Happy Garden - July 31, 2008

Thanks for reading, The garden newsletter is one day late this week due to vacations here at ThriftyFun. Today, we have an article by Debra about using the summer bounty of your gardens and farmers markets. We also have some of Ellen's expert advice for your gardening questions.

Susan

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Photos:

• Garden: Calla Lilies
• Perennials, Annuals and Shrubs
• Craft Project: Trash-Picked Potting Station
• Ask Kids To Help With Watering
• Garden: W.C. Fields Tomato
• God's Paintbrush and Fragrance
• Best Garden Ever

Tips and Articles:

• Keeping Spider Mites Off a Lemon Tree
• Keep Birds Out of the Garden
• Can't Get Seeds To Start Growing
• Saving Overheated Claw Plant
• Summer's Bounty
• Use Old Pantyhose to Keep Rain Barrel Water Clean
• Attracting Toads To Your Garden
• Leave Vase Outside When Arranging Flowers
• Rusty Nails for African Violets

New Requests:

• Tree That Looks Like a Crepe Myrtle
• Keeping Ants of a Snowball Bush
• Mammoth Sunflower Leaves Turning Yellow
• Bark Peeling at the Base of a Weeping Cherry
• Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants
• Small Tomato Plants
• Lilac Bushes Leaves Turning Brown
• Struggling Lemon Tree
• Flowering Verbenas Tips
• Burning Bush Losing Its Leaves
• How do I overwinter Dogwood seedlings?
• When Are Bell Peppers Ready to Pick?
• Pruning Tomato Plants
• Growing Lemon Trees in Containers
• Lizards Are Eating Kalanchoe Plants
• Using Shredded Flake Board For Mulch

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Garden: Calla Lilies

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Perennials, Annuals and Shrubs

Grayce - Toronto, Ont. Canada

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Craft Project: Trash-Picked Potting Station

By Cindy from Waynesburg, PA

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Ask Kids To Help With Watering

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Garden: W.C. Fields Tomato

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God's Paintbrush and Fragrance

After a rain, the roses are filled with sparkling dew drops that glisten in the sun.

What a spectacular sight! By Jose from Tennessee

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Best Garden Ever

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Keeping Spider Mites Off a Lemon Tree

Question:

Soochatty

Answer:

Wow! Fifty-four years ago from seed? That is incredible! So here are some things you can do to prevent spider mites:

• When bringing new plants into the house, isolate them for a month or two to observe them for insect infestations.

• Give you lemon tree a bath now and then with a soft cloth and mild soapy water. Or, stick it under your shower occasionally.

• Spider mites prefer dry air, so keeping humidity levels up around your plant can be helpful in preventing further attacks.

• Remove and bag any heavily infested leaves.

• Isolate the tree immediately. If possible, take it outside and spray it with pressurized water (as much pressure as it can stand) for three days in a row.

• You might try using a small, hand-held vacuum cleaner. After vacuuming, place the vacuum bag contents into a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for a few hours before discarding.

• I would try using either organic dormant oil or an insecticidal soap the next time mites return. Spider mites are not true insects, so they don't respond well to normal insecticides, but these may work to smother the mites and their eggs. Re-apply the treatment at one to two week intervals as long as the pest persists. I haven't tried this, but read about this home remedy:

  CANOLA OIL SPRAY RECIPE

  Mix 1 part canola oil into 50 parts water (approximately 1 tablespoon oil to 1 liter water). Add a few drops of dish detergent and shake well. Spray tops and bottoms of leaves and stems generously. Test in a small area first.

  Other homemade sprays you could try (again, I haven't used these myself) include garlic, basil, coriander, chive spray, feverfew, or dill spray (make a strong tea with the leaves (or crushed garlic, and use within a few days). Please, please, please test in a small area first before covering your whole tree.

  You can also try a pyrethrum dust. Keep in mind that all of these chemical solutions (although the least toxic of your options) should not be used indoors. They are also better when applied in cooler weather or they may cause leaf scorching.

As always, keep all chemicals and home remedies away from pets and children.

