Happy Garden - April 2, 2009

This week we have an article about reading seed packages as well as more tips and photos from readers. If you have any gardening related tips or photos, feel free to submit them on one of the contest pages.

Thanks for reading,

The ThriftyFun Team

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Photos:

• Garden: Red Watering Can
• Garden: Irises
• Gardening: First Spring Crocus
• My Frugal Life: Starting Seeds Cheaply

Tips and Articles:

• Learning the "Lingo" - Making Sense of Seed Packet Terms
• Save Seeds From Store Bought Tomatoes
• Satisfy Wild Rabbits with a Swiss Chard Patch
• Save Dog Fluff for the Birds

New Requests:

• Sweet Gum Tree Diseases
• Plants That Grow Well in Rocky Ground
• Stickers Growing in the Grass
• Turning Grass Yard into Shaded Woodland
• Building a Raised Vegetable Garden
• Getting Cymbidium Orchids to Bloom
• Getting Rid of Weeds in Rocks
• Lemon Tree Not Blooming or Producing Lemons
• Starting Poplar Cuttings
• Planting Tomato Trees
• Holly Tree With Yellow Leaves and Black Spots
• Pruning a Crepe Myrtle Tree
• Plants That Repel Snakes
• Dog Hair as a Deer Repellent
• Earthworms in My House
• Tree Recommendations for Shade
• Choosing a Weeping Willow Tree
• Applying Garden Tonics with a Sprayer

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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Garden: Red Watering Can

By Beth from Ft.Blackmore, VA

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Garden: Irises

By kffrmw88 from Dothan, AL

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Gardening: First Spring Crocus

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My Frugal Life: Starting Seeds Cheaply

Now granted he has not liked listening to my gardening plans repeatedly day after day, but he has been patient. So when I showed him that some of my seed choices would have to be started indoors, he was eager to help with the lighting situation (our kitchen is sunny but never sunny enough)

So his mother had some scrap 2x5's (I think) and we had a fluorescent light (cheaper but works just as good) and he made me the best seed germinator EVER. I used simple seed starting trays. And it ended up costing nothing since we already had everything. Plus he painted it green so it looks better in the kitchen :)

In the seed catalogs, something like this can get really expensive.

jesikarena from Trinity, NC

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Learning the "Lingo" - Making Sense of Seed Packet Terms

Starting plants from seed is an economical and rewarding way to garden. However, if you don't understand the meanings behind garden-specific terms like "hardy" and "tender" or "resistant" and "tolerant", you could end up with some disappointing results down the road. There is set of standardized terms on seed packets, but here are some definitions to the terms you are most likely see.

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Save Seeds From Store Bought Tomatoes

I bought a tomato at the store and squeezed the seeds onto a paper towel. After they dried, I cut the paper around the seed and planted them in good potting soil. Keep damp and you will have tomato plants in about a week. I tried planting seeds immediately after squeezing the tomato and they did not grow, so you must dry the seeds.

By Dajavooi from Independence, MO

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Satisfy Wild Rabbits with a Swiss Chard Patch

Love the Easter Bunny, but not in your garden? If you plant a patch of Swiss Chard away from your garden, bunny rabbits will be thrilled and content to eat the Swiss Chard rather than your garden. Make it a good size patch, if possible, as you want the rabbits (wild only) to have plenty of Swiss Chard to last as long as possible.

Do not feed domestic rabbits Swiss Chard or lettuce for that matter, as it will give them diarrhea and they will die. Wild rabbits are use to eating this type of foliage and don't get sick. Growing up on a rabbit farm, it was important that wild rabbit's not be hanging around the domestic rabbit's as they could bring disease. My father would always plant a field of Swiss Chard, way down in the north forty, so all the critters would be happy. Wild rabbit's stayed away from our gardens, close to the house, as well.

By Suzy from Clinton, TN

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Save Dog Fluff for the Birds

At this time of year, your dog will be starting to shed its winter coat. Save all the 'fluff' and hair you remove and put it in hedges or wherever is handiest. The birds love it for lining their nests! Alternatively, if you have lots, stuff it into one of these fatty ball containers and hang by your bird table.

Source: We've always done this, although the idea of using a container came from a bird seed catalog.

By Skinnyjinny from Scotland

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Sweet Gum Tree Diseases

I am looking for information about Sweet Gum tree diseases. I was told my Sweet Gum tree that is about 30 years old has an aneurysm. It has three holes about two inches deep about 24 inches from the dirt line. What can I do for this tree to save it?

By Janet from Stow, Ohio

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Plants That Grow Well in Rocky Ground

We just moved here and the ground is really hard (sorta clay I guess ) and has lots of rocks. We've been picking rocks since we've got here and I would love to plant some different types of plants around and flowers. Does anyone have any ideas of what would grow well without a lot of expensive soil. We also have a deer problem too. They eat anything!

