Happy Garden - April 10, 2008

Vol. 3, Num. 15, April 10, 2008 (Read It Online) This week we have more feedback and articles from Ellen Brown. Hope you enjoy them. Do you have a gardening tip or photo to share? Submit them below. Post a Gardening Tip (You could win $25) Submit Pictures of Your Garden (You could win $25) Thanks for reading, Susan Send to a Friend! Submit Your Gardening Tips Submit Photos of Your Garden Submit a Gardening Request Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Photos: Converting Aquarium into Terrarium Weeping Cherry In Bloom Tips and Articles: The Harbingers Of Spring Partial Sun vs. Partial Shade: How Much Sun Do Garden Plants Need? Rabbits Eating Flowers and Plants Inexpensive Greenhouse Shelving Environmentally Friendly Way to Get Rid of Grass Will Birds Use Old Nests? Keeping a Dog Out of a Vegetable Garden Can You Eat Celandine Tubers? Trouble Growing Marigolds Curing Cow Manure New Requests: Getting Rid Of Weeds To Plant Groundcover What Flowers and Vegetables Grow Well in Colorado? Keeping Algae from Growing in a Pond Kent Mango Leave Are Browning Getting Rid of Monkey Grass Bulbs Won't Bloom Using Low Soil Mix For Vegetable Container Garden What is this plant? Starting Pussy Willow Plant From A Branch Using 'Kitchen Waste' To Fertilize Plants Building Frame For Growing Tomatoes Upside Down Replacing a Patio with Grass Getting Rid of Lesser Celandine Avocado Plants in a Hot Climate Tent Caterpillars Growing Grass On Top of Concrete Identifying Bromeliads How big of a branch can I transplant? Rooting A Yellow Bell Bush Rockery Plant With White Flowers Today's Sponsor: 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 Photos: Converting Aquarium into Terrarium Here's a photo of my completed terrarium. The miniature violets cost about $4 to $5 each. I found the shefflera and a cute small palm at Walmart for $3 each. The small juniper was pricy, about $15. The ground cover is something called Irish moss that was on sale at a discount store after St. Patrick's Day. The rocks and gravel are from my yard. Of course, all this does add up, I probably spent about $75 total. But now I have a large and attractive focal point in my home office. The activated charcoal which was recommended to go over the gravel in the bottom was a major expense. I used a type for aquarium filters and possibly could have found a cheaper source. By ChloeA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52282695.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Weeping Cherry In Bloom My Weeping Cherry is finally flowering. It started budding a month ago and I have been waiting and waiting. All the regular Flowering Cherry and Japanese Cherry trees in the neighborhood are already in full bloom. It doesn't really feel like full spring until I get my showers of pink blossoms. Jess in Oregon Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25915927.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tips and Articles: The Harbingers Of Spring By Ellen Brown No matter where you live, spring is fickle. Around here, it arrives unexpectedly-usually in mid March. Winter temporarily loosens its grip, the sun sends temperatures soaring into the 50s, ice and snow give way to the sound of running water, and the thick, fresh smell of hummus hangs in the air as the soil begins to thaw. Your senses start to sharpen, your body starts to come alive, and suddenly you're filled with a sense of inspiration and hope. "Yippee!" you shout. "Spring is coming!" Then comes the inevitable heartbreak. The clouds roll in, the mercury plummets, water turns back into ice, and spring retreats for a few more weeks under another blanket of wet, heavy snow. View This Article: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16861820.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Partial Sun vs. Partial Shade: How Much Sun Do Garden Plants Need? By Ellen Brown Planet Earth may only have one sun, but in the world of gardening, there are several: full sun, partial sun, afternoon sun, morning sun, and dappled sun. Then there is shade: full shade, partial shade, and dappled shade. Determining the light requirements for plants is never an exact science; there are too many other factors at play (cloudy days, extreme heat). Still, if you have ever pondered the difference between partial sun and partial shade, here are some generally accepted definitions to help serve as a guide. View This Article: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21932949.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Rabbits Eating Flowers and Plants How can I keep rabbits from eating my plants? They eat everything: vegetables, flowers, shrubs, ornamental grasses. Hardiness Zone: 7b Alicia from Raleigh, NC Answer: Hi Alicia, You may need to employ a variety of tactics to achieve success. If it repels rabbits, it should also deter gopher and woodchucks. Here are several ideas: 1. Fences: This is really the only foolproof method for protecting your garden from rabbits. Fencing should be 4 ft tall and extend at least 6 inches into the ground. Use metal wire with a _ inch mesh and you will keep them out. 2. Bloodmeal or bonemeal: This gives rabbits the impression hungry predators may be lurking nearby. Sprinkle this on top of the soil or fill cheesecloth bags and hang them from trees and shrubs. 3. Hair: Collect discarded human or pet hair and spread it around the perimeter of susceptible plants. Again, rabbits become leery that hungry predators may be in the vicinity. 