I keep reading garden tips which involve "sterilised soil". What is it and how do you do it and why would you do it and what benefits are there
How to sterilise garden soil and why would you do it?
mainly as a last resort for eradicating pests.
good start when preparing a new garden, to avoid bringing weeds or bugs.
usually done by spreading soil in a thin layer under strong sunlight.
Reply:You heat the soil up and keep it at a certain temperature in order to kill the dormant seeds, weeds and any pests and diseases. You usually do this if you want soil for seed trays. Personally, I'd not waste time and effort doing it but get a bag of good seed compost from your nearest garden centre.
Reply:sterilizing soil is only good if you bought it and it was damp.Usually you put a layer of the soil on a baking sheet and put in oven on approx.400degrees until you smell it "cook". After you let the sterilized soil cool down you can use it indoors for indoor plants.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
How do I start a flower garden?
I live in NC and I'd like to start a small flower garden in front of my home. It's in an area that gets sunlight periodically during the day. I believe there used to be flowers there because there's a decorative brick border around the area but it's overrun with weeds and there are no flowers there now. The soil is pretty good I'd say...not too dry or hard. How do I start a flower garden? I'm interested in some periennials and some annuals...can those be grown together?
How do I start a flower garden?
Yes you can mix periennials with annuals, they are all the same, just one needs to be replanted each year, the other comes up on its own.
First pull all the weeds and dig and turn up dirt. Thus loosening it and breaking up any clumps. Depending on how far down the brick goes you might want to get some edgeing that will help stop grass from coming into your flower bed, from under the brick. YOu can now add some peat moss, this helps to hold moisture in the soil, and work it in to your top soil or existing soil. Now figure out what kind of plants and plant. You already have singled out the ones that take full shade so look at plants that do well with lots of sun. Now you might want tall in the back and shorter in the front, or maybe all one similar height. Thinking of these things will make it much easier. YOu also will have a lot of sudden inspirtation when looking at plants in the nursery. Good luck and i Hope this helped!
Reply:Depending on how run over by weeds u my want to use some weed killer first. Then pull out all the leftover stuff including the roots. Turn the soil over if it is a large area rent a tiller to make it easier. Work some compost in. Plant to your hearts content just be sure that when buying plants check for light requirements and how big they will get. I usually put perennials in the back of the border so if I put in annuals I'm not disturbing them. Then u can put some mulch all over the bed to help retain moisture, use bark if putting in annuals it is easier to pull back when planting new next year and will break down to enrich the soil over time.
How do I start a flower garden?
Yes you can mix periennials with annuals, they are all the same, just one needs to be replanted each year, the other comes up on its own.
First pull all the weeds and dig and turn up dirt. Thus loosening it and breaking up any clumps. Depending on how far down the brick goes you might want to get some edgeing that will help stop grass from coming into your flower bed, from under the brick. YOu can now add some peat moss, this helps to hold moisture in the soil, and work it in to your top soil or existing soil. Now figure out what kind of plants and plant. You already have singled out the ones that take full shade so look at plants that do well with lots of sun. Now you might want tall in the back and shorter in the front, or maybe all one similar height. Thinking of these things will make it much easier. YOu also will have a lot of sudden inspirtation when looking at plants in the nursery. Good luck and i Hope this helped!
Reply:Depending on how run over by weeds u my want to use some weed killer first. Then pull out all the leftover stuff including the roots. Turn the soil over if it is a large area rent a tiller to make it easier. Work some compost in. Plant to your hearts content just be sure that when buying plants check for light requirements and how big they will get. I usually put perennials in the back of the border so if I put in annuals I'm not disturbing them. Then u can put some mulch all over the bed to help retain moisture, use bark if putting in annuals it is easier to pull back when planting new next year and will break down to enrich the soil over time.
How can I cat proof my garden fence to keep my 3 cats safe?
Two of my cats have been hit by cars in tne past 8 weeks and are lucky to have survived although one will probably lose a front paw. I have a 30 foot garden which is fully fenced but the cats can climb over the top. Does anyone have any ideas how to perhaps use netting on top of the fencing to keep the cats in the garden?
Any help would be much appreciated as I feel am being cruel by keeping them indoors as they are used to going outside.
How can I cat proof my garden fence to keep my 3 cats safe?
I have had cat fence-in in my garden for twelve years so my cats can be outside and be safe. It was expensive and with six cats very worth the money. You can go to catfencein.com and see about it.
Large trees near the fence can be a problem and it took me a while to solve that one. The principle is very simple -- the netting is stapled to the fence and draped over brackets about every eight feet so when the cat runs up the fence it cannot go over the fence as the brackets hold the netting out from the fence by a couple of feet.
If my words aren't clear to you a picture at the website may make it clearer. You just need someone to make the brackets for you, maybe even the shelf holders in the hardware store would do.
You can solve the problem I'm sure. One of my "mantras" is - "Every problem is an opportunity to be creative."
Reply:Good ideas from all, thankyou. I think I am going to net off the top of the fence and have someone coming round at the weekend to give me a price. Report It
Reply:Not easy. I lost one of mine two months ago on the road. The only thing I can think is that they dont like things that reflect so you could hang cd's on the upper part of the fence to discourage them. Don't know if it will work but it is worth a try if it saves their lives.
Reply:There is actually fencing you can buy for this specific purpose.
www.purrfectfencing.com
Good luck with your kitties, I know what a worry they can be.
Reply:You poor thing, that must have been really upsetting. I can't offer much advice as I keep my cats in due to being next to a main road. Only way I would imagine is to make the fence bigger and perhaps chicken wire in the fence to stop them getting through. I hope you find a solution that helps and your cats get better. xx
Reply:The suggestions for netting or chicken wire is good.
Also, make sure the bottom of the fence is secure; they can dig and dig and go under.
Reply:A happy, healthy cat is an indoor cat. Dont feel "mean", cats are adaptable to anything.... Its a proven fact that cats live longer and healthier lives indoors.
Reply:Ask them kindly not to climb the fence, if they love you they wont climb.
Reply:Good Luck! Try cajan pepper all over the place, nice and natural wont hurt the plants
Reply:All I can think of is a roll of chicken wire along the top.
Reply:Hi there. I would try either putting a scent that your cats dont like along the fence posts and some of the fence, and if that doesnt work a more instant result can be seen if you put electric fence up running the length of the entire area. The electric fence would only be a method that would work right away and it is NOT a cruel method. It would just be so you wouldnt have to keep trying to find a scent or scents that your cats dont like.
Any help would be much appreciated as I feel am being cruel by keeping them indoors as they are used to going outside.
How can I cat proof my garden fence to keep my 3 cats safe?
I have had cat fence-in in my garden for twelve years so my cats can be outside and be safe. It was expensive and with six cats very worth the money. You can go to catfencein.com and see about it.
