Happy Garden - May 7, 2009

This week we have lots of reader photos, tips and some interesting articles. We are very happy to announce that Ellen Brown is now writing for us again so you will start seeing some new articles from her next week. Welcome back Ellen!

Do you have any gardening tips or photos to share? Feel free to submit them on one of the contest pages.

Thanks for reading,

The ThriftyFun Team

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Photos:

• Garden: Blue Morning Glories
• Wildlife: Cardinal Photos
• Flowers To Attract Hummingbirds
• Craft: Porch Swing
• Wildlife: Squirrel Photos
• Garden: Desert Flowers
• Craft Project: Storage Box For Pressed Flowers

Tips and Articles:

• The Do's And Don'ts Of Buying Trees and Shrubs
• Banana Peels for Roses
• A Drop of Ammonia for Fertilizing Green Plants
• Repairing a Leaky Water Hose
• Save Those Used Tea Bags

New Requests:

• Keeping Birds Out of the Garden
• Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe
• Planting a Garden on Top of Concrete
• Finch Bird Feeder Advice
• Advice for Making Trellises
• Low Maintenance Plant Suggestions
• Bugs on Topsy-Turvy Plant
• Getting Rid of June Bugs
• Will Vinegar Harm New Trees?
• Clearing Vegetation from Property
• Homemade Garden Hose Holder
• Crepe Myrtles Have Aphids
• Plant Light for Growing Herbs Indoors
• Growing a Daisy Tree
• Pyracantha Shrubs Not Producing Berries
• Lowering Soil PH With Grass Clippings
• Pea Plants are Dying
• Norfolk Pines Damaged By Cold
• What do Ladybugs Eat?

Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

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Garden: Blue Morning Glories

By radioflyer from Scottsville, NY

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Wildlife: Cardinal Photos

By Linda from Erial, New Jersey

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Flowers To Attract Hummingbirds

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Craft: Porch Swing

By vguy from Earle, AR

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Wildlife: Squirrel Photos

Source: Love talking to and taking photos of this beautiful creature from my balcony :-)

By Deeli from Richland, WA

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Garden: Desert Flowers

By Mary Vine from Tucson, Arizona

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Craft Project: Storage Box For Pressed Flowers

On the inside flap I recorded useful information for myself and even tested some pressed flowers by gluing them there. Later down the road I would see if the flowers had faded. I made this box 12 years ago, when I was fully into the craft. Hope my memory serves me correctly! The pictures give a good idea of what you have to do. I'll guide you through it. Measurements will differ because your box might be different in size.

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The Do's And Don'ts Of Buying Trees and Shrubs
By Ellen Brown

Trees and shrubs are a great way to add real value to your landscape. Because they have a lifespan that can potentially outlast you and your house, it pays shop smart. A failure to plan can spell disaster down the road-for your trees and shrubs, and for your pocketbook.

• DON'T buy trees and shrubs on an impulse. Buying a tree or shrub because it's on sale, because you love its show-stopping flowers, or because you think you will be able to find a place for it when you get home, is a bad idea. Trees and shrubs are not bedding plants. If they fail, you're not out the price of a tomato plant, you're out serious money.
• DO take time to do your homework before you head to the store. Make your selections based on budget, site location, future growth, and year round suitability. Read up on the time and care required to keep the tree or shrub you're thinking of buying healthy (pruning, disease prevention, pollinating partners, etc.)
• DON'T rely solely on salespeople for information. While sales people can be a great source of information, their job is to sell you plants. If you don't shop as an informed consumer, it's much easier to be seduced by a good sales pitch.
• DO gather your information from multiple sources. This is not a concern if you already have a good relationship with the owner of your local nursery, but in larger cities, you may not know the person you're doing business with. Scan reference books and talk with garden experts from your county extension agency. Online garden forums are a great place to ask gardeners from your area about their experiences.
• DON'T choose price over quality. Once you factor in the price it costs to remove trees and shrubs that have failed, the great price you paid for them no longer seems like such a bargain.
• DO choose specimens based on overall health, and avoid specimens that show signs of injury or disease. Healthy trees and shrubs have strong stems or trunks, symmetrical growth, and shows signs of new growth. A tree's bark should be undamaged. Its trunk should thicken as it tapers toward the roots. Look for branches that are evenly spaced that have not been pruned at the tips.
• DON'T take a short-sighted approach to future maintenance.
• DO match trees and shrubs to your site. On average, people move to a new home every seven years. Take into account future growth so that the trees and shrubs you select now don't outgrow their welcome and cause problems for future owners.

