Happy Garden - October 29, 2009

Leaves are changing color and falling in the Pacific Northwest, as they probably are where you live. Today we have a great article from Ellen about Compost "Tea" and a tip about using your leaves as mulch. Please send in your tips and photos for gardening this time of year, such as how you are preparing for winter or next spring.

Thanks for reading,

The ThriftyFun Team

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Photos:

• Garden: Walking Stick
• Garden: Volunteer Gourd
• Garden: Burning Bush
• Reuse Halloween Pumpkins In Fall Displays

Tips and Articles:

• Leaves are Free Fertilizer
• How To Make Compost Tea
• Garden: Deer and Rabbit Deterrent
• Where to Shop for Bulbs

New Requests:

• Old Blue Spruce Tree Is Dying
• Propagating a Weeping Willow Tree
• Tangelo Oranges Falling Off the Tree Early
• Remediating Creosote Logs in the Garden
• Getting Rid of Bats in the Attic
• Deterrent for Snakes
• Do Junipers Acidify the Soil?
• Importance of Insects
• I Saw a White Deer
• Making a Compost Bin With a Plastic Garbage Can
• Storing Flower Bulbs
• Keeping Dogs Out of the Garden
• Keeping Cats Out of the Garden
• Growing Sunflowers Without Sunlight
• Caring for a Burning Bush Plant
• Is Horseradish a Radish?
• Cucumbers Turning Yellow

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Garden: Walking Stick

By melody_yesterday from Otterville, MO

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Garden: Volunteer Gourd

By Jackie from Enumclaw, WA

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Garden: Burning Bush

By Jackie from Enumclaw, WA

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Reuse Halloween Pumpkins In Fall Displays

By Vickie from Earle, AR

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Leaves are Free Fertilizer

Why are people raking or blowing their leaves to the street for the city government to collect? Leaves are a type of free fertilizer, and yet we pay our cities to haul our free fertilizer away every fall, and then buy unnatural, non-organic chemicals, or organic fertilizers in the spring to replenish our lawns.

Why are we doing this? This has been bothering me for years. I garden; and, because we all need to "think green," (before the mulching mower) I would rake all the leaves up, and dig a huge hole in the garden, or vice-versa, and rake all of the leaves into the hole I created in the garden, then back fill all of the dirt into the hole.

The first spring, when I dug into that tree leaf back fill, I was surprised by some of the darkest, most lovely soil I had ever seen in my life.

I truly feel that deciduous trees are trying to give back to us in the fall everything they accumulated from the sun, rain, and soil that spring and summer.

Yet, without thought, so many of us rake those leaves up, waiting for the city to come take them away, and we devoid our own property of those nutrients, replenishing them in the spring with other nutrients - organic, or not.

In the years that have passed, I've gotten married, and we now own a mulching lawnmower. I really like the idea that the lawnmower mulches the fallen leaves; however, the mulching lawnmower uses gasoline.

For ourselves, and those that are here, and those to come, let's "think green." Really, what are we doing to our own properties when we give the city our leaves, and devoid our own land of those nutrients?

Source: Myself. I was inspired to write this today, after I heard a noise outside and asked my husband what that noise was. He replied that it sounded like it might have been a leaf-blower, or even a leaf-mulcher.

By Carol L. from South Bend, IN

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How To Make Compost Tea
By Ellen Brown

What do you get when you use a five gallon bucket as a tea pot, a burlap sack as a tea bag, two shovels of compost as tea leaves, and molasses as a sweetener? The answer is compost tea. Some gardeners use it to give their plants a nutritional boost. Others spray is on foliage to help fight disease. Here's how to make it.

A Theory Steeped in Controversy

Two Brewing Methods

The Aerobic Method: This method involves adding a sugar source (to promote bacteria growth) and the use of an air pump or blower to inject oxygen into the tea while it's brewing for 1-3 days. Proponents in this camp claim that compost tea prepared this way contains more beneficial aerobic microorganisms and compounds than tea prepared using the more simple anaerobic method. The air pump also speeds up the brewing process. Most of the compost tea "kits" sold commercially are made for aerobic brewing.

The Anaerobic Method: This method consists of adding finished compost to water (either with or without the addition of sugar, etc.) and stirring the mix several times a day for 1 to 14 days. The idea is to loosen the microbes in the compost and soil particles so they are transferred into the water. After the tea is done brewing, the liquid is strained off and used on garden plants.

Throw Your Plants a Tea Party

This method is super simple, but because it lacks oxygen you will be left with a tea that contains very few, if any, microorganisms (they need oxygen to live). The tea will still contain valuable nutrients for your plants.