Large trees near the fence can be a problem and it took me a while to solve that one. The principle is very simple -- the netting is stapled to the fence and draped over brackets about every eight feet so when the cat runs up the fence it cannot go over the fence as the brackets hold the netting out from the fence by a couple of feet.
If my words aren't clear to you a picture at the website may make it clearer. You just need someone to make the brackets for you, maybe even the shelf holders in the hardware store would do.
You can solve the problem I'm sure. One of my "mantras" is - "Every problem is an opportunity to be creative."
Reply:Good ideas from all, thankyou. I think I am going to net off the top of the fence and have someone coming round at the weekend to give me a price. Report It
Reply:Not easy. I lost one of mine two months ago on the road. The only thing I can think is that they dont like things that reflect so you could hang cd's on the upper part of the fence to discourage them. Don't know if it will work but it is worth a try if it saves their lives.
Reply:There is actually fencing you can buy for this specific purpose.
www.purrfectfencing.com
Good luck with your kitties, I know what a worry they can be.
Reply:You poor thing, that must have been really upsetting. I can't offer much advice as I keep my cats in due to being next to a main road. Only way I would imagine is to make the fence bigger and perhaps chicken wire in the fence to stop them getting through. I hope you find a solution that helps and your cats get better. xx
Reply:The suggestions for netting or chicken wire is good.
Also, make sure the bottom of the fence is secure; they can dig and dig and go under.
Reply:A happy, healthy cat is an indoor cat. Dont feel "mean", cats are adaptable to anything.... Its a proven fact that cats live longer and healthier lives indoors.
Reply:Ask them kindly not to climb the fence, if they love you they wont climb.
Reply:Good Luck! Try cajan pepper all over the place, nice and natural wont hurt the plants
Reply:All I can think of is a roll of chicken wire along the top.
Reply:Hi there. I would try either putting a scent that your cats dont like along the fence posts and some of the fence, and if that doesnt work a more instant result can be seen if you put electric fence up running the length of the entire area. The electric fence would only be a method that would work right away and it is NOT a cruel method. It would just be so you wouldnt have to keep trying to find a scent or scents that your cats dont like.
How I can start a community garden in my Charter School without using school/parents money?
Our small Charter school needs some help with beautification, we have space for garden, water too but we close for summer. How we can have a community garden that is going to be without help in summer? How to make our school more beautiful without using the parents money but still their participation?
How I can start a community garden in my Charter School without using school/parents money?
Contact your local county extension office (the agricultural/ 4-H, conservation department) %26amp; connect with the master gardeners program; we many times come to the aid of teaching children how to plant/care for a garden or will come up with a solution that will help your situation, as our mission is to educate the public on plant growth %26amp; we volunteer our time and at times, money to help.
Reply:Get volunteers from the school.. other students to sign on to help maintain and plant the gardens.. that way, it's the kid's garden and the gardeners can learn about gardening as they volunteer.
Reply:you need to come up with the implements for working the soil(shovels, rakes, hoes, etc.) and hand tools for the younger children. You will also need seeds and starter plants as well as soil conditioning products. I would suggest that you start locally and ask around at ALL of the local hardware stores and building supply stores. Ask lawn and garden centers for help. Just a little can go a long way. Ask local homeowners in the area for donations of equipment. In the end, the organizers will spend a little out of pocket, I mean if you want others to donate money, you should be willing to do the same. Seeds are relatively cheap and except for the week or two of babying the beds and watching for those little sprouting green babies to pop through the soil, it is just a great experience for kids to see life go from a seed that they planted into something like a flower or even a potato which they can actually eat!
Reply:Have a fundraiser......Adults and kids can participate and very simple to raise the money you need.
Reply:Have a plant donation. EVERYONE with a garden has extras. You may not like some of them, but they'll be free.
Reply:you can sell somthing or have a marathon to raise money for it.
Climbing Shoes
How I can start a community garden in my Charter School without using school/parents money?
Contact your local county extension office (the agricultural/ 4-H, conservation department) %26amp; connect with the master gardeners program; we many times come to the aid of teaching children how to plant/care for a garden or will come up with a solution that will help your situation, as our mission is to educate the public on plant growth %26amp; we volunteer our time and at times, money to help.
Reply:Get volunteers from the school.. other students to sign on to help maintain and plant the gardens.. that way, it's the kid's garden and the gardeners can learn about gardening as they volunteer.
Reply:you need to come up with the implements for working the soil(shovels, rakes, hoes, etc.) and hand tools for the younger children. You will also need seeds and starter plants as well as soil conditioning products. I would suggest that you start locally and ask around at ALL of the local hardware stores and building supply stores. Ask lawn and garden centers for help. Just a little can go a long way. Ask local homeowners in the area for donations of equipment. In the end, the organizers will spend a little out of pocket, I mean if you want others to donate money, you should be willing to do the same. Seeds are relatively cheap and except for the week or two of babying the beds and watching for those little sprouting green babies to pop through the soil, it is just a great experience for kids to see life go from a seed that they planted into something like a flower or even a potato which they can actually eat!
Reply:Have a fundraiser......Adults and kids can participate and very simple to raise the money you need.
Reply:Have a plant donation. EVERYONE with a garden has extras. You may not like some of them, but they'll be free.
Reply:you can sell somthing or have a marathon to raise money for it.
Climbing Shoes
What to plant in a veggie garden in southern CA?
my family has started a garden this year and i was wondering what would grow well in southern ca weather. right now, it has been getting pretty hot (and will get a LOT hotter) and the place that we have chosen to plant the garden gets half shade, half sun throughout the day. could u list some fruits or veggies that would grom well in heat!! thanks!
What to plant in a veggie garden in southern CA?
Depends on if the sun is in the a.m. or the p.m. Here's what you can put in in March and April:
Asparagus, Basil, Beans, Corn, Cucumber, Dill, Eggplant, Garlic, Jicama, Melons, Okra, Peppers, Pumpkins, Squash, Sunflower, Tomatoes, Watermelons. Most do best with afternoon shade, when the temperature is the highest.
Reply:Sounds like a great place for a garden. You should be able to grow anything you like that will grow well in the hot sun. Start with tomatoes and peppers, squash, beans...
What to plant in a veggie garden in southern CA?
Depends on if the sun is in the a.m. or the p.m. Here's what you can put in in March and April:
Asparagus, Basil, Beans, Corn, Cucumber, Dill, Eggplant, Garlic, Jicama, Melons, Okra, Peppers, Pumpkins, Squash, Sunflower, Tomatoes, Watermelons. Most do best with afternoon shade, when the temperature is the highest.
Reply:Sounds like a great place for a garden. You should be able to grow anything you like that will grow well in the hot sun. Start with tomatoes and peppers, squash, beans...
