the living.

• Deal with perennials: Divide perennials that bloom in the fall. Save the outermost growth and throw away the less vigorous center of clumps. Amend the soil with compost before replanting.

• Unwrap 'em: Remove winter tree wrap now.

• Get pulling: Get an early start on removing annual weed sprouts. They're easier to hoe or pull when small than after they've grown deep roots.

Healthy gardens

Bradfield Organics Luscious Lawn & Garden 3-1-5 Natural Fertilizer can be used everywhere in your garden and is nontoxic. Produced by Land O'Lakes Purina Feed, a 40-pound bag is $27 at Harlequin's Gardens, 4795 N. 26th St., Boulder. Also available at Nick's Garden Center, 2001 S. Chambers Road, Aurora and Jared's Nursery & Garden Center, 10500 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton. Visit bradfieldorganics.com for more information.