Good luck!

Ellen

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Keep Birds Out of the Garden

Question:

Stayathomemomof2 from Muscoda, WI http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf157853.tip.html

Answer:

Bird watching can be an enjoyable pastime, unless of course, it means watching them swoop in and make a shambles out of your garden plants. Here are a few things to try:

Barriers

Netting or Fencing: Use specially designed plastic bird netting (available at garden stores) to drape over the mature plants birds are pecking at. Protect newly planted seeds by planting them in indented furrows and laying a strip of chicken wire over each row. Hold the wire down using small rocks or sticks.

Shade cloths or floating row covers: Shade cloths are usually placed over rows of plants and secured with stakes or supports, to protect them from intense summer heat (usually used on cool season crops). The cloths come in varying "shade percentages", each indicating how much light it allows in. Floating row covers are somewhat similar to shade cloths. They let light and moisture in, while protecting plants from insects, birds, and small animals. They are usually draped over plants or secured with stakes or canes.

Cages: Build a quasi cage using small twigs or branches (or leftover fencing) around individual plants.

Scare Tactics (sound, movement, & light)

Pseudo Predators: Scarecrows & mannequins make good garden sentries, plus they add a whimsical touch to the garden. In order for them to be effective, you need to move them from time to time and change their look. You can also find large inflatable balls with menacing eyes printed on the front at some home and garden centers (or online). Try fake plastic owls or making a faux predatory bird by sticking feathers into a large potato and hanging it from a nearby tree.

Reflective objects: Hang shiny things from nearby trees, stakes, or from the plants themselves. Try CDs, aluminum foil, small ornaments covered in mirrors (think disco balls) or reflective streamers. All of these tend to spin and flutter when the wind blows and bounce light around.

Noisemakers: Things that make noise AND move are also effective deterrents. Cut up an old detergent bottle to make a pinwheel that spins and whirrs on a stake.

Remember, nothing will deter birds forever, so a variety of tactics are usually needed. Pay attention this year to the plants they seem to be favoring. Then next year you will be able to put deterrents in place before they start to look for food.

Good luck!

Ellen

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Can't Get Seeds To Start Growing

Question:

Hardiness Zone: 9a

MrsJim from Lakeland, Florida

Answer:

Don't be so hard on yourself. Despite rumors to the contrary, starting seeds in egg cartons is not easy, nor is it practical. Egg cartons are not really deep enough or wide enough to get most seedlings off to a decent start. To make some cheap and easy (biodegradable) pots, try this method using newspaper:

• http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76607998.tip.html

As for the simplest way to start seeds indoors, once you have your starter pots, fill them to within 1 inch of the top with a commercially available seed starting mix (it's a good idea to dampen the mix with water before filling your pots with it). This type of mix is not like regular potting soil or topsoil, which is considered too heavy for starting seeds indoors. Instead, seed-starting mix usually contains a mixture of peat moss and vermiculite (sometimes sand, lime, or plant food is mixed in). In general, the finer the seeds, the lighter the growing medium needs to be to get them started.

Place 2 to 3 seeds per pot, cover them with a thin layer of mix and water thoroughly. (If necessary, use a hand-held spray bottle to avoid washing away the seeds). In general, keep the growing medium moist, but not wet.

Some seeds need to be under bright light to germinate. Others prefer to germinate in darkness and then be moved to bright light in order to grow. It all depends on what seeds you're trying to germinate. Usually the seed packets themselves will tell you everything you need to know. Just about all seeds need temperatures of at least 65 to 70ºF to germinate indoors.

Once seedlings germinate and develop a true set of leaves (usually the second set of leaves to develop) thin pots to one to two plants per pot. (Use a scissors to remove the weaker plants to avoid disturbing the roots of the remaining plants).

Happy planting!

Ellen

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Saving Overheated Claw Plant

Question:

Hardiness Zone: 7b

April from Demorest, GA

Answer:

April,

Eventually this question (reviving plant from intense heat) comes up for every gardener. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what kind of "claw" plant you are referring to. Lobster claw? Cat's claw? Bear's claw? Devil's claw?