What do you grow in your garden?
Also my mom just started a website for people who like to garden, Its got recipes and garden tips so could you go and tell me what you think ? I just made it.
What do you grow in your garden?
That is very cute!!! I dont consider myself a gardener but I do grow some vegetables. I grow tomatoes, bell pepper, egg plant, green beans and pumpkins. I have allot of fun with it!! Good luck with your web page!!
Reply:usually tomato's but got late start so i just did flower gardens this yr. I have 1 tomato plant. lol
Reply:we grow tomatoes,onions,greens,squash,egg plant,lettuce,water mellons,and corn.You don.t say the name of the site that your mother has started.
Reply:All veggies Great and Small!
Reply:lots of different types of tomotoes, cucumbers, radishes, pumpkins, peppers (jalepenos and habeneros), %26amp; corn
What do you grow in your garden?
That is very cute!!! I dont consider myself a gardener but I do grow some vegetables. I grow tomatoes, bell pepper, egg plant, green beans and pumpkins. I have allot of fun with it!! Good luck with your web page!!
Reply:usually tomato's but got late start so i just did flower gardens this yr. I have 1 tomato plant. lol
Reply:we grow tomatoes,onions,greens,squash,egg plant,lettuce,water mellons,and corn.You don.t say the name of the site that your mother has started.
Reply:All veggies Great and Small!
Reply:lots of different types of tomotoes, cucumbers, radishes, pumpkins, peppers (jalepenos and habeneros), %26amp; corn
How do I clear out my garden and start from scratch?
I live on the hill and have a long driveway. At the top, I have a retaining wall that's about 3 and a half feet high. Past the wall, the garden is at about a 45 degree angle for about six feet (~20 feet across), then the ground levels out into my yard/grass. The garden is completely overgrown with weeds, poison ivy, etc. Normally I would just take the lawn mower to it and mow everything down, but due to the angle, I won't be able to easily get at it with a lawn mower.
I can't seem to figure out what the best way to attack it is. I don't want to just dive in and start pulling because I'll be up to my elbows in poison ivy, spiders and possible snakes.
Any ideas would be helpful.
How do I clear out my garden and start from scratch?
I'd borrow a couple goats from the neighbors and let them have at it for a week or two, then do a cut and fill terrace and solarize.
No goats? Apply a good layer of poison ivy barrier cream like Ivy Block or Onguard to all exposed skin. Wearing long sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, and with a sweat rag tied around your forehead if it's a warm day, start at the driveway with loppers and work across, bundling the materials for composting. DO NOT BURN PI!!! It can, however, be safely composted.
Then continue with cut and fill and solarization. Intermediate retaining walls may be needed.
Reply:When I feel the need to redesign, I just give everything a good spraying with some Roundup. That will kill everything. Let everything dry out and you should be able to rake it up with no problem a couple of weeks after application. There is also a product called MSMA that will take care of the greenery AND the insects. Not too sure about the snakes...does a neighbor have a cat you can borrow for a few days before getting out in your garden? That will definately help run the snakes away! I know many don't like to use chemicals in their gardens, but this is the most effective and quickest way to handle the problem other than some good old elbow grease! I have a friend who swears by burning his garden back, but he is a bit of a pyro and there are often local laws that prohibit such.Good Luck!
Reply:Check in your local paper for people who will do this for you for a flat rate...and they will take it away as well. Rubbish removal I believe its called...
Reply:The best is... calling in a gardener and a garden designer
Reply:I am not fond of chemical herbicides. I would chop down what you can ( wear gloves to avoid the poison ivy ) and then finish clearing with a suffle hoe. Scuffle hoes churn up the earth just below the surface and clear the weed roots out. Then either put down some landscape cloth and mulch or re-plant with the materials of your choice.
Reply:I have a similar problem hillside and to clear it we used a gas powered string cutter. Wear long pants tucked into your socks and good gripping boots, hubby wore long sleeves and a mask, too. We cut it down as low as we could with the trimmer and then used a weed killer on the little bits that were left. Once everything up there was dead, we used that handy dandy garden weasel to churn up the earth and planted bouganvillea, acacia, some trees and oleander up there. Now we apply pre-emergent weed and feed to keep it free of weeds about every three months. It is my intention to haul mulch up there once we recover from the clearing and planting...
Reply:Suggested first step is get rid of the poison ivy with round-up.
If workable, you might want to consider terracing the 45 degree slope.
Reply:the best thing to do is to spay everything with roundup then once it is all dead remove the dead plants just remember that roundup will kill anything it touches it is a nonselective herbicide
Reply:You really do need someone to come in there with a design. Make sure they design your yard so mowing will not be a problem. Get two or three free designs and estimates.
If you don't need the lawn, how about a beautiful large patio. The designer will level the ground for you. Get two or three estimates for this.
I can't seem to figure out what the best way to attack it is. I don't want to just dive in and start pulling because I'll be up to my elbows in poison ivy, spiders and possible snakes.
Any ideas would be helpful.
How do I clear out my garden and start from scratch?
I'd borrow a couple goats from the neighbors and let them have at it for a week or two, then do a cut and fill terrace and solarize.
No goats? Apply a good layer of poison ivy barrier cream like Ivy Block or Onguard to all exposed skin. Wearing long sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, and with a sweat rag tied around your forehead if it's a warm day, start at the driveway with loppers and work across, bundling the materials for composting. DO NOT BURN PI!!! It can, however, be safely composted.
Then continue with cut and fill and solarization. Intermediate retaining walls may be needed.
Reply:When I feel the need to redesign, I just give everything a good spraying with some Roundup. That will kill everything. Let everything dry out and you should be able to rake it up with no problem a couple of weeks after application. There is also a product called MSMA that will take care of the greenery AND the insects. Not too sure about the snakes...does a neighbor have a cat you can borrow for a few days before getting out in your garden? That will definately help run the snakes away! I know many don't like to use chemicals in their gardens, but this is the most effective and quickest way to handle the problem other than some good old elbow grease! I have a friend who swears by burning his garden back, but he is a bit of a pyro and there are often local laws that prohibit such.Good Luck!
Reply:Check in your local paper for people who will do this for you for a flat rate...and they will take it away as well. Rubbish removal I believe its called...
Reply:The best is... calling in a gardener and a garden designer
Reply:I am not fond of chemical herbicides. I would chop down what you can ( wear gloves to avoid the poison ivy ) and then finish clearing with a suffle hoe. Scuffle hoes churn up the earth just below the surface and clear the weed roots out. Then either put down some landscape cloth and mulch or re-plant with the materials of your choice.
