Volume 1, Number 33, September 7, 2006
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
This week we have an article about fall gardening called "There's Still Time For Second Season Vegetables" as well as answers to many of your questions.
We also have a gardening related poll question today:
Have you had success gardening in the fall?
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Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Tips and Articles:
New Requests:
Growing Guides:
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Today's Tips and Articles
Ant Hills on a Paver Walkway
Question: How to get rid of ants and ant hills on a paver walkway?
Hardiness Zone: 5a
Buttercup from Michigan
Answer: Buttercup,
There are several effective ways to control ants, but control methods vary depending on the type of ant you're dealing with. Here is a link to information on this site that addresses control measures for several different types of ants:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63572362.tip.html
Once you figure out how to get your ant problem under control, consider ways to prevent problems from reoccurring in the future. There are several good brands of sealers and joint sand stabilizers on the market. These are designed specifically to keep weeds and ants from taking up residence in between the cracks of landscaping pavers. Although I have not thoroughly researched individual brands, several claim to be environmentally friendly and seem like a good, long-lasting alternative to using chemicals. My friends who are landscapers tell me that using them when installing pavers has become standard industry practice among many professionals. The stabilizers form an almost impenetrable barrier between the paver cracks by adhering the sand grains to each other and locking them into the joints. This prevents sand loss due to settling, while keeping out weeds and ants.
Good luck!
Ellen
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Honeysuckle Bush Shoots
Question: What are the shoots that grow out from a honeysuckle bush this time of year?
Hardiness Zone: 5a
Buttercup from Michigan
Answer: Buttercup,
These broom-like shoots are the result of damage caused by the feeding of wooly honeysuckle aphids. The feeding aphids injure new growth, causing it to become discolored and curl. The honeysuckle bush responds by sending out new side shoots and tufts of leaves at the ends of the damaged branches. These branches typically see only a few inches of growth during the season and are also likely to succumb to similar injuries. As the side shoots die off during the winter, the "witches broom" effect they create becomes more noticeable. Plant scientists are still uncertain as to whether the damage is actually caused by the aphids themselves or by a plant pathogen the aphids carry. Damage is usually only aesthetic and is limited to the honeysuckle bush (the honeysuckle bush serves as the only host to this particular type of aphid). To control minor infestations, tufts can be removed by clipping them off as they appear. For heavy or reoccurring infestations, periodically spray the bush with water to remove the aphids or apply an insecticidal soap in the early spring.
Ellen
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Caring for a Honeysuckle
Question:
I just bought a Honeysuckle tree. As a child i can remember the wonderful sweet smell of it. Mine does not seem to smell like anything. It's a really tall bush (Tree?). I bought it already attached to a trellis. What is wrong with my tree? Also, how do you take care of them? Thank you so much.
Hardiness Zone: 7a
Dana from Newkensington, PA
Answer: Dana,
This is an interesting question-one that I have often pondered myself. Why is it that the flowers of our youth seemed to be laden with a sweeter fragrance than those we sniff today? Scientific studies indicate that children have a better sense of smell than their parents or grandparents, so initially, I simply chalked it up to a gap in my olfactory memory. I guessed that my nose had simply become dulled and desensitized by age. I've since come to realize that there may be a better explanation. Fragrance, you see, is all in the genes. When you think about it, the flowers of our youth were more fragrant, but they also tended to be blander in color. They most certainly lacked the hybridization (and the resulting vibrant and sometimes downright zany color patterns) that we see in flowers today. This is especially true of roses, which have been endlessly tinkered with over time in order to develop stronger colors, straighter stems and bigger blooms-mostly at the expense of their fragrance. This could be what you're seeing with your honeysuckle tree. Extensive hybridization. Either that, or you may have inadvertently purchased one of several varieties that happen to produce less fragrant blooms. Keep your fingers crossed that as time marches on and your tree continues to mature, you'll see an increase in fragrant flowers. In the meantime, we can all sleep peacefully knowing that plant breeders around the world are collectively devising ways to bring back the "fragrant genes" so often missing in today's flowers.