4. Mason jars: Some gardeners swear that placing Mason jars in 3 ft intervals around the perimeter of your garden will keep rabbits out. 5. Vinegar and corncobs: Soak corncob halves in vinegar for 24 hours and place them around the garden. Save the leftover vinegar and resoak the corncobs every two weeks to keep rabbits at bay. 6. Powdered fox urine: This stuff may not sound very appealing to work with, but exploiting the rabbits natural fear of the fox is a good strategy. Find this at your local garden center. 7. Tree guards: These are available in home and garden centers, but are easy to make yourself using foil, or window screen. Wrap the trunks of susceptible trees to a height of at least 2 ft above the deepest level of normal snowfall. 8. Try planting Mexican marigolds or garlic. 9. Rotten eggs: Blend 4 eggs, 4 cloves of garlic, 4 tbsp. of Tabasco with 4 cups of water. Allow this to ferment in the hot sun for a few days and then pour around susceptible plants. You may not be able to stand the smell, but neither will the rabbits. Reapply it rains. Many commercial repellants are available in the form of sprays or powders. These work on the premise that rabbits wont eat something that tastes or smells bad, and usually contain garlic and/or cloves. You will find a wide variety of repellents at home centers and feed stores. Although rabbits will eat anything (and everything) if food sources become scarce, some plants have been found to be less appealing to their pallet. Contact your local extension agency for recommendations on which rabbit-resistant trees, shrubs and plants grow best in your zone. Good luck! Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf585624.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Inexpensive Greenhouse Shelving Question: I am looking for cheap greenhouse shelving. Any ideas? Doreen from Pine Plains, NY Answer: Hi Doreen, There are several things to consider when setting up a shelving system for your greenhouse. First, greenhouses are moist environments, so look for shelving made from a material that will hold up to the constant humidity without rusting or rotting. Next, unless you plan to supplement available natural light with artificial lights, look for open shelving that allows light to penetrate through to the shelves beneath it. Finally, make sure the shelving you choose can hold up to the weight of lots of pots filled with plants and moist soil. Other things to consider are size, ease of cleaning, portability, and of course most importantly, your budget. Sam's Club features a shelving system made out of commercial grade chrome steel for around $75 (plus shipping if you don't have one nearby). The systems features 6 adjustable wire shelves, each rated for up to 600lbs. As an added bonus, the whole system is on casters, which makes moving and cleaning it more convenient, and if you decide to add grow lights to any of the shelves, the fact that they are open will make them easy to hang. If these fit your size and are within your budget, they seem like a great deal to me. Target also feature similar shelving units in various sizes. I suspect you could find similar units at most of the larger retail discount stores and home centers. Depending on how your greenhouse has been constructed, another option is to use the wall-mounted closet shelving designed for organizing closets. This is easy to find at any major home or garden center. It allows you to customize your shelving and add to it as your budget allows. The shelves are open and usually coated with plastic. Because they are designed to accommodate hangers, they are ready made for hanging pots. Plan to reinforce them with extra brackets to account for the added weight of heavy pots. Other ideas include browsing building salvage companies and area thrift stores like Goodwill. You never know when you are going to stumble upon an old bookcase or other piece of furniture that can be converted into shelving. If you are willing to be creative, consider taking out an ad in a local mid-week or hanging up flyers. People who are spring cleaning their house or garage may be more than happy to unload their "junk" for free (or for trade) as long as you're willing to pick it up. For cheap reclaimed building supplies, don't forget to check out your local materials exchange: http://www.hvmaterialsexchange.com/ Good luck! Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67940249.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Environmentally Friendly Way to Get Rid of Grass Question: I need some advice for making a grass-free environment, it's for business purposes. We need to keep the soil but without any grass growing on it. We have been using round up for quite a long time but only killed the grass after each application, and it comes back soon after rain. So, is there any organic, non-chemical, cheap and environment friendly way I can get rid of all of the grass for a really long period ? Hardiness Zone: 11 chphoea from Surabaya, Indonesia Answer: Chphoea, Instead of killing the turf, why not remove it completely? If you are not worried about losing topsoil, consider renting a sod cutter for the afternoon. The cost of rental (if availability exists where you are) is usually quite reasonable and the effects are long lasting. Sod cutters leave a clean edge, removing the grass (roots and all) and the top 1 to 2 inches of soil. You'll be left with a 1-2 inch depression which can then be filled in with mulch, gravel or your medium of choice. The sod can also be removed manually with a shovel, but this requires more "back power" and is not exactly easy. Also, if you need the topsoil to remain for your business (for example, growing food for a restaurant), or you have very little to spare in the first place, this method is probably not the best option. Another option is to kill the grass by smothering it. This will take a lot more time (up to several months) and a bit of patience-especially to kill the roots. Mow the grass as short as possible and cover the area with dark plastic, corrugated cardboard, or a thick layer of newspaper or wood chips. In the end, this method will be just as effective as using chemicals or removing the sod completely. Good luck! Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23912869.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Will Birds Use Old Nests? Question: I have bird nests in some of my trees that were left over from last year. Should I take them down, or will birds use them again even though they didn't make them? Hardiness Zone: 6a Peg from Springboro, OH Answer: Peg, I would recommend leaving the leftover nests in your trees intact for the coming season. Some birds (especially raptors like hawks, osprey and eagles) return to the same nest year after year. Each year they continue to expand on the previous year's efforts. Over time, this can lead to some incredibly large nests (FYI: The North American record for an Eagle's nest is 20 feet deep, 10 feet wide and weighs in at nearly 2 tons!) In the case of garden-variety birds, the American Robin and Baltimore Oriole, often build new nests in very close proximity (sometimes side by side) last year's nests. Occasionally, Robins will also use a nest from the previous season as a foundation to start a new build, unless invading parasites have rendered them unacceptable for raising young. Other birds, like nuthatches, take advantage of nests in trees that have been abandoned by other birds. Birds build nests in a variety of places-in tree branches, hollow cavities, even underground. They use a variety of different materials to build them, so even if no birds return to occupy the last year's nests, many may take advantage of the readily available stockpile of left behind building materials. Happy bird watching! Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97112338.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Keeping a Dog Out of a Vegetable Garden Question: How do you keep a dog out of a vegetable garden? It's a very small garden, and not worth the cost of fencing it in. If I fenced it, I'd have no room for the plants. Holly from Richardson, TX Answer: Hi Holly, This question comes up a lot. Here are some ideas: Talk to the owners-If the dogs invading your garden are not your own, have a talk with their owners. Gently remind them of local leash laws (nearly every city or county has them), and that you would really like to avoid having to call animal control. Citrus rinds-Grind them up and spread them over the soil. Apparently, dogs (and cats) don't care for citrus. Calendula (pot marigolds)- Planting a border of Canendula (assuming you have the room) supposedly repels dogs. Prickly branches-Scatter the trimmings from prickly canes like roses, holly, raspberries, or blackberries around the garden. Dogs are protective of their paws and don't like walking on thorns. Pepper repellant-Grind up an assortment of fresh black peppercorns and dried hot peppers and mix them together in a plastic bag. Then spread these on the top of the soil around your garden. Dogs use their sense of scent to determine where to go to the bathroom. Once they get a whiff of the hot peppers, they are more likely to move on. Garden hose-Use a strong spray from the garden hose to modify the dogs' behavior each time they go near your garden to dig or do their business. This method works best with your own dogs, since you are around to monitor them when they are in the yard. Motion activated devices are also available that sense approaching animals and scare them away with a short, strong burst of water. Wire clothes hangers-Cut some old wire hangers on one side of the hook. Unbend the hanger and stick the straight side into the ground so that the hooked remains at a height low enough to make it difficult for the dog to navigate around it. (In a similar way, plastic silverware stuck in flowerpots will act as a deterrent for cats). Commercial products-There are several products available in garden stores, as well as on the web, designed to repel dogs. Some are in spray form, and others come in the form of pellets. Border fencing-You don't always need a big fence to keep dogs out. Try small, collapsible border fencing. You can usually get a 20 ft roll of 14" high fencing for under $10, and the small gauge of the wire won't take up any of your valuable planting space. Good luck! Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38376293.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Can You Eat Celandine Tubers? Question: I was watching a video on bushcraft/survival and the host cooked and ate the tubers of something he called "Celandine". It was a low, ground-level plant with small, yellow flowers if I recall correctly. It grew in a sort of marshy area (think peat bog) in England. It didn't grow above the knee. Is this a plant that grows in the US and if so, what types of environments does it grow in? Also, I looked it up and pretty much everywhere it says not to eat it. This may just be modern opinion, however, since he said that if you cook the tubers in the coals of a campfire for a few minutes, it'll sap the minor toxins from the roots and it's like eating sweet potatoes. Hardiness Zone: 5a Paul from Houghton, NY Answer: Paul, I am no expert in identifying, or using poisonous plants for food in a wilderness survival situation, but here is what I know about