Reply:I have a similar problem hillside and to clear it we used a gas powered string cutter. Wear long pants tucked into your socks and good gripping boots, hubby wore long sleeves and a mask, too. We cut it down as low as we could with the trimmer and then used a weed killer on the little bits that were left. Once everything up there was dead, we used that handy dandy garden weasel to churn up the earth and planted bouganvillea, acacia, some trees and oleander up there. Now we apply pre-emergent weed and feed to keep it free of weeds about every three months. It is my intention to haul mulch up there once we recover from the clearing and planting...
Reply:Suggested first step is get rid of the poison ivy with round-up.
If workable, you might want to consider terracing the 45 degree slope.
Reply:the best thing to do is to spay everything with roundup then once it is all dead remove the dead plants just remember that roundup will kill anything it touches it is a nonselective herbicide
Reply:You really do need someone to come in there with a design. Make sure they design your yard so mowing will not be a problem. Get two or three free designs and estimates.
If you don't need the lawn, how about a beautiful large patio. The designer will level the ground for you. Get two or three estimates for this.
How can I stop my grandmothers garden from dying?
I am responsible for maintaining my grandmothers LARGE garden for the next week. She left one day ago and already some of the flowers look like they're dying.
A few of them appear to droop and look to be curling up and hardening. I believe she watered them before she left and I watered them again in the evening. The next morning I watered them, then watered them again in the evening. The temperatures been around 90 degrees and about half of the plants are hanging on pots above the fence while the others are in the ground.
The garden is about three feet wide but goes all around the perimiter of the yard and there is a ton of stuff. I usually run the water right where the plants roots are for about ten seconds then move to the next plant, the whole routine usually takes me 45minutes. Unfortunetly these plants aren't looking too good and she will be very disappointed if she returns home to dead plants.
Any tips on how I can keep them alive?
How can I stop my grandmothers garden from dying?
Water the plants at night when it is cooler and so less of the water evaporates and the plants are able to absorb more.
Reply:if you think that you are over watering,
before your next watering, reach down and grab a handful of dirt if it sticks together or rolls into a ball you do not need water
if the soil crumbles give it extra water
Reply:Perhaps water it a bit longer each time.
Reply:MULCH IT, WATER IT AND STIR UP THE SOIL.
Reply:With temperatures that hot, I would wait until around sunset to water them, then water them for one hour every other day, while you are at it, put a canister of fertalizer on the hose, this will help the garden. Don't water them individually, use a sprinkler that goes back and forth, this will spread the water out evenly. Everyday go out and see if there is any weeds in the garden, if so, get rid of them, but do this early in the morning. For those hanging pots, bring them inside so they won't dry out too quickly.
Reply:Agree with Unit. Feel the soil. If it is really dry aerate (poke holes in the dirt) to allow the water to sink in. You should also "dead head" (remove spent flowers) to encourage more blooms.
Sweet to tend your gram's garden, good luck.
Reply:Drooping plants, curling leaves, and leaves becoming hard are all signs of Underwatering, OR signs of fall, and the plants starting to go dormant. CUL Lou
Reply:i also agree with watering them at night, or early morning before the sun comes out. when you give cold water to plants that are baking in the sun it tends to shock the piss out of the roots, so thats how you water. for the droopiness, make sure to prune (pretty much means cut off) all dead or dying parts of the plant, that is very important, and also CAREFULLY stir up the soil around the plant. anything other that requires going to the store and spending money, like on miracle grow or something. hey didnt say it was gonna be easy, landscaping is long and back breaking work
Reply:Set the sprinkler or soaker and move it every 15 minutes. It takes a while for the water to soak into the ground, and you need to give it enough to moisten enough ground to get to the roots.
You should only need to do it once a day if the weather stays as you have described it. But do it in the evening or it will be like watering your plants with hot water. I don't think you want to cook them just yet.
If all else fails, look for a neighbor whose yard looks nice and ask for help. Gardeners love to be asked for their help as long as you are willing to do the work.
dress shoes
A few of them appear to droop and look to be curling up and hardening. I believe she watered them before she left and I watered them again in the evening. The next morning I watered them, then watered them again in the evening. The temperatures been around 90 degrees and about half of the plants are hanging on pots above the fence while the others are in the ground.
The garden is about three feet wide but goes all around the perimiter of the yard and there is a ton of stuff. I usually run the water right where the plants roots are for about ten seconds then move to the next plant, the whole routine usually takes me 45minutes. Unfortunetly these plants aren't looking too good and she will be very disappointed if she returns home to dead plants.
Any tips on how I can keep them alive?
How can I stop my grandmothers garden from dying?
Water the plants at night when it is cooler and so less of the water evaporates and the plants are able to absorb more.
Reply:if you think that you are over watering,
before your next watering, reach down and grab a handful of dirt if it sticks together or rolls into a ball you do not need water
if the soil crumbles give it extra water
Reply:Perhaps water it a bit longer each time.
Reply:MULCH IT, WATER IT AND STIR UP THE SOIL.
Reply:With temperatures that hot, I would wait until around sunset to water them, then water them for one hour every other day, while you are at it, put a canister of fertalizer on the hose, this will help the garden. Don't water them individually, use a sprinkler that goes back and forth, this will spread the water out evenly. Everyday go out and see if there is any weeds in the garden, if so, get rid of them, but do this early in the morning. For those hanging pots, bring them inside so they won't dry out too quickly.
Reply:Agree with Unit. Feel the soil. If it is really dry aerate (poke holes in the dirt) to allow the water to sink in. You should also "dead head" (remove spent flowers) to encourage more blooms.
Sweet to tend your gram's garden, good luck.
Reply:Drooping plants, curling leaves, and leaves becoming hard are all signs of Underwatering, OR signs of fall, and the plants starting to go dormant. CUL Lou
Reply:i also agree with watering them at night, or early morning before the sun comes out. when you give cold water to plants that are baking in the sun it tends to shock the piss out of the roots, so thats how you water. for the droopiness, make sure to prune (pretty much means cut off) all dead or dying parts of the plant, that is very important, and also CAREFULLY stir up the soil around the plant. anything other that requires going to the store and spending money, like on miracle grow or something. hey didnt say it was gonna be easy, landscaping is long and back breaking work
Reply:Set the sprinkler or soaker and move it every 15 minutes. It takes a while for the water to soak into the ground, and you need to give it enough to moisten enough ground to get to the roots.
You should only need to do it once a day if the weather stays as you have described it. But do it in the evening or it will be like watering your plants with hot water. I don't think you want to cook them just yet.
If all else fails, look for a neighbor whose yard looks nice and ask for help. Gardeners love to be asked for their help as long as you are willing to do the work.
dress shoes
How do I create a colourful garden on a budget?
Buying beautiful flowers from Garden Centres can work out to be very expensive.
Any ideas - for an amateur gardener who has no idea what she is doing - to create an impressive and eye catching garden without spending a fortune would be appreciated!
How do I create a colourful garden on a budget?
