Happy Garden - May 17, 2007

This week we have some tips for keeping rabbits from eating your plants, some money saving garden tips and more.

We have lots of new gardening request this week, please look them over and see if you have any advice to offer.

We would love to see what you are growing. If you have a digital camera and a garden, please consider sharing a photo with the ThriftyFun community. Submit your photo here:

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Photos:

• Tea Cup Bird Feeder

Tips and Articles:

• Garden Savings
• Compost Instead of Buying Topsoil
• Gardening With Allergies
• Protecting Plants From Rabbits
• Starting Seedlings
• Reducing Weight of Large Pots
• Make Some Gardening Pants
• Cleaning Philodendron Leaves
• Gardening Clean up

New Requests:

• What kind of a bird is this?
• Sunflowers For My Wedding
• Training a Lilac Bush
• Buying Wooden Window Boxes
• Why isn't my grass growing?
• Ants In My Worm Farm
• Using Herbs to Repel Slugs and Snails
• What is this plant?
• What do I do after tulips have flowered?
• Should I Deadhead a Hydrangea?
• Planting a Lilac Near a Sewer Pipe
• Help My Camelia Bush
• Brown Eyed Susans
• Where do hedgeapples grow in Nebraska?
• Curling Leaves on a Lemon Tree
• Forcing Tulip Bulbs

Growing Guides:

• Growing: Mint
• How to Grow Strawberries

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Tea Cup Bird Feeder

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Garden Savings
By Kelly Ann Butterbaugh

Spring gardening can sometimes add up to quite a chunk of cash. Instead of burying your money in the soil, plant some of these seeds and grow some savings.

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Compost Instead of Buying Topsoil

It is Spring and I have been busy repotting and potting plants for the front of the house and the patio. I never buy the store-bought, chemically tainted top soil! I compost all year long. If you have not done this before, it is so easy and saves you money. I compost coffee grounds, all my veggie skins, egg shells, fruit skins, leaves, and trimmings from the yard. Do try not to compost the weeds from your yard. I even found out I can compost my paper bags. This encourages me to grow more. I don't grow many veggies, but do plant lots of flowers. My compost is readily available and does not cost me a penny.

If you have questions, you can learn how by going to this website:

• http://epa.gov/compost/

By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX

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Gardening With Allergies
By Ellen Brown

Gardens should be a respite from the stresses of everyday, but for gardeners who suffer from hay fever and other allergies, certain plants and weather conditions can make gardening more miserable than tranquil. Here are some tips to help make your time gardening relaxing and sneeze-free.

Pollen Isn't the Only Problem

Pollen plays a big role in triggering allergies, but despite its bad reputation, it can't take all the credit for causing sneezing and wheezing among allergy sufferers. Grasses, for example, including those that make up your lawn, are generally thought of as major pollen producers. This is especially true of the big ornamental grasses grown for their flower heads. Constant mowing keeps most of the grasses in our lawn from reaching flowering size, but mowing causes its own problems. When grass blades are cut, some grasses release a chemical called coumarin that triggers allergic reactions.

Dust is another big source of allergens. Some trees and plants bear foliage that tends to gather and trap a lot of dust. When these trees and plants are disturbed by wind, large quantities of dust are released.

Molds are stem-less, microscopic fungi-related to mushrooms. Most of us have heard about the danger of indoor mold, but outdoor mold can be a big problem, too. Mold spores are transmitted through the air like pollen. Unlike pollen, which is most prevalent in the spring and fall, mold spores can remain present throughout the year.

Several plants contain volatile oils or saps that on contact, may cause susceptible individuals to break out in a rash

Tips for Allergy Releif

• Check the Weather: Allergy symptoms are less problematic on days that are rainy, cloudy or calm-when pollen has less of a tendency to move about. Hot, dry and windy weather, on the other hand, signals greater pollen and mold distribution, which triggers more allergic reactions. Unlike pollens, molds don't have a specific season, but tend to be a problem during warm, wet weather. Check your local weather forecast or visit www.pollen.com to check the pollen index in your area.

• Plant Wisely: One of nature's gifts for gardeners who suffer from allergies is the fact that the plants with biggest, brightest flowers are generally the best flowers to grow for allergies. These plants are the pollen heavyweights. Their large-sized pollen is too heavy to be transported by the wind and relies on birds and insects instead. As a general rule, avoid plants with small, plain colored flowers and you'll reduce your pollen problem. Low allergen, pollen heavyweights include flowers like daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, iris, phlox, clematis, lilies, dahlias, salvia and peonies. Although their flowers tend to be less showy, hosta falls into the low-allergen category as well.

