Happy Garden - September 11, 2008

This week we have tips and advice about lawn care and dealing with wasps, hornets and bees. We also have more tips and photos from readers.

If you have a tip or photo to share, feel free to submit it on one of the contest pages.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Photos:

• Garden: Raised Veggie Garden On Deck
• Garden: Devilish Tomato
• Plumerias - The Hawaiian Lei Flower
• Summer Beach Garden
• The Keebler Tree

Tips and Articles:

• Green and Healthy Grass
• Cherries Are Very Small
• Do Dahlias Always Need To Be Staked?
• Keeping Bees Away From a Pool
• Recipe For A Green Lawn With No Mosquitoes
• Repelling Hornets, Bumblebees and Wasps
• Using Your Dehydrator For Storing Fruit
• Use a Boot Tray to Bring Plants Inside
• Fall Prevention For Spring Garden Problems
• Garden: Small Garden in Indonesia
• Pack and Freeze Individual Servings From Your Fruit Trees
• Save Used Coffee And Tea For Compost
• Canning Cherry Tomatoes
• Tires for Raised Beds

New Requests:

• Reviving An Orchid Plant
• What Is This Tree?
• Rusted Garden Tools
• Lilac Bushes Look Wilted
• Making Yard More Interesting
• Rooting Christmas Cactus
• Burning Bush Has No Leaves
• Pruning Squash Plants
• Growing Tibouchina Plant
• Homemade Cat Repellent For House Plants
• Growing Vegetables In The Fall

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Garden: Raised Veggie Garden On Deck

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Garden: Devilish Tomato

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Plumerias - The Hawaiian Lei Flower

Known as the Hawaiian Lei Flower, they can be both fragrant and beautiful.

Look around as you drive or walk in your neighborhood - if you spot a plumeria tree or bush, politely knock on the door and ask if you could have a cutting. Never cut without permission.

Plumerias require well draining soil and can not get frost at all.

They grow easily from cuttings.

If you live in an area where it freezes, you can just bring the plant inside for winter.

When there are lots of blooms on your plumeria, you CRAFTY THRIFTY FUN-ERIANS can enjoy stringing them into fragrant, beautiful leis.

The top picture shows my favorite plumie that gave me a seed pod two years in a row!

By Nancycorinne from Los Angeles, CA

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Summer Beach Garden

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The Keebler Tree

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Green and Healthy Grass

Question:

I need to know how to make and keep my lawn green.

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Elena G. from SLC Utah

Answer:

Elena,

If you want a lush, green lawn, optimize conditions that favor grass growth. Here are a few general tips to get you started.

• Choose the right variety of grass-one that will succeed in the conditions found in your lawn.

• Mow high? Set your lawn mower to a height of 3 to 4 inches. The depth of grass roots is proportional to the height of the grass blade. In other words, tall grass blades manufacture more food and produce strong, healthy roots. Tall blades also help shade weed seedlings from the sun and help prevent them from sprouting. Deep roots are much less vulnerable to stress from drought. Mowing at the proper height is the most important thing you can do to improve the health of your lawn.

• Leave grass clippings on your lawn after you mow. Grass clippings break down quickly and provide growing grass with about half of the nitrogen they need. Adding 1 inch of compost to your lawn in the fall will help improve the texture and add valuable organic nutrients to the soil.

• Have your soil tested. This will help you determine if your soil lacks nutrients and help you correct any deficiencies indicated by the test results. Contact your local extension agency for more information.

• Water deeply and only when necessary (when your lawn starts to show signs of stress from drought).

• Aerate to reduce soil compaction. Compacted soil prevents air, water, and nutrients from getting down to the roots of the grass. Aeration increases water and nutrient penetration and encourages root development. Soil aerators can be rented or a local lawn service can do it for you.

Here are a few publications on lawn care specific to Utah turf.

