|
|
|
Vol. 3, Num. 24, June 12, 2008 (Read It Online) We have lots of great tips and advice this week, including an interesting article about Hydroculture by Ellen Brown. We also have a new video site for ThriftyFun. Today we have two new videos about pruning. You can view them here: How to Prune a Rose Bush
How to Prune a Shrub
Thanks for reading, Susan
Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter.
Photos:
Tips and Articles:
New Requests:
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:
Use a milk jug to hang the tomatoes upside down, by putting a two inch hole in the bottom and using a newspaper square with a slit in it to keep the soil in. You can even plant other plants in the top like pepper plants! I have squash in the top of this, and plan to use the trellis to keep it off the ground.
Use another milk jug to create a strawberry plant holder, cut the top off leaving the handle and cut three small holes on the flat sides of the milk jug (look at the picture) poke holes in bottom for drainage and use the styrofoam peanuts found in packing material or any other torn up styrofoam (recycle!) in the bottom instead of gravel to keep the container from being heavy. You can hang this container, or leave it sitting like you would if you had bought an expensive strawberry pot!
By Sharon from Fairview, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35688831.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: I have always enjoyed taking pictures of all the various wildflowers you can find on our property. I was out taking pictures, and my husband mentioned this sunflower growing up by the side of the house. I just love this picture. By Lisa from Soldiers Grove, WI
Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86887584.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Keep Deer Out With Liquid Fence To keep these pesky critters out of your garden use liquid fence from your garden center.By Comaddmax from Evergreen, CO
Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65739537.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Isn't this beautiful? My mom made this for me out of an old chandelier, fake flowers and candles. She removed the electric parts of the chandelier, then took the flowers that are in circles (usually they sit around candles) and cut one end and fit it around the center. Then she got 5 matching candles and put them into the old sockets. This looks beautiful lit up at night! By Misty from Wooster, OH
Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59392921.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Here is a picture of my garden shed. I love the old flamingos. I spend many hours inside doing fun planting projects. My husband bought it for me for a Mother's Day gift. It was a perfect gift and I love it and of course I love him too. By D. Lockwood from Millbury, OH
Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72239440.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: This is the first bloom of my irises. For two years all I have gotten were leaves! Irises multiply rapidly, so it is imperative that they be thinned out every year or two. By Claudia from Morrisville, PA
Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84775603.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: This picture is just one of a series I photographed in an abandoned apple orchard at the very top of our bluff. It is the most beautiful, peaceful place and full of wonderful photo opportunities! It is worth the hike! <P>By Lisa from Soldiers Grove, WI
Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60426555.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It:
Hydroculture: Growing Your Houseplants in Water
Who needs dirt? Not your houseplants, at least not all of them. Many can be cultivated using a technique called Hydroculture, where soil is replaced with water and a liquid fertilizer, and a clay aggregate is used to support the plant's roots. For people who travel a lot, or for those of us who tend to over or under water our houseplants, Hydroculture may be a good solution.
View This Article: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60949597.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Tomato Plant Leaves Turning Black Question: I have a tomato plant in a large container, and it has 4 small tomatoes on it. Yesterday I noticed that the leaves were turning black as if the plant had been scorched on the edges. What could be causing this? The plant in the next container is fine. Hardiness Zone: 6a Peggy62 from Chillicothe Answer: Peggy, It could be a couple of things. Normally, leaf scorch is a result of stress from drought, or caused from pesticide burn or fertilizer burn. Check these first. It you rule these out, then what you are describing could be blight. There are two types of blight, early and late. Both are a fungal disease commonly affecting potatoes and tomatoes. Symptoms on leaves start as tiny brown spots, which develop into greenish gray or brown areas that can expand to cover the entire leaf. These spots are sometimes surrounded by a ring of yellow tissue on the upper surface of the leaves and a ring of white fungal growth on the undersides of the leaves. Affected leaves drop early, which exposes fruit to sunscald. Treatment is straightforward: remove or destroy infected plants and get rid of all debris. In your case, it's best to relocate your plant away from the others until you figure out whether or not it's infected. Pick off all infected leaves, and avoid watering from overhead because the splash may launch the disease spores. Don't over fertilize. If you believe there is a need, get the appropriate garden fungicide for vegetable crops and apply according to directions. If your plant ends up dying a premature death, make sure you get rid of all of the dead plant debris, then wash and sterilize the pot with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. When replanting, look for disease-resistant cultivars. Also, preventative copper-based fungicides may sometimes help reduce the spread of early blight. Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf29360118.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Use Spray Paint to Update Plastic Garden Planters The large terracotta-colored pot we used last summer for our porch planter just did not look right with the selection of coleus and other shade plants we wanted to use this year. We shopped around, only to find that it would cost close to $50 to replace that pot with a much more suitable black one. Then- inspiration: we used a $7 can of black spray paint (for use on plastic) to create a glossy black pot in minutes. It looks great! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96424413.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: When Should We Trim Our Japanese Maple? Question: We have a 30 year old beautiful Japanese Red Maple tree in our front yard that is getting way too tall and wide. It is getting near wires and hitting the house. When is the best time to cut it back and give it a good trim and shaping? Thanks. Hardiness Zone: 7a
Jan,
There are many conflicting opinions regarding when to prune maples, so mine may be just one more! All species of maple are known to be bleeders (seep a lot of sap after pruning). To minimize the amount of seeping, major pruning should be done during the dormant season (after the leaves have fallen). For most gardeners, this will be either in the late autumn after the sap has fallen (November) or early spring before it starts to rise (February/March). Personally, I think late autumn is best. Fallen leaves (and temperatures) are an easy signal. The rising of spring sap seems harder to predict. Pruning your tree during this time may still cause some seeping, but there is less sap movement during these times so it should be minimal. There is also less threat of insects and disease.
