Happy Garden - June 5, 2008

Ellen answer more of you questions this week. She also shares a great article about keeping your compost pile worry free.

I hope everyone is having success in their gardens!

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Photos:

• Garden: Hyacinth
• Apple Orchard in Bloom
• Garden: Our Lawn After Fertilizing and Reseeding
• Use Your Imagination When Decorating Your Outdoor Space
• Garden: Red Russian Kale

Tips and Articles:

• Replacing a Patio with Grass
• Keeping Your Compost Pile Trouble-Free
• How Do You Start Grapefruit Seeds?
• Will Calla Lilies Grow In The Blue Mountains?
• Getting Rid of Monkey Grass
• Growing Hydrangeas Inside
• Making Pond Planting Baskets
• Getting Rid of Lesser Celandine
• Dressing Up a Lattice Fence
• Try Something New In Your Garden Each Year
• Reuse Your Dehumidifier's Water
• Arrange Plants By Height When Landscaping
• No Watering Required; Artificial Plant Bed
• Harvesting Cattail As Food

New Requests:

• What Discarded Items Are Beneficial to Plants?
• Does Table Waste in Compost Attract Animals?
• Yellow Leaves on a Pepper Plant
• Planting Vegetables in Alabama
• Sweet Broom Not Blooming
• Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
• Recipe for a Homemade Weedkiller
• Do You Need to Plant Strawberries in a Strawberry Pot?
• Can You Eat Cherries from a Weeping Cherry Tree?
• Using Grass Clippings That Have Weed Killer On Them
• Getting Rid Of Bugs On Tomato Plant
• Burning Bushes Not Changing Color
• Rooting A Cutting From A Lilac Bush
• Keeping an Iguana Out of My Vegetable Garden
• Crookneck Squash Rotting At Tips
• Getting Rid of Groundhogs
• Packing Picnic Food For A Trip
• New Vinca Plants Are Droopy
• Using Child's Swimming Pool For Pond

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:
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Garden: Hyacinth

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Apple Orchard in Bloom

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Garden: Our Lawn After Fertilizing and Reseeding

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Use Your Imagination When Decorating Your Outdoor Space

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Garden: Red Russian Kale

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Replacing a Patio with Grass

Question:

I have a patio in the garden and I want grass. I have taken up some of the paving stones and there is a mix of concrete and stones (hardcore I think!). It appears to be quite porous and not very thick, instead of digging it all up is there any chance the grass will survive with a load of holes drilled in? Please help as my time scale to do this has gone down by a day. :-)

Thank you in advance for your help!

Xavier

Answer:

Xavier,

Theoretically, I suppose you could plant grass anywhere. All you need is a good quality soil (and enough of it) and a site with good drainage. At least 6 inches of good soil is generally recommended to establish new grass, but more or less may be needed depending on what type of grass your grow. Some grasses have deep root systems that need a great deal of soil to settle in. Other grasses are considered shallow root grasses and may need less soil. Other things to consider are how thick the concrete is, how porous it is, and even what color it is. I don't know where you are writing from, but concrete (especially dark colored concrete) tends to holds heat a lot better than soil. That means that no matter how much soil you cover the area with, if you live in a warm climate, the heat from the concrete will most likely end up killing the grass by cooking its roots.

Getting a new lawn off to a good start is hard enough even with a well-prepared soil base. My suggestion would be to remove as much of the debris as possible now and start fresh.

Ellen

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Keeping Your Compost Pile Trouble-Free
By Ellen Brown

Composting is an easy, inexpensive way to reduce your yard and kitchen waste, while keeping your garden filled with nutrient-rich soil. Keep your compost pile neat and trouble-free, by preventing these common problems before they arise.

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How Do You Start Grapefruit Seeds?

Question:

Do you start grapefruit seeds in water or in soil?

SJ

Answer:

SJ,

Here is one way to do it:

Wrap seeds in a small amount of moist peat moss or a damp paper towel and tuck them into a sandwich bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator for about 3-4 weeks. Then plant the seeds in a small pot. Otherwise, just bypass the fridge idea, plant them directly in the pot, and see what happens. Either way, you are bound to get something to sprout eventually.

Once the seed germinates and the seedling starts to grow, wait until it develops it first true set of leaves (usually the second set of leaves that appear) before transplanting it to a bigger pot. The pot does not need to be too big to start with, just make sure the soil mixture you use provides plenty of drainage.

