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Hello,
This week we have more tips, growing guides and answers to your requests. Be sure to check out October's Garden To-Do List.
Happy Gardening!
Susan
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Today's Photos
| Tomato Hornworms
Found these guys on my Cherry Tomato plant. They were really enjoying themselves! By Mary from Leroy, Il. Editor's Note: These look like tomato hornworms. They love tomato plants.
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| Pictures from the Garden
I redid this garden this year and experimented with planting seeds in containers without knowing what types of flowers I would get. . . Once the seedlings grew strong enough, I transplanted them into this garden, and ended up with a riot of colors! The individual photos of flowers came about as I experimented with my digital camera because I wanted to capture the bright colors and designs.
By Kathy from Warrenton, VA Post Feedback: Click Here |
Today's Tips and Articles
Caring for a Pear Tree
Question:How can I bring an old pear tree back to good health. It produces a good crop, slightly discolored. Should I be spraying and fertilizing it?Hardiness Zone: 8a Janey from Brookhaven, MS Answer:Janey,The best way to rejuvenate any type of old fruit trees is through pruning, increasing soil fertility and controlling diseases and insect damage. Pruning: First remove any broken and dead or diseased branches and then prune the tree to the proper shape and size. Remove any suckers and crossing branches to create an overall shape that radiates out from the center. This will allow plenty of sunlight and air circulation into the canopy. Pruning should be done in the late winter or early spring. Because no more of 25% to 30% of the total canopy should be removed in one season, if you haven't been pruning regularly, you may need to shape the tree over a period of 2 to 3 years before resuming a lighter annual pruning schedule. Soil Fertility: Aerating and amending the soil around your tree with organic nutrients is the best way to increase your soil's fertility. Spring is a good time to apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer as well as removing any competing grass and weeds from underneath the tree. Disease & Insects: Inspect your tree for insect and disease problems. There are several good books and Internet resources dedicated to the identification and control of fruit tree pests and diseases. Good Luck!
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| October's Garden To-Do List
By Ellen Brown Fall is officially here and with it comes a list of important seasonal chores to keep gardeners busy. No matter what zone you garden in, getting fall chores done can depend a lot on the weather. Some zones will get hit hard with rain and other zones will dry out. Just about all zones will end up with cooler temperatures and (hopefully) calmer weather as we transition into November. For those of you in cooler zones, here's wishing you an Indian Summer! View Full Article: Click Here |
| How Air Pollution Affects Your Garden
By Ellen Brown Let's face it, air pollution isn't the first thing we think of when we see plants struggling in the garden, especially for those of us living in less densely populated areas, Still, like people, plants need access to clean air in order to grow and maintain their health. Scientists have recognized that air pollution can cause damage to commercial food crops since the 1960s. Today, as the growing population of the world continues to manufacture goods and produce waste, scientists are beginning to understand just how serious that damage can be and how widespread it is. If some of your plants are struggling but you can't seem to figure out why, air pollution could be the problem View Full Article: Click Here |
Potato Squash Not Producing Squash
Question:I have Sweet Potato Squash planted in a large pot. They are making plenty of flowers but no squash. No bees?Hardiness Zone: 9a Deborah from Lafayette, LA Answer:Deborah,Since you're getting lots of flowers, a lack of bees could be the problem. If your squash are just starting to flower, it's also not uncommon to see a large number of male flowers with the first flush of flowers. They usually appear first to attract the bees and make sure there will be enough around at the critical time when the female flowers appear. After the first round of flowers, the females flowers will start to appear, too. If you haven't noticed much bee activity, however, you might want to consider hand pollinating your squash. To do this, first you'll need to be able to identify the difference between the male and female flowers. The female buds have a slight bulge at their base (your future squash), while the male flowers are attached to the vine with a long thin stem. Select an equal number of male and female flowers (if available). Pick a male flower and bring it over to the female flower. Peel the petals back from the male flower to expose the stamen and pollen. Gently rub the stamen against the stigma in the center of the female flower to transfer the pollen onto the stigma. Repeat this until you've pollinated all of the available female flowers and in no time you should see those tiny bulbs at the base of the female flowers start to grow into squash. Ellen Post Feedback: Click Here |