Visit a few garden centres and buy up the 'out of date' seeds that will still be viable then next year clear your ground in the spring and sow yourself a flower garden!
Reply:I'm on a budget and I bought the cheapest troughs from Wilkos, lined them up on my patio wall and filled them with cheap compost and trailing nasturtian seeds -( they grow anywhere in anything!!) - You should see them now!! I grow them every year and the display is stunning! They're so colourful! Makes me smile everytime I look out of my kitchen window! :) Have to be careful though as they're prone to blackfly, but apparently spraying with soapy water kills the pest.
Reply:go into burpee.com and take a look at the different daisies. Usually you buy them by a tuber or runner or plant and they are tall, pretty as a backdrop and they come up every year. There are other flowers like petunias that you can save the seeds from year to year and replant. Then there are some flowering bushes that would be great as well as you don't hve to replant (and they can be at the corners of your yard for color. Those would be your starter plants, and each year you can just buy a pack or two of colorful seeds for up front..
Reply:http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/uploads/files/E...
Reply:I've got a wonderful book - 'Everything you need to know about gardening but were afraid to ask' by Rob Cassy and Valerie Scriven. It's packed full of useful ideas and information which should get you started.
Work out what's already in your garden - whether you like it or not (you could always do swapsies with friends or neighbours). Also, instead of buying ready-grown plants (which I agree are expensive) try growing your own from seeds - it's really good fun and so rewarding (and if you have kids, they will love it too). Keep an eye out for local flower shows, where they often have bargains, plus if there are allotments nearby, it might be worth a visit and a smile or two!
I'd set a budget and invest in some evergreen shrubs, so even in the winter you have some interest in your garden.
You'll need to work out what will thrive in your garden and what won't (you can get a cheap PH test to see if it's acid or alkaline), and look at the amount of light you get, which direction it's facing etc.
Don't be afraid to try new things. Plants will either thrive or die, and if they die, get something else instead - don't break your heart over it - that's the beauty of gardening - things will always grow next year.
And the most important thing - have fun!
Reply:Most gardeners are very proud of what they have achieved, why don't you ask friends and family for some cuttings from their gardens. It's a great compliment to have someone ask for cuttings - most people would be happy to help you, and give advise at the same time.
Packets of seeds are really cheap, and with a little time and patience, you can grow plants and vegetables from seed, just use plastic cups,or even the plastic egg boxes. - you can put these on your windowsill, and watch the seeds germinate and grow until they are strong enough to plant out. If you have children or young relatives who would be willing to help - they will have lots of enthusiasm and will love watching the changes that occur.
Hope you have lots of fun and pleasure - the outcome will be wonderful and full of colour.
Reply:This is what I did, and people used to wander in off the street and look at it. You probably know lots of people with glasshouses they use to store the lawn mower. Moreover you can buy packets with hundreds of seeds for about a quid. Invest in some trays and pots, or again ask people who have more or less given up raising plants, and plant out a load of different anuuals. They are very easy to raise, produce beautiful flowers, and all the old men in the neighbourhood will be falling over themselves to help. Once you get them all printed out, go mad with chemical fertilisers and above all slug bait (forget the soil association) and you will have three months of fantastic colour and scent.
The flowers attract insects, the insects attract birds, and suddenly you have a glorious garden.
Longer term, wherever you go, take a plastic bag and a pair of scissors and pinch cuttings and root them and put them out.
You really need a good book on gardening, but it's easy and a source of cheap pleasure.
Reply:For a small garden best way to inject colour is by painting the fence/wall a bright colour of your choice, don't be shy just give it a go. If you don't like the first colour try another. For the ground use a coloured gravel, their are some really funky colours. For plants, a good place to buy plants is from these mail ordered catalogues normally included in the Sunday newspapers, or you can look them up online. The plants are rather cheap, I have used www.jerseyplantsdirect.com before without any complaints.
Reply:It depends on what you are aiming for!
For a cottage garden effect you can buy a mix of seeds for around £2 to £3 and basically just sprinkle them on, water them regularly, and wait for the stunning result!
If you are looking for something a bit more substantial them buy small plants for £2 or so each and wait for them to grow!
It is all good fun and depending on which plants you choose they can grow pretty quickly so go for gold and enjoy making your garden!
Reply:I have a few suggestions:
Let me divide your task in to two: 1) Ground gardening (GG), 2) Pot gardening(PG).
Steps for GG,
i) dig the soil for few inches wherever you are planning to seed. Allow it to dry for few days while sprinkling water.
ii) mix the soil with fertilizers (cost-effective), compost, cow or goat dung, burnt ashes of dried dung cakes would be an eco-friendly and most effective (no cost) insecticide and manure.
iii) Still allow the soil to absorb these for few days while leaving it in sun while sprinkling water.
iv) Now your soil is ready for sowing. Either purchase flower seeds from nearby stores or nurseries and sow them. Use seasonal flowering plants. Especially winter flowers should be sowed 2 or 3months before winter or as per the nurseries' guidance.
v)OR purchase grownup plants and plant them on your garden soil.
Steps for PG,
i) Steps iv and v of GG would be an ideal starting place.
ii) or even purchase pots and use your manured soil from step i to v of GG.
iii) Start looking in the GOOGLE for more help on home gardening.
Reply:there are some very good dyes available which give wonderful hues when applied to a load of ready mixed concrete.lifes too short for gardening.
Reply:Alot of the plants go on sale mid summer! For next year you can buy a bunch of flower seeds real cheap, I use the 4pack or 6 pack flats that you normally purchase annuals in! There are about 50 holes to a flat, Fill with good soil and start your seeds as early as possible! when they are ready put them in the ground and fertilize! best of luck!
Reply:Yes, growing your own plants from cuttings is very cheap and satisfying, as you will learn a lot about them from this. Some plants spring up readily from cuttings, others are temperamental and insist on dying!
What will grow well in your particular situation depends on the climate, amount of sun, and soil quality. Tough plants will grow well in most situations and thrive on NEGLECT.
In my experience, the more you fuss over them, the more likely they are to die.....
However, learning is half the pleasure of gardening, and there is no limit to what you can learn.
One very tough and beautiful type of plant is the Salvias - which includes some edible herbs (sage), but it is a large group with bright flowers in purples, blues, and scarlets, with attractive foliage.
Marigolds are also extremely tough and colourful, easily grown from seed - just harvest them from a flower.
Pyrethrins daisies from which the natural insecticide is made are extremely tough and easy to propagate from cuttings. They are covered with small white and yellow flowers most of the year.
I forgot to say - don't forget to MULCH around your plants in dry weather. This will save water and stop plants from dying from drought. Mulches vary from pebbles to bark chips to rotted vegetable matter. If you use the wetter type, make sure it doesn't touch the stem or trunk of the plant as it can encourage moulds, which will kill the roots.