• Go Native: Growing native plant species is advantageous in a lot of ways. They require little effort to grow because they are well-suited to the local environment, so they do not need fertilizers or pesticides which can trigger allergies. They are also drought tolerant and attract native wildlife. Forgo the Fragrance: Many allergy sufferers are advised not to wear perfumes. That same could be said about planting them. As a rule, the scent of highly fragrant flowers often triggers allergies. Opt for color rather than fragrance in your garden. Don't worry about your rose bushes though, thankfully they are an exception to this rule.

• Keep Your Distance: If can't resist growing certain allergy provoking plants, at least keep them away from the house (and your open bedroom window.) If possible, plant them where they're likely to be downwind of your house. Keep Weeds Away: Many of the plants that trigger allergies are also weeds (ragweed, lambs quarters, sagebrush, etc.). Keep you garden weeded and don't allow these species to flower or reseed.

• Avoid Chores That Trigger: If mowing or raking (stirs up mold) has a tendency to trigger your allergies, try to delegate these duties to someone else. Some gardeners have also found it helpful to wear inexpensive hardware dust masks while mowing. Try to avoid garden chores between the hours of 5 am and 10 am when pollen emissions are at the highest.

• Keep Allergens Outside: After you're done playing in the dirt, toss your work wear into the wash. Avoid hanging laundry out to dry on days with high pollen counts-fabric can trap pollen and mold spores. Wear a scarf or hat when outdoors and tie long hair back to keep spores from getting into your hair. Keep your windows (especially in your bedroom) closed at night to prevent pollen or mold spores from drifting indoors.

• Minimize Skin Contact: Long sleeves and pants may be hard to wear in the heat of the summer, but doing so will minimize skin contact with plants that trigger contact dermatitis. At a minimum, wear gloves while gardening and handling plants and avoid touching your face with your hands.

• Mulch to Prevent Mold: Compost and other organic mulches tend to be havens for mold spores. Don't stop composting, but if you're highly allergic to mold, consider planting low maintenance ground covers or mulching with rock or gravel.

• Visit an Allergist/Immunologist: If your seasonal allergies are ruining your time outdoors, talk to an allergist/immunologist. They can help you determine exactly which allergens are causing your symptoms and prescribe something to give you relief.

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Protecting Plants From Rabbits

Tips for keeping bunnies out of gardens from the ThriftyFun community.

Use Hair Clippings

Go to your local hair salon and ask them for a bag of hair sweepings. Get a large bag full and spread it around the perimeter of your garden. You may have to repeat this after each rain fall but as a hair stylist, I know that we always have plenty to spare at the shops where I have worked. Many folks around my town know that animals do not like the scent of humans and will avoid it at all costs. Also, the hair is biodegradable and will nourish you garden as well. This is free and a easy solution to prevent wild critters from entering your garden.

By Honeydoya

Chicken Wire

Surround the garden with a chicken wire fence. Bury about 4-5 inches of it into the ground to keep bunnies from digging under it.

By Carol

Sweet Alyssum

I was told that bunnies don't like sweet alyssum because of the sweet scent. Where I live, we don't have a rabbit problem. Just scatter the little white seeds among the plants, they re-seed and grow with no problems.

By Rosebud

Marigolds

Bunnies do not like marigolds. You could plant them around the edge of your garden!

By michelle h

Bury A Bottle

I've heard that planting an empty beer or soda bottle wih just enough of the neck exposed for the wind to make it whistle will scare them away.

By Siris

Plastic Snakes

I read that if you purchase a couple of plastic snakes from the dollar store and put them into your garden, it will keep the bunnies from entering the area. Good Luck.

By Watinwood

Several Bunny Proofing Ideas

I have heard that you can put hot sauce in a spray bottle with some water on the plants and that can ward off their little taste buds. I have also heard to buy plastic snakes and put them in the garden. I haven't personally tried either one. I usually put up a wire bunny proof fence bought at the local hardware store. This year my husband cut the bottoms out of some 5 gal. buckets and placed them over the tomato plants while they were still small. Push them down a tad bit into the dirt. This kept the plants out of reach. Typically, I only seem to have trouble with my tomato plants, not my lettuce, which you think would be the main problem.

By momof2girls

Urine

If you're not thrilled about spreading your hair clippings around, human urine works as well. I try to remember to take a late-evening whiz in the mulch near my Asian Daylillies every now and then. The local rabbit now understands that it's my territory and doesn't munch on them anymore.

Wolf urine works too, but it's very inconvenient to chain a wolf in your yard and force him to drink coffee. I haven't tried it.

By Backyardigan

Post your ideas below.

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Starting Seedlings

Tips for starting seedlings to plant from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own ideas here.

Keep Them Warm On Top Of Fridge

On top of the fridge or freezer is the perfect warm place to place your covered seed containers.