• Utah State University Extension
• Utah Division of Water Resources (PDF)
• Utah State University (PDF)

Good luck!
Ellen

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Cherries Are Very Small

Question:

We have two cherry trees (do not know variety) but are 4-5 years, both trees have fruit all over this summer. However, the cherries were the size of small peas. Both trees are a good 8-10 ft tall, maybe taller and are planted on a slope for drainage. We live in the middle part of East TN.

We are asking for advice on how to increase the size of our cherries. Our cherries have pits inside them as well. We have not fertilize them at all, but the trees are watered. We have not sprayed the trees with any type of pesticides. Please advise as to what we should do. Thank you.

Alex

Answer:

Alex,

Here are some possible reasons for small fruit size on your cherry trees:

• It's normal for the specific variety of cherry tree you are growing. It's not clear to me from your questions whether or not your trees have produced larger fruit in the past. Is it possible that your trees are Black Cherry trees? These Tennessee natives form pea-sized fruit in the late spring. Here is a link with some pictures: http://treegrowersdiary.com/blackcherry.html. If these look like your trees, the size of the fruit is fixed and cannot be increased.

• Inadequate or inappropriate pruning. Do you perform any regular maintenance pruning? Four-year old spurs and older tend to produce smaller fruits. Performing some occasional renewal pruning (removing the older spurs) can help improve fruit size.

• Your trees are producing too many fruits for the size of their leaf area (i.e. the canopy/fruit ratio is unbalanced). This sometimes occurs in younger trees and usually balances out naturally as the trees age.

• A lack of water during critical times in the growth cycle of the fruit. Adequate water is essential during the growth stages of the cherry fruit.

• Heat stress. Cherry fruit grows in three separate phases. The first and third stages consist of rapid growth, whereas the second stage correlates to the pit hardening. The ultimate size of the fruit is determined by the first and third stages. Cooler temperatures extend the first and third growth phase and result in a larger fruit size. Hot temperatures shorten these important growth phases, result in smaller fruit, and accelerate ripening.

• A general lack of vigor (which doesn't sound like your problem).

I hope this information helps!

Ellen

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Do Dahlias Always Need To Be Staked?

Question:

My Dahlias are falling over. Do Dahlias always need to be staked and if so, how would you recommend doing it? The previous owner planted several Dahlia Bushes that come back each year and the tall bud-stems keep falling over. It seems strange that in nature a flower would always grow too heavy for it's stem. Am I doing something wrong?

JLS from Olympia, WA

Answer:

JLS,

Many of the taller varieties of Dahlias do end up needing some sort of support to prevent the heavy flower heads from flopping over. As others have mentioned here, these are not the same dahlias originally designed by nature (native to Mexico). Instead, many of today's modern varieties have been selectively bred to produce large, showy flowers. We can only hope that the stems catch up soon.

Many gardeners use tomato cages or wooden stakes to support Dahlias. Personally, I prefer tomato cages. They provide "all over" support and as the Dahlias grow, the foliage easily hides the cage. The real secret to staking is to get the supports in place as soon as possible after planting.

Here is a link to a "no stake, no tie" system for supporting Dahlias using tomato cages. This system will work great on a variety of flowers that require extra support. I really like the way he uses the bottom tines as stakes to anchor the cage-no more bending the bottoms of your tomato cages. They always seems too tall for most flowers anyway.

• http://www.dahlias.net/dahwebpg/Support/NoStake.htm

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Keeping Bees Away From a Pool

Question:

We recently moved from one part of town to the other and we purchased an above ground pool. This time we seem to be getting invaded by bees. We've searched for hives in our yard. No luck! What can we do to enjoy our pool and not have the little ones get stung?

Wendy from Las Vegas

Answer:

Wendy,

In the heat of the summer, bees use water to cool down their hives. They deposit drops of water around their hives and fan the water with their wings. This causes the water to evaporate, raises the humidity inside their nest and cools things down. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. After all, a nest made out of waxy combs would melt quickly under in the summer heat. Bees also use water to dilute the honey they feed to their offspring. They generally collect water from a source as close as possible to their hives. Unfortunately, once they start using a source, it can be difficult to get them to stop.