Celandine. There are two types of Celandine, Greater Celandine, and Lesser Celandine (Chelidonium majus and Ranunculus ficaria L., respectively). Parts of both plants are toxic and both have been used for medicinal purposes, but despite their similar names (and yellow flowers), these two plants are not at all related. Parts of both plants contain toxic compounds and historically, both have been used for medicinal purposes. What the video host was charring on the campfire was most likely the Lesser Celandine, which is still looked at as a valuable wildflower in many parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Lesser Celandine is now naturalized (considered a noxious weed, actually) in parts of the U.S. and Canada. According to the USDA, in North America its current distribution is limited to 19 states across the Pacific Northwest, northern Midwest, and northeastern portions of the United States, as well as parts of eastern and western Canada. A herbaceous perennial, Lesser Celandine inhabits moist forested floodplains and prefers sandy soil. This is the same habitat you find native Marsh Marigolds growing, which is probably why the two are often confused. Lesser Celandine blooms early in the spring and unlike the Marsh Marigold, which grows in individual clusters, it forms dense mats that sometimes crowd out the native species. For this reason, it is on the Federal list of noxious weeds. Historically, Lesser Celandine have been used for medicinal purposes, primarily as an astringent and in the treatment of hemorrhoids and ulcers. Although all parts of this plant are considered poisonous (including the bulbils, leaves, sap and flowers), the toxins are said to be unstable and easily destroyed by heat. If properly prepared, the roots, leaves, stems and flowers can all be safely eaten. That said, I would not recommend eating Celandine unless: 1) You are certain you can identify it. 2) You know how to properly prepare it in order to destroy the toxins. Here are some good resources if you would like more information. http://www.survivaliq.com/survival/survival-use-of-plants_s1.htm http://www.wildfoodadventures.com/ http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/wfs/index.htm#gourmet Good luck! Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12731633.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Trouble Growing Marigolds Question: I CANNOT grow marigolds. I plant them and go out the next morning, the little leaves are stripped off the stems, and the marigold bud is all that is left on the stem - no leaves. What is doing this? Hardiness Zone: 6a Peggy from Springboro, OH Answer: Hi Peggy, It sounds to me like slugs or snails have an appetite for your marigolds. They attack at night, usually eating the lower leaves first. The next day, you wake up to holey flowers and ragged leaves, or worse, nothing but a row of stems and a silvery-gray trail of slime on the ground where they have glided up to your plants. The good news is that there are several easy and economical ways to effectively control the damage caused by slugs and snails. Handpicking: This isn't the most appealing method, but it works. To spot them, grab a flashlight and head out to your marigold patch for a snail safari about an hour after sunset. Setting traps: Snails and slugs love cool, moist places-especially to lay their eggs-so use this information to your advantage. Flip over some old flowerpots on the ground around the garden. Leave one side propped up just slightly to act as an entrance. Half an intact grapefruit or orange rind (minus the fruit) will work well, too. Check these traps daily and discard any snails and slugs you find hiding there. Snails and slugs like beer. I've used this method myself after snails and slugs discovered some of my hostas, and I can verify that it works. Place a shallow container like a saucer or even a cut down yogurt container into the ground so that the top is at soil level. Fill the container with about an inch of stale beer (there's no need to waste the good stuff). Slugs and snails will stop by for a cold one, crawl into the container and die a happy death. Check traps daily and refill as needed. Constructing Barriers: Slugs and snails avoid crawling over sharp surfaces. Create a physical barrier next to the base of your plants with crushed eggshells, dichotomous earth, wood ash, or coarse grade saw dust. Snails and slugs will also avoid crawling over copper because it gives them a slight electric shock. Construct barriers from copper pipes or strips available at local hardware stores. Cleaning up debris: Snails and slugs love to take refuge under garden debris from the hot afternoon sun. Clean up leaves, old boards, rocks, and old pots to reduce daytime hiding places, and avoid using mulch more than 3 inches deep. Watering during the day: Because snails and slugs love a moist, humid environment, water your plants in the morning to allow time for leaves and stems to dry before nightfall. Good luck! Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27705243.