Fill a burlap sack with 2 shovelfuls of finished compost (pillowcases, nylon stockings, and cheesecloth work fine, too).

Place the sack in a 5-gallon bucket and cover it with water.

Let steep for 3 or more days.

Use liquid (diluted with water to a weak tea color) to water plants. You can return the trapped solids to the compost pile.

Recipe #2 ( A simple and slightly "aerobic" compost tea)

No pump is needed for this aerobic method, because by stirring the tea several times a day, enough air is added to aid in some microbial growth. This process is slower and usually takes at least a week or longer.

Scoop 2-3 shovelfuls of finished compost into a 5-gallon bucket and cover it with water. If you're using chlorinated water from your tap, let it stand 24 hours before using it to remove the chlorine (it will kill the beneficial microorganisms).

Add 2 Tbsp. fish emulsion or seaweed emulsion, 2 Tbsp. of molasses, 3 Tbsp. of lemon juice. All of these ingredients act as food for the bacteria and fungi. Examples of other food you can add include rotten fruit, seaweed emulsion, alfalfa meal, corn meal, apple cider vinegar, or citric acid.

Stir your brew several times daily and let steep for at least 6-7 days. Do this outside in an area that is protected from both the weather and animals, but is convenient enough so that you can stir it frequently (like a patio or deck). Remember, if the tea doesn't get enough oxygen the microorganisms will die, so don't cover it and keep stirring.

When your tea is done it will smell "yeasty" and will probably have some bubbles on the top. Once you've determined that it's done dilute it to 1 part tea/10 parts water and use it immediately around the garden (before the microorganisms die off). You can fill up a watering can and use it to feed plants, and spray it directly on plant leaves for foliar feeding.

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Garden: Deer and Rabbit Deterrent

If you are troubled by deer or rabbits eating plants in your garden, try my foolproof remedy. After a lot of experimenting, I came up with this easy and inexpensive spray.

Whisk one egg with 1 cup water; pour into a 1 quart pistol grip spray bottle. Add 1 tsp dish soap. Fill rest with water. Set outside in the sun for about 3 days, until it's putrefied. One little squirt does the job. You do not have to over saturate.

I mix up 2 bottles at a time so I always have one in reserve. You must reapply after a rain. Say 'goodbye' to the garden invaders! A lot of friends have tried this and can attest to its effectiveness.

Source: my own recipe

By annelaundrie from Green Bay, WI

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Where to Shop for Bulbs
By Ellen Brown

Bulbs can be purchased in a number places: nurseries, garden centers, home improvement stores, grocery stores, or through mail order catalogs. No one place is necessarily better than another, as long as you know that there are advantages and disadvantages to each.

Garden Centers and Nurseries

How bulbs are sold: often loose in bins, and may be available for purchase individually, or in specific quantities for a set price.

Advantages

• Knowledgeable gardeners are available to answer your questions.

• You can carefully inspect each bulb before purchasing.

• Bulbs can be purchased in the exact quantities you need.

• Bulbs sold loose are usually less expensive than pre-packaged bulbs.

• The bulbs sold are proven winners and hardy to your growing zone.

Disadvantages

• Bulbs can become damaged due to being handled by multiple shoppers.

• Different colored bulbs may get mixed together accidentally in the same bin, making it difficult to know for certain if you're getting the color (or even the variety) you want.

• Bulbs do not always come with growing instructions.

Grocery Stores and Big Box Home Improvement Stores

How bulbs are sold: usually in prepackaged cartons or net bags; occasionally loose in bins.

Advantages

• Bulbs sold here are typically less expensive.

• Prepackaged bulbs are spared handling by multiple shoppers.

• Growing and planting instructions are usually included.

• The convenience of one-stop shopping if you have other items on your list.

Disadvantages

• Staff is unlikely to be qualified to answer your questions or offer you advice.

• Prepackaged bulbs may not contain the number of bulbs you need.

• You can't always be sure the bulbs sold are hardy to your zone.

• There are usually less varieties to choose from.

• Inspecting the bulbs for quality isn't always possible.

• Less expensive bulbs sometimes means lower quality.

Mail Order/Specialty Catalogs

How bulbs are sold: presented through images and descriptions in catalogs or online. They may be offered individually or in pre-set quantities. Many also offer bulbs in mixtures, which usually contain several different varieties mixed together (these are packed together and not individually labeled), or in collections, which contain packs of different bulbs of a similar type (usually separated and labeled according to color or type.

Advantages

• The convenience of shopping from home. Most companies offering catalogs also have websites.

• The ability to shop for and purchase bulbs early to get the best selection.