Cutting Back Sunflowers
Question:I recently planted one of those "flower carpets" and ended up with very tall sunflower plants. I love them, but don't know anything about growing them. Do I cut the plants back at some point, will they come back into bloom every year, etc?Hardiness Zone: 11 BARBARA from LONG BEACH, CA Answer:Barbara,Sunflowers are annuals (meaning they complete their lifecycle in a year), and will not come back every year on their own, but you can easily save their seeds for planting next season. Don't cut them back, just let them grow. Here are some tips from growing sunflowers. Like their namesake, sunflowers appreciate lots of sun-the more the better. Seeds should be planted approximately 1/2 inch deep and 6 inches apart (or according to specific package directions) in fertile, well-drained soil as soon as danger of frost has passed. Leave 3 feet between each row. You can also grow them in containers, but make sure you use a large enough pot to accommodate their large roots (at least 15-20 inches deep for mammoth varieties). The seeds germinate very quickly (from days to a week or two) and take anywhere from 75-90 days to reach maturity. Thin seedlings to 12-18 inches apart when they reach 3 inches tall (container plants can remain somewhat closer together). Sunflowers need plenty of water, but stress from too much or too little water can damage developing seed heads. Try to keep the soil around them evenly moist but not wet. They are also voracious feeders and appreciate regular applications of fertilizer. Try a half strength organic liquid fertilizer every two weeks and make sure to replenish the soil with plenty of compost at the end of each growing season. As the plants grow, the petals will start to drop and bees will pollinate the florets on the heads. The heads usually start to "bow down" a bit at this point. When the florets on the heads dry up, the seeds behind them will start to plump up and harden. At this point you can leave the heads on the stalks to dry, or cut them off and hang them upside down to dry indoors. If you leave the flower heads to dry on the stalks, be sure to cover at least some of them or you'll lose the seeds to the birds. When the seeds are fully dry, scrape them off the heads using your hand or a small wire screen. Store in an airtight container until next season, roast them for eating or save them for the birds. Some of the giant varieties may get top heavy and flop over in windy or wet weather. Staking them will help prevent this. Good Luck!
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| Chicken Wire to Discourage Digging Animals
If you have pets or animals that roam your area try adding chicken wire under your plants. This way if something tries to dig in your garden or flower beds, it will stop them in their tracks. Most animals who dig do not like the feeling they get when they scratch their paws along the wire. It also serves a dual purpose - it acts as a grid for planning your plantings! Post Feedback: Click Here |
Moving a Tomato Plant
Question:I am moving and have had a tomato plant come up in my front yard for the past 3 years. My mother says it is called a "Tommy Tomato". Itty- Bitty tomatoes and takes a lot of my front flower garden space. A wonderful bird must have dropped over some left-over tomato seeds for my plant to grow.Anyway, We are moving soon and I want to know how to take this plant with me? It just started growing for year. Can anyone tell me how to replant this plant in our new house?? FYI, I am almost gardening stonedumb. Hardiness Zone: 8a
Kellee from Texas Answer:Kellee,The main thing to keep in mind while moving your tomato plant is trying to reduce the amount of transplant stress you put it through as much as possible. One way to do this is to water the soil thoroughly in the afternoon, and then pot it up, transport and replant later that that same evening, preferably around dusk. That way it will have the entire night to settle in before enduring the heat of the sun the next day. If it's raining out when you transplant, so much the better. As gently as possible, dig around the plant at least as wide as the tips of the outer leaves and 6-8 inches down, keeping as much of root soil intact as possible. Use at least a 5-gallon pot and take along some extra soil to backfill the hole at your new location. During transport, put the plant in a cardboard box. If the plant will be in the car long, keep the windows rolled down to prevent it from overheating, and be sure to protect it from wind damage. Lay it on its side if necessary. Make sure to pre-dig the hole and have everything ready to go when you arrive. Once you get the tomato plant to your new home, set it in the hole, fill it in with soil, and water it thoroughly with tepid water. Ellen Post Feedback: Click Here |
Is dog poop bad for grass?
