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Vol. 4, Num. 23, June 11, 2009 (Read It Online) We have a lot of new gardening requests this week. Please look them over and see if you have any advice to offer. We also have a nice article by Ellen Brown about Starting A Self-Sowing Garden as well as more tips and photos from readers. If you have a gardening tip or photo to share, please submit them on one of the contest pages. Be sure to give a "thumbs up" to the contest contenders in this newsletter that you like. Your ratings help pick the winners. Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team
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Garden: Ladder as a Hanging Trellis With limited space for a garden, I have to come up with new ways to grow things. This is the new hanging trellis I made to grow cantaloupes on. It is an old ladder supported by plant hooks on the fence side and utility hooks and nylon string for the outside.When the melons start getting big, I will put mesh cloth around them and use hooks hanging from the steps to support the mesh. The cantaloupe plants are in the painted 5 gallon bucket, the other 2 planters are flowers. By Melmarr from Southeastern Michigan
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Rate It: Garden: Make Each Planter Different Here's a tip for planting planters. Plant each one differently for a change instead of planting each planter identical.By Lori from Whiterock B. C.
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Rate It: I planted my elephant garlic in a raised bed in October. I use fifty percent topsoil and fifty percent compost. I also cover it with sawdust for mulch for winter. I will dig it up in July and it's very good when you put it right on the barbecue. By PC from Salem, OR Contest Contender!
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Rate It: I started my lantana as a small plant and now it decorates my garden yearly. By Maria from Dallas, Texas
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Starting A Self-Sowing Garden
For the busy gardener, the idea of a flower garden that sows itself is pretty appealing. The idea of a garden that sows itself AND saves you money sounds almost too good to be true. Self-seeding annuals (and some biennials and perennials) are more than up to the task. In fact, they are the perfect flowers for the job. That's because nature has already designed them to be prolific bloomers and mass producers of seed. Scattering Seeds The most inexpensive way to start a self-sowing garden is by seed (you can also start with plants and save the seed). There are two ways to do this. The first way (for you adventurous types) is to scatter your seeds willy-nilly all over a prepared bed. This is a wonderful "wait and see what you get" kind of approach, which is sure to garner some delightful, if not surprising, results. This approach also gives you the advantage of not having to weed until you learn to identify your flowers from those less desirable "flowers that are just out of place." Separating Seeds The second way (for you more conservative types), is to outline a bed and mark off different sections within the bed for sowing each type of seeds. This results in a little more formal look (at least for the first year), and will give you a better opportunity to "edit" (but less excuses to leave the weeds). Plants tend to lean forward (and over the edges of your carefully marked bed) before dropping their seed. Bend them back to where you want your seed to fall, or once spring rolls around you'll be transplanting seedlings from over the border. Once the seedlings are tall enough, start adding a protective layer of mulch around them to cover the soil and help control weeds. When to Stop Deadheading Self-sowing annuals have a lot of flower power. Take advantage of this by deadheading them to encourage continuous blooms until mid to late summer. After that, let some of the flowers go to seed. Getting Seeds to Germinate Many gardeners choose a more deliberate approach to self-sown gardens by collecting and saving seeds each fall and sowing them directly by hand in the spring. This works well as long as you provide the seeds with the conditions they need to germinate. Some seeds need light to germinate (should not be covered with soil), while others prefer darkness. Many annual seeds will germinate faster if scarified or soaked in water. Others need a period of cold to trigger germination. A Garden Full of Surprises One thing to keep in mind when selecting plants and seeds is whether or not they are open-pollinated or hybrids. Open pollinated seeds (like the heirloom varieties) will always produce offspring identical to their parent, which is wonderful if you're going for a certain look or trying to maintain a specific color scheme. Hybrid seeds may produce offspring which look vastly different from their parents. This can be exciting if you like surprises and enjoy seeing a different look each season. Some Great Self-Sowing Plants
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Rate It: Put your seed packet row markers in an upside-down closed zip lock bag and secure it with a clothes pin, the rain will stay out and the wind won't blow it away. Also, face it away from the direction of the sun and it won't get sun bleached so quickly. By Melmarr from Michigan Contest Contender!
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Rate It: Wrap Tree Trunk With Clear Plastic to Prevent Squirrel Damage Squirrels have been eating the bark off our Red Bud Tree and have damaged it considerably. After trying almost every suggestion on the internet, we came upon a solution. We wrapped a 3 foot wide piece of 4 mil clear plastic around the trunk of the tree, approximately 2 feet off the ground. The squirrels can no longer get up into the tree. They try but cannot succeed. No harm to the tree or the squirrels. By Kaylenmar from Beverly Hills, FL Contest Contender!
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Rate It: Using Rabbit Litter as Compost and Mulch I have several indoor pets that include 2 rabbits. I use cedar shavings in all the cages. When I clean the cages I dump the used shavings in my flower beds for mulch as well as fertilizer. By kflawson from Bolivar, TN Contest Contender!
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Pear Trees Not Flowering or Leafing Out We have 2 pear trees that we haven't really had much success with in our yard. We pruned them back this year to open them up in hopes that more fruit would be produced, but now one of them is refusing to flower or leaf out. I've checked for pests and do not see any, we pruned when the tree was still dormant (we pruned the weekend after the last snowfall in May). We use drip irrigation around almost all our fruit trees so lack of moisture shouldn't be an issue. Any other ideas or is my tree in shock? My best guess is that it was planted in 2000 as it is about 12' tall. Thanks for your help. Hardiness Zone: 3a By shaunagirl from Devon, Alberta Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36373060.tip.html
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Rate It: I have a patio tomato plant that's leaves are turning under, not up. Why? By 1234? from Milwaukee, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf171119.tip.html
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Rate It: What is the easiest way to trellis beans? Also, I am find these tiny (size of a pin dot ) bugs on my bean plants. What are they and how do I get rid of them? Hardiness Zone: 8a By catwil from Vancouver, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35439824.tip.html
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Rate It: Does anyone have an idea for how to make a compost bin, without a lot of expense? By bayouchic from Slidell, LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86059302.tip.html
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Rate It: How does one revive and make a lush lawn? Hardiness Zone: 9a By carubio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf566987.tip.html
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Rate It: I was at a friend's house and we saw a huge 6 foot ling black snake. We thought it was just a big, non-venomous black snake that eats mice and is native to the area, but then it opened it's mouth and had a pure white mouth or throat.
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Rate It: Are there any household products that can be used to remove rust from garden tools? By free2bskipper from Atlanta, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21488974.tip.html
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Rate It: I have to do my herbal garden in my apartment. I have fungus gnats, ugh. I got the little yellow flags that are sticky traps. However, it only catches them after they hatch, not while they are in the soil. Because these are my herbs, I do not want to put chemicals on them. Can someone help me? I do not want to throw them out. I have a nice little garden, and I don't want to buy new plants and pots. Thanks. By adriarobi from Oshkosh, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18517832.tip.html
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Rate It: I already asked this as a reply, but am now asking here about the watering tip using a milk jug. I've had to fill mine repeatedly every few hours. They each only have 1 very tiny hole on the bottom. Why is this happening? I thought I was supposed to be able to save water and maybe some time. Thanks for your help. Hardiness Zone: 6b By jaris16 from Quakertown, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91287443.tip.html
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Rate It: I have 2 orchids and both have a white powder on them. They do not look healthy. Can someone help me what am I doing wrong? By djxn from Colfax, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76970627.tip.html
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Rate It: Leaves Yellowing on Hybrid Lilies I have Hybrid lilies that started out beautiful. Now on at least 3 of them the leaves started turning yellow at the bottom of the plant, continuing up to the flower. The leaves turn brown and die, but the lily is still blooming. Can you tell me what this might be? Thank you. Hardiness Zone: 7b By NCchic from Morganton, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49253090.tip.html
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Rate It: Starting a Japanese Holly from Cuttings I have to cut back a Japanese Holly. Can the stems I cut be rooted to make other cuttings? If so, please let me know. Thanks. Hardiness Zone: 9a By bdon1 from Praireville, LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55608850.tip.html
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Rate It: When do I re-pot my orchids? Hardiness Zone: 11 By babbie from Lemon Grove, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35633449.tip.html
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Rate It: My hanging baskets of petunias stopped blooming. Why did this happen? Thanks for your help. Hardiness Zone: 6a By dasygram from Cleveland, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25080261.tip.html
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Rate It: Getting Rid of Pine Needles in Lawn What is the best way to rake up or otherwise remove pine needles in your lawn? The ones that are practically embedded? By Mariebal Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12217272.tip.html
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Rate It: Today (June 4) I received a Red Lion Amaryllis bulb. It has a double stalk, the taller one being 12 inches high. Each stalk has what appears to be a large bud. It has not been planted in soil and the bulb is very clean. It is pale green in color. It has not been in water either. My hardiness Zone is 5. What should I do with it at this time of the year. Should I plant outside or in a pot or in water? Should it be kept in the house or outside? How deep should the soil be or the water? Any help you can give me would be appreciated. Anything I have read appears to be advice for spring or winter forcing. Thank you. Hardiness Zone: 5a By Dawn T. from Racine County, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52847919.tip.html
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Rate It: Holes in Leaves of Basil and Pepper Plants I have bugs on Basil and Pepper plants. There are lots of little holes on both plants. Could this be slugs? What do I do? Hardiness Zone: 5a By mom of towers from St. Louis, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15055454.tip.html
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Rate It: Is a Fuchsia plant a bulb that I can replant next year? I bought a very large Fuchsia that was loaded with blooms. It was doing great, and now the flowers are fading badly. The plant is only 2 weeks old. What's wrong? Thanks. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28937717.tip.html
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Rate It: My husband bought me flowers for our wedding anniversary. However, they didn't give him any food for the flowers. Is there anything I can use to keep them alive a bit longer? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67960579.tip.html
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Rate It: Does anyone have an organic recipe to put on plants to keep deer from eating flowers? Hardiness Zone: 7a By niteagle77 from East Hampton, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf719639.tip.html
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Rate It: How can I get rid of some elephant ears? Twelve years ago when we first moved into this house I planted one bulb on each side of our front steps. Three years later I dug them up because they had gotten too full and split them into 3 plants from each bulb and transplanted them. Three years later I dug up all 6 plants and split each of them into 3 plants each, making 18 plants! Some I gave away, some I transplanted again. I kept 6 of the 18. Three years ago I did all this again! And guess what, I have elephant ears still coming up in all of the original places where I planted or transplanted them. I just can't get them to quit coming up! I've even tried weed killer but it doesn't seem to phase them! Hardiness Zone: 7b By Cricketnc from Parkton, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98751219.tip.html
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Rate It: While digging up ivy that was growing around a tree, I noticed a lot of bulbs. Could these be ivy bulbs? If so, I would like to plant them in hanging baskets, but I'm not sure if it's ivy. Hardiness Zone: 8a By Green Thumb from Goldsboro, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50424916.tip.html
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Rate It: We have 8 baby rabbits that we have been helping our pet rabbit feed. When do we need to offer pellet food to the babies? By Sharon T. from Westminster, S.C. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16460992.tip.html
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Rate It: I had once heard that there was a household item that you could sprinkle around your pepper plants that would help green peppers grow in our garden. Has anybody heard of this? Hardiness Zone: 5a By pasprincess from Green Bay, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf42042664.tip.html
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Rate It: What can I make stepping stones for my yard out of besides concrete? I have been thinking about using roofing shingles. Anything recycled would be nice, too. Any ideas will be appreciated. By Robyn Fed from Hampton, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88749694.tip.html
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Rate It: My arborvitaes are turning brown. Any ideas? By Doxiemom from Coplay, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71029609.tip.html
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Rate It: I want to remove some large bushes next to my house. I thought cutting the bush down and covering the roots with plastic for awhile would be alright but my friend said that the rotting roots would attract termites. Another friend suggested wrapping a chain around them and pulling out with a truck would be OK. Does anyone have another suggestion or an opinion? Thanks in advance. Hardiness Zone: 5a By sassfrass from IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36225557.tip.html
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Rate It: Inexpensive Gardening Supplies I just moved into a house at the beginning of March. I am excited to finally have a yard, but have found that supplies to beautify the yard are very expensive. I would appreciate any suggestions. Namely, any ideas about where to get free plants? Hardiness Zone: 5a By tjest from Loveland, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17887165.tip.html
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Rate It: I have a giant Hollyhock that I saved seeds from last year. Can I plant them in the fall, or did the seeds have to be frozen before they will start new Hollyhocks? Hardiness Zone: 5b By Don from Colorado Springs, CO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf535241.tip.html
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Rate It: Starting a Cherry Tree from a Pit Can I plant a sweet cherry pit and grow a tree? Hardiness Zone: 8a By Clutterfree from Charleston, SC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98116044.tip.html
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