Enjoy!!
Reply:I am assuming you live in a temperate climate, go to your local shopping centre and find where you can buy the cheapest seeds. Where I live a store called Lidles sell seeds at 40p a packet compared with normally £1.99 . Buy a few packets of annual flower seeds that will give you a riot of colour. Open all the packets and mix the seeds together, add to a small bucket of dry sharp sand, give it a good stir to distribute the seeds in the sand. Then go out into your garden and just sow the sand and seed mix broadcast, that is just throw it in hand fulls all over your flower beds and then just let nature take its course.
You will probably find that next year many of the flowers will self set and cross fertilise with other plants.
It will be a source of amazement to you as the flowers bloom. Don't ever forget that old saying 'The earth laughs in flowers'.
I hope you will have fun with your garden, I have been gardening for over 40 years and I still get as much pleasure out of a daisy as any other grand flower. I love my garden and all that enters has my blessing whether it be fur,feather or insect, and slugs and snails they all have their place in God's creation.
ENJOY WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU FOR FREE
Reply:To get started, use flowers that self seed heavily on their own. Here are a few to start with:
daisy
black-eyed susan
blanket flower (gaillardia)
You can see pictures of all of these on this page:
http://springhillnursery.com/search.asp?...
Start out with 2 or 3 plants of each of these. Leave the seeds on them as the plant dies off in the fall. The seeds will drop in your garden and next year you'll have at least 2-3 times (and probably a lot more than that) as many plants growing then.
From there you can add other beautiful flowers one at a time as your budget allows.
As a beginning gardener, remember to plant your flowers in healthy soil, mulch around them, and water them well so their roots can become firmly established.
*~ Have fun 'n ENJOY ~*
Reply:Determining How Much You’ll Spend to Create a New Garden
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a great garden, but it sure is easy to get carried away. If you’re not a budgeter in any other aspect of your life, you are not going to change your habit in the garden. But to prevent sticker shock from arriving halfway through creating your garden, let’s look at an overview for you to price out and determine what you can reasonably expect to spend.
Preparing the Site
Unless your garden is going to be composed completely of containers, you will first need to concern yourself with preparing the garden bed.
This will generally involves:
1. Removing Turf
You may choose to rent or purchase a garden tiller to make the job easier, however it is possible to prepare a garden bed with just a garden fork and some hard work.
1. This is when you can be very glad you decided to create a small garden. Actually this is when a lot of gardens are scaled down.
2. Testing the Soil
It’s tempting to skip this part, but don’t. Good soil is essential to a healthy growing garden. As they say, feed the soil and the soil will feed your plants. But you can’t properly feed or amend your soil until you know what you are starting with. You can get a basic pH soil test at many garden centers or at your local Cooperative Extension. Fees range from free to a few dollars. For a bit more, you can have your soil analyzed for the percentage of essential nutrients and minerals. Here’s the Dirt on Soil.
3. Amending the Soil
Your soil may be fine to work with as is. Unfortunately that isn’t usually the case and at least a good quantity (3-6 inches) of organic matter should be worked into the soil. Don’t skimp at this stage. Great soil is what makes a great garden. It’s not the fun part, but it will make every other stage of creating the garden easier and more successful. Here’s how to Make Good Soil Out of Bad.
Containers
If you are going to create a garden with containers, you will still need to purchase, find or create containers. Containers can be costly, so look for containers that are well made and will last. Many of the new light weight containers are very attractive and can handle weather extremes better than old, vintage pots.
While you won’t have to dig or till your garden, you will need to bring in soil. Plants in containers do better in a potting mix rather than straight garden soil. You’ll want a mix that is light weight and allows water and air to pass through. Garden soil will pack down, as it does in the garden, and make it difficult for the plant’s roots to get the nutrients they need.
Because water will be draining out of your containers and taking nutrients with it, you are better off using a fertilizer than trying to amend the soil in the pot. There are many excellent time released fertilizers, organic and synthetic, that can be added at planting and forgotten about the rest of the season.
Tools
Small gardens won’t require a tool shed full of equipment, but there are some basics you can’t do without like: a shovel, pruners and a good hose. It can take awhile to stock your garden tool shed, and eventually you will find yourself favoring one or two particular tools, but it helps to have [link=http://gardening.about.com/od/tool... right garden tool for the job.[/link]
Water
If you are going to be relying on a hose for water, when it doesn’t rain, then hopefully you chose a site near a water source. Hoses vary in quality. Buy the best you can afford. At the very least, save yourself some frustration and get one that doesn’t kink. You will also want a good nozzle that has a misting setting, so you can water your young plants without knocking them over.
Drip irrigation has become the ideal in gardening. It’s also become more affordable and much easier to assemble and use. Every good garden center sells the basic parts for drip irrigation systems and the staff is usually knowledgeable enough to help you determine what you’ll need for your garden. You may think a small garden won’t need drip irrigation, but watering is one of the most underdone garden tasks and believe it or not, drip irrigation is supposed to be cheaper than hand watering. You don’t just use less water, you waste less water.
Embellishments
Embellishments can get expensive and will vary widely with your choices for your garden. A vegetable garden really needs a fence. You can get by with rabbit fencing, but you may eventually want something more attractive. Unfortunately, with all the natural disasters lately, building materials just seem to keep going up in price.
If your reason for planting a garden was entertainment, you will need some garden furniture and perhaps a path or paving. These are one time costs, but paths and paving require some prep work and additional materials. Pathways can be stone, brick, pebbles or mulch. Whichever, it would be wise to lay down fabric cloth to prevent weeds from taking over your path. Paving and stone style paths will require a layer of sand to level the work area and prevent the area from sinking over time.
Fencing and hardscaping are the two most expensive and labor intensive embellishments.
Garden art, boulders, bird feeders, trellises, etc. can all be incorporated into your garden design, but they can be added over time or created from found material. Unless these are a top priority, they should not eat a major portion of your budget.
Plants
I put plants last because they could so easily take up your entire budget if there were no restraints. If money is a problem, there are ways to cut corners when buying plants, without sacrificing quality.
1. Start your own plants
2. Get cuttings or divisions from a friend
3. Attend a plant swap and bring something you have a lot of to exchange for something else you want
4. Start with smaller plants
5. Buy a large plant with a friend and divide it between you.
6. Wait until after Memorial Day, when plants go on sale.
Each garden will have different needs. You may already have the tools and the patio or you may be starting from scratch. If your dream garden seems out of reach, take heart. There are many viable ways to keep costs down. You might also consider the 3 year plan, were you create your garden in stages. It can be hard to wait, but each year your garden will look that much more lush and in the mean time, you’ll have gotten to know both your garden and your gardening tastes.