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Banana Peels for Roses

For beautiful roses; I emulsify 'old' bananas-peel and all in my blender with water. Pour this on the base of the rose bush. You will not believe how this works.

By Laurie from St. Charles, MO

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A Drop of Ammonia for Fertilizing Green Plants

I have found that for green plants like ivy, about every 2 - 4 weeks, I add one drop of ammonia to the watering; that's one drop per plant. The green plants, not flowering ones, like the nitrogen. It makes them green and pretty. I got the idea from Jerry Baker to use it as a fertilizer.

By chris from San Pedro, CA

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Repairing a Leaky Water Hose

Tips on repairing a leaky garden hose.

Silicone Caulk And Tape

Get hose completely dry. If hole is tiny, fill it with rubber cement, If large, use silicone caulk. When the cement has dried, wrap the area starting about an inch from the hole with black plastic tape.

By Alobarbear

Use Copper Tubing And Clamps

If the hose is large enough inside, (like 5/8") cut it through the leak, place a piece of copper tubing inside and use hose clamps on each end of the cut. I've had one fixed like that for over 20 years. It is a good rubber hose.

By Siris

Hose Menders

You can get all size hose menders at any stores that carry gardening supplies; Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. You just need to know whether you have 1/4",1/2".5/8",3/4" hose. They are very cheap.

All you have to do is cut the bad part out, insert the right size hose connector and tighten. I usually put a little vegetable oil around the insert to make it slide in easier. I also keep a plastic shoe box full of all size connectors, male and female ends for the end of the hoses, plumber's tape to snug up threads, rubber O rings, Y connectors with shut offs, if you want to run more than one hose. They also carry connectors so you can attach additional hoses to make them longer.

Buy Water timers when they are on sale. Some have batteries so they automatically go on and off when you want. With the other type, you just turn timer as to how long you want to water and they go off automatically. The battery ones are great, especially when you go on vacations as the ground still get watered.

By Dee

Post your own ideas here.

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Save Those Used Tea Bags

Do not throw out your tea bags with the trash. Save them in a dish and then empty them around your garden plants and shrubs. Makes a good substitute for peat and will add plant goodness and save you cash.

By dunno from Cradley UK

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Keeping Birds Out of the Garden

When I set young tomatoes plants out birds clip them off at the ground. Is there anything I can do to stop this? I've tried pie pans and blow-up snakes.

By Millermllr47 from Morgantown, KY

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Make Your Own Weed Killer Recipe

Will the vinegar and dishsoap work for not just surface weeds, but roots as well? If this is not remedied soon, I will have weeds the size of trees like last year when we bought the house. That was last July, so we decided to wait. Please help, I'm desperate to sod and start a small vegetable garden. Thanks.

Hardiness Zone: 10b

By ladyhawk171 from Windsor, ON Canada

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Planting a Garden on Top of Concrete

In my backyard we have a concrete slab that is about a 1/2 inch thick, that was used for a basketball area. Now, I would like to grow a garden on top.

Does anyone know if this is possible? Not sure if it is possible to drill holes for drainage. Could there be layer system like in living roofs that could work? Please help!

Hardiness Zone: 7a

By cacunnin from Washington DC

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Finch Bird Feeder Advice

Do finches need yellow on a bird feeder to eat from it?

By anngirl249 from deale, md

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Advice for Making Trellises

For the past 2 years deer have eaten our entire garden! I love deer and don't mind sharing, but wish they would share too. This year I'd like to plant some stuff vertically. What are some good ideas for trellises, etc. that won't cost much? Thanks!