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Curing Cow Manure Question: I am new to gardening, so bear with me. A friend of mine has a farm and just brought me a load of cow manure. When he delivered it, he dumped in onto my existing (still dormant) flower beds. I am told by neighbors that the manure is hot and needs to be cured before it goes onto existing beds. Is this true? If so, how do I cure the manure? I do have a compost heap in the back yard. Should I transfer it to the compost pile? Help! Hardiness Zone: 7a Jennifer from Eugene, OR Answer: Hi Jennifer, Excellent! It is wonderful to hear that you have found yourself a source of free manure. Well-rotted cow manure makes a fabulous organic fertilizer because it nourishes plants and builds soil all at the same time. You didn't mention how old the manure is, so you'll want to find out from your friend before using it on your plants. Your neighbors are right. Fresh manure is considered "hot", which means it is still releasing high amounts of nitrogen compounds and ammonia into the soil as it breaks down. This can burn the roots of young plants and inhibit the germination of seeds, so it is usually recommended that manure be cured for at least 6 months before using it in the garden. Goat and rabbit manure is milder so curing is not necessary. One way to cure manure is by hot-composting it. A hot manure pile heats to a temperature of at least 150ºF. This kills off any seeds that might have passed through the animal's system undigested, and it also reduces the likelihood (however remote it may be) that any pathogens remain active in the manure-a comforting thought if your going to be applying it to edibles. To cure your manure, dump it into a pile and cover it with a tarp (use bricks or rocks to hold the tarp down). Punch a few air holes into the tarp to let the heat escape. In 6 months, (or 6 months - the age of your manure is now) the manure will be ready to use as a top dressing in the garden. Good luck! Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75519048.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Contest! Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! The above contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! New Requests: Getting Rid Of Weeds To Plant Groundcover Can you tell me, do I have to remove the roots of weeds or can I just cut them down? I had spent hours breaking my back last yr digging up the weeds out of my flower beds and cannot bear to do it again, now with neck problems etc. I would like to get it all out and plant ground cover, as the front beds are empty except the weeds. We are going to be moving and I don't want to leave it looking so bad. We cannot purchase any other supplies or services at this time. Thank you for your help. Hardiness Zone: 7a breighdi from Statesville, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88302001.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What Flowers and Vegetables Grow Well in Colorado? I live in zone 5b in Colorado. What flowers and vegetables grow well here? Hardiness Zone: 5b Amanda from Lamar, CO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45150511.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Keeping Algae from Growing in a Pond I have a pond that measures about 30' across and is about 5' deep in the very center, and I want to keep algae from forming without having to treat the water with chemicals, or clutter the pond with plants to block out the sunlight. I have seen ponds that are larger than mine and they have no plants and they are in direct sunlight and the water looks clean. Will it help if I have certain types of stones like lime and sandstone in the pond? What would happen if I used salt water rather than regular city water to fill the pond? Please help! John Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf674349.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Kent Mango Leave Are Browning I have a Kent mango and the leaves are browning. Does anyone know what is causing this? Please see photos. Thanks! Hardiness Zone: 10a Robert from South Texas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52002196.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid of Monkey Grass The person I bought my house from went crazy with Monkey Grass. I was wondering if there is any way to totally get rid of it? We have tried digging it up but it just comes back. We have a small child and I'm concerned about snakes hiding in it. Please help. Hardiness Zone: 7b Crystal from Batesville, MS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf66571160.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Bulbs Won't Bloom Leaves yes, flowers no. Why don't my irises bloom? I have planted well over 35 bulbs in the last few years. Since we don't get a good freeze here, I stored the bulbs in the fridge for a few weeks before planting. They get plenty of water, and have a nice southern exposure. The oldest bulbs come up about February, grow slowly, then die with no flowering. I planted some daffodils this year, and they have spindly stalks and no flowers. The irises that were planted decades ago in the backyard do blossom most years, but haven't flowered yet. Should I fertilize them in the winter? Why don't they bloom? We DID have a few days under 40 degrees over Christmas, and other places I've lived in L.A. have blossomed like mad! We're at 1800 feet here, with rather acidic soil and very alkaline water. Help? Hardiness Zone: 10a Brandy from Los Angeles, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97291397.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Low Soil Mix For Vegetable Container Garden I'm 23 year old male from the UK and starting to grow a patio vegetable garden for the first time. I was reading one of your comments about using soilless mix or low soil mix, what do u mean by that? Is it similar to our peat free compost? If not, is it ok to use peat in a vegetable garden if your using containers? bigglesaquatics from Bolton, Great Britain Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54338472.