Articles and Tips September, 2007
Many problems that require the use of synthetic pesticides
can be reduced or even eliminated by selecting plants carefully.
Choose plants that are best suited for your region and your soil.
Use mulch around your plants to discourage weeds and remove any
weeds that you do find immediately, before they set any seed.
Look around to see what thrives in your neighbors' yard.
Consider using disease-resistant ...
Posted in Garden Maintenance | 1 Comment »
Most gardeners find that a good offense is
better than a good defense.
.
As soon as you plant your first seeds,
you need to take measures to control your pests.
It is sometimes difficult to decide, when you should
step in with pest control, as many times it
involves using lots of chemicals.
Ask yourself the following questions;
Do you spray before you see ...
Posted in Garden Pests | No Comments »
An easy way to compost if you have limited space is to use a garbage can or drum.
Punch holes in the bottom and sides for drainage and aeration, set on bricks or concrete blocks, and layer the materials with soil inside. You can roll it around on its side periodically to help aerate the material inside.
Commercial compost containers are also available. Most are designed so the finished ...
Posted in Compost | 1 Comment »
You have just been out in your garden
and you have noticed that your once lovely
bushes are looking dull and some are even
yellowing and wilting.
Not what you want to see!
If you know that you have been taking ...
Posted in Garden Diseases | No Comments »
Try these organic methods for repelling deer.
For minor deer- damage problems ,buy soap bars in bulk
and hang them from strings in the trees.
Or nail each bar to a 4" stake and drive the stakes
at 15' intervals along the perimeter of the area.
Some gardeners report that human hair is an effective
repellent.
Ask your hairdresser to save hair ...
Posted in Garden Pests | No Comments »
Is manure necessary in making compost?
Even if animal manures are not available, compost
can be made successfully. Cut or shred the plant
materials as finely as possible in order to expose a
maximum amount of surface to the organisms of
decay.
The leaves of all trees are a valuable source of
organic matter and minerals.
Leaves of such trees as eucalyptus, camphor and walnut
should be exposed to the weather for  a time before
composting so that components they contain which
might interfere with organisms of dcomposition will
be leached out.
Shredding helps prepare any leaves for composting.
 As soon as the heat has subsided, the heap of
finely ground plant materials may be inoculated with
earthworms especially bred for the compost heap and soils
rich in organic matter.
These worms will supply the manure and the various animal
excretions needed.  It is also worth adding animal residues as bone meal, dried blood,
dried meat meal, dried fish and dried manure if available.
Posted in Garden Maintenance | No Comments »
I have been asked many times on how to save seeds from
plants that   have grown in the garden.
Seed that is to be saved must be ripe, when rained
on the seed should dry out again before being
gathered.
Hang seed stalks in a dry, airy place until they are
brittle-dry.
Handle all seeds carefully as nicked or injured
seeds won't keep well. Store large seeds in glass
jars with loose fitting covers ( not airtight).
I keep my small seeds in paper envelopes.
Posted in Seed Starting | No Comments »
When the winter winds blow and I am feeling completely dejected, I make myself feel better, by reading my seed catalogues.
Of all the pictures of flowers that I see, nothing makes me smile more than the pictures of Pansies!. They have such expressive faces, I feel that they are almost human and are smiling out of the pages at me.
Posted in Planning Your Garden | No Comments »
Both birds and bees rank high among the important creatures
who assist gardeners in their quest for perfection.
Wise gardeners do what they can to attract birds, for they know
that they help to control destructive insects in the garden.
Explore the ways that many organic gardeners have devised
to attract birds and keep them around for as much of the
year as possible.
Certain plants are particularly attractive to birds, and these
species should be kept in mind when planning your garden.
Bees are a must for any orchadist. They will take great care
to encourage their presence by avoiding the use of chemical
insectides, all of which are toxic to bees.
One of the cheapest ways to control insects in the garden
is to get a variety of birds to do much of the work.
The best way to attract birds is to put feed out for
them all year round. Provide suitable nesting places
and keep some nesting materials nearby.
Do not forget to keep a supply of fresh water on hand
as they enjoy a bath and a drink, especially near
nesting times when mother does not need to leave
the eggs or baby birds to search for water.
Posted in Garden Maintenance | No Comments »
Do you water your garden frequently ?   Leave a section of hose laid out
down the center of your garden. Drive double stakes of wood at intervals to keep the hose
from decimating your plants as you pull it back and forth.
I sometimes drive a stake at the corner of each bed to protect
plants while dragging my hose around.
We sometimes make the mistake in thinking that if we wave the hose
around our plants, we are doing a great watering job, when in fact,
we are doing more harm than good.
Plants do best with a deep watering, maybe once a week
unless there is a drought.
Posted in Garden Maintenance | No Comments »