Above all, make sure to make clean cuts using sharp, sterilized tools. Wounds with clean cuts will form a callus and seal over much more readily than those with jagged wounds. In most cases, it's best not to seal up seeping wounds with tree-wound paint. Most tree experts agree that if any disease spores are present, covering them with wound-paint simply seals them in from the elements and provides them with a safe environment where they can really go to town. Healthy trees are better left to heal on their own.
Good luck!
Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71642783.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Why Are My Green Beans Yellow?
Question: My green beans are yellowish. What are they lacking?
Hardiness Zone: 9b
Leslie from Las Vegas, NV
Answer: Leslie,
If it's just the pods turning yellow, your beans are probably not lacking in anything. Some varieties fade to yellow as the pods age.
If entire plants are turning yellow, that's another story. It could be a sign of root problems, or a signal a nutrient deficiency. Here are signs of deficiencies for each of the three main nutrients needed by plants:
Normally, plants lacking sufficient nitrogen will be short, thin, and yellowish green, especially in the lower leaves. The leaves will turn yellow first, and then turn brown and crispy.
Plants with potassium deficiencies have mottled, spotted, or streaked leaves, and the leaves curl at the ends. The leaf margins die and flake out, leaving ragged edges. Poor root development may also result in the plant falling over as the stem develops.
Plants lacking sufficient phosphorus develop leaves, petioles, and stems with a purple cast. They grow slowly, and if they mature at all, it's very late in the season. Older leaves turn brown and shed early.
Ellen
Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26252612.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: An impressive and fun garden project is a three or four tier container suited to a particular spot in your garden. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71316041.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: How to Get a Start From a Flowering Almond Bush
Question: Can I get a start off my moms flowering almond bush, or do I have to go buy my own? If so, how do I do it?
Cher from Utah
Answer: Cher,
I really don't know too much about Flowering Almond bushes. Here are three different methods you might try.
Hardwood Cuttings
The first is hardwood cuttings. These are generally taken in the early autumn as the plant starts to prepare for its dormant state. However, many gardeners (myself included) ignore this rule of thumb and take them in the summer.
Start by removing a 12 to 16 inch section from a mature shoot that is relatively low on the plant. Try to leave the "heel" intact-the part of the shoot that widens and connects with the main stem. The shoot should be the approximate diameter of a pencil or smaller. Lightly scrape about 1 inch of the bark from the cut end all the way around the "heel" end, and remove all of the leaves from the lower part of the shoot. Dip the "heel" (cut end) into some rooting hormone. (You can find this in either liquid or powder form at any nursery or garden center).
Plant the cutting in a pot or prepared bed, inserting it only as far into the soil as it needs to support itself. Keep it well watered and protect it from sudden temperature changes. In 6-8 weeks, give it a slight tug. If it has developed roots, you should feel a small bit of resistance.
Softwood Cuttings
Softwood cuttings are another option. These are taken in the summer from young shoots that are typically higher up on the plant. Soft wood is the new growth you see on plants each spring, or the new growth you see after you trim them back in the summer.