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What is this plant? I was given this plant/shrub a few years ago but can not remember it's name. I was hoping that someone here might be able to help me. Hardiness Zone: 7b Janet from Commerce, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33220360.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Starting Pussy Willow Plant From A Branch Can anyone tell me if I can start a pussy willow plant from rooting one of the branches in water? Hardiness Zone: 6b Rose from Malvern, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91454477.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using 'Kitchen Waste' To Fertilize Plants I want to fertilize my plants with "kitchen waste" instead of chemicals. How do I use coffee grounds for hydrangeas if used grounds are not acidic enough? Hardiness Zone: 7a Dorothy from Munford, Tn Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31084409.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Building Frame For Growing Tomatoes Upside Down I am looking for instructions on how to build a frame to grown tomatoes upside down, including how to secure it, maybe in a hole w/cement, to the ground so that it can hold the weight of the buckets. I will have to do this myself, with the help of home depot cutting the wood and I have never used cement before. Thank you so much for any help. Hardiness Zone: 7a Bluegina from Shelton, ct Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15798772.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Replacing a Patio with Grass I have a patio in the garden and I want grass. I have taken up some of the paving stones and there is a mix of concrete and stones (hardcore I think!). It appears to be quite porous and not very thick, instead of digging it all up is there any chance the grass will survive with a load of holes drilled in? Please help as my time scale to do this has gone down by a day. :-) Thank you in advance for your help! Xavier Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79134349.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Getting Rid of Lesser Celandine Can anyone tell me a foolproof and organic way of eradicating lesser celandine from my lawn? Also any suggestions what to grow in its place as grass doesn't take very well (the area's too shady). Will have to put some paving down (where tree roots allow) but need some ideas what to plant around it. Thanks, Kate from England Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22651489.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Avocado Plants in a Hot Climate I am currently working in the Kingdom of Saudi - American of course. I am raising Avocado Plants and need to know more about them. Do I trim them to make them grow out or what? The Temp here is 130 plus. Norman from Saudi Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38221245.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tent Caterpillars My crab apple tree has caterpillars in silk bags in the crotches of limbs. How do I rid the tree of these and prevent further issues? Note: I sprayed Sevin on the trunk from the base to 2 ft high on 17 March, on 19 Mar I noticed the first silk bags forming. Most of the silk bags are 12-25 ft high. Hardiness Zone: 7a Scott from Hollywood, MD Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf851300.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Growing Grass On Top of Concrete I have a small garden, and in it is a patio. I have taken up the slabs and there is some concrete mixed with stones, hardcore and seems very porous. I want to lay grass there. Do I need to break up the concrete, or could I just drill a load of holes on it. to help with the drainage? I thank you for your help in advance :-) Spinkminky from Brighton, UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65519665.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Identifying Bromeliads Can anyone identify either of these bromeliads for me? I bought them at a farmers market and she didn't know the name of them, just that "they're the easiest things in the world to grow" lol.. Hardiness Zone: 9a Jeri from Southern Mississippi Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14029861.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How big of a branch can I transplant? How big of a branch can I transplant? This broke off my tree. It's about 10' high and the part at the end is about 12" in diameter. Hardiness Zone: 6a Thanks, Paul from Northeast Pennsylvania Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68822373.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Rooting A Yellow Bell Bush Can anyone tell me how to root a Yellow Bell bush? Hardiness Zone: 8a Heidi from Mccalla, AL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77741019.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Rockery Plant With White Flowers I am a member to the website - all the way from the UK! I think it's great - nothing like this at home! I am looking for a rockery plant that reminds me of my family garden when a child. It was low growing, had tiny white flowers mid spring onwards - very prolific - and grey, almost furry leaves. I remember my (now sadly departed) parents saying it was a good ground cover as spread so fast. I have never seen it in garden centres in the UK - anyone have any ideas? Thanks Louise in Essex, UK Hardiness Zone: 5a Louise from Essexx, United Kingdom Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62056124.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here Today's Sponsor: 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 More Stuff Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users. Submit a Request... Frugal solutions to everyday problems.