So to that end, the best thing I can advise you to do is move it into a cool, shady spot. Plants in the sun use more water.

Give it some water. Keep it consistently moist (not wet) and do not let it dry out between watering. Did the soil in the pot completely dry out? If that soil has pulled away from the side of the pot, any water you give it is likely to run out the bottom before reaching the root ball. If this is the case, you may need to submerge the entire pot under water for 20-30 minutes until air bubbles cease to rise from the submerged pot (air bubbles indicate air pockets around the root ball). After the soil in the pot is completely saturated, remove it and return the plant to a cool, shady spot.

I would recommend misting the plant daily (several times a day) to provide adequate humidity while the plant is recovering.

Even if the leaves turn brown and die, the roots/rhizomes are still likely to be okay so you can propagate a new plant. The most important thing is to avoid putting it under any additional stress right now. To that end, do not fertilize it again until it fully recovers. Remove any dead foliage with a scissors.

Good luck!

Ellen

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Summer's Bounty
By Debra Frick

I don't know about you but I love shopping at the Farmer's market. I have a small garden but it is not enough to feed the seven people who live in my house so I do my quantity shopping at the farmer's market. My mother did not can or preserve food in any way so I had to learn this on my own trial and error. I found that freezing food was easier for me and since I am always feeding a crowd around here that it also was the most economical for me. I also dehydrate vegetables to use in soups and stews through the winter. This year, Miller's Farm has been having some great sales at the market, I can get about 50-60 pounds of produce organically grown for around $15.00.

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Use Old Pantyhose to Keep Rain Barrel Water Clean

I've discovered that when collecting rain in your rain barrel, you can put a leg from a pair of pantyhose over the end of your downspout. It keeps the water clean, especially if your gutters have any debris in them. I hold the pantyhose material on with an elastic band, which makes it easy to remove and rinse off when it gets dirty. I also use an old window screen over the barrel to keep mosquitoes out, and keep any wildlife from falling into the barrel. Hope these ideas are useful.

By Judy from Williamsburg, Ontario

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Attracting Toads To Your Garden
By Ellen Brown

Who needs pesticides to protect your flowers and vegetable garden when a single toad can eat thousands upon thousands of pesky garden insects in a single season? In fact, they may eat as many as 50 to 100 slugs, flies, grubs, grasshoppers, and cutworms in just one night! Toads could care less about eating your garden crops. They are only interested in the bugs eating them. Here is how you turn your garden into a humble abode for toads.

Is It a Frog, or a Toad?

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Leave Vase Outside When Arranging Flowers

My husband is always complaining about finding little creatures walking on the table after I put out a vase of flowers. So now, what I do is, I let the vase sit outside for about 30 minutes before I bring it in. By then all the little bugs have gone elsewhere. Also, when I arrange my flowers I do it outside with newspaper underneath for the cuttings. That way I can roll it all up and throw it out without any mess in the house.

By Carol from Landisville, PA

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Rusty Nails for African Violets

Your African violets will bloom longer, prettier and more abundantly, if you stick a few rusty nails in the soil alongside them.

By oldtimes from Slaughters, KY

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Tree That Looks Like a Crepe Myrtle

Does anyone know what the name of the plant is that looks like a crape myrtle, but is actually a tree?

Thanks,
Holly from Richardson, TX

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Keeping Ants of a Snowball Bush

Will soap and water spray help keep small ants from eating new leaves on a snowball bush? Anything else to try?

Hardiness Zone: 3a

Sharon from Nova Scotia

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Mammoth Sunflower Leaves Turning Yellow

I have planted mammoth sunflowers in a large pot and I'm having a problem with the lower leaves first turning yellow, then brown before finally dieing off. Am I over watering or what?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Dave from Baltimore, MD

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Bark Peeling at the Base of a Weeping Cherry

I have an 8 year old weeping cherry tree with peeling bark at the base of the tree. The trunk is also sunken in a bit under the peeling bark. The affected area faces south. Could it be from the sun? I also found an insect casing at the base of the tree, it looks like a pupa case. Could I have a double problem? I'm not sure what to do to save this tree. Otherwise, it seems very healthy. Hope you can help!