If you plant a seed from a grapefruit you buy at the supermarket, chances are the seed is from fruit that was produced by hybrid plants. On the one hand, this means that your tree could turn out to be sterile and never produce a single piece of fruit. On the other hand, you may get fruit, but if you do, it is unlikely to exhibit the same size and flavor characteristics as the original fruit you took the seed from. You going to have to be very patient, because it can take anywhere from 7-9 years before a grapefruit tree is mature enough to produce its first fruit. In any event, you will have a lovely tree to show for your efforts.

Ellen

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Will Calla Lilies Grow In The Blue Mountains?

Question:

Will Calla Lilies grow in the blue mountains?

Chelle from Lithgow, NSW, Australia

Answer:

Chelle,

Calla lilies are natives of South Africa, so as you would expect, they thrive in climates that mirror their native growing conditions.

Callas prefer bright light-especially in the morning. In warmer areas, they need to be given protection against a strong afternoon sun. In the U.S., Callas are frost-sensitive, so they are typically only left in the ground in zone 9 (20ºF/-6ºC), or with ample protection in zones 7 (OºF/-17ºC) and zones 8 (10ºF/-12ºC). In colder zones, the rhizomes are lifted in the fall and stored inside during over winter.

In the upper Blue Mountains, the average temperatures are 5ºC (41ºF) in the winter and 16ºF (60.8ºF) in the summer. That is obviously not cold enough to freeze the rhizomes in the winter, but it may not be warm enough to get them to bloom in the summer. Callas flower best at temperatures between 60-75ºF (15.5-23.8ºC) so it is hard to say what will happen. Why not try it? The lower Blue Mountains are warmer, so if you live down there, you are more likely to see the temperatures you need to achieve rich, colorful blooms.

At the very least, you might find success in growing them in containers as houseplants.

To grow as houseplants:

Give callas a sunny spot in a room with a temperature of about 21ºC (70ºF) and keep their soil evenly moist during the growing period. Fertilize them using a balanced (20-20-20) water-soluble fertilizer according to label directions. After the callas bloom, stop feeding and reduce watering until the foliage dies back. Let the tubers rest without moisture for a period of 2 to 3 months. Then repot and lightly water them until the new growth emerges. Resume your normal feeding and watering schedule when growth reaches 3-4 inches above the soil.

Enjoy!

Ellen

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Getting Rid of Monkey Grass

Question:

The person I bought my house from went crazy with Monkey Grass. I was wondering if there is any way to totally get rid of it? We have tried digging it up but it just comes back. We have a small child and I'm concerned about snakes hiding in it. Please help.

Hardiness Zone: 7b

Crystal from Batesville, MS

Answer:

Hi Crystal,

Getting rid of monkey grass is tough. Here is what I would do if I were you:

Monkey grass needs to be contained with a root barrier to keep it from spreading. That is because it spreads by rhizomes and bulblets. Without a root barrier of at least 12-18 inches deep, any digging, thining, or smothering you do will not work for very long. The Monkey grass will simply send out scout (roots) and pop up somewhere else in your yard.

For the summer, your best bet is to install a root barrier around whatever you can and keep it mowed as short as possible to keep the snakes away. You can also start to dig out what your can; just make sure you get all of the rhizomes. In the fall, cover what remains with a tarp and hope that by the following spring it will be dead. If more pops up, the soil will be easily workable to dig out what remains. (If you prefer, you can also cover the Monkey grass now, but I'm assuming you don't want the eyesore during the summer.)

Regular thinning and dividing is another strategy for areas that cannot easily be covered with a tarp. A root barrier will still need to be installed these areas to prevent further spreading. No matter what methods you use, there are not any easy solutions. It may take a couple of seasons for you to get rid of it completely, so be patient.

Good luck!
Ellen

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Growing Hydrangeas Inside

Question:

Can I grow Hydrangeas inside?

Hardiness Zone: 9b

Jane from Huachaca City, AZ

Answer:

Hi Jane,

Hydrangeas really do not grow well indoors. To perform their best, they need cold temperatures to send them into a period of dormancy. When grown as houseplants indoors, hydrangeas tend to drop leaves and dry out in their pots. Not only that, but rarely will you ever be able to coax one into blooming.

That said, people sometimes find themselves gifted with the kind of small, foil-wrapped hydrangeas that you see at large discount stores, and are often left wondering what to do with them. If kept in a cool room near a sunny window they can be grown inside for a while. They may also live happily outdoors for a while on balconies or patios, however, one needs to keep a close eye on feeding and watering them under these conditions as they tend to dry out and decline in short order. In the end, these foil-wrapped hydrangeas will be far better off if planted in the ground. This should be done immediately after receiving one, or as soon as possible in the spring after danger of frost has passed.