By gannon

Egg Shells for Starting Seedlings

I just read this in "Backyard Living". Use egg shells for starting your garden plants and use the egg container to hold the egg starts. After cracking the egg, wash the inside of the shell out very well and pick a small hole in the end.

By waterbarreleyes

Using Paper Egg Cartons

When planting seeds, plant them in the pressed paper kind of egg cartons. That way, when they are big enough you can just cut the sections off and plant the whole thing in the ground.

By Regina

Easy Method of Growing Seedlings Directly In Dirt

Take a bag of dirt, flatten it out. Cut openings where you will plant the seeds, water and plant seeds. I find that I am probably pulling up seedlings along with weeds when I plant directly in the garden. This way, you are less likely to do that because this method isn't going to have any weed seeds commingled with the seeds.

By Holly

Ingredients For Seedlings

• Vermiculite
• peat moss
• H20
• plastic wrap
• condensation
• germination

By Bekkicat

Using Cottage Cheese and Yogurt Containers

Cottage cheese or large (qt) yogurt containers are great for starting plants, and usually fit right inside a decorative pot. Just drill a few holes. When I want to make a few holes in a plastic container to plant cuttings in it, and I don't want to go get the drill, I use a metal barbecue skewer. I heat the tip in the flame on the stove and it pierces the plastic like butter!

By Linda

Use A Baking Pan

When planting your seeds to start seedlings to plant in your garden, if you have the room, use your biggest aluminum baking pan. It'll need to be shallow. This way will be even easier than planting them in eggshells or yogurt cups.

By Terri H.

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Reducing Weight of Large Pots

When filling huge flowerpots, reduce the weight and the amount of soil you need by filling the bottom with recycled styrofoam peanuts or even chunks of styrofoam. I get pieces when I need them from the dumpster behind a furniture and accessories store.

By Linda

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Make Some Gardening Pants

Make a pair of gardening pants out of an old pair of jeans. Sew the pockets from a pair of old pants on the knees of a pair of jeans. Then stuff the pockets with some foam rubber. These built in knee pads really save your knees. Just remove the foam rubber when you wash the pants.

By Rosemary

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Cleaning Philodendron Leaves

Cleaning philodendron leaves with a cotton ball saturated with milk will remove the dust and let them shine, shine, shine! After wiping off each leaf gently, let air dry. During the process, check the tips for any accumulated milk drop and dispose of with a Q-tip or paper towel. My plants look like they have been treated to whatever a florist uses to make plant leaves shine, but doesn't cost me a penny if I use the milk leftover from a grandchild's milk glass.

By Ronsan

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Gardening Clean up

When wanting to wash up after gardening outside, I have a knee high stocking with a bar of soap slipped inside it and it hangs by the garden hose.

By Tracey

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What kind of a bird is this?

What kind of a bird is this? He's so gorgeous! The picture doesn't seem to bring out the colors like they showed in real life. He's got bright reddish pink on his head and chest. I looked out the window one day and saw a bird in our tree, it looked like a miniature parrot, it was so cute. I grabbed my camera but couldn't get very good pictures. Just wondered if any "bird lovers" knew what it was.

Thanks!
Stacey from Orem, UT

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Sunflowers For My Wedding

I'm getting married in sept or Oct of 2008 and I would like to grow sunflowers as placecards for my reception. I know it's not sunflower season but I have a room in my house sourounded by glass that my plants THRIVE in and I have a very green thumb. I will be transporting them the day of the wedding to West Virginia. Do you have any tips on growing, transporting and how long will they last once cut and should I freeze or refridgerate them before I cut the heads off?

Thanks so much, God bless.
Christina from Gaithersburg, MD

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Training a Lilac Bush

I have a three-year old lilac bush that is growing in the wrong direction since I accidentally planted it at a slight angle. Can I use wire to retrain the branches to stand up straight? They'll grow into the fence if I let them continue in the direction they're currently pointed. Thanks!

Hardiness Zone: 3a

Stephanie from Anchorage, Alaska

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Buying Wooden Window Boxes

I'm looking for wooden window boxes and the chunky brackets, like you see on homes in older neighborhoods. I need several for single windows as well as double and triple windows. I've looked at the lawn and garden shops in the Kettering and Dayton Ohio area with no luck.

Gwen from Dayton, Ohio

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Why isn't my grass growing?

I need some help with my new lawn if anyone could help me. 10 days ago I decided to redo my lawn. I layed screened rich top soil down and then seeded with Perennail Rye grass seed. Prior to seeding I broadcasted a fertilizer which was rated 7-7-7. After the fertilizer I put the seed down (very liberally) and then I rolled it.

I have water continually and have attempted to keep the soil moist. As I say its been 10 days since I have planted seed and to date there is no visible signs of germination.