Select a shoot that is 5-6 inches long. Again, these shoots are the new growth, and generally located higher up on the plant. Trim off the lower leaves, leaving 2-3 pairs of leaves at the top. If the leaves are large, they can be snipped in half with a scissors. This will still provide the shoot with enough surface area to carry on photosynthesis, but it will save you room and make handling the softwood cutting easier. Dip the cut ends of the shoots into a rooting hormone, and plant the cuttings into a pot or container. Softwood cuttings should be kept in a moist, damp environment, so cover the pot with plastic to keep in humidity and check often for wilting. You can insert chop sticks or pencils into the soil to prevent the plastic from touching the cutting.
Suckers
If your mother's almond bush produces suckers (shoots growing independently near the main plant), it may be easiest just to dig these up and plant them. Use a shovel to dig out the sucker from the main plant, preserving as much of the root as possible. Plant it as you would a potted bush from the nursery.
Good luck!
Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23726153.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Prolonging the Life of Cut Hydrangea Blooms
Question: Is there a special process needed to prolong the life of a hydrangea bloom as a cut flower? I cannot get them to stay attractive overnight?
Dianne from Augusta, GA
Answer: Dianne,
Don't feel bad. Hydrangeas are famous for wilting nearly instantly after you bring them in from the garden. It doesn't always happen, but when it does, it's generally for one of two reasons. The first is that sometimes the "sap" inside the hollow part of the stem flows down toward the cut wound and forms a liquid barrier that prevents them from taking up water. A second reason is due to the large diameter of the stem. Once cut, air bubbles can easily get trapped inside after being submerged in water. The bubbles also form a barrier which blocks water uptake.
If this keeps happening to you, there are a couple of ways to remedy the problem. First, make sure you're cutting your hydrangeas during a cool part of the day (morning or evening is best). Bring a container of room temperature water with you out to the garden so you can place the stems in water immediately after you cut them. Getting them into water immediately will help prevent air from entering the stems.
Once you're back inside, put on a pot of water, and bring it to a boil. While you waiting, cut your hydrangeas to the desired length for arranging. When the water reaches a boil, pour some into a container, and hold the bottom few inches of your hydrangea stems upright in the water for 30 seconds. Afterwards, transfer the stems to a vase filled with tepid water and arrange. If in a few days your hydrangeas start to wither, repeating this treatment a second time may revive them. In any event, giving them the hot water treatment immediately after cutting should prevent sap clogs and take care of air bubbles.
Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78879768.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Use Mesh in Garden to Keep Cats Away
In the past we have had a problem with the neighborhood cats(and our own) using our garden as a liter box. Yuck! So to stop them in their tracks, so to speak ,we devised a way to stop them from digging. This method is completely harmless to the cats and other creatures. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79996149.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Question: I am looking for suggestions for fast growing evergreen trees. However, I am not interested in the cylinder shaped "privacy" trees
that I see everywhere. Thank you.
Hardiness Zone: 8-9
Laurel from Port Orchard, WA
Answer: Hi Laurel,
I'm not sure whether or not this falls under your definition of a cylinder-shaped privacy tree (it's more cone-shaped), but Thuja Green Giant cedars are probably the fastest growing evergreens out there. They grow at a rate of approximately 3-5 feet per year, and reach heights of 20 ft (when planted in rows) to 40 ft (if planted alone). Another advantage is they are drought tolerant, with no significant disease or insect problems. The Nellie Stevens Holly, or American Holly tree are two additional good non-conifer options. They form more of a wall or hedge when planted together, rather than cylinders or cones.
Another choice would be a Leyland cypress like Castlewellan. Known for its tendency toward conical growth, it has delicate lacy foliage and changes color for added winter interest. In the winter, the exterior of the tree turns gold while the interior remains green.
If you are looking for something that has more of a naturally shaped form, there are several great options in the conifer family. None of these trees will grow quite as fast, but they are also much longer-lived. Probably the fastest growing conifer is the Dawn Redwood. It tolerates a lot of standing water, and grows up to 6 ft per year. In the autumn, its needles turn a lovely golden/orange. Unfortunately, they also shed their fern-like needles in the winter and are actually considered a deciduous conifer. If you can live with seasonal needle drop, Dawn Redwoods would be a lovely choice.
In the pine tree department, White Pine, Longleaf Pine, Loblolly Pine, and Canary Island Pine are all said to be fast growing. These trees get quite large, however, so they cannot be planted close together. For more detailed information, browse these specific trees at the Arbor Foundation website:
Good luck!
