Happy Garden - November 15, 2007

This week we have tips for Giving Clay Pots an Aged Look and more.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Photos:

• Creeping Phlox
• Birdbath from Found Items
• Goodbye to Autumn Trees
• Recycled Benches From Fence Wood

Tips and Articles:

• Giving Clay Pots an Aged Look
• Garden Hose as a Saw Blade Cover
• Protect Delicate Plants With Sand
• Growing New Veggies From Discarded Roots
• Growing Peach Trees from Pits

New Requests:

• Birds Showing Up at Your Bird Feeder
• Buying Huckleberry Seeds
• Whiteflys on Indoor Plants
• Advice For Taking Care Of Roses In Spain
• Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
• When To Treat Rose Leaf Fungus
• Transplanting a Butterfly Bush

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

Creeping Phlox

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Birdbath from Found Items

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Goodbye to Autumn Trees

Joseph Raglione

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Recycled Benches From Fence Wood

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Giving Clay Pots an Aged Look

How do you "age" clay pots with the crusty white and green patina? Tips from the ThriftyFun community.

Aging Clay Pots

Depending on what kind of yard you have, sometimes it's nice to make a perfectly new clay pot look old. Making your pots mossy really gives them an antique look, and gives a new dimension to your yard. Here is what you do:

1. Collect mosses either from around your yard or a friends or neighbors
2. Finely chop the moss up
3. Allow the moss bits to dry up for a couple of days

• 1 cup flour
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• 1-1 1/2 cups dried, crumbled moss

When the mixture is good and smelly, brush it generously on the outsides of your clay pots. Then wrap the pots in plastic wrap and put them in the full sun.

In two weeks the pots will start to grow mold, and by eight weeks the pots will be nice and furry with moss, and looking very antique and old.

By Mythi

Copper Sulphate

I read a few years back where a landscape hobbyist was painting his pots and stepping stones with Copper Sulphate for the dark blue-green aging that is so attractive. I'd love to do this to pots and rocks I have collected. The white comes by setting something in water and salt, I understand, but I'd be careful to rinse the inside out before planting in a pot done this way. Good luck and God bless you.

By Lynda

Step By Step Yogurt Tip

Several years ago someone in a newsletter suggested plain yogurt. Outside, over newspaper, paint on the plain yogurt with a sponge brush, be liberal. Let 'set' for several days away from any living area. The ants will be very attracted to this, but after a while you will have a great greenish patina and your pot will look aged. I've done it and it is simple, just watch out for the ants at first.

By Memre

Patina, Paint Or Moss

There are basically 3 ways to "age" pots: Patina, Paint or Moss. There are many patinas you can paint over your pots.

Rust: If you want a rust look, you can paint the post with a paint that has real metal shavings in it or "magnetic" board paint. Then you make them rust by spraying or wiping them with vinegar, daily for about a week, then leaving them outside to rust.

Copper: To patina them with a copper look, you paint them with a copper solution and painting on the acid type solution and waiting until it partially turns turquoise. The copper/patina solutions are usually sold in a pack together.

Moss: To grow real moss on any pot, rock, or rock garden, cement container or directly on the soil in your garden on a shady place in your yard. You'll need to take plain yogurt or buttermilk and place one of these in a blender with the green type of moss they sell at craft stores (do NOT use Spanish moss). You can add a bit of water to make them blend easier. After blending the solution, pour this where you want the moss to grow. In a shady area and spray it with a mister to keep it moist every day. After about a month or so, if the conditions are right (not too hot and not too dry) you'll have real moss growing permanently on your pots!

Yogurt, Moss And Glue (this is what you want): You slather on the plain yogurt, then glue on the moss with hot glue. Not as good as above, but it's instant, and no waiting for the moss to "grow". The yogurt will "age" in several weeks and look old. If you mix this method with the one above, you'll get a very cool look!

Painted Fake Patinas

Rust Look: If painting a real terra cotta pot, first seal the pot with a clear water based sealer, if plastic, use a paint for plastics. Take the colors of Rust and follow the above instructions.

Copper Look:

1. Paint entire pot with a metallic copper color of craft paint, then daub with a sponge the colors of Teal and Turquoise and a greenish turquoise around the lip of the pot and in a few places around the pot. Let one color dry, then daub the next until you are satisfied. After you are done, go back and daub a little bit of copper or bronze over the top of the turquoise colors.
2. Use the same technique as above, only switch the colors, First, paint the pot with sponge paint the pot with differing shades of turquoise, then sponge over that with the metallic copper. You can also splatter (using a toothbrush) a bit of watered down black paint lightly over the pot in a few places.

Faux-Iron Finish:

• http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_painting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3282_1382283,00.html

• http://www.painted-house.com/episodes/9/117/?view=02

• http://www.faux-painting-techniques.com/rust.html

By Cyinda

Paint and Other Ideas

The quickest and easiest way is with paint, which is what I've always done. I just use thinned acrylic paints, brushed on and lightly sanded or wiped off. Of course there are other aging processes too, using milk paint, lime powder, buttermilk or yogurt. All work in varying degrees. Just do a web search for aging terra cotta pots and you'll find lots of info.