By Batwing from VA

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Low Maintenance Plant Suggestions

We have recently renovated and added onto our 120 yr old farmhouse. Our yard was totally ruined by the construction and I am looking for low maintenance, pretty plants and bushes to plant. I live in Missouri so they would have to be able to survive here. Advice on annuals and perennials are welcome.

Hardiness Zone: 5b

By lostinthe from MO

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Bugs on Topsy-Turvy Plant

I have a topsy-turvy plant that is about 18 to 20 inches long. It is having a problem with bugs. The leaves are getting eaten by a very small worm-like bug inside of the leaves. It seems healthy anyway but a lot of the leaves have this in them. What can I do? Please help. Thank you. Jeffery

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Getting Rid of June Bugs

I am trying to find information on june bugs and how to get rid of them. We need lights on at night, so turning them off is not an option.

By vegasrose from Glen Carbon, IL

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Will Vinegar Harm New Trees?

Will using vinegar to destroy grass and weeds between bricks harm newly planted trees?

By youpper2 from Ontonagon, MI

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Clearing Vegetation from Property

I have about 14 acres of property. The timber was removed from it about 10 years ago, so now I have about 10 years of growth to deal with. My wife and I are planning on building a house on the property, and will be clearing a couple of acres of land to do it. It's really thick, but the largest trees I'll be dealing with are little pines that are about 2 in. in diameter.

I've run heavy equipment most of my life, and I'm thinking that a "bush hog" might do the job. I've watched a couple of videos of guys getting off into some pretty serious vegetation with a hog, and it seems to be the way to go. I don't want to go in with a dozer because I don't want to disturb the ground that much right now. Not to mention the fact that I don't want mud all over the place. What are your thoughts on this?

By 01indianbob from Ore City, TX

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Homemade Garden Hose Holder

I am looking for ideas on how to make a garden hose holder/winder? I don't mind if it sits on the ground or is mounted to the house. I just need someone's creativity to help me come up with a way not to spend $50 on a contraption that holds a garden hose.

By editornj from NJ

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Crepe Myrtles Have Aphids

I have crape myrtles and it's looks like the aphids are getting the best of them. Some are affected and some are not. The ones that are, are all in the same area. What should I use to get rid of them?

Also, everything is blooming, and some of the other crape myrtles are blooming, but not the the three in question. I also have grasshoppers that are in my yard. I bought some "Seven". I haven't used it yet, will it work on the aphids as well? I know to be careful, because we don't want to kill the good insects. Thank you.

Hardiness Zone: 9a

By Justdottie from Lincoln, CA

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Plant Light for Growing Herbs Indoors

I can't remember the name of it, but there is a fairly new plant light that sells for about $120 that you use to grow your herbs and whatever in the house. Has anyone tried it, and is it really worth that much money? Thank you.

Hardiness Zone: 7a

By {amsfriskd from Wichita, KS

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Growing a Daisy Tree

Could someone give me some information about a daisy tree? Can it be grown in the ground instead of a pot?

Hardiness Zone: 6b

By Settler from Springboro OH

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Pyracantha Shrubs Not Producing Berries

Why are my Pyracantha shrubs not producing berries? We are not in a frost pocket and have mild springs. The shrubs are pruned every year and they are five years old. Help!

By Dunno from Cradley, UK

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Lowering Soil PH With Grass Clippings

Does using green grass clippings in your soil lower the pH of the soil?

By Catz23 from Honolulu, HI

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Pea Plants are Dying

I'm having trouble with my pea plants. They are about 5 to 8 inches high right now. A few plants have lost almost all color, without any wilting. They just shrivel up to nothing and die overnight. I'm wondering what this could be. I started with high pH (above 7.5), but lowered to about 6.5 before planting.

By Cindyscotday from IN

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Norfolk Pines Damaged By Cold

I have some small Norfolk pines that have been hit by frost. Will they come back? I also have one large Norfolk pine in the yard that is very tall and about 8yrs old. Will it come back after the frost has done damage? It has turned brown, but is the trunk alive?

Hardiness Zone: 9b

By Lee99

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What do Ladybugs Eat?

What do ladybugs eat?

By Nature_lover11 from Las Vegas, NV

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

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