|
|
|
Hello,
It has been brought to our attention that some of the zone recommendations are incorrect in some of the growing guides. We will be working to correct this problem. On to this week's newsletter...
Thanks for reading,
Susan
Submit Your Gardening Tips:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml
Submit Photos of Your Garden:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_photocontest.ldml
Submit a Gardening Request:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_request.ldml
Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips and Articles:
New Requests:
Growing Guides:
Search ThriftyFun Using Google: Click Here
| Today's Sponsors
Print brand name coupons and use them at your favorite store! Sign up to take advantage of over 81 money-saving offers inside. |
Today's Tips and Articles
| Mushroom Fungus
Q: I have mushrooms growing in my flowerbed from a tree stump. Any ideas how to get rid of them? A: Your mushrooms won't hurt anything, but if you consider them unsightly, simply remove them with a spade or pick them by hand and either turn them under the soil or throw them in the compost pile. The mushroom is actually the reproductive structure of the larger fungus growing under ground. Try and remove them before they mature and have the chance to release their reproductive spores. This will help you reduce the population, but unless you can remove the stump from your flowerbed completely, you'll probably see more mushrooms in the future. They grow on decaying matter and in moist conditions; an old stump provides the perfect mushroom feast. On the bright side, the site of mushrooms growing in your garden is a sign that your soil is rich in organic matter. By Ellen Brown Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Homemade Weed and Feed
Q: I was wondering if anyone had a homemade recipe for weed and feed for my lawn? THANKS A: The first thing that comes to mind for a homemade weed and feed is corn gluten. Commonly used as filler in dog and cat food, livestock and poultry feed, corn gluten is a by-product of corn milling. It can be applied like pre-emergent herbicide, but to be truly effective you need to familiarize yourself with when each type of weed sprouts so that it can be applied at the appropriate time. In general, it tends to work best on common weeds like crabgrass. Corn gluten is also a good source of slow releasing nitrogen fertilizer (9-0-0) for your lawn. Using a fertilizer spreader, apply it at a rate of 20lbs per 1000 sq ft. of turf and scratch it into the topsoil. Follow with a light watering so that it sprouts seeds. Don't worry; these seeds will not develop roots. The trick is in the timing. You need to time application in the spring prior to the weed seeds developing roots, but avoiding rainfall, so that the corn gluten has time to do its thing before being eaten by microbes. Once the weeds establish roots, the corn gluten loses its effectiveness as an herbicide. However, it will still act as a fertilizer and grow you a healthy crop of weeds. Don't plant seeds where you've applied corn gluten for at least 60 days following application. You can find corn gluten at feed mills or grain elevators. By Ellen Brown Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Soil Deficiency
Soil Deficiency Q: I have some sort of a soil deficiency in my coastal garden that causes vegetable leaves to grow in a mottled pattern - light green and dark green. Eventually the light green portions die and turn brown. I have amended the soil with lime, seaweed, compost and Rotted manure and still the problem persists. Does anyone know how I can find out what is missing without paying for an expensive soil analysis? Rene from Coastal Northern Canada A: Hi Rene, It's possible you have 1 of 2 problems: a deficiency in potassium (amended by seaweed), or an insect problem like mosaic, which is spread by insects like aphids and causes mottled leaves. You can rule out the insect infestation by examining your plants, but without a soil test there is no good way to determine whether or not you're dealing with a deficiency. I would recommend biting the bullet and having your soil analyzed. It might seem like a bargain compared to the potential loss of plants, the cost of additional amendments and endless frustration of trying to blindly balance the nutrients in your soil. In your area, you can contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Quality Evaluation (laboratory services section) to request a test kit. The test will give your soil's pH, organic matter content and recommendations for what nutrients you need to balance it. The cost per sample is $12.50 and they recommend at taking at least 6 samples ($72.00). As an alternative, you can try a simple pH test available at most garden centers. These tests are not as accurate, but they will indicate which side of the pH scale your soil falls on, which will point you toward possible deficiencies. www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/qe/labserv/soilsamp.shtml By Ellen Brown Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Growing Vegetables in the Mountains