Reply:Why dont you create a colourful wild meadow garden the seeds can be bought inexpensivly and it needs very little maintinance.It is certaintly eye catching and different .
Good luck!
Reply:Call this number 1-800-498-6737 and ask about roll and grow flowers.
Reply:If you have a neighbor with a nice flower garden try asking them for a few cuttings the next time you catch them outside. I have a lot of plants that multiply like crazy, if I didn't give them to people they would just go in the trash anyway. I'm always happy to share! They will probably be able to tell you how to take care of the plants as well.
Any ideas - for an amateur gardener who has no idea what she is doing - to create an impressive and eye catching garden without spending a fortune would be appreciated!
How do I create a colourful garden on a budget?
Visit a few garden centres and buy up the 'out of date' seeds that will still be viable then next year clear your ground in the spring and sow yourself a flower garden!
Reply:I'm on a budget and I bought the cheapest troughs from Wilkos, lined them up on my patio wall and filled them with cheap compost and trailing nasturtian seeds -( they grow anywhere in anything!!) - You should see them now!! I grow them every year and the display is stunning! They're so colourful! Makes me smile everytime I look out of my kitchen window! :) Have to be careful though as they're prone to blackfly, but apparently spraying with soapy water kills the pest.
Reply:go into burpee.com and take a look at the different daisies. Usually you buy them by a tuber or runner or plant and they are tall, pretty as a backdrop and they come up every year. There are other flowers like petunias that you can save the seeds from year to year and replant. Then there are some flowering bushes that would be great as well as you don't hve to replant (and they can be at the corners of your yard for color. Those would be your starter plants, and each year you can just buy a pack or two of colorful seeds for up front..
Reply:http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/uploads/files/E...
Reply:I've got a wonderful book - 'Everything you need to know about gardening but were afraid to ask' by Rob Cassy and Valerie Scriven. It's packed full of useful ideas and information which should get you started.
Work out what's already in your garden - whether you like it or not (you could always do swapsies with friends or neighbours). Also, instead of buying ready-grown plants (which I agree are expensive) try growing your own from seeds - it's really good fun and so rewarding (and if you have kids, they will love it too). Keep an eye out for local flower shows, where they often have bargains, plus if there are allotments nearby, it might be worth a visit and a smile or two!
I'd set a budget and invest in some evergreen shrubs, so even in the winter you have some interest in your garden.
You'll need to work out what will thrive in your garden and what won't (you can get a cheap PH test to see if it's acid or alkaline), and look at the amount of light you get, which direction it's facing etc.
Don't be afraid to try new things. Plants will either thrive or die, and if they die, get something else instead - don't break your heart over it - that's the beauty of gardening - things will always grow next year.
And the most important thing - have fun!
Reply:Most gardeners are very proud of what they have achieved, why don't you ask friends and family for some cuttings from their gardens. It's a great compliment to have someone ask for cuttings - most people would be happy to help you, and give advise at the same time.
Packets of seeds are really cheap, and with a little time and patience, you can grow plants and vegetables from seed, just use plastic cups,or even the plastic egg boxes. - you can put these on your windowsill, and watch the seeds germinate and grow until they are strong enough to plant out. If you have children or young relatives who would be willing to help - they will have lots of enthusiasm and will love watching the changes that occur.
Hope you have lots of fun and pleasure - the outcome will be wonderful and full of colour.
Reply:This is what I did, and people used to wander in off the street and look at it. You probably know lots of people with glasshouses they use to store the lawn mower. Moreover you can buy packets with hundreds of seeds for about a quid. Invest in some trays and pots, or again ask people who have more or less given up raising plants, and plant out a load of different anuuals. They are very easy to raise, produce beautiful flowers, and all the old men in the neighbourhood will be falling over themselves to help. Once you get them all printed out, go mad with chemical fertilisers and above all slug bait (forget the soil association) and you will have three months of fantastic colour and scent.
The flowers attract insects, the insects attract birds, and suddenly you have a glorious garden.
Longer term, wherever you go, take a plastic bag and a pair of scissors and pinch cuttings and root them and put them out.
You really need a good book on gardening, but it's easy and a source of cheap pleasure.
Reply:For a small garden best way to inject colour is by painting the fence/wall a bright colour of your choice, don't be shy just give it a go. If you don't like the first colour try another. For the ground use a coloured gravel, their are some really funky colours. For plants, a good place to buy plants is from these mail ordered catalogues normally included in the Sunday newspapers, or you can look them up online. The plants are rather cheap, I have used www.jerseyplantsdirect.com before without any complaints.
Reply:It depends on what you are aiming for!
For a cottage garden effect you can buy a mix of seeds for around £2 to £3 and basically just sprinkle them on, water them regularly, and wait for the stunning result!
If you are looking for something a bit more substantial them buy small plants for £2 or so each and wait for them to grow!
It is all good fun and depending on which plants you choose they can grow pretty quickly so go for gold and enjoy making your garden!
Reply:I have a few suggestions:
Let me divide your task in to two: 1) Ground gardening (GG), 2) Pot gardening(PG).
Steps for GG,
i) dig the soil for few inches wherever you are planning to seed. Allow it to dry for few days while sprinkling water.
ii) mix the soil with fertilizers (cost-effective), compost, cow or goat dung, burnt ashes of dried dung cakes would be an eco-friendly and most effective (no cost) insecticide and manure.
iii) Still allow the soil to absorb these for few days while leaving it in sun while sprinkling water.
iv) Now your soil is ready for sowing. Either purchase flower seeds from nearby stores or nurseries and sow them. Use seasonal flowering plants. Especially winter flowers should be sowed 2 or 3months before winter or as per the nurseries' guidance.
v)OR purchase grownup plants and plant them on your garden soil.
Steps for PG,
i) Steps iv and v of GG would be an ideal starting place.
ii) or even purchase pots and use your manured soil from step i to v of GG.
iii) Start looking in the GOOGLE for more help on home gardening.
Reply:there are some very good dyes available which give wonderful hues when applied to a load of ready mixed concrete.lifes too short for gardening.
Reply:Alot of the plants go on sale mid summer! For next year you can buy a bunch of flower seeds real cheap, I use the 4pack or 6 pack flats that you normally purchase annuals in! There are about 50 holes to a flat, Fill with good soil and start your seeds as early as possible! when they are ready put them in the ground and fertilize! best of luck!
Reply:Yes, growing your own plants from cuttings is very cheap and satisfying, as you will learn a lot about them from this. Some plants spring up readily from cuttings, others are temperamental and insist on dying!
What will grow well in your particular situation depends on the climate, amount of sun, and soil quality. Tough plants will grow well in most situations and thrive on NEGLECT.
In my experience, the more you fuss over them, the more likely they are to die.....
However, learning is half the pleasure of gardening, and there is no limit to what you can learn.