Tips for Care:
In general, very little care is required to successfully grow honeysuckle. Your climber will grow best in full sun is very tolerant of most soil types. Give it a sturdy support and keep growth in check with occasional pruning. Also, keep in mind that many honeysuckle species are considered invasive in certain parts of the country.
Ellen
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| Painting Light Bulbs For Garden Decor
A fun craft and garden decor idea is to take old light bulbs and paint them. Glass paint is the best option but you can use spray paint as well. Once painted in a design or color of your choice take a high gage wire, I use 20 gauge copper, and wrap around the base. You can wrap some around the bulb as well, if wanted. Then you can hot glue glass stones or little trinkets on the wire. Attach to your average garden stake with wire and a bit of hot glue and plant!
I make mine with wire leaves to look like flowers and even bugs. Its really just what ever you want. Beware of children though or you may have one trying to smell your table lamps!
By lifewithmadman from Little Rock, AR
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Disposing of Bamboo Stalks
Question: Where do you dump bamboo stalks in Montgomery, PA?
Hardiness Zone: 6a
Chanel from Floutown, PA
Answer: Chanel,
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has an excellent web resource for finding out where to recycle in your area.
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/recycle.htm
The site includes drop down menus that allow you to select your county, township or municipality and then lists various drop-off sites and the materials each site accepts for collection. When I selected Montgomery township, I was directed to 5 listings, including this address for yard and garden waste.
Montgomery Township Drop-off Program
Township Building 1001 Stump Road (Stump road? nice pun!)
Montgomeryville, PA 18936
Materials accepted: Cardboard, leaves, yard waste.
You may want to call ahead and confirm with township authorities that your bamboo will be accepted. Otherwise, it seems there are few willing takers on this site!
For other folks looking for information on recycling programs in their area, start by calling your local solid waste, environment or public works department. Department names vary, but every city, town or county government in your area will be able to provide you with information.
Also, visit these sites on the web:
National Recycling Coalition:
http://www.nrc-recycle.org/howto/index.htm
Earth 911:
www.earth911.org
The Internet Consumer Recycling:
http://www.obviously.com/recycle/
The Environmental Protection Agency recycling pages:
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/recycle.htm
Ellen
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Rooting a Blackberry Cutting
Question: I just took some new cuttings off well established Blackberry bushes. How do I root them properly? Right now they are sitting in water. Thanks for the help.
Aquarius from Ontario Canada
Answer: Aquarius,
Here is the easiest way to root cuttings from established plants.
- Start with cuttings that are 4 to 6 inches long. Use new canes from established plants while the new growth is still tender.
- Prepare a pot (or bed) containing a mixture of perlite and peat. Use a 1:1 ratio. You can also root the canes directly outdoors, but they will need time to establish themselves before winter. It's getting late in the year, so I would root and overwinter at least some of them indoors in the event that your winter weather arrives early.
- Dip the bottom ends of the canes into a rooting hormone and insert them into the potting medium 2 inches deep.
- Moisten the potting medium. Optional: Cover the canes with a 2-liter bottle (bottom removed, cap intact).
- Place canes in a warm location and check to see if roots have formed after 5-6 weeks. If so, you can remove the bottle.
- After roots have formed AND some new growth appears, transplant the cuttings into bigger pots or plant them in the desired permanent location. Don't forget to harden off indoor cuttings before transplanting them outside next season.
Upright varieties of blackberries can also be propagated by root cuttings and in the case of trailing types, it's quite easy to establish new plants by layering (bending over the new cane tips on established plants and covering them with soil).
Good luck!
Ellen
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Saving a Plant From Weed Killer
Question: What do you do if you get a weed killer on a plant you wish not to kill?