Q: We live in the mountains west of Canon City, Co. For many years I have tried to grow a vegetable garden that would yield a crop of more than just a few items from the plants. We have tested the soil and put in several things. Watered every day or every other day as suggested but don't get a very good crop. Has anyone had this problem and been able to overcome it? Our growing season is short. We plant about the first or second week in June due to frost problems. Thanks for your help. RoseMary A: RoseMary, Your mountain conditions can certainly provide some unique challenges-soil, sun intensity, site considerations, length of growing season, etc. High altitude soil has a tendency to be alkaline due to the fact that rain has less of an opportunity to wash out salts. Most vegetables like soil that is neutral to slightly acidic. I would suggest getting a pH monitor to keep tabs on your soil's pH levels. You can compensate for low acid levels by adding some type of sulfate to the soil. Also, take advantage of the acidic nature of pine needles by using them for mulch and mixing them into the soil. Try using short season seeds or starting seeds indoors. There are several reputable dealers on the Internet who can supply you with a catalog if you can't find seeds locally. There are also many good books and Internet resources specifically on high altitude growing. By Ellen Brown Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Raising Good Roses
By Ellen Brown All plants have their specific needs and roses can be especially tricky. There are many things to consider, including how and when you choose your plants, the make-up of your soil, your planting method, and the manner in which you care for them. View This Article: Click Here |
| Lunar Gardening Basics
By Ellen Brown Planting a garden based on the cycles of the moon has been practiced as long as humans have been planting food. Just as the gravitational pull of the moon affects the tides, it also has an effect on moisture in the soil. If you prefer to garden organically, lunar gardening is the perfect companion because it works better in soil not treated with chemicals. View This Article: Click Here |
| Large Area Weed Killer
Q: I want to use a homemade, non-toxic weed killer to kill off weeds in two large garden areas in my back yard. Spraying with a small spray bottle is not reasonable. Could someone give me a recipe or a conversion that would work in an Ortho bottle that I can connect to my garden hose? KJV from Wisconsin A: KJV, This recipe is very strong and will essentially kill the soil, and everything growing in it, wherever you apply it (including any beneficial microbes). It is not selective, meaning it will kill your ornamentals along with the weeds. If used heavily, you may have trouble growing new plants in areas where it's used unless you bring in some new soil. Don't use it on or near concrete or apply it on windy days. For best results, apply on a hot day and wait at least 24 hours after applying. Recipe: 1. Mix 1 pound of salt with one gallon of white vinegar. 2. Stir until the salt dissolves. 3. Mix in one teaspoon of liquid soap. By Ellen Brown Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Contest!
Submit Your Tips and Photos! Tip Contest! To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml Photo Contest! To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_photocontest.ldml Contest ends February 28, 2006 |
New Requests
| Plants That Are Safe for Cats
What type of outdoor plants are safe for cats? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Help Save My Vine
I have inherited some household plants from my recently deceased mother in law. I don't have a green thumb, and find myself at a loss with one particular vine. It has green and yellow variegated heart shaped leaves and is in a hanging basket. My problem is that some of its leaves are turning yellow and dyeing off. What am I doing wrong? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Transplanting a Surinam Cherry Tree
I have just found out that I have a Surinam Cherry Tree. It was there when we moved in 7 years ago. I never knew what it was so I would chop it to the gound every year. It is planted very close to the house on the north side with no sun. This year I let it grow and it actally has blooms on it. My question is, I would like to move it away from the house to a different location. We have 5 acres and most of it is shade. Should I plant it in the shade? And will it live if I transplant it? Also, how deep do the roots grow? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Grafting A Citrus Tree
I would like to know how to graft onto a citrus tree. I have a satsuma tree that froze down to it's original root stock and ever since makes lovely blooms but the fruit is nasty. I just got a cutting from a naval orange tree. I am wondering if it would be possible to graft the cutting onto the Satsuma and hope for better fruit eventually. I am not cutting the Satsuma down and starting fresh. I love the blooms and shade. Post Feedback: Click Here |
Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here
| Today's Sponsors
Print brand name coupons and use them at your favorite store! Sign up to take advantage of over 81 money-saving offers inside. |
Growing Guides
| Growing: Angelica
By Ellen Brown
More Growing Information: Click Here | ||||
| Growing: Tulips
By Ellen Brown
More Growing Information: Click Here | ||||
| Growing: Agrimony
By Ellen Brown
More Growing Information: Click Here | ||||
| Growing: Zucchini
By Ellen Brown
More Growing Information: Click Here | ||||
Growing: Blanket Flower
More Growing Information: Click Here | ||||
| Growing: Basil
By Ellen Brown
More Growing Information: Click Here |
| More Stuff
Seed Swap!
Tip Contest!
Submit a Request
|
Like ThriftyFun on Facebook