I would suggest looking around your yard again to see if you can find the hive. If you can't find it, at least try to track which direction the bees are coming from. Then set up a small birdbath on that side of your yard, preferably as far from your pool as possible. Bees are not particularly fussy about where they collect their water from, so if you can offer them a new water source on their way to your pool, you should be able cut way down on their numbers, if not eliminate the problem entirely.

Bees prefer standing water, so if you have jets in your pool, you might also try adjusting them to create turbulence on the surface of the water. This should be enough to prevent most bees from landing and send them off looking for another source.

Good luck!
Ellen

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Recipe For A Green Lawn With No Mosquitoes

I wanted to share our secret to a natural, non-poisonous, yard healthy recipe for getting rid of mosquitoes and making your lawn green.

Mix Equal parts of:

• Listerine
• Flat Coors beer
• Epson salts

Source: This was a recipe given to me by a fellow Floridian

By Katherine from Wellborn, Florida

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Repelling Hornets, Bumblebees and Wasps

Question:

Anyone know of any plants that repel hornets, bumblebees, and wasps?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Pam from Sachse, TX

Answer:

Pam,

Certain plants (borage, dill, garlic, onion, fennel, sage, thyme, parsley, and marigolds) are said to help repel insects in the garden, but I would doubt their effectiveness when it comes to the likes of hornets, bumblebees, and wasps. I've also read that staking scented dryer sheets around the garden will keep them at bay, although I've never tested this for myself. I'm a bit skeptical about this advice though, as I've also read that to prevent getting stung, a person should avoid using heavily scented soaps, shampoos, perfumes, colognes and after-shaves.

Since these insects are all either important pollinators or insect eaters, it's best not to eliminate their populations entirely. The time to take action is when populations grow big enough to warrant control.

So let's start with the hornets and wasps. Although hornets tend to prefer live prey (only attacking when their nest is disturbed) same control methods tend to work on both. The Yellow Jackets are the variety of social wasps that usually cause the most angst. They are highly attracted to proteins of any kinds, so be sure to keep a lid on your garbage and keep you dog and cat food bowls indoors during the summer months. Wasps are also attracted to the types of refined sugars that are found in soft drinks or used in hummingbird nectars. There are several types of mechanical, non-toxic wasp traps available. These typically hang from trees or eaves and work to help reduce local populations. They work on hornets, too. Look for them online or at a local farm supply store or garden center.

You can also make your own trap with a 2-liter soda bottle. Carefully cut off the top 1/3 of the bottle with a sharp knife and flip it so the neck is face down into the bottom 2/3 of the bottle. Secure the two into place with staples or duct tape. Partially fill the bottle with soda or juice (spill a few drops on the outside to draw the wasps to the scent). Hang the bottle using wire or string, or set it on a stump at the corner of the yard. Wasps and hornets will find their way into the bottle, but the inverted conical shape will confuse them and prevent them from escaping. Clean and refill the trap after several days, or cover it with a garbage bag and toss it into the trash.

A citrus oil spray can be used on rogue wasps and hornets while out working in the garden. This is also available online or at garden centers.

In the case of bumblebees, they are highly beneficial pollinators in the garden that usually don't want anything to do with people. Ignore them and they will typically ignore you. If you find a nest in an area frequented by pets or people, contact a professional for help with removal.

Good luck!

Ellen

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Using Your Dehydrator For Storing Fruit

A year ago or so I bought a fairly simple food dehydrator with six shelves. It has sat for awhile, but this year I decided to put it to work. Work indeed; it has been going almost non-stop since the tomatoes, peppers, and grapes have began producing here in sunny CA. Now there is no such thing as too many tomatoes. And the yellow raisins I have made from our green grapes are delicious.