Hardiness Zone: 9a
Sam
Answer: Sam,
As they say on the environmental front, "Dilution is the solution to pollution." Do your best to minimize damage from the weed killer by thoroughly diluting the area with water. Use a hose or watering can to wash any residue off the plant's foliage. You can also dilute the soil around the plant with water, but your best bet is to remove some of the old soil and replace it with a mix of fresh soil and compost. This will help to replace any of the beneficial micro-organisms that may have been lost to the week killer and will prevent you adding additional stress to the plant from over-watering. Trim away any dead or damaged foliage, and depending on the type of plant, cut it back a bit to stimulate new growth. None of these tips are guaranteed to save your plant, but they will help increase the odds. Only time will tell how your plant will truly fare in the long run.
In the future, try using a coffee can or 2-liter bottle to isolate the weed you're trying to eliminate. A plastic 2-liter bottle with the bottom removed works well because it allows you to surround the weed with the bottle and then spray the weed killer right through the opening at the top.
Good luck!
Ellen
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Weeds Growing Up Through Pebbles
Question:
I have just read your answer to strong weedkiller (salt, water and white vinegar). My garden is covered in pebbles and the growth from under is terrible even though I have the ground covered with a mesh like cover. Will it be ok to use this solution on pebbles? There are no other plants in the pebbled areas at all.
Thanks for any help you can give.
K Green from UK
Answer: K,
I assume you're worried about whether or not this solution will degrade the rock in the same way it can degrade concrete if used repeatedly over time. In most cases, this type of week killer should work fine on an area covered with pebbles. Technically, it really depends on what types of minerals make up the pebbles your using. Softer sedimentary rock with relatively high porosity like limestone, sandstone, shale, dolomite or slate is much more likely to degrade with repeated heavy use. Still, for the average gardener, this is unlikely to be a problem, so I wouldn't worry about it as long as you're using it in an area where you don't expect to grow plants any time soon. There is no absolute way to permanently rid of yourself of weeds forever, of course. Between wind, water and birds, weed seeds have a way of popping up and taking hold in the most unforgiving environments-even those treated with chemicals. As with any weed killer, remember to use this solution sparingly. All chemicals, no matter how benign they seem or how little you use, will still alter the natural balance of things and increase the pollution burden on your local ground water system.
Ellen
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Saving Zinnia Seeds
Question: What is the best way to save Zinnia seeds?
Hardiness Zone: 7b
Becky from Hernando, MS
Answer: Becky,
To save zinnia seeds, wait until the color of the flower heads fade and deadhead them. When the flower head looks rather "dead" but hasn't completely withered and fallen off on its own, the seeds should be ready. As you remove the heads, they should pop off in your hand rather easily.
The seeds will range in size depending on the variety of zinnias you are growing, but most will be brownish in color, have a slightly furry texture, and will be somewhat flat and either rectangular in shape or shaped like tiny arrowheads. To identify the seeds, follow the petals down to their base. The seeds will be located in cones just behind the base of the petals.
After removing the heads from the stems, "cure" them on a tray for a few days in a dark, dry area before storing them in a paper bag and sealing them in an airtight container until planting. If you want offspring with the same genetic traits as the parent plants, it's best to grow and save the seed from heirloom varieties. On the other hand, saving seeds from hybrid zinnias will assure you a random mix of genes that may result in flowers with some very interesting characteristics. In either case, strive to save the seeds from only the hardiest flowers with the longest lasting blooms and the most vibrant colors.
Ellen
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Will a hummingbird vine die if I cut it back?
Question: Will a Hummingbird Vine Die if I Cut it Back?
Hardiness Zone: 6b
Wanda from Church Hill, Tennessee
Answer: Wanda,
Although there are probably plenty of gardeners out there that wish this were the case, cutting a Hummingbird Vine back (referring to Campus radicans or Trumpet Creeper/Trumpet Vine) will not kill it. If you're trying to shape its growth, you can selectively prune it anytime to clean up old wood or thin it by trimming smaller, younger stems as necessary. Hummingbird Vines flower on the current season's growth (new wood), so save any heavy pruning for the late fall or early spring and then cut the stems back by about 10 inches.
These vines are considered invasive in many growing zones. If you're looking to get rid of them, make sure you deadhead the flowers and collect the seeds to keep them from sowing voluntary seedlings. You can also try digging them out by the roots and pulling up any young shoots as they emerge (prepare to be persistent). Leaves can be sprayed with a 5-10% solution of vinegar, but be aware that this weed killer is non-selective and will kill or damage all plants it comes into contact with.
