Happy Garden - June 25, 2009

Vol. 4, Num. 26, June 25, 2009 (Read It Online) This week we have some more photos from readers, tips from readers and an article by Ellen Brown about Growing Hot Peppers. Do you have a photo or tip to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit them here: Post a Gardening Tip http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml Submit Pictures of Your Garden http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_photocontest.ldml Be sure to give a "thumbs up" to tips and photos that you like! Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team 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: Garden: Impatiens Garden: Clear VHS Cases For Seedlings Garden: Lupine Garden: Calla Lilies Tips and Articles: Reuse Plastic Cat Litter Bags as Tomato Planters Turning Up The Heat: Growing Hot Peppers Propagating Hydrangeas Vinyl Blinds for Plant Markers New Requests: Pennsylvania Flowers That Bloom in July Orange Flowers Along Kentucky Highway Killing Mosquito Larvae in Rain Barrel Making an Amaryllis Bloom Again Brown Patches in New Lawn Leaves on Tomatoes in Topsy Turvy Tree Turning Yellow Keeping Birds from Eating Strawberries What is This Plant? Lilac Bush Not Blooming Wisteria Vines Don't Flower Making Roses Big and Healthy Preventing Rose of Sharon Seeds from Germinating Chipmunks Attacking My Plants Burning Bush Does Not Turn Red Getting Rid of Earthworms Removing Leaves from Begonias Growing Viola Parsley is Flowering Pruning a Lilac Bush Birds Eating Tomato Plants Hydrangea Isn't Flowering What is This Plant? Is This a Toad? 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: Garden: Impatiens I love summertime. I love to plant and garden and watch everything grow. I love to take pictures of all my plants and see the beautiful colors and watch them grow from when I first planted them to the end of the summer. By Donna from Lindenhurst, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14461975.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Garden: Clear VHS Cases For Seedlings When our library decided to get rid of videos in favor of dvds, all the old transparent plastic cases went in the waste bin. This is a cloche made from some that I rescued. Superb for plants and less for landfill! By jehosophat jones from England UK Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56014377.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Garden: Lupine These are my pretty lupines that I finally got established this year. The gazing ball in the background is made from a bowling ball and glass 1/2 balls and glue. It does not break as easy as the regular gazing balls! By laniegirl from Iowa Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10666304.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Garden: Calla Lilies Here is another one of my Nana's lilies (we both enjoy lilies). This is a calla lily she just tried her hand at planting this year and they seem to be responding well. These too are in full sun, all day, and the soil is very sandy as well. She surround many of her plants with pine straw and it doesn't seem to harm them in any way. Source: Nana's flowerbed By HICKCHIC3 from North Augusta, SC Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85068998.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Tips and Articles: Reuse Plastic Cat Litter Bags as Tomato Planters The new tomato plants were out today, and I couldn't resist, thinking surely, I had some large planters at my apartment. You guessed it, no planters, but I do have a cat. He's particular about the cat sand he uses, and fortunately for me, I had several of the "plastic" bags in the recycle bins. They're wide and fairly tall. When filled with soil and a plant is about the same size and a large planter. It looks kinda funky, but hey, the cat wasn't going to use them, and they was free. Peace. By debit4857 from Vancouver, WA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83862057.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Turning Up The Heat: Growing Hot Peppers Many gardeners are developing a passion for hot peppers. With all of the exciting colors, shapes, tastes, and degrees of heat for every palate, it's easy to see why. Here are some helpful tips for selecting and growing hot peppers. View This Article: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65600725.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Propagating Hydrangeas If you love Hydrangeas, as I do, now is the time to propagate them. If you don't have one, maybe a neighbor would let you take a few cuttings. It won't harm the existing plant, so don't be shy in asking. In about 6 weeks you'll be able to plant the cuttings in their permanent site. I took my cuttings from a Macrophylla Hydrangea. They are very adaptable, I have one planted on the north side of my house (shady) and one on the south side (sunny) and some in dappled sun, under trees. They all bloom beautifully! I have propagated all my hydrangeas this way, but I recently read you can place the cuttings in water to root them. You might want to try that. Approximate Time: 1/2 hour Supplies: Hydrangea cuttings Sphagnum peat moss Vermiculite Perlite Rooting Hormone Paper plate or scrap cardboard 6 - 4 inch pots Tray to place pots in Watering can Water Scissors Instructions: Prepare the growing medium first. Mix equal parts of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite. Put mixture into 4 inch pots, add water to moisten. Place the prepared pots on the tray. Take 6 cuttings from the newer green growth, preferably without flower buds, about a quarter inch thick and 6 inches long. Gently strip all but the top leaves. (Too many leaves make the cutting strain to feed all those leaves) Pour about a tablespoon of rooting hormone on a paper plate (read label for any precautions). Wet the bottom inch of each cutting, roll the wet part of cuttings in the rooting hormone. Poke your finger in the peat moss mixture about 2 inches deep, to form the hole for your cutting. Place each cutting into holes and push dirt back into place. Pour a little water in the tray. (You could cover in plastic if desired) I don't cover; I keep in a shady spot for about 6 weeks, water to keep moist but not drenched. After 6 weeks, acclimate the plant to where you want to plant it. Check to see if there seems to be enough rooting system to plant your cuttings. If so, plant in groups of 3. (3 cuttings should be sufficient to form a nice Hydrangea) Place a marker where you planted it, they lose their leaves in winter and you might forget about it. By Deb H. from East Brunswick, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92068547.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Vinyl Blinds for Plant Markers I take an old plastic Mini-Blind. cut the string to remove slats off the string. Take 3 slats at a time stacked and flush, Start my first cut at the hole for the strings, use that as a size guide cutting down the slat, using up the slat. Then put a point on one end. I have plant markers that look all the same and almost look store purchased. I use a paint pen. Sharpie ink does not last outside. Caution! You will have TONS of plant or row markers with this project. Source: Just came to me filling a need for lots of markers, and wanting to reuse. By Chuck J from Mason, MI Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84205234.