• A better selection of bulbs, including rare or unusual varieties.

• The ability to try varieties that may not be available for purchase locally.

• Illustrations and descriptions that allow you to window shop before you buy.

Disadvantages

• Bulbs must be purchased sight unseen.

• Illustrations and descriptions may "oversell" the final product.

• If problems arise customer service response time may be slower.

• Suppliers choice means colors and varieties sold as mixtures may be unpredictable.

• Bulbs may be higher in price due to the cost of shipping.

• Unexpected delays in shipping are out of your control.

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Old Blue Spruce Tree Is Dying

Recently we had a tree cutter remove some branches from the middle portion of our blue spruce tree. It appears that now many of the surrounding branches are beginning to turn brown.

My husband and I are quite upset as we have grown this tree since it was about two feet tall. It is now about forty feet tall and has been growing on our front lawn for about forty-one years. Please help. Thank you in advance.

Hardiness Zone: 7a

By Carol from Commack, NY

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Propagating a Weeping Willow Tree

How do I propagate cuttings of the weeping willow?

Hardiness Zone: 9a

By Betty

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Tangelo Oranges Falling Off the Tree Early

What causes the fruit on my tangelo tree to split and fall off prematurely? It seems that when the fruit starts to change color it splits and falls off. The tree is about 9 years old. This has never happened before.

Hardiness Zone: 10a

By outrider

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Remediating Creosote Logs in the Garden

I am looking for information on remediation of creosote logs in the garden. I am curious about plugging the logs with oyster mushrooms for remediation. The raised beds with the logs are not being used for food cultivation.

I would like to remediate them on the spot rather than take them to the dump. Any ideas, info or links would be most appreciated. Thanks.

Hardiness Zone: 8b

By Nikki from Portland, OR

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Getting Rid of Bats in the Attic

How can I get rid of bats from behind a wall or in the ceiling of my home?

By Anna from PA

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Deterrent for Snakes

How do you keep snakes off your property, especially rattlers? We have tried almost everything.

By Herb V. from Deltona, FL

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Do Junipers Acidify the Soil?

I wonder if juniper trees provide acid to the soil underneath them. I want to plant 2 blueberry bushes and have no pines in my garden. The junipers are about 25 feet tall and there is scattered sunlight under them. I understand blueberries need sun, but it can be quite hot here all summer.

Hardiness Zone: 9b

By Donni from El Sobrante, CA

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Importance of Insects

Why are insects an important biological resource?

By Jacinta Mc. from PA

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I Saw a White Deer

Has anyone seen an all white deer? I spotted one in the woods by my house and I still can't believe it. I tried to get a picture, but my camera doesn't take good distance pictures. I'm afraid no one else believes me either, but I did see it.

By Robbie from IN

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Making a Compost Bin With a Plastic Garbage Can

I was wondering how to make a compost bin out of a trash can.

By texasangel from TX

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Storing Flower Bulbs

Because we've just started a major renovation project requiring our whole yard to be torn up, I dug up all the bulbs, corms, and tubers around the house. Unfortunately (I now realize after reading), I cut off the foliage of half of these plants, and threw them into cardboard boxes that are in a cool, moderately dry place inside. The other bulbs I hastily replanted in another location. Given I'm in New Zealand, the daffodils had already flowered. But many of the various bulbs either were in bloom or yet to bloom (eg, lilies without much growth yet).

So my question is, shall I go ahead and just throw out these bulbs, ie. have I just killed them, made them so they will never reflower again? Hoping not. Can anyone advise me as to what I should be doing with all these bulbs? (replant now? later after renovations are complete in NZ's autumn? toss 'em?) Thanks very much in advance, and "cheers" as they say here.

By Beth from Wellington, New Zealand

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Keeping Dogs Out of the Garden

How can you keep dogs out of the garden?

Hardiness Zone: 3a

By Dorothy M. from Derwood, MD

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Keeping Cats Out of the Garden

How can you keep cats out of the garden?

Hardiness Zone: 3a

By Dorothy M. from Derwood, MD

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Growing Sunflowers Without Sunlight

Can sunflowers grow without sunlight?

By Jontavius from GA

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Caring for a Burning Bush Plant

What kind of food should I use on my Burning Bush?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

By leah0860 from Morganville, NJ

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Is Horseradish a Radish?

Is the horseradish a member of the radish family?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

By Judi P. from San Diego

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Cucumbers Turning Yellow

My cucumbers are blooming and producing cucumbers but when they become about an inch long the bloom falls off and the cucumber turns yellow and dries up. What is going wrong?

Hardiness Zone: 9a

By Sandi from Houston, TX

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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.

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