To make a very delicious harvest of dried tomatoes, just slice any or all of your tomatoes 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick and lie them flat on your dehydrator shelves. Dry until completely dry (check them every few hours) and enjoy either plain, in salads, ground into a powder, or drenched in olive oil with basil or rosemary packed in beautiful jars. This makes a delightful gift too. The dried tomatoes have a very rich flavor, so much more enhanced somehow than regular tomatoes.

I also used my dehydrator to dry all those extra soft plums from our plum tree. The results I got were delicious and tasty prunes. Even with the seeds still inside, they are magnificent. My next plan is to use more apple slices and banana slices to dry. Am I glad my dehydrator is off the shelf and in good use daily and so is everyone else who samples the harvest.

By Karen from Davis, CA

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Use a Boot Tray to Bring Plants Inside

It will soon be time to bring plants in side for the northern gardeners. A boot tray makes an excellent floor for your plants to drain on. They are inexpensive and will protect your furniture or floors.

Source: An online newsletter

By Elaine from Iowa

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Fall Prevention For Spring Garden Problems
By Ellen Brown

When it comes to lawn and garden problems, prevention is the best cure. Fall affords gardeners a great opportunity to set the tone for next year's growing season by way of soil preparation and cleanup. By putting in just a little bit of extra effort this fall, you spare yourself a whole lot less work and worry next spring.

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Garden: Small Garden in Indonesia

This is my garden in a small place, My plants grow very well here.

By Eddy from Surabaya - Indonesia

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Pack and Freeze Individual Servings From Your Fruit Trees

We have fruit trees, and end up with far more fruit than we can eat fresh, despite sharing with friends and neighbors. I go to the restaurant supply store and get a sleeve of 5 1/2 ounce individual serving cups (I pay about 5 dollars for 250, and several dollars more for lids) which means about 3 cents for a set.

We peel/cut/core the fruit (apples, peaches, pears) and cook them until they're soft enough to mash with a potato masher. We ladle the fruit sauces into the containers, put the tops on, label, and freeze. (I usually put a small amount of cinnamon sugar on some for my husband--he likes them a little sweeter than the daughters and I; otherwise, we use no sugar.)

When we are packing lunches, we grab a frozen fruit cup and put it in the lunch box. It helps to keep the lunch cool until lunch time, and is usually thawed by lunch. (I like it still partially frozen!)

The disposable cups are not the most "green" solution; but we have moved to as many reusable containers as possible, as well as using cloth napkins and garage sale cutlery in our lunches, so I like to think we are offsetting our carbon footprint, as well as using the precious fruit.

By Jilson from Pennsylvania

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Save Used Coffee And Tea For Compost

Do not throw away your daily coffee grounds or tea from tea bags. Mulch or compost them.

Plants, particularly acid loving plants, love them. I disperse them methodically around the yard by shaking them out as they are excellent organic matter and add a low dose of nitrogen.

If I have leftover coffee in the pot or tea, I dilute it and pour it out in the yard. I just alternate dispersal areas.

Plants like azaleas , camellias, and blueberries particularly like the coffee, not to mention your grass.

Read up on it. Do not send that organic matter to the dump.

Source: I have always mulched with my coffee and tea, but listened to a good program on it on the radio show, "You Bet Your Garden" and the show mainly covered coffee.

By Rika from Brunswick, Georgia

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Canning Cherry Tomatoes

Hubby and I always can cherry or Roma tomatoes. Wash all tomatoes to make sure they are dirt free. Boil a med/large pot of water. Fill one part of sink with cold water. Drop tomatoes into boiling water for approx 15 seconds, take out and put in sink of cold water. Get a big bowl to put all of tomatoes in after you peel the skin from them after taking from cold water. The skins should comes off easily, sometimes by even pinching them at the butt. Fill bowl up with peeled maters, then stuff in canning jars. Once each jar is full, add 1/4 tsp. of salt and can as normal. Hubby and I have a sytem down on doing this and it flows so easy. Have fun.

Source: This is the prcedure that hubby and I have done for many years and works great.