Just keep in mind that these "gift" hydrangeas are sometimes bred and fed to achieve one spectacular discount store bloom so they may not thrive as well as most nursery grown hydrangeas once planted in the garden.

Ellen

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Making Pond Planting Baskets

Question:

Any ideas of how I can make my own pond planting baskets?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Liz from Portsmouth, England

Answer:

Hi Liz,

This is a great question. I am not sure how plants are packaged for sale at nurseries in the U.K., but here in North America, almost all of our nursery-grown plants come in plastic pots. Finding places that will accept these pots for recycling can be difficult so reusing them is always a good idea. With a few holes drilled into the sides, it seems like they would make the perfect pond planting baskets. If your greenhouse seedlings are packaged in the same way, I would think plenty of gardeners would be more than willing to have them taken off their hands.

Another idea is to use stackable plastic milk crates, small wastebaskets, and juice or soda bottles. You might also try gallon-sized condiment or salad dressing jars, or 5-gallon pickle buckets (inquire for empties at local restaurants for both of these). Just about any plastic container will work fine, so long as you are able to perforate the sides with holes to allow water to pass through. Depending on how thick the plastic is, you can use a hammer and nails to create the necessary holes.

Other ideas include cat litter containers, bleach containers, plastic laundry baskets, milk jugs, and detergent containers. You could also use cut down aluminum tubing, because it will not corrode as fast as other metals when submerged under water.

Stick with plastics coded 1,2,4, and 5. Avoid PVC piping-it is known to leech chemicals-and to try to avoid using plastics coded 3 (Polyvinyl/chloride/vinyl), 6 (Polysterene/Styrofoam), and 7 (Polycarbonate and others).

Good luck!
Ellen

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Getting Rid of Lesser Celandine

Question:

Can anyone tell me a foolproof and organic way of eradicating lesser celandine from my lawn? Also any suggestions what to grow in its place as grass doesn't take very well (the area's too shady). Will have to put some paving down (where tree roots allow) but need some ideas what to plant around it.

Thanks,
Kate from England

Answer:

Hello Kate,

As you probably know, Lesser Celandine is very difficult to manage because it is very persistent. That means that you are going to have to be even more persistent that it is, if you want to get rid of it! Lesser Celandine spreads primarily by tubers and bulblets underground. There are really only two options for controlling it-chemical and manual. For small infestations, the best organic option is simply to dig up the plants (tubers, bulblets and all) with a trowel or shovel. Remember that each of those little bulblets is armed and ready to grow into an adult once it becomes separated from the parent plant, so when digging them up, it's crucial to remove every last bit of them from the soil.

It can also be helpful to flag the spot you removed the plant from with a small stake so you can keep your eyes peeled for emerging growth next season. Try to be patient. It will probably take a couple of seasons before you feel like you have come out the victor.

As for what you should replant the area with, there are lots of plants and groundcovers for shady areas. You might consider Periwinkle (Vinca minor), Budgleweed (Ajuga reptens), Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), English Ivy (Hedera helix), or Liriope. These groundcovers should all fill in fairly quickly and take quite a bit of abuse. Sedum, hosta, mosses, and lungwort are some good plant options.

Good luck!

Ellen

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Dressing Up a Lattice Fence

I have a lattice fence that hides my pool equipment. I placed Christmas lights (the net kind that you use on shrubs) on the lattice and then planted a vine to cover the lights (I used passionflower here in zone 8 but you could use any vine that does well in your area). At night the lights twinkle through the vine. It adds some soft lighting to the pool area. Trust me you will love it.

By Patricia from Scranton, SC

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Try Something New In Your Garden Each Year

Plant something new every year. You'll be amazed at what you learn once your plant starts to grow. I remember the year my mom told me she was going to grow celery. I thought sure she'd lost her mind. She lived in IOWA, celery would NEVER grow there, I thought. But it did. And she LOVED IT!

Lesson learned.

From then on, I've never been afraid to "jump off the bridge" or in my case, the deck lol, and try something new! It's a wonderful way to open your mind and that of others!

Source: Mother Maxine, tried and truly magnificent homemaker and expert gardener of Mansion type gardens!

