Happy Garden - October 15, 2009

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The ThriftyFun Team

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Photos:

• Craft: Lettered Step Stone
• Garden: Pumpkins

Tips and Articles:

• How To Naturalize Bulbs
• Hedge Apples Repel Spiders
• Reusing a Kettle Barbecue
• Invest in the Proper Snow Removal Equipment

New Requests:

• Chicken Lays Green Eggs
• Transplanting Rivermallow Bushes
• Transplanting Strawberry Plants
• Starting a Compost Pile
• Neosporin Use on a Chicken
• Growing a Tree from a Willow Cutting
• Caring for an Umbrella Tree
• Removing Urine Odors from Backyard
• Saving Plants Through The Winter
• Stevia Plant Seems to Be Dying
• Planting Onions in Zone 6a
• Overwintering Dusty Millers
• Rabbits Eating Flowers and Plants
• Preparing Plants To Bring Indoors

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.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

Craft: Lettered Step Stone

By creativeman from Chatswoth, CA

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Garden: Pumpkins

The vines took over a large section of our yard, they go back the other direction for even farther. We have 4 pumpkins that grew, two of them quite large. I got quite a few tomatoes from volunteers this summer too. I remember that my mother always seemed to have food growing in and near her compost pile: potatoes, zucchini, cantaloupe. Wonder what I will discover next year!

By jess

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How To Naturalize Bulbs

We've all seen the pictures. Masses of tulips or hyacinths growing like wildflowers among trees or in grassy meadow, looking like they've been there since the beginning of time. These bulbs have been naturalized. Achieving this look isn't hard, as long as you keep a few basic principles in mind.

You Need the Right Site

To achieve the "wildflower effect" naturalized bulbs are usually set in a woodland or grassland environment. For gardeners limited by space, a cluster of bulbs planted in uncut grass around the base of a tree, or a small patch left wild in the corner of the garden can create a striking effect.

• Woodland sites: Make sure it allows enough sun for the bulbs to grow and flower.

• Grassland sites: For the best effect, grass has been left to grow wild (not manicured).

You Need the Right Bulbs

Mixing multiple types of bulbs or planting a single species will give you radically different looks, so search online and in gardening books to get ideas. Also keep in mind that if you choose spring-flowering bulbs, you'll need to wait for the flowers to go to seed and the foliage to fade (up to 6 weeks) before cutting the grass. This is so that the bulbs have time to produce and store food for next year's color. If you choose fall-blooming bulbs, you'll need to stop cutting grass in late summer/early fall to allow the shoots ample time to grow and bloom.

Ideally, the bulbs you choose should:

• Grow tall enough to be seen, but not so tall that they appear unnatural.

• Be vigorous enough to compete for nutrients with surrounding turf and (if necessary) hardy enough to stand up to a harsh winters.

• Maintenance-free (don't choose bulbs that require staking, deadheading, etc.). If you need to fertilize bulbs, do it in the early spring. Just make sure you don't use a "weed and feed" mixture or you may end up killing the bulbs.

Achieving the "Natural Effect"

Use a spade for mass planting instead of digging hundreds of individual holes. Start by cutting the grass, Then peel back the sod and remove the soil to the required depth (approx. 2 inches for small bulbs and 4 inches for larger bulbs). After loosening the surface of the exposed soil, place the bulbs where you want them and replace the sod. Water the area thoroughly.

Wildflowers don't grow in perfectly spaced rows, and neither should naturalized bulbs. Dropping handfuls of bulbs and planting them wherever they land will help create a more natural look.

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Hedge Apples Repel Spiders

To eliminate spiders, place hedge apples near the locations that spiders build their webs. Place the hedge apple on something that can be thrown away with the hedge apple after it deteriorates into a lump. This does not seem to kill the spiders, but acts as a repellent.

Source: common folk knowledge - just something people seem to know

By Choelizath from Gowdy, Indiana

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Reusing a Kettle Barbecue

Some years ago, my husband and I decided to replace our barbecue kettle with a gas grill; but the kettle was still perfectly good. It seemed a shame to get rid of it. We considered drilling holes in the bottom, and turning it into a planter.

Instead, we painted it bright red and set potted plants and flowers in it. Because it had wheels, it could be moved to the shade. It could be moved where it was raining (or where it wasn't), etc.

It was so cute, we decided to do the same thing with our old chest freezer to complete the whimsy. We drilled holes into the bottom, planted geraniums, and set it next to the BBQ-planter. People always commented on how fun it was when they were on our patio.

By Lady Eleanour from The Rocket City

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Invest in the Proper Snow Removal Equipment

Update: Now is the time to get ready for Winter! We got our first snow today (10-10-09) in MN and are expecting about 6 more inches within the next 48 hours. Just found my bucket with the salt in. Got my stuff in from the garden with 1 day to spare!

Original post is from January 2009.

Grandma J here in MN. Got our share of the white stuff (snow) this winter, more coming. Considering we should prepare in October, it takes the first snow storm for us to do this.