Question:Is dog poop bad for grass?Hardiness Zone: 8b Ranjiv from Dublin Answer:Ranjiv, Yes. Not only is it smelly and unsightly, but it poses certain health risks. In small amounts, dog (and cat) feces will produce a fertilizer effect on the lawn that results in dark green patches and areas of noticeably taller grass. In large amounts or when left on the lawn for too long, dog feces will release excessive amounts of nitrogen and salts into the soil as it breaks down, which results in brown patches or "burn" marks on the lawn. Over time, areas suffering only mild damage will recover on their own. Dark green patches and areas of tall grass are likely to remain for a few weeks. In areas of sever damage, however, the grass may need to be completely reseeded or patched with fresh sod. Animal waste is full of nitrogen. Think of animal urine like a concentrated liquid fertilizer and feces as a slow release fertilizer. Like any fertilizer, both will burn your lawn when used in excess.Even more important are the health risks. Dog feces attracts breeding flies, which transmit disease. Feces can also be a vector for transmitting certain diseases between dogs and people (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Roundworms and Hookworms). This is especially true of children, which are much less likely to wash their hands after playing in the yard. The eggs of roundworms, for example, are passed in the feces of dogs and can survive in the soil for many years-regardless of disinfectants or weather extremes. If the eggs are accidentally ingested, the worms can cause serious neurological, pulmonary and vision problems in the body. This is why many municipalities require owners to clean up after their dogs in public parks and why you should never add animal waste to your compost. Ellen Post Feedback: Click Here |
Getting Rid of Pachysandra
Question:How do you kill Pachysandra?Hardiness Zone: 6b Leenie From Fairfield, NH Answer:Leenie,Two of the most effective ways to get rid of Pachysandra are to dig it out or solarize it. In order to get rid of it by digging it out, you'll need to remove all of the roots. This may take some time and persistence, but it shouldn't be that hard as the roots are fairly large and close to the surface. It's important to remove ALL of the roots. If even a small piece is left in the soil, it will re-establish itself by sending out new shoots. Another idea is to water the pachysandra and cover the entire area with black plastic. The sun and moisture in the soil will generate enough heat to effectively cook the pachysandra (and other vegetation) underneath the plastic. This isn't a quick fix, and you may need to leave the plastic on for several months to completely kill it. Pachysandra is a popular ground cover solution for shady areas and there always seems to be plenty of gardeners looking for it. If you have a lot to get rid of, you might try posting some flyers or placing a short ad in a local paper or online garden forum. You're certain to find plenty of takers. Ellen Post Feedback: Click Here |
Gords Turning White
Question:This is my first time growing gourds some of them are starting to turn white. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?Hardiness Zone: 5a Karon from Paxton, IL Answer:Karon,As long as they don't show signs of rotting or damage, I wouldn't worry about it. Several varieties of gourds turn white when they mature, and others go through several color changes as they develop, including white, before they set their final color. When the stems start to dry and turn brown, you'll know your gourds are ready for harvesting. Most varieties will tolerate a light frost providing that they have matured sufficiently enough to form a semi-hardened shell. Less mature gourds are likely to suffer damage from frost and may need to be discarded. Be careful not to bruise your gourds during harvest. Even slight bruising can put them at a greater risk for decay during the drying process. To harvest, cut the gourds from the vines with a sharp knife or shears, leaving each gourd with a few inches of stem. Before curing, wash the gourds in warm, soapy water to remove any dirt and wipe them down with a soft cloth moistened with bleach water or rubbing alcohol. This will help to destroy any organisms that promote rotting. Dry each gourd with a soft cloth and place them in a single layer on newspaper or paper bags so that they don't touch each other while curing. The curing process takes several weeks and should be done in a warm, dry location with plenty of air circulation (e.g. shed, barn or garage). Inspect the gourds frequently throughout the curing process. Turn them occasionally and discard any that show signs of decay. The gourds are dry when the seeds rattle inside. Smaller gourds can be used as they are or preserved with wax, shellac, or paint. Large gourds can be polished smooth with steel wool or fine grade sandpaper and then painted, stained, or waxed for preservation. Ellen Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Keeping Squirrels Away From Garden Plants
To discourage squirrels from eating your garden stuff, you can make a paste of cayenne pepper and water and paint it on the leaves that they seem to attack or if you prefer you can paint the whole garden. The Paste is just made with a little water. This does work but your neighbors will LOOK at you a little funny if they see you "painting" your leaves. I know, I've tried it. Post Feedback: Click Here |
Identifying House Plants
Question:Just wondering if anyone knows a web site that I could use to identify my house plants. I have no idea what the name of my plants are and would like some info on when to repot, water ect.Thanks,
Answer:Tami,Here are links to two websites that I find helpful. The first is the Interiorscape Plants Picture Pages by Cynthia McKinney, Associate Professor of Urban Horticulture and Extension Specialist, at Texas A&M University. This wonderful resource allows you to identify plants by photo, scientific name or common name and gives you a description of the plant, including growing requirements. Another good web resource is The Encyclopedia of Houseplants at http://www.gflora.com. This site does not have a "search by photo" tool, but it does list over 290 plants by their scientific or common name, and if you search by "families List," a host of images are displayed, which will help you narrow your search more quickly. The site offers complete growing instructions for each plant, a small online forum where you can swap plants and ask other users questions, and the online store offers a certain number of plants for purchase. If you still have trouble identifying your plants, attach some pictures to a request and we'll try to help you identify them. Good Luck!