By Lynn from Wildwood

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Reuse Your Dehumidifier's Water

The humidity will be rising soon and we all should be getting out our dehumidifiers. Here's a great way to save water. We have a birdbath in our back yard. When the dehumidifier is running, I take all the water that has collected in the dehum and I use it to keep the birdbath full and use it to water plants. All that water is is distilled water so it's cleaner than what comes out of the faucet. I save money by not using tap water to water my plants and fill my birdbath. The plants are happy as well as the birds! I am also saving water out of my faucet that can be used for other things like drinking so I conserve my water.

By Debradj from Illinois

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Arrange Plants By Height When Landscaping

When planting perennials around buildings, pools, decks, etc., always place the taller of the plants towards the rear where they will display their beauty against the object such as the deck, a stone wall, etc.

Then gradually place plants that are an inch or two shorter, in front of them and on right down to maybe some pretty ground cover if desired along the very edge at the front. This will allow each and every plant to shine through their beauty, get enough sun and make for a beautifully landscaped area. Picture contest ready!

By BJ from Ledyard, CT

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No Watering Required; Artificial Plant Bed

Save watering cost with drought friendly silk plants. Last week I planted many different types of artificial plants in my outdoor flower-bed and it looks great. I bought a bunch of silk ferns at Dollar Tree last year. Since my neighbors thought they were real and they weathered the winter rain and last year's sunshine so well, I decided to buy more. This year I also bought a dozen plastic "grass tufts", they are silver in color like dusty millers and I stuck them in between the rock edging. These make the whole plant-bed look so nice, kind of like a "rock garden".

Last spring I also added fake flowers in the bed, but I've found that with JUST plants and no flowers I can leave the flower-bed like this all year long because it's not the least bit "seasonal". But if you want color and you DO decide to add silk flowers to your flower-beds, (and want your neighbors to think your flowers are real), you'll have to change your "display" every few months, when the flowers you've "planted" go out of season. If you want an artificial garden that will fool your neighbors, be sure to plant several real bushes and plants along with the artificial ones. This adds to the illusion.

Another trick is to buy many different types and textures of plants and to buy many different shades of greenery. This will keep your "fake garden" looking real. Variegated type leaves and leaves in several colors look the most real, even from close up. It's also best to buy plants that grow natively in your area. In Western WA, we have many ferns that grow in the wild, so I plant mostly ferns in my plant-bed and also add several other textures and colors of plants. My artificial plants and flowers not only cost less than buying annuals each year, but I can continue to use them year after year.

When fall comes, I leave the greenery planted, but take the flowers out and give them a good shaking (to remove the dirt and dust) then store them away for next year's use. Sometimes you'll have to swish them upside down in a pail of soapy water to remove the stubborn dirt, but shaking is usually sufficient.

I especially love how easy it is to weed artificial plant-beds. All you do is remove the silk plant, then weed the area, then stick the plant right back in. That's the ticket, quick and easy! And, making weeding easier always makes my day! I'm no gardener and I'm certainly not what you'd call a green thumb, but this is one kind of garden even I can't kill! And while out walking their dogs, my neighbors have told me how nice it looks, so I'm positive they think it's real too!

By Cyinda from near Seattle

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Harvesting Cattail As Food

Cattail is wonderful as a fresh vegetable! To harvest, pull straight up and out of its sheath as you would a blade of grass to chew - only with more muscle! The white bit at the bottom is your prize. It tastes like a cross of cucumber/asparagus. Cut or snap it off where it starts getting woody.

If you are really hungry or energetic, you can dig up the bulb. Scrub it vigorously and cook it as you would potato - or let the bulb dry out on the inside and the powder inside can be used as a starch/flour.
But the white bit at the bottom and the bulb are more immediate and rewarding, YUM!

Source: This was taught to me by Native Canadians in the Northern British Columbia region. Our family used them in our regular diet along with other wild foods shown to us in the area.

By Joanna from Eastern Montana

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What Discarded Items Are Beneficial to Plants?

Are banana peels, eggshells and coffee grounds really beneficial to plants? Are there any other discarded natural items that can be helpful?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Sheila from Olive Branch, MS

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Does Table Waste in Compost Attract Animals?

If using table waste in the compost pile does it attract animals to feed from it? I am concerned that table waste will attract mice, rats, raccoons, etc. If so it seems that this would give the critters access to the vegetables in the garden as well.

Stephen from Kansas

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Yellow Leaves on a Pepper Plant

What is the problem when the lower leaves of pepper plants turn yellow and fall off? How do I fix it?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Karen from Pensacola, FL

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Planting Vegetables in Alabama

We are moving to Alabama in about 2 weeks. We will have a nice big backyard that I would love to do a little vegetable gardening in. I also would like to plant a couple of fruit trees. I would appreciate any suggestions as to what fruit trees grow good in Alabama. Also which vegetables would be the best to try. Will I be early enough in mid to late June to plant?