Ellen
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| Make a Bromeliad Orchid Bloom
Make a Bromeliad bloom by putting the entire plant in a plastic bag with an apple for one week, the apple produces ethylene gases and revs up the blooming process. I heard this, but have not tried it as of yet, I need to, mine has not bloomed in the 2 years I've have it.
By Linda from Oceanside, CA
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Hibiscus Not Blooming
Question: My Hibiscus is a beautiful green plant and bloomed about four blooms. Since then it has done nothing but grow taller and no other blooms. What's my problem please.
Hardiness Zone: 7b
Angelheart from Clyde, TX
Answer: Angleheart,
If there was an award for the plant that causes the most stress and worry to it's caregiver, I think the Hibiscus would win. At the very worst, growing them can be demoralizing -like when they suddenly collapse even though nothing in their environment or care routine has changed. And even at their best, they are highly unpredictable - sometimes resurrecting themselves from the dead only after you have given up all hope for their survival. Sometimes cutting a hibiscus back will stimulate it into flowering. Other times they may fail to flower if they are not exposed to enough sun, if their container is too large (they like crowded roots) or they receive too much fertilizer. You didn't mention whether you are growing your plant indoors or outside. In both cases a Hibiscus plant likes to take break. Flowering is usually followed by a period of rest. During this time you should back off on watering and fertilizing for at least 6-8 weeks, and move the plant to a cooler room (55ºF is ideal). In the spring, indoor plants should be cut back to a desired height and once again relocated to a sunny, warm location. As new growth appears you can resume watering and applying a high potassium fertilizer every two weeks. Consider yourself lucky that your hibiscus produced four lovely flowers. As long as it appears healthy, try not to worry. Give it plenty of sun, try not to over-fertilize it, let it "rest" for a bit when it starts to die back and above all, be patient. It will come into bloom again when it's ready.
Ellen
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There's Still Time For Second Season Vegetables
By Ellen BrownLate summer and early fall is the perfect time to squeeze a second season of vegetables out of your garden. For crops like corn, the warm days and cool nights of fall concentrate their sugars, which acts to enhance their flavor. For crops like spinach and lettuce, the cool weather prevents them from bolting prematurely and turning bitter. Depending on how long it takes your crop to mature and which growing zone you live in, there is still plenty of time to put in a second crop.
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| Contest!
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!
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New Requests
| What kind of tree is this?
My son was recently in school in Mooresville, NC. I noticed during the move a beautiful cedar or arborvitae tree that I would love to have. It was pyramidal, green (of course), but what made it stand out were the yellow-tinged lacy ends to the branches. They were beautiful, but I could not find out from anyone what type it was. Can anyone help? Thanks so much!
Hardiness Zone: 8a
Brenda from Greenville, AL
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| Grey Bugs on Gourds and Squash
What are the little grey bugs all over my gourds and squash and the vines? My plants seem to be dyeing because of these bugs.
Hardiness Zone: 5a
Candace from Charlotte, MI
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| Red and Yellow Bugs
What are the little red and yellow bugs on my hibiscus? It appears to have a web attached, but looks like a beetle.
Hardiness Zone: 6a
L from ILL
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| Growing Sunflowers in Containers
I live in an apartment, and would like to have sunflowers on my balcony. Do they do well in planters and if so, what's the best care for them?
Thank you,
Hardiness Zone: 7a
Joanne from Whitestone, NY
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| Making a Flower Planter From Overalls or Jeans
How to make a flower planter out of overalls or old jeans?
Marilyn from Brighton, TN
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| Cracked Cantaloupes
I am growing cantaloupes for the first time and every time the melon starts to get big, it cracks and gets invaded with ants. Any suggestions on what I should do to prevent this?
Hardiness Zone: 8b
Gwyn from Foresthill, CA
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| Attaching Seeds To Planing Paper
I would like to make my own plantable paper and put my own wildflower, or lavender seeds on the paper. How do I keep the seeds from falling off?
MaryLynn from Saskatoon, SK
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| Skunk Repellents
I am looking for a natural way to get rid of skunks in our yard.
Darrell from Sayre, Oklahoma
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| Disappearing Zucchini Blossoms
The blossoms on my zucchini form great and look healthy but look like they have ben cut off just below the blossom during the night. I can't find any insects around or in the mulch or soil. What could do this?
Hardiness Zone: 10a
Edwin from Ventura, CA
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| What Type of Squash is This?
Does anyone know what kind of squash this is? It tastes like regular Zucchini, but I have never seen anything like it and no one can tell me what type it is.
Hardiness Zone: 3a
Ragteller from Tofield, Alberta Canada
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| Green Oranges Splitting Before They Ripen
Why are the green oranges on my tree splitting open before they ripen. The tree is Valencian orange.
Hardiness Zone: 11
Hav from Spain
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| Small Tomatoes
I live in Montreal Quebec and made myself a small garden outside my office. It's full of tomatoes but some are not too big and all of them are green still. I took off the branches with no tomatoes very gentily to give more power to the tomatoes. Did I make a mistake?
Hardiness Zone: 5a
Debbie from Montreal Quebec
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Growing Guides
Growing: Summer Hyacinth
By Ellen Brown
| Growing Hints: |
| Zones 7 and north should plant bulbs in the spring for mid-summer bloom. Zones 8-10 should plant bulbs in the fall for spring blooms. Plants prefer sites with full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Bulbs should be planted deeply (7 inches) and spaced about 15 inches apart. Cooler zones should lift bulbs after leaves die back naturally (or before the first hard frost) and store them in dry peat moss or vermiculite over winter. Summer hyacinths propagated from seeds will take several years to flower. Propagate by division in spring or fall. |
More Growing Information: Click Here | Growing: Lemon Verbena
By Ellen Brown
| Description: |
| The small lavender-colored flower clusters along the woody stems of Lemon Verbena are not particularly showy, but the herb is worth growing just for its foliage. The plant's leaves are long, green and ordinary in appearance, but they give off a lively citrus scent when crushed. Lemon verbena grows into a bushy shrub that stands 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide. It can grow taller in warmer climates, or be kept smaller if grown in containers. |
More Growing Information: Click Here | Growing: Snapdragon
By Ellen Brown
| Growing Hints: |
| Purchase seedlings or start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before you last spring frost. Seeds need light to germinated so don't cover them with soil, just press them lightly into the surface. Keep sprouts cool (55º F) until they're ready to transplant outdoors. Seedlings will tolerate some frost. Space them from 6 to 12 inches apart. During hot summer days, if plants start looking dull and droopy, cut them down by half and apply an organic fertilizer to reinvigorate their growth. Watch for orange spots indicating a fungal disease called rust and treat with a dusting of sulfur if necessary. |
More Growing Information: Click Here | Growing: Hollyhock
By Ellen Brown
| Growing Hints: |
| Purchase plants or start from seed by sowing seeds directly into the garden in the spring to early summer. Plants will bloom the following summer. For possible first year blooms, start seeds indoors in late winter. Hollyhock seeds need light to germinate, so barely cover seeds with soil. Plants may live a third year if you cut off their flower stalks after blooming, otherwise plan to replace spent plants with seedlings to keep a crop blooming each summer without interruption. |
More Growing Information: Click Here | Growing: Tidy Tips
By Ellen Brown
| Growing Hints: |
| Sow seeds directly where you want them to grow in the early spring as soon as the soil is workable. Space seeds 4 to 5 inches apart and do not cover them. |
More Growing Information: Click Here | Growing: Lovage
By Ellen Brown
| Description: |
| Every part of Lovage, with the exception of the small, umbel-shaped yellow flowers, can be harvested and utilized in medicinal, culinary or cosmetic ways. At 5 or 6 feet tall, these leafy plants have the look and scent of overgrown celery and are best planted in the back of the garden where their height and spread will not be an issue. |
More Growing Information: Click Here |
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