This Season's Best New Flowers and Vegetables

Each year the garden seed industry designates the best new flower and vegetable varieties as All America Selections. This year, these varieties have been judged superior by independent testing conducted across North America:

ARIZONA SUN gaillardia bears 3-inch, mahogany red blooms with yellow edges. The plant is best grown as an annual in most areas, but it may bloom over winter in mild climates. 'Arizona Sun' is a compact plant reaching about 8 to 10 inches high, perfect as an edging or in containers. Plant in full sun.

FIRST KISS BLUEBERRY vinca bears large violet blue flowers with a darker eye. It's the first vinca in this color range and is a unique annual for flowerbeds or pots. Like all vincas (Catharanthus rosea), 'First Kiss Blueberry' loves heat and full sun.

MAGELLAN CORAL zinnia generously produces large 5- to 6-inch, brilliant coral blooms all summer long. Annual plants grow about 16 inches high and should be planted in full sun.

FAIRY TALE eggplant is a miniature vegetable with small white-and-violet-striped fruit. You can start harvesting the eggplants when they reach just a few inches long, and they're perfect for grilling whole. The plant reaches about 30 inches tall and is perfect for containers.

BONBON winter squash bears boxy, dark green fruit with silver stripes. They weigh about four pounds and have dark orange flesh that is creamy-sweet when cooked. Vines need room to grow, spreading about 8 feet wide. Plant in full sun.

SUGARY tomato bears grape-like clusters of wonderfully sweet, cherry-size fruit that has uniquely pointed ends. Plants are vigorous, semi-indeterminate and very productive. Plant in full sun.

Look for these new varieties in mail order catalogs, nurseries and garden centers. For more information and specific sources, visit www.all-americaselections.org.

Start Early to Control Crabgrass in Your Lawn

Crabgrass is one of the more irritating lawn weeds, but it's not as hard to control as you might think. An annual weed, crabgrass seeds begin germinating in early spring. The trick in controlling it is to start early and apply a pre-emergent herbicide before the seeds have a chance to germinate. For many mild-winter areas, starting early means starting now. For colder areas, starting early means starting soon.

You can prevent crabgrass (and many other weeds) by applying Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Weed Killer for Lawns Concentrate. Check the back of the bag for information on exactly when to make the application in your area.

The Dramatic Dahlias

Few flowers offer such vibrant color and varied form as dahlias. They come in every color (including many combinations) except true blue, but it's the diversity of flower and plant form that is really remarkable. Flowers, both big (over eight inches across) and small, come in singles and doubles, frilly cactus form, ball-shaped, pompons, daisy-like anemone and many more. They are wonderful cut flowers. Plants range from small and compact to over six feet high and fill almost any garden role.

Dahlias are tuberous perennials that are planted after the last frost. They grow best in full sun, well-drained soil and need regular water. Taller types need staking. In most areas, dahlias are best dug up in fall and stored until the following spring. For more information on dahlias, visit The American Dahlia Society at www.dahlia.org.

To give your dahlias a strong start and to protect from insects and disease, make sure to use Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Rose & Flower Care Concentrate.

Controlling Spring Weeds and Spring Lawn Feedings

Weeds always seem to get an early jump on you in spring. Before you know it, they're competing with desirable plants, robbing them of light, water and nutrients. In mild-winter areas, this assault has already started or will soon. In other areas, there are weeds in your near future.

At the same time, your plants are rapidly approaching a time of vigorous growth and renewal. But unless the proper nutrients are available in the soil, all types, from roses to trees to annuals and vegetables, can get off to a slow start and grow poorly through the rest of the year.

To find out steps you need to take to protect your yard against weeds while feeding it the nutrients it needs check out this month's feature article here.