Hardiness Zone: 7b

Beth from Alabama

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Sweet Broom Not Blooming

I have 3 sweet brooms in my back yard. They are all 3 in full sun. They grow well, but they are not blooming? What do I need to do to get them to bloom?

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Dawn from Houston, Texas

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Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds

How can I keep my cat from going to the bathroom in my flower garden? Any ideas? He has a litter box in the garage and does use it when the weather is bad.

Sheila from Canada

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Recipe for a Homemade Weedkiller

I need a homemade weedkiller that will get rid of burdock, stinging nettles and bull thistles. Our farm is getting overrun with this stuff and my back is aching from digging and pulling all spring!

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Beverly from Barre, VT

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Do You Need to Plant Strawberries in a Strawberry Pot?

Do you need a strawberry pot to plant strawberries in or can a standard Terra Cotta pot do? I'm new at gardening, but in todays' economy I'm trying to build a garden (cheaply) to depend on rather than buy produce. I need help!

Hardiness Zone: 10a

Geatina from North Fort Myers, FL

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Can You Eat Cherries from a Weeping Cherry Tree?

I've got a weeping cherry tree. It's beautiful and doing well, but for the first time since we've lived here, (7 years), it's now got fruit on it! I assume cherries are normal on a weeping cherry tree. Did I never notice them before, or does it generally take years to become fruit bearing? And can i eat them? Thanks.

Debbi

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Using Grass Clippings That Have Weed Killer On Them

I like to use newspapers and grass clipping in my vegetable garden for mulch. I would like to know if I can use grass clippings from a lawn that has been treated with a weed and feed or crabgrass preventer. If I can, how long after being treated can I use them?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Bonnie from Avoca, NE

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Getting Rid Of Bugs On Tomato Plant

I would like to know how to get rid of stink bugs and these red and black bugs on my tomato plants without using a lot of chemicals

Hardiness Zone: 8b


Karen from Pensacola, FL

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Burning Bushes Not Changing Color

Years ago I planted 6 Burning Bush's. Three have grown up really nice but for the fact that they have never (Burned) changed colors, they are a pretty green color. Any ideas why? The other three just won't grow any bigger.

Hardiness Zone: 7b


Sandy from Mountain View, Ark

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Rooting A Cutting From A Lilac Bush

How do I root and/or transplant a cutting from a lilac bush?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Deb from Skowhegan, Maine

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Keeping an Iguana Out of My Vegetable Garden

I have a vegetable garden consisting of tomatoes, several peppers, egg plant, cucumbers, and honeydew. I also have an iguana that is residing in my palm trees near by. I don't want to do anything to hurt it, but it is eating up my garden before it even has a chance to bloom. I don't have a single leaf left on my plants. Is there anything I can apply to deter it from my garden?

Hardiness Zone: 10b

Niurka from Margate, FL

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Crookneck Squash Rotting At Tips

Why are my crookneck squash rotting at the tips?

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Darlene from Carriere, MS

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Getting Rid of Groundhogs

Does anyone have a way to get rid of groundhogs from the garden? Is there a solution I can mix to keep them out? HELP! They're eating up all my garden!

Karen from Clemmons, NC

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Packing Picnic Food For A Trip

My boyfriend lives out of state, and I'm flying down to meet him for an overnight trip. Does anyone have any picnic ideas I can pack and bring with me?

Here's my perimeters: I'm allergic to eggs, dairy and gluten/wheat.
We won't have a refrigerator, though I can pack a small cooler with frozen things in my suitcase and check my suitcase.

I know my requirements are annoying, but I've wracked my brain and come up blank Could be because it's the end of the school year and I have report cards to finish! I'd hate to waste one precious second with him navigating traffic and dining out.
Thanks!

Shellee from Carson City, NV

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New Vinca Plants Are Droopy

I just planted Vinca in pots yesterday, and today they are droopy and curling. I fertilized, and watered. It is cool today, only in the low 50's, the other annuals are just fine. What happened?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Sherrie from Crystal Lake, IL

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Using Child's Swimming Pool For Pond

We have a plastic turtle-shaped sandbox that my children no longer use. Can I fill that with water and water plants to make a pond? If so, is it okay to put a couple of goldfish in it, too? Thanks!

Hardiness Zone: 7a

Carolyn

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