Ellen Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92964562.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Move Large Houseplants to Your Patio for Summer
If you have large house plants, place them outside near your patio doors. The plants will get extra sun in the summer and they will keep the sun out of the inside of your home. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82142920.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Keep Garden Tools in Oiled Sand
Those old, rusty, should-have-taken-care-of-them gardening tools you used last year stand a fighting chance this season with this ingenious storage solution. Instead of tossing them just anywhere once you're done digging and planting, empty a quart of motor oil into a bucket of sand and mix thoroughly. Now you have a handy place to put your tools, and each time you take them out, the sand will help to keep them sharp and oiled. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82991260.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Vinyl Blinds For Plant Markers
I make plant markers by cutting strips of vinyl blinds into 5 inch sections. I write the name and flower color on it using a Sharpie permanent black marker(fine-tip). Then I insert the printed end into the soil next to the plant. When you pull it out, the printing will remain visible indefinitely and you'll always have the name handy. It does not fade, as does the name exposed to the elements. I find a lot of my "recycled" blinds at the curb on garbage-pickup day. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84205234.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Plant Garlic Around Your Roses
I have a few pots of Society garlic in between my rose bushes. It keeps the bugs away and the leaves nice and dark and shiny. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91775631.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Plant Marigolds With Tomatoes for Pest Control
To keep bugs off of tomato plants,simply plant a marigold in between each tomato. The smell will rid your plants of pests and be pretty at the same time. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54911487.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It:
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!
Curling Leaves On Stevia Plant
My Stevia plant has leaves that are curling, why? What should I do? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99143372.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: How do you plant tomatoes on hay? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49342681.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Can anyone please tell me what the name of this plant is? It is a perennial, small and perfectly round when in bloom. Starts with green leaves and then tiny yellow blooms for just a few days at a time. Thank you! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33084649.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: I planted some parsley in this pot, but what is growing doesn't look like parsley to me. Most of it looks like grass, with maybe a few tomato plants? And most likely weeds. Anyone know what these plants are? I'd hate to pull them up only to find out that they are plants and not weeds! I did have tomatoes in this pot last year. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40468111.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Can Eucalyptus Be Rooted in Water?
Can you root eucalyptus in water and then plant in Tennessee? I have a cutting from one that is growing here. Its been in water for a long time but I don't see any roots. Any suggestions? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94061098.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Weeping Cherry Trees Keep Dying
I have planted two different weeping cherry trees, one last year, and one again this year. Both have died within a couple of months after I planted them. Does anyone have a solution to the problem? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94187809.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: I am having problems with rats eating my tomatoes. Is there any thing that I could do to stop them? I am not the only one around here that is having this problem. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53650240.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: I have a friend who just lost an entire trellis of morning glories. Seems a rabbit is making him or herself at home in her yard. Are there any safe ways to repel rabbits without harming them? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68852277.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Saving A Storm Damaged Gum Tree
I have a sweet gum tree that was damaged in a storm a couple years ago. It lost a large branch and is now rotting the tree. Is there anything that can be done to save this tree? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37942315.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Small Green Worms On Plant Leaves
This evening while checking my garden, and dead heading the flowers and removing dead leaves from plants, I noticed two small green worms on my rose bush. My vegetables, plants, and flowers all have leaves with yellow on the edges. I have had it planted for about two weeks now. Some of the bottom leaves on the rose bush have small holes on them as if something is eating them. What are the worms and what can I do to help promote the health of my plants without removing and starting over? HELP Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf13124644.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: I have searched the internet and called my mother who is an expert in house plants and can not find the name of this plant. Please could you help me. I thought it was a rubber plant, but my mother-in-law says it is not. Thank you in advance for your help! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26311787.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: We have creeping thyme in between pavers in our front walkway. There are 4 leaf clovers overtaking the thyme. Is there anything that can kill the 4 leaf clovers and not the thyme? Thanks. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56217281.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Using Newspaper In Garden Boxes
I am experimenting with what I would call "lasagna gardening". My boxes are 6' x 1' x 1', on wheels, with a chipboard bottom and made out of pine. Any recommendations on how thick of a newspaper layer I need? Should the paper go above or below the gravel layer? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf41792761.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: No flowers on Calla Lilies, why? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74328522.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Covering Bare Patches In Grass
Our back yard has both sunny and shady areas where the grass won't grow, so it becomes muddy when I water. Of course, so does the dog. Is there anything that will keep the mud away which I can sprinkle over it. That won't be harmed by the lawn mower, the dog, the occasional heavy rain nor strong winds? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17043146.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: How can I get my begonias to bloom? I got them 1 1/2 years ago, beautifully blooming, put 2 small plants into one pot. They haven't bloomed since. I hung the pot outside on my deck that has wonderful afternoon shade, but so far nothing. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16506784.tip.html
Email to a Friend
|
Get Responses
|
Bookmark
|
Link
|
Rate It: Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
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:
|
Like ThriftyFun on Facebook