Save your back and maybe your HEART! Investing in good snow removal equipment is essential, even for the basics. I bought a push shovel for about $25. Not a scooper of snow, just push it. Then have another one for scooping. Make sure you try them out in the fashion you will hold it, bend with it, etc. ERGONOMIC tools are there.

For my birthday in December, hubby bought me a new snowblower. Never touched one in my life. Always used the shovel. So when he was in the hospital before Christmas having a total knee, I had to learn to use it. Had to call him for help on the cell phone. Tucked it under my ear, you know how we multi task, and it flew across into a 3 foot snow drift. Me, screaming DON'T HANG UP. DUH! Did not run any trees over, got the property cleaned up nice, I might say.

I also have a scraper blade, looks like a garden hoe on the straight down. A MUST. Pops under the ice chunks, packed snow that you can't shovel off. Use it like a lever.

THEN HIDE your snow tools (but in a handy place for you) so they can't be borrowed by ANYONE! Family forgets where to return things they take "just for a bit".

If you find snow, ice sticking, take an old candle and rub the blade edges. SLICK.

Also, get a couple ice cream buckets and fill with an ice sanding element. Can be sidewalk salt, can be sand (what do you do with the sandbox stuff in the fall? Fill some buckets before dumping the rest into the garden!)

Anything left over can be stored till the next year. DO NOT SET the bag on the basement floor. Salt eats cement in long term position and mega amounts.

Source: Joyce's experiences in life.

By Joyce from Benson MN

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Chicken Lays Green Eggs

Why do my chickens lay green eggs and are they safe to eat?

By Curtis from Wallace, NE

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Transplanting Rivermallow Bushes

I have two Rivermallow bushes that have been growing in my garden for four years. They have gotten huge and I desperately need to dig them up and move them. I was told to do this in the fall, but the bushes have a huge root system. I was wondering if it is safe to dig them up because I am obviously going to do some damage to the roots. Will they be alright if I do this?

Hardiness Zone: 5b

By Lisa from Chambersburg, PA

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Transplanting Strawberry Plants

Can I still transplant my Everbearing strawberry plants if we already had our first frost?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

By Stacy from Kaukauna, WI

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Starting a Compost Pile

What are the dos and don'ts of composting? I know certain things can't go into it, but I can't remember what.

Hardiness Zone: 7a

By Sharon Rafferty from East Hampton, NY

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Neosporin Use on a Chicken

I have a chicken who is being pecked at. She has a mark on the back of her head that is beginning to scab; can I put Neosporin on it?

By Briannna H. from Gilroy, CA

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Growing a Tree from a Willow Cutting

How do I start a willow tree?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

By Carol B. from Pittsburgh, PA

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Caring for an Umbrella Tree

I saved two umbrella trees from a vacant store, but they seem a little droopy. Can anyone give me ideas to perk them up?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

By Joyce from Pittsburgh, PA

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Removing Urine Odors from Backyard

I have a very small fenced back yard at my condo. My 50lb dog uses this yard as his bathroom. Every few days I pick up all the poop. I'm beginning to water his favorite urine places every day. Is there something I can put on the lawn to clean it? Like baking soda or something? I'm beginning to feel like the yard is really gross and the urine smell is sometimes too much. What can I do in addition to picking up and watering?

By Cynthea from Greenville, SC

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Saving Plants Through The Winter

Can I store away a hanging Strawberry plant in my basement for the winter and have it bloom the next year?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

By Donna

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Stevia Plant Seems to Be Dying

I have a problem with my indoor Stevia plant. Mine Looks like it is dying, woody stems, the leaves are dry, etc. I have kept it going just fine for the whole summer and all of a sudden, within days, it went downhill. It's still in the same spot, I make sure it has the right moisture level, nothing has changed.

Do I have to cut it down and if so at what level? I have the feeling it is going dormant, but I'm not sure. I'm determined to keep the plant alive. Any advice would be welcome.
Thank you so much.

By RoxanneStM. from Canada

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Planting Onions in Zone 6a

Living in eastern Washington and living in zone 6a, I normally plant my onion sets in the spring. However in order to purchase a variety of shallots, I ordered shallot bulbs by mail order.

They only ship shallots in the fall, and said to plant them immediately. Won't our freezing winters destroy the shallot bulbs in the ground? This is a substantial investment for me and I don't want to lose this crop. The bulbs arrived at my home yesterday.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

By Merry C. from Richland, WA

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Overwintering Dusty Millers

How can you winterize Dusty Millers? Would they be able to survive if kept on an unheated enclosed porch that does get some sun?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

By Susan from Belleville, IL

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Rabbits Eating Flowers and Plants

How do we keep the rabbits from eating the bulbs I plant for next year's growth?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

By Rox from Champaign, IL

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Preparing Plants To Bring Indoors

I need to bring the pot flowers inside home now. How can I wash out the bugs hidden in the pots? Maybe I need to change with the new pot soil. Thanks. Any suggestion or comments highly appreciated.

Hardiness Zone: 5a

By Min L. from Toronto, ON

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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.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml