Happy Garden Newsletter - February 22, 2006

This week we have some great tips from Ellen about Growing Fruit In Pots as well as more tips and advice.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Photos:

• Fruit Tree Bird Net Frame
• Using Found Items For Garden Decor

Tips and Articles:

• Sprouting Seeds
• Is Cat Mint the same as Catnip?
• Growing Fruit In Pots
• Use Wet Toothpicks To Sow Seeds
• Drought, Heat and Cold Tolerant Plants
• Hibiscus Damaged By Cold Weather
• Controlling Weeds Organically

New Requests:

• Aloe Vera Oil
• Growing Vegetables in an Apartment
• Pruning a Hibiscus

Growing Guides:

• Growing: Veronica

Fruit Tree Bird Net Frame

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Using Found Items For Garden Decor

I love interesting places to display flowers. Especially when they are easy since I don't have much of a green thumb. Here are some things I've done:

Used an old wheelbarrow by drilling holes in the bottom for drainage, throw in some gravel then top w/ soil and plants. Plants that hang off the sides look great and something big and flashy in the middle. You can also lay the barrow on its side and design from there.

Another great tip is using old chairs that have lost their seat in them.

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Sprouting Seeds
By Ellen Brown

Starting your own seedlings is an easy and economical way to get a jump on the growing season. It gives you the opportunity to experiment with hundreds of different plant varieties and gives you the satisfaction of knowing that your garden will be organic right from the very start.

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Is Cat Mint the same as Catnip?

Question:

I got some "cat mint" from a swap last year. Is this the same as cat nip? It certainly looks like it's in the mint family.

Chuck R. from Grand Rapids, MI

Answer:

Chuck,

Catnip and Catmint are not the same (although the two are often lumped together) but you're right, Catmint (Nepeta mussinii) is related to Catnip (Nepeta cataria). Botanically, both are in the genus Nepeta. To make things even more confusing, there is also Lesser Calamintha (Calamintha nepeta) a subspecies of catnip and several other varieties and hybrids in the Nepeta genus.

Many cats are attracted to both plants, but their response tends to be more intense to Catnip. The chemical responsible for their crazy behavior is called nepetalactone, which is found in the leaves, stems and flowers. The amount of this chemical found in each plant varies a bit by species. It seems that catnip has larger amounts of it and so attracts more felines. Incidentally, all members of the cat family (Felidae) are supposed to be attracted to it, so take care when giving it to lions and tigers. As for telling the two plants apart, Catnip generally has a taller, more upright growing habit, and Catmint tends to mound and has more pronounced purple/pink flowers.

Ellen

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Growing Fruit In Pots
By Ellen Brown

Container gardeners (and fruit lovers) rejoice! You don't need a big yard to grow delicious apples, plums or pears. With the right fruit, the right pot, the right compost and the right care, you can create your own little fruit orchard right on your balcony or terrace.

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Use Wet Toothpicks To Sow Seeds

It is "sow" (pardon the pun) hard to sow small seeds into seed planters trying to get a head start on outdoor plants. But I had wooden toothpicks separating the seeds and I just wet the toothpick and a single seed would stick to it and I could then put it where I wanted it. I was working with basil seeds at the time, don't know if different seeds make any difference or not.

Happy gardening!

By George from Roanoke, VA

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Drought, Heat and Cold Tolerant Plants

Question:

We had nasty below freezing weather this week. I am thinking we are going to have to replace some shrubbery and decorative perennials. I have decided to use drought, heat and cold tolerant plants that don't have a bad spreading habit. Short of hiring a professional, do you have any suggestions. We have blazing sunlight and deep shade.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Thanks,
Holly from Richardson, TX

Answer:

Holly,

If you're looking for low maintenance, drought, heat and cold tolerant plants for your garden, your best bet is going to be native plants. Texas gardeners are fortunate in that there are many species native to your state that are highly decorative. Once established, these natives require very little water and much less care than non-native varieties. They will also provide habitat for beneficial insects, provide cover for wildlife and attract several species of native birds.

Here are just a few examples:

• Flowers: Black Eyed Susan, Golden Hibiscus, Indian Blanket, Jimsom Weed, Prarie Phlox, Purple Aster, and Wild Petunia.
• Vines: Carloina Jasmine, Morning Glory, and Passion Flower.
• Shrubs: Texas Lantana, Turks Cap.

And of course, there are many beautiful native tree species as well.

There's no need to hire a professional to install native plants. Look in the Yellow Pages or contact your county extension service for a list of native plant nurseries in your area. These experts will be able to recommend the best performing natives for your particular site conditions and help you select plants with different blooming periods for a show of color all season long.

For more information, check out these sites featuring information on native plants:

• http://www.uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium
• http://www.hotx.com/wildflowers/
• http://www.texasstar.org

Ellen

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Hibiscus Damaged By Cold Weather

Question:

I live in Phoenix Arizona and we have had some pretty cold weather lately, in the 20's some mornings. We have around 30 hibiscus planted along the front of our house and they are not looking too good. Is there anything we can do to nurse them back or not? I think the cold weather is over now. We need some suggestions please!

Thank you,
Michelle

Answer:

Michelle,

Wow! What a gorgeous sight it must be when your hibiscus are in bloom. Sorry to hear about your hibiscus. The first thing you need to do is prevent further frost damage from occurring to your already stressed out plants. Watch the weather closely. If temperatures start to dip below freezing again, use newspapers, old sheets, or cardboard to keep frost from settling on your plants. Misting your plants can also prevent frost damage. Lightly mist the plants with water the evening before you suspect freezing temperatures. This covers the leaves and branches with a thin layer of ice, which acts as a protective insulator to settling frost. The next morning, mist the plants again to gently melt away the ice before the sun comes out and warms things up (this is when the real damage happens). Secondly, back off on watering. Lost leaves and colder temperatures means less moisture is lost to evaporation. Translation: plants will need less water. Thirdly, you'll need to wait until your hibiscus leafs out before you can assess how much cold weather damage was done. Hold off on pruning until the plants have had ample time to leaf out and recover. Unless your hibiscus sustained prolonged exposure to damaging temperatures, most of them should recover.

Good luck!
Ellen

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Controlling Weeds Organically
By Ellen Brown

A garden filled with weeds will yield about half as much as a weed-free garden of the same size. In fact, one of the most common causes of a failed garden is letting weeds get the jump on your plants. Organic gardening doesn't attempt to eradicate weeds, just control (manage) them. Here are some guidelines to make sure you retain the upper hand.

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Aloe Vera Oil

How do I make homemade aloe vera oil from that plant?

Miriam from Tampa, FL

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Growing Vegetables in an Apartment

I wanted to grow some veggies in my basement apartment. I was thinking tomatoes. But not sure if there is anything else that is a good veggie. I have two windows that get pretty good sun.they are also deep so I can always sit a pot in them. Any suggestions as to how to go about doing this or is it will work or what to grow?

Thanks,
Raylene from Toronto Ontario

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Pruning a Hibiscus

I have had Hibiscus tree for about 3 years now and it is still hardy. I bring it in the winter. It is getting very large and growing outward. Can I prune it? If so when is the best time? Where should I cut? I am afraid to kill it seeing as I do not have any information on Hibiscus. I have scoured the net but have not found anything about pruning.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Barb from Phila., PA

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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here

Growing: Veronica

Veronica comes in many sizes - from varieties with creeping habits to 2-foot plants suitable for beds and borders. Attractive compact flowers in shades of blue and red grow on upright spikes surrounded by deep green foliage. The flowers bloom nearly all summer long and on taller varieties, make great cut flowers.

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