Hardiness Zone: 6b

By cnleatherman from West Virginia

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Stickers Growing in the Grass

Our back yard is full of those little patches of green stickers. They cover more ground than the grass does. I noticed today they are starting to come up in the front yard in spots too now. What are they called and what can I do to get rid of them? Our dogs don't even want to go back there!

By sissy7575 from AL

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Turning Grass Yard into Shaded Woodland

How can I transition a 1.5 acre lawn planted in grass and a few trees into a more shaded woodland or garden look without spending a fortune. The septic drain field is front and center. The front yard is a hill.

By J.W. from Hickory, NC

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Building a Raised Vegetable Garden

I am trying to build a raised vegetable garden and I am looking for the materials that I need. Any suggestions?

By Jedev from Savannah, GA

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Getting Cymbidium Orchids to Bloom

How do I get my cymbidium orchids to re-bloom?

By Joey A from Philadelphia

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Getting Rid of Weeds in Rocks

Does anyone have any ideas for how to kill weeds among the stones and also in the carport which is made up of brick tiles. I have tried vinegar but it does not work. Thanks.

By chickabea from Sydney, Australia

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Lemon Tree Not Blooming or Producing Lemons

My sister has grown a lemon tree from a seed. It is 7 years old. It has never produced any flowers or fruit. It grew small plants and she transplanted them into pots. Do lemon and lime trees have thorns and what can she do to produce flowers and fruit on them?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

By Kateyes from illinois

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Starting Poplar Cuttings

I am planning to grow our own firewood by planting poplars and elms in an unused section next to our house. We will have plenty of elm seedlings as soon as they come up in our garden, they are there every year. I can take cuttings from our poplars, but do I need rooting hormone to help them get started?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

By Coreen from Rupert, ID

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Planting Tomato Trees

I just ordered some tomato trees. Has anyone had these? Do they really produce tomatoes? I will have to plant them in pots as we cannot have a garden where we live, we rent. We love tomatoes and I hate paying for the overpriced "waxy" tomatoes in stores. Thanks for any advice.

By jmz2005 from IL

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Holly Tree With Yellow Leaves and Black Spots

What is causing black spots and yellow leaves on my holly tree?

Robert

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Pruning a Crepe Myrtle Tree

I planted a crepe myrtle tree 4 feet from my house. It's 4 yrs. old now. Should I be worried the roots will do damage to the foundation of my house? It has grown higher than the roof line. How much should I cut back? It has never been pruned. Thanks. jholtie

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Plants That Repel Snakes

Is there any plants I can plant that repels snakes?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

By Bennett from Vincennes, IN

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Dog Hair as a Deer Repellent

I have seen that human hair can be used as a deer repellent, I was wondering if dog hair can also be used. I have a German Shepherd that sheds a lot. I could use her hair if that would also work. Also , what about lavender plants, is that successful as well in a vegetable garden? Thanks you. I am a 1st year gardener so I hope to learn a lot from this site, lots of good info.

Hardiness Zone: 8b

By Moekelly24 from caryville, florida

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Earthworms in My House

After a big rain I found 20 or so earthworms inside my house in different rooms, including my garage, is this strange or what?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

By Joeltw69 from Oklahoma City, OK

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Tree Recommendations for Shade

The sun beats all day on our outside garage wall, the inside garage wall being attached to the house. It can get to 100 degrees in the summer in the garage. I'd like to stop the sun starting with the great outdoors. The brick sunny garage wall is next to a very slender side yard walkway. Anything we grow needs to be up against the sunny garage wall.

I was thinking about Sky Needle Holly, but they may not be tall enough. The instructions said 6 to 10 feet tall. Considering the soil, 6 feet or less is what we'd get.Any suggestions? DH purchased an attic fan (not installed yet) so the garage can vent into the attic, but I'd like to do more.

By Holly from Richardson, TX

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Choosing a Weeping Willow Tree

I have wanted a weeping willow tree all of my life, I am now 51. I have tried looking up various types so I know what they will look like when they grow, but am still not sure. In my area, they are selling cherry (white and pink), and "regular" and golden globe.

I want one that is not real expensive and doesn't get too big. Where can I find accurate pictures of the different types of weeping willow trees? I wonder if I should abandon the idea since we live in an urban area? I do, however, have a wetter back yard, which is away from streets and buildings. Thanks.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

By Constance from Evansville, Indiana

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Applying Garden Tonics with a Sprayer

Some of the garden tips and tonics that call for a 20 gal sprayer, yet the amounts in the tonics do not fill the 20 gallon sprayer. My question is, do I then add water to fill the 20 gallon sprayer before applying the tonic to the lawn, plant beds, etc? Thank you. Leo from Houston, Texas

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