What could I have done wrong?

Chris from Ontario, Canada

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Ants In My Worm Farm

I have a worm farm that is being invaded by little black ants. I was wondering if there was a safe way to get rid of the ants without killing the worms.

Anna from Perth, WA, Australia

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Using Herbs to Repel Slugs and Snails

Someone suggested I put strong smelling herbs at the base of my plants to ward off the slug/snail attack. How should I hold them in place? We get wind and driving rain. The vegetable garden has a layer of cedar bark chips. This attachment has to extend all the way from the top of the 3 inch bark layer into a secure foothold down in the dirt around the collards.

Thought you'd find this amusing. Cedar is supposed to ward off insects. Either it is working and the bug attack would be worse, or it's claim to fame is unjustified. At the very least, large cedar chips last longer than small cedar chips or pine bark.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Holly from Richardson, TX

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What is this plant?

I have this houseplant whose name I do not know, and I can't seem to find it in any Houseplant encyclopedia or photo list. It's been really unhealthy for the past few weeks but I can't figure out what I need to do if I don't know the name of the plant. I'm hoping that someone will recognize the plant and know the name and hopefully give me some tips on what is wrong with it. I have attached a photo, if anyone can help I would be very grateful.

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Thanks!
Bruna from Copiague, NY

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What do I do after tulips have flowered?

What do I do after tulips have flowered? Can I get them to bloom again for the summer?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Lori from Staten Island, New York

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Should I Deadhead a Hydrangea?

I've inherited a big stand of hydrangea. I have no idea what cultivar they might be. What do I do for them? Deadhead last year's blossoms? Feed? Ignore em?


Thanks,
LMSINGH from Hudson, WI

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Planting a Lilac Near a Sewer Pipe

Can you plant a Lilac tree a few feet away from a old tree trunk? I was hoping to hide the trunk with the tree. The problem is also there is city piping 8 feet away as well. In the past, the Cedar tree roots went to piping for water and affected city sewage. Is it true as long as you keep the Lilac tree watered, the roots shouldn't go to piping? Please let me know.

Thanks,
lanaob

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Help My Camelia Bush

I have a large double-white Camelia Bush that I have had in a large container on my porch since 1999. I dug it from my Mother's yard after she died and I moved to Atlanta. It has done great until now. I water it and feed it and it gets appropriate light, but just in the last week, as it started putting out the new leaves and old ones dropping - it also started dropping the new leaves. And the leaves have brown and black on the ends of the leaves (some small leaves are completely black.)

I don't want to lose the plant as it is a loving reminder of my Mother. Does anyone know if it has a fungus, pest or what is wrong with it?

I will appreciate your remarks as to how I can save the plant.

Hardiness Zone: 6b

Thanks,
AtlantaPat from Atlanta, GA

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Brown Eyed Susans

I transplanted brown eyed susans last year and they were beautiful in the fall now this spring I don't see anything coming up yet, is it too early? I cut the dead stocks off last fall, did I kill my plant?

Chris

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Where do hedgeapples grow in Nebraska?

Where do hedgeapples grow in Nebraska? My daughter and I scavenged a bunch in Kansas at a rest stop but they are getting old. They really work for spiders and other critters.

Mrsmendlebright from Kearney, NE

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Curling Leaves on a Lemon Tree

My lemon tree is having problems with it's leaves curling. Anyone have any ideas what is causing this and what to use to eliminate it?

What is the best stage to pick the lemons? Often the fruit looks ripe but the inside is dry and even brownish. Could this be due to picking too late or could it be part of the above problem?

A photo of the leaf problem is attached.

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Donna from Rancho Cucamonga, CA

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Forcing Tulip Bulbs

I am planning my wedding reception.I want to do live tulips (uncut) so that guests can take them home to plant in their gardens... as the gift. How do I force tulips to grow so that the blooms come in June instead of March? The wedding is not until next year, so I have time to experiment.

Hardiness Zone: 4b

Brandi from Casper, WY

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Growing: Mint

Except for Pennyroyal, Mint grows on upright stems to a height of 1-2 feet high, has aromatic leaves and sends up spikes of small, pink to purple flowers that bloom in the late summer. Pennyroyal, with its small pointed leaves and cluster of pink flowers, creeps along on slender roots and makes a good ground cover. If left unchecked, all Mints spread rapidly throughout the garden by way of runners.

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How to Grow Strawberries
By Monica Resinger

Mmmmmmmmm. There's nothing like a sun-ripened, freshly picked strawberry. W arm, sweet and juicy. Growing your own will offer you a sweeter strawberry because it is allowed to ripen on the plant. You will also know how it was grown (no pesticides, etc.). Children often like growing strawberries, well, because they like strawberries! Here are some pointers on growing and using them.

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