Hardiness Zone: 6b

Jeannette from Lancaster,PA

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Keeping Cats From Eating Houseplants

Does anyone have any remedies to deter my cats from eating my houseplants/flowers? I love to keep small potted plants and flowers in my home, but I cats love to chew on the them. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Monica from Pingree Grove, IL

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Small Tomato Plants

Why are some of my tomato plants growing beautifully and others look like runts? They all get the same amount of sun, but are in different areas. The ones that look great I practically ignore.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Jill from Berkley, MI

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Lilac Bushes Leaves Turning Brown

Why are my lilac leaves turning brown? They have finished blooming long ago. It started with just a few and only brown along the edges of the leaves. Now it has spread rampant. Also, the buds for next year are on it but there is a ton of old black seed shells or something around each green bud. I have no idea what this is. My second bush is perfect... no problems. Help!

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Pattie

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Struggling Lemon Tree

My poor little lemon tree looks like it's dying. The leaves are drooping bad. I have an orange tree that is twice the size of the lemon tree and it's doing okay. It is rainy season here and it was fine until about 10 days ago. I brought it in to the overhang where it can still "see" sunlight but the rain can't get to it. I made a spray of 1 tbsp epsom salts to a gallon of water and misted the leaves only. I also cut off the baby lemons it had growing on it. Is there anything else I can/should do? I do give my trees citrus fertilizer once a month. Any help would be appreciated.

Hardiness Zone: 10b

Irene from South Florida

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Flowering Verbenas Tips

I absolutely love flowering verbenas. The problem is that, without fail, they all end up dying on me. Does anyone have any idea what I might be doing wrong? It's driving me crazy and I hate wasting money on replacing them all the time.

Cathy from Townsville, QLD

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Burning Bush Losing Its Leaves

My burning bush losing leaves. Any advice?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Les

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How do I overwinter Dogwood seedlings?

I started some dogwood seeds this past spring, and I now have 39 seedlings. Most of them have 5 or 6 sets of true leaves, and are approx. 6 - 7 inches tall. They are in 4" peat pots right now, and are situated to get morning sun with afternoon shade. With Fall quickly approaching, I wanted to find out now how to care for them during the cold Ohio winter.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Lisa from Rushville, OH

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When Are Bell Peppers Ready to Pick?

This is my first time for growing bell peppers (a/k/a green peppers). I have several that will be ready to be picked soon. How do I know when they are ready to be picked?

Hardiness Zone: 8b

Linda from Alabama

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Pruning Tomato Plants

I'm not sure about our hardiness zone, but I keep reading here and there about a way to prune a tomato plant to help it produce twice as many fruit, something to do with only three leaves, or three branches. Also, I was wondering about whether or not this would work with a bell pepper plant?

Hardiness Zone: 7b

Holly from Spiro, OK

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Growing Lemon Trees in Containers

I need help with my lemon tree. It is small, about 3 ft tall and in a container. It does have about 5 baby lemons growing. The leaves look like they are wilting.. I do give it citrus fertilizer once a month. I read online that I need to spray it with minor element spray. I can not find this at my local store. Where can I get the spray or is there a homemade version I can make? Is this why the leaves look droopy now? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hardiness Zone: 10b


Irene from South Florida

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Lizards Are Eating Kalanchoe Plants

I have several beautiful kalanchoe plants in a planter and the lizards have discovered them. At the rate they are eating the leaves the plants will die. I am looking for a solution to the problem. Does anyone know of a way to get rid of the lizards?

Michael G.

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Using Shredded Flake Board For Mulch

Any one have information on using shredded flake board for mulch? I know that flake board has urea formaldehyde based glue but I haven't found any information concerning the toxicity. I know it isn't pressure treated so there is no CCA preservative. Thanks.

Steve from Dorr, MI

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

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