Here's one idea using paint:

• http://www.pallensmith.com/

• http://www.marthastewart.com/

By Anonymous

Feel free to post your ideas below!

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Garden Hose as a Saw Blade Cover

My garden hose has been left outside neglected too many times but it still has a purpose as saw blade covers! Cut the hose to the length of the blade and slit down the side so that it can be slid over the blade as protection. It could also serve another way in the garden to mark out a curvy edge for plants rather than a straight one. Just toss it out along where you want it and move it a little bit to make nice curves for the flower beds or garden rock!

By melody_yesterday from Sedalia, Missouri

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Protect Delicate Plants With Sand

Some plants in your area will be a tender perennial which means they may or may not make it through a severe cold snap, or you may have plants you want to protect from the cold. To protect such plants better, when weather gets cooler in the fall time of year, put a mound of builders sand or other sand around the plant, then mulch heavily over the sand and water well. This will protect the plant over the winter.

In the spring when warm weather arrives, remove the sand and mulch. Put new mulch around the plant leaving space around the trunk of the plant for plenty of air ventilation, this will keep your plant from becoming so thirsty in hot weather and the mulch will decompose into good nutrients for your soil.

By Linda from Fort Walton Beach, FL

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Growing New Veggies From Discarded Roots

I save money by using the bottoms of onions and leeks to grow more of the same. When I clean onions and leeks for eating, I leave a small part of the white area connected to the roots, about a half inch for green onions and the bigger cooking onions, and an inch for the leeks. Then I either place them in a small amount of water to get more roots growing or place them in a plastic bag in the fridge and check them every day for growth. If I clean them in the garden, I cut the really big roots and simply replant them where I pulled them. It's a great way to get free veggies.

I also do the same with cabbage. Cabbage roots easily, usually in a few days. I place the bottom of the cabbage in a tray with a little water. When I see good roots growing and the little cabbages sprouting on top, I cut the plant apart and plant each baby cabbage. Sometimes I get six or more free cabbages from one cabbage bottom. I do the same with big onions that that have gone bad or started to sprout. I can get three or more from a large onion. I just make sure that I cut between each part where I can see the beginnings of a new onion clear through the base of the onion and let root. Try it! I've done this for many years!

By Mary from Paris, Ohio

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Growing Peach Trees from Pits

I want to start peach trees from pits. Do I have to remove the seed from inside the pit first?

Lea from Santa Fe, NM

Answers:

East Coast Is Better For Peaches

By Marge W.

Colorado State Website

By the way - the pit IS the seed - so just plant it as is. Good luck -and enjoy seeing what your new plant does! I love trying things like this - it is fun!

By QueenBeeCrafts

California Grows Great Peaches

By Luvyabye

Just Plant It Like It Fell Off The Tree

By Carol in PA

Plant The Whole Pit

By Shelly

Compost Pile Peaches

By susanmajp

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Birds Showing Up at Your Bird Feeder

I would like to hear what people in other parts of the country are seeing at their bird feeders. Since the winter finches are making a southerly push this fall, there may be some interesting birds showing up at your feeders. Some of the birds to look out for will be Pine Siskins, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Bohemian Waxwings, Common and Hoary Redpolls, Red-breasted Nuthatches, maybe some others.

Larry from Saint Joseph, Missouri

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Buying Huckleberry Seeds

I am looking for where to buy seeds for a garden Huckleberry. Thank you

Helen from Concord,Ontario

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Whiteflys on Indoor Plants

Please tell me how to get rid of whitefly on my indoor plants like fine herbs: basil, tomatoes, sage, mint etc.

Thanks

Hardiness Zone: 1

Sylvie from Mongolia

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Advice For Taking Care Of Roses In Spain

I live in Madrid, Spain and I have some roses. Right now they look really terrible because I have never really taken care of them. Yes, I am ashamed of myself and now I want to do everything I can to learn on how to take care of them properly and have some really nice roses. I know nothing or very little about roses and much less about taking care of them. But I want to learn. I want to get these roses in somewhat into shape and start experimenting. How do you suggest I start? I do want to mention that there are about 4 months of really hot summer weather like in the 90-100 and there are about 8 months of really cold winters with some snow. I am a basket case, but I am willing to learn. Anxiously awaiting for your response. Thank you. The Alien!

Michael

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Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden

I found some unused bags of ground coffee from several years ago in the back of a cabinet. I don't want to use them for brewed coffee to drink. I know there are many uses for USED coffee grounds, but do they have to be used? Can I use them unbrewed or will it be to acidic for the yard or garden?

Kristen from Austin, TX

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When To Treat Rose Leaf Fungus

My roses have fungus on leaves. Should I trim them and treat them now or wait until spring. I am a real novice with plants.

Hardiness Zone: 9b

Loni from Sacramento, California

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Transplanting a Butterfly Bush

Can a butterfly bush be transplanted after it has been planted in the ground for 13 months? It was given in memory of my 20 year old son's murder in 7/06. My sister says it will die and I should buy another one, but it was given by my brother and I want THAT BUSH because it was bought for a special purpose! Please tell me it will be safe to move it to my new home.

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Robin from Hanover, PA

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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