There is freezing rain falling as I write this. It gives me an opportunity to stress the importance of snow on a perennial garden.
Constant freezing and thawing combined with very wet soil, can mean doom for a perennial bed.
Even though I have put a blanket of leaves on the beds, the snow acts as an insulating blanket, protecting the roots.
If we don't get snow soon, I could lose a lot of my more sensitive plants, lillies (the soggy soil could rot the bulbs), blanket flowers. If it stays mild for too long the tulips will start, then be frozen by a freeze.
All in all, a very depressing thought.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Saturday, December 9, 2006
A word about annuals
Most people are in such a hurry in the spring to dig the garden. STOP.
I never dig my beds in the spring, a gentle raking is all that is needed. My reward for this is that I have not had to buy annuals for years. They seed themselves and I just have to move them around
Patience people.
Petunias, nicotianna, feverfew, violas, calendula, sweet allysum, and many others all seed themselves nicely.
I like them as fillers between the perennials, and when the perennials are done, or between blooms, they fill in the void.
So, don't be in such a hurry to dig the beds up next spring. You will be rewarded with a plethora of baby annuals you can move wherever you need them.
I never dig my beds in the spring, a gentle raking is all that is needed. My reward for this is that I have not had to buy annuals for years. They seed themselves and I just have to move them around
Patience people.
Petunias, nicotianna, feverfew, violas, calendula, sweet allysum, and many others all seed themselves nicely.
I like them as fillers between the perennials, and when the perennials are done, or between blooms, they fill in the void.
So, don't be in such a hurry to dig the beds up next spring. You will be rewarded with a plethora of baby annuals you can move wherever you need them.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Houseplant maintenance
Hey all,
Spent the day playing with plants. Every so often (usually a rainy day ), I spend some time with my indoor plants.
Basically, this involves roaming around the house with a mulch bucket and scissors removing dead leaves, which happens in the fall when I turn the furnace on.
This is a good time to check for bugs..mealies and spider mites can be a problem.
I also use the time to dust off the leaves. I use a cotton ball and water and wet the cotton and rub the leaves gently removing any dust that has accumulated.
This is a good time to check the soil, make sure the plants are noot root bound or over/under watered.
Indoor plants appreciate this attention and reward us with lots of new growth and sometimes, if we are lucky, flowers.
Spent the day playing with plants. Every so often (usually a rainy day ), I spend some time with my indoor plants.
Basically, this involves roaming around the house with a mulch bucket and scissors removing dead leaves, which happens in the fall when I turn the furnace on.
This is a good time to check for bugs..mealies and spider mites can be a problem.
I also use the time to dust off the leaves. I use a cotton ball and water and wet the cotton and rub the leaves gently removing any dust that has accumulated.
This is a good time to check the soil, make sure the plants are noot root bound or over/under watered.
Indoor plants appreciate this attention and reward us with lots of new growth and sometimes, if we are lucky, flowers.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Inexpensive Way to Build a Pond
Since I spoke about our pond last time, I thought this would be a good time to mention how we built it for roughly 75 dollars.
First we found an old water bed liner that a friend was throwing out.
I had the better half dig a hole roughly 18 inches deep. We covered the bottom of the hole with sand so no sharp objects would poke through with the weight of the water.
We cut the liner open along the seams and placed the liner in the hole and flattened it as best we could.
Add water. The water takes care of the nooks and crannies. Smooth out the liner as best you can as it is filling up.
Find a friendly farmer, they love to get rid of rocks in their fields. Along the ditches where they have dynamited for roads is another good spot. Creeks as well are a gold mine of flat stones.
Arrange the stones around the pond, laying them on the liner that hangs out. After you have placed the stones decoratively, cut off any liner that is still showing.
The only thing we had to buy is a circulating pump.The water moving is needed for any fish and pond plants you may want. We made our pond 2 levels with a waterfall between the levels.
The picture shows it when it was just finished. We added fish and planted perennials around in the nooks between the rocks. Since then it has filled in nicely.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Ponds
Well, it is getting cold. There was ice on the pond this morning.
The fish are already in the basement in their winter quarters. Now there remains the task of moving the frogs.
My pond is only 18 inches at it's deepest. Therefore the frogs can not overwinter, they would be frog-sicles come spring. Not a pleasant site when the snow and ice melt.
I got the net and spent a couple hours catching frogs, 36 of them to be exact. I put them in a pail, drove them to the nearest creek, and let them go on their merry way.
I will check the pond over the next few days, because new ones seem to find it while looking for a place to over winter.
Somehow, in the spring when it warms up, they always find their way back.
At least I know they will be safe in the creek to dig in the mud and hibernate like frogs do.
The fish are already in the basement in their winter quarters. Now there remains the task of moving the frogs.
My pond is only 18 inches at it's deepest. Therefore the frogs can not overwinter, they would be frog-sicles come spring. Not a pleasant site when the snow and ice melt.
I got the net and spent a couple hours catching frogs, 36 of them to be exact. I put them in a pail, drove them to the nearest creek, and let them go on their merry way.
I will check the pond over the next few days, because new ones seem to find it while looking for a place to over winter.
Somehow, in the spring when it warms up, they always find their way back.
At least I know they will be safe in the creek to dig in the mud and hibernate like frogs do.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Leaves
Today, since fall is well upon us, we are going to discuss the disposal of leaves. Many people I have noticed bag them up and send them off to the landfill. What a waste.
Leaves are at their best when raked into the garden. They help protect perennials from winter freezing. In the spring just rake them away gently and put them in the mulch bin.
If you have too many leaves for coverage in your garden, the extra can be put in the mulch bin, they will turn into that gold called leaf mold. In the spring use it to mulch your roses, perennial hibiscus, well, everything, for that matter.
Leaves are at their best when raked into the garden. They help protect perennials from winter freezing. In the spring just rake them away gently and put them in the mulch bin.
If you have too many leaves for coverage in your garden, the extra can be put in the mulch bin, they will turn into that gold called leaf mold. In the spring use it to mulch your roses, perennial hibiscus, well, everything, for that matter.