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| Bird Feeder Tips
Remember our bird friends by remembering this tip for thistle. When thistle seed (also called niger) gets wet, it cakes together and the birds can't get it out of the feeder. To prevent this from happening, shake up the remaining seed in feeders before filling them. Post Feedback: Click Here |
Brown Spot On My Lawn
Question:I have a spot on the lawn. We are in a new home and the front lawn was sodded last summer. There is a patch of brown grass in the very middle of the front yard that goes brown, then greens up a little after a heavy watering or rain. We regularly water the whole yard so we can't figure out what is causing this. It's not grubs. Could there have been an excess of rocks or pea gravel left under this sod when planted that would cause the grass in this one area to brown. It's about 3 feet in diameter an is almost circular in shape. What can we do to keep this area green?Thanks for any and all suggestions! Hardiness Zone: 6a Marianne from Trenton, OH Answer:Marianne,The symptoms you're describing sound like Brown Spot (also called Brown Patch), a fungus afflicting Bermuda Grass, Kentucky Bluegrass, tall Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, and Creeping Bentgrass. It often occurs in areas with high humidity or in lawns growing in heavy shade. Brown Patch is characterized by a small round or horseshoe-shaped brown spot, which eventually grows and spreads to a few feet wide. It's common for the inner portions of the spot to green up (recover), while the outer edges of the spot stay brown. To prevent Brown Patch, aerate the soil in affected area, and if necessary try to increase the amount of sun exposure the areas receives. Avoid using excessive amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Another (fungus) possibility is a Dollar Spot. Dollar Spot is common to Kentucky, Bluegrass, Bent Grass and Bermuda in humid climates. They are characterized by small, silver dollar-like circles (up to the size of a grapefruit), that are brown or straw-colored in appearance. This fungus is most commonly seen during warm, wet weather and on lawns lacking in nitrogen. To prevent Dollar Spot, water only as needed and in the morning hours so that grass has plenty of time to dry before nightfall. Keep your lawn well aerated, remove dead thatch and avoid excessive amounts of nitrogen fertilizers-especially in the spring and fall. Good cultural practices go along way to preventing these diseases. Your local garden center can also recommend fungicides that are appropriate for both of these diseases, but they are expensive and are also only recommended as preventative measures. Ellen Post Feedback: Click Here |
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New Requests
| Problems Growing a Crown of Thorns
I have a Crown Of Thorns plant, the leaves are turning yellow, and falling off. I am watering it about once a week and it is in the west window and gets midmorning and afternoon sun. It was doing fantastic, it is about 4 years old and not really growing at all. It is still about the same size as when I bought it. It has not flowered yet either. I had one for years and years and it grew very large and bloomed almost all the time. Do you know what I am doing wrong this time? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Grubs Eating My Tomatoes
I am growing tomatoes but the leaves are going yellow, some of the fruit are splitting and they also look as though they are housing grubs (by the burrowing into the fruit). All suggestions will be gratefully accepted as I am new to growing vegetables. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| White Flies on African Violets
How can I control white flies on my African Violets? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Buying Austrees
I am look for order Austrees. It's an Australian tree that grows fast and can be a private fence. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Moles Bothering My Peonies
I have my grandmother's peonies (100+ years old) and planted them about 8 years ago in a nice sunny location. They thrived the first 2 years, at least most of them did. Then all of a sudden, they started doing poorly, so I moved them to a different location, mostly sunny, but got a little shade during the day. They seemed to acclimate OK, but this last summer the ground moles have peppered the area around them, causing them to sink further into the ground than what they would like. What should I do to them, to keep the moles from bothering them? I hope I can make them healthy again. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Moonflower Seeds
My moonflowers have bloomed now, I am wondering when will I start too see the seeds from them. I just want too get them before it freezes here. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Organic Grubworm Control
Grubworms have taken over my lawn but I have no extra money to purchase Milky Spore. I am also all organic for 15 years now. How is it made? It sounds like a bacteria colony, is it? Is is made from milk? How long would it take to produce some should one get the formula? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Preparing Sunflower Seeds
1. Are sunflowers annuals or perennials? 2. How do you prepare seeds for re-planting? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Pecan Trees With Rotten Pecans
I live in Ala. and have pecan trees that have produced abundantly for years. But, the last two year the crop has been rotten and this year I don't see many if any pecans on them. The pecans that have fallen off are rotten with bugs or something. What is the problem and how can I fix it? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| How does epsom salt affect plant growth?
How does epsom salt affect plant growth? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Burning Bush Does Not Turn Red
I have a burning bush that does not turn red in the fall. Any suggestions on how to make it turn red would be appreciated. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Hostas Damaged by Bugs
This summer, something got at my hostas. It looked like a squash bug. We powdered them, but overnight, these little buggers ate the leaves off, right to the vein. They look so sick and just awful. Should I cut them back this fall? My patch was just beautiful until it got all chewed up. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Dirty Looking Hibiscus Leaves
My Hibiscus leaves on some varieties look dirty (maybe insect dirt) and grayish. Generally unhealthy, like they have been stung or like they have a disease. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Are my apples safe to eat?
My dog has been using the area under our apple tree as her toilet. Are the apples safe to eat? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Fleas in My Vegetable Garden
I have a great little vegetable garden that's 5 square meters. It is full of vegetables, but also seems to be full of fleas. I discovered this when my little puppy became full of fleas despite using Frontline (flea protection). The moment he's been digging in the veggie patch (not with his mothers permission I might add) he comes inside full of fleas.. I wouldn't have known that they were in the soil, had it not been for him. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Composting Grapes
I am only a beginner and know very little about what I am doing. I have some flowers (petunias, verbena, and something else I can't identify) and a cherry tomato plant. My neighbor has a grape vine and a lot of the grapes have fallen off and gone bad. Can it help or hinder if I recycle them as compost for my garden by placing them on top of the soil? Post Feedback: Click Here |
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Growing and Insect Guides
Garden Insects: Leafhoppers
IdentificationThere are many species of leafhoppers. Some are brown or green in color, while others are green and red with white markings. Look for slender 1/8-inch long wedge-shaped bugs that jump or fly when disturbed. Eggs overinter on plant leaves and stems and hatch into nymphs in the spring. Adults may also overwinter by hibernating in leaf debris or in the case of some species, they may migrate south for the winter and return north again in the spring.Read More: Click Here |
| Growing: Parsley
Parsley is a widely used culinary herb and a familiar sight in most supermarket produce sections. The crisp, compact leaves of Curly Parsley make striking edgings in the flowerbed and attractive garnishes. The flat-leafed Italian Parsley is coveted for its strong, grassy flavor and makes a wonderful cooked green. Hamburg Parsley is known for its tubular turnip-like roots, which can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. All Parsley grows feathery, moss-like foliage 9-12 inches tall and produces small clusters of green-yellow flowers during its second year. More Growing Information: Click Here |
| Growing: Oregano
Oregano is one of the most valuable culinary herbs to grow in the garden. Unlike its relative, Sweet Marjoram, Oregano is a hardy perennial that will over winter in most zones if protected. Oregano's woody stems grow into bushy mounds of aromatic green or gold-colored foliage up to 2 feet tall. The foliage is topped with spikes of small, pretty pink flowers that various beneficial insects like bees and butterflies find hard to resist. More Growing Information: Click Here |
| Growing: Pot Marigold
The Pot Marigold is an easy-to-grow, low maintenance addition to any herb garden. Its yellow or orange edible flowers and dark green foliage add a cheerful splash of color from mid summer until past the first frosts of fall. Choose from cultivars with traditional single blooms or large double blooms in whichever size (dwarf, standard or giant) fits your garden. More Growing Information: Click Here |
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