By Julie from Liberty, NC

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Tires for Raised Beds

If you can get hold of some old car tyres, stack them up (whatever height is comfortable for you). They make great raised beds for flowers or vegetables. You can fill them part way up with old used compost and top up with new for economy. Great if you have trouble bending or kneeling.

Source: I found the idea in a gardening magazine years ago

By Jan from Grantham. UK

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Reviving An Orchid Plant

How can I revive a sickly Orchid plant. I have an orchid plant that is now browning, the stem looks dead and some of the leaves are now yellowing. but the roots look okay. Anyone have good tips for orchid care before mine dies?

JoAnn from Saginaw, MI

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What Is This Tree?

We saw these trees on our trip to California. I just love them. They are much more interesting to me than the typical evergreen "screen" trees you see around here! But what are they?

Laurel from Port Orchard, WA

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Rusted Garden Tools

I read somewhere that you can clean and store garden and other tools that rust by putting them in a pail containing sand and motor oil. Does anyone know the ratio of oil/sand? What kind of oil to use and/or where I can find this information. Please and thank you.

Elizabeth from London, Ontario, Canada

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Lilac Bushes Look Wilted

I bought 2 lilac shrubs when all the flowers went on clearance at Walmart. They looked fine when I bought them and brought them home. I left them in their pots for about 2-3 weeks before I got to plant them. I got them planted into the ground but by that time they looked sort of wilted. I watered and watered and it didn't work so I added some miracle growth stuff and watered.

That didn't work so I thought maybe too much water so I cut back to 1 time a week and that didn't work. Its been 2 1/2 months and they still look wilted, barely alive. What should I do, I was hoping to get them established before winter hits.

Natalie from Richfield, UT

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Making Yard More Interesting

We have a very plain back yard. Nothing special. One rusted tool shed, one old swing set with pots of thyme underneath, and one gas BBQ grill on the patio with a cracked concrete floor - no awning. Also there is one small vegetable garden on the opposite side of the yard, a couple of nondescript bushes, one half dead pine tree and one crape myrtle.

The yard is shaped like a capital L. I was just wondering if there are a few things we could do to make it stand out - kind of like a rule of thumb. If you were to spiff up a yard, what would you do as a matter of course?

Hardiness Zone: 8a


Holly from Richardson, TX

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Rooting Christmas Cactus

I would like to know how to reroot my Christmas cactus. When I first got it it tried to die but is doing real good now but I want it to spread out more to a bigger plant. I really would like to know. Thank you.

Tim

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Burning Bush Has No Leaves

We planted 2 dwarf burning bushes in March right before our record rainfall of the year. Both plants' root balls sat basically underwater for a week, one worse than the other. The one developed leaves and seems fine but the other never developed leaves although it is covered in buds that never opened. We cut a stem and it is green inside and still seems to be alive.

Our question is: is there some way to prune it to possibly "bring it to life", is it a lost cause, or should we wait until next spring to see if it restarts after winter? We don't want to dig it up and replace it if it can make it since it has tried hard all summer.

Hardiness Zone: 5a


Beth from Livingston, IL

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Pruning Squash Plants

Can squash plants be pruned to encourage new growth?

Hardiness Zone: 6a


Sue from Clyde, North Carolina

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Growing Tibouchina Plant

I have a Tibouchina plant, which I believe is native to Brazil. My question is how hardy is this plant? At the moment it is in a pot in my greenhouse, and covered with beautiful purple flowers. I live 400 yards from the English Channel, so our winters are reasonably mild. Any help on keeping this fantastic plant alive through the winter would be much appreciated. Regards to all.

Polly from Selsey, UK

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Homemade Cat Repellent For House Plants

I need to know how to make a homemade cat repellent for house plants.

Joe from Tecumseh, NE

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Growing Vegetables In The Fall

What vegetables will grow in fall and winter in Riverside, CA? Also how can I best prepare my soil? It is mostly clay.

Hardiness Zone: 10a


Mary from Riverside

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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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