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | 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, 2 photo winners (1 photo and 1 pet photo) and 1 recipe winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! New Requests: Pennsylvania Flowers That Bloom in July What flowers bloom in July in central Pennsylvania? Hardiness Zone: 6a By dlsloppy from Central PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16321505.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Orange Flowers Along Kentucky Highway I see these beautiful orange flowers by the highway. What are they and how can I get some to plant? By Janis01 from Williamsburg, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64402585.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Killing Mosquito Larvae in Rain Barrel I am catching rainwater. To kill mosquito larvae, how much Clorox per 55 gallon barrel should I be adding? Thanks. CWE Hardiness Zone: 6a By lonrgr from Corsica, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35377931.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Making an Amaryllis Bloom Again How do I get an Amaryllis to rebloom? My mother-in-law, said it can be done. Hardiness Zone: 7a By joyellymae from Clinton, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84632123.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Brown Patches in New Lawn Why are there brown patches in my new lawn? Hardiness Zone: 11 By CLARK333 from Yakima, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57719389.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Leaves on Tomatoes in Topsy Turvy Tree Turning Yellow What would make my tomato plants leaves turn yellow? I am growing them in a Topsy Turvy Tree. I don't even have any tomatoes on them yet. Hardiness Zone: 8b By JMLOPRINZI from Portland, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71439304.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Keeping Birds from Eating Strawberries How can I keep the birds from eating my strawberries? By LISAHEYN from IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67715579.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | What is This Plant? We just moved into a new place that is surrounded with rose bushes and other plants. I came upon this plant and love it, but I don't know the name of it? Does anyone? The colors are so vibrant! By Stacey Silva from West Jordan, UT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87396016.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Lilac Bush Not Blooming How do I get my Lilac to produce flowers? Hardiness Zone: 6a By happygirl from PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf001370.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Wisteria Vines Don't Flower My Wisteria won't bloom. Hardiness Zone: 6b By sundrops61 from Brockton, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf41320232.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Making Roses Big and Healthy What is the best way to have healthy rose bushes? I have heard that coffee grounds really help roses. Is this true? Hardiness Zone: 7a By Candita from Suffolk, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33104424.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Preventing Rose of Sharon Seeds from Germinating I love my Rose of Sharon, but I hate the seedlings that come up everywhere. Is there anything that can be sprayed on the ground that would keep them from germinating? Hardiness Zone: 6a By cset from Kansas City Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75133802.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Chipmunks Attacking My Plants How do I keep chipmunks away from garden vegetables, fruits, and flowers? Hardiness Zone: 5b By golfgarden from Troy, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15735421.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Burning Bush Does Not Turn Red I have a burning Bush that is planted in full sun. It has never been fertilized, but it is very healthy looking. I'm disappointed that it has never turned red in the fall. Please give me any suggestions as to what I should do. Thank you. Hardiness Zone: 6b By 8330kjs from Owensboro, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69017857.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Rid of Earthworms How do I get rid of earthworms? Hardiness Zone: 10a By lougerry61 Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83366379.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Removing Leaves from Begonias Can you remove some of the leaves from Begonias? Hardiness Zone: 1 By horses11 from UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45198200.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Growing Viola I have two Viola plants that were nice and full when I bought them. The past week they look like somebody sat on them. I'm wondering if maybe they have got too long to be perky any more. What would happen if I cut them completely back? Would they come back and bloom again or would I finish killing them? By redhatterb Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95039223.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Parsley is Flowering My parsley has started to flower. Can I cut them off to prolong the plant, or is this the end of it? Thanks. Mary Hardiness Zone: 8b By mvine23 from Hat Island, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20053993.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Pruning a Lilac Bush When and how do you prune a lilac bush? Hardiness Zone: 4a By bdeast from WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94960812.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Birds Eating Tomato Plants Birds are eating our tomatoes before they ripen, we have net over the plants, but no help. Is there something else we can do? Hardiness Zone: 9a By banjeaux from Beaumont,TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88558625.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Hydrangea Isn't Flowering My hydrangea is about 15 years old. It gets huge in the summer and gets about 8 hours of sun. It had gorgeous blue blooms for the first few years. I watch and wait every season, but am sad to say there are no flowers. Please help. Thanks. Hardiness Zone: 6b By 8330kjs from Owensboro, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71483895.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | What is This Plant? Can you tell me the name of this plant? It has purple bell like flowers and fuzzy leaves. I think it is related to an African violet. Hardiness Zone: 7a By kirby80 from Davidsonville, MD Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73193379.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Is This a Toad? Can anyone tell us if this is a toad or a frog? I think it's a little toad, but someone else thinks it's a tree frog. We found it outside our office complex where we have a large pond/wetlands and prairie setting. He's so little! By Mary Moo from Bolingbrook, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71281889.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | 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.