One very tough and beautiful type of plant is the Salvias - which includes some edible herbs (sage), but it is a large group with bright flowers in purples, blues, and scarlets, with attractive foliage.
Marigolds are also extremely tough and colourful, easily grown from seed - just harvest them from a flower.
Pyrethrins daisies from which the natural insecticide is made are extremely tough and easy to propagate from cuttings. They are covered with small white and yellow flowers most of the year.
I forgot to say - don't forget to MULCH around your plants in dry weather. This will save water and stop plants from dying from drought. Mulches vary from pebbles to bark chips to rotted vegetable matter. If you use the wetter type, make sure it doesn't touch the stem or trunk of the plant as it can encourage moulds, which will kill the roots.
Enjoy!!
Reply:I am assuming you live in a temperate climate, go to your local shopping centre and find where you can buy the cheapest seeds. Where I live a store called Lidles sell seeds at 40p a packet compared with normally £1.99 . Buy a few packets of annual flower seeds that will give you a riot of colour. Open all the packets and mix the seeds together, add to a small bucket of dry sharp sand, give it a good stir to distribute the seeds in the sand. Then go out into your garden and just sow the sand and seed mix broadcast, that is just throw it in hand fulls all over your flower beds and then just let nature take its course.
You will probably find that next year many of the flowers will self set and cross fertilise with other plants.
It will be a source of amazement to you as the flowers bloom. Don't ever forget that old saying 'The earth laughs in flowers'.
I hope you will have fun with your garden, I have been gardening for over 40 years and I still get as much pleasure out of a daisy as any other grand flower. I love my garden and all that enters has my blessing whether it be fur,feather or insect, and slugs and snails they all have their place in God's creation.
ENJOY WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU FOR FREE
Reply:To get started, use flowers that self seed heavily on their own. Here are a few to start with:
daisy
black-eyed susan
blanket flower (gaillardia)
You can see pictures of all of these on this page:
http://springhillnursery.com/search.asp?...
Start out with 2 or 3 plants of each of these. Leave the seeds on them as the plant dies off in the fall. The seeds will drop in your garden and next year you'll have at least 2-3 times (and probably a lot more than that) as many plants growing then.
From there you can add other beautiful flowers one at a time as your budget allows.
As a beginning gardener, remember to plant your flowers in healthy soil, mulch around them, and water them well so their roots can become firmly established.
*~ Have fun 'n ENJOY ~*
Reply:Determining How Much You’ll Spend to Create a New Garden
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a great garden, but it sure is easy to get carried away. If you’re not a budgeter in any other aspect of your life, you are not going to change your habit in the garden. But to prevent sticker shock from arriving halfway through creating your garden, let’s look at an overview for you to price out and determine what you can reasonably expect to spend.
Preparing the Site
Unless your garden is going to be composed completely of containers, you will first need to concern yourself with preparing the garden bed.
This will generally involves:
1. Removing Turf
You may choose to rent or purchase a garden tiller to make the job easier, however it is possible to prepare a garden bed with just a garden fork and some hard work.
1. This is when you can be very glad you decided to create a small garden. Actually this is when a lot of gardens are scaled down.
2. Testing the Soil
It’s tempting to skip this part, but don’t. Good soil is essential to a healthy growing garden. As they say, feed the soil and the soil will feed your plants. But you can’t properly feed or amend your soil until you know what you are starting with. You can get a basic pH soil test at many garden centers or at your local Cooperative Extension. Fees range from free to a few dollars. For a bit more, you can have your soil analyzed for the percentage of essential nutrients and minerals. Here’s the Dirt on Soil.
3. Amending the Soil
Your soil may be fine to work with as is. Unfortunately that isn’t usually the case and at least a good quantity (3-6 inches) of organic matter should be worked into the soil. Don’t skimp at this stage. Great soil is what makes a great garden. It’s not the fun part, but it will make every other stage of creating the garden easier and more successful. Here’s how to Make Good Soil Out of Bad.
Containers
If you are going to create a garden with containers, you will still need to purchase, find or create containers. Containers can be costly, so look for containers that are well made and will last. Many of the new light weight containers are very attractive and can handle weather extremes better than old, vintage pots.
While you won’t have to dig or till your garden, you will need to bring in soil. Plants in containers do better in a potting mix rather than straight garden soil. You’ll want a mix that is light weight and allows water and air to pass through. Garden soil will pack down, as it does in the garden, and make it difficult for the plant’s roots to get the nutrients they need.
Because water will be draining out of your containers and taking nutrients with it, you are better off using a fertilizer than trying to amend the soil in the pot. There are many excellent time released fertilizers, organic and synthetic, that can be added at planting and forgotten about the rest of the season.
Tools
Small gardens won’t require a tool shed full of equipment, but there are some basics you can’t do without like: a shovel, pruners and a good hose. It can take awhile to stock your garden tool shed, and eventually you will find yourself favoring one or two particular tools, but it helps to have [link=http://gardening.about.com/od/tool... right garden tool for the job.[/link]
Water
If you are going to be relying on a hose for water, when it doesn’t rain, then hopefully you chose a site near a water source. Hoses vary in quality. Buy the best you can afford. At the very least, save yourself some frustration and get one that doesn’t kink. You will also want a good nozzle that has a misting setting, so you can water your young plants without knocking them over.
Drip irrigation has become the ideal in gardening. It’s also become more affordable and much easier to assemble and use. Every good garden center sells the basic parts for drip irrigation systems and the staff is usually knowledgeable enough to help you determine what you’ll need for your garden. You may think a small garden won’t need drip irrigation, but watering is one of the most underdone garden tasks and believe it or not, drip irrigation is supposed to be cheaper than hand watering. You don’t just use less water, you waste less water.
Embellishments
Embellishments can get expensive and will vary widely with your choices for your garden. A vegetable garden really needs a fence. You can get by with rabbit fencing, but you may eventually want something more attractive. Unfortunately, with all the natural disasters lately, building materials just seem to keep going up in price.
If your reason for planting a garden was entertainment, you will need some garden furniture and perhaps a path or paving. These are one time costs, but paths and paving require some prep work and additional materials. Pathways can be stone, brick, pebbles or mulch. Whichever, it would be wise to lay down fabric cloth to prevent weeds from taking over your path. Paving and stone style paths will require a layer of sand to level the work area and prevent the area from sinking over time.
Fencing and hardscaping are the two most expensive and labor intensive embellishments.
Garden art, boulders, bird feeders, trellises, etc. can all be incorporated into your garden design, but they can be added over time or created from found material. Unless these are a top priority, they should not eat a major portion of your budget.
Plants
I put plants last because they could so easily take up your entire budget if there were no restraints. If money is a problem, there are ways to cut corners when buying plants, without sacrificing quality.
1. Start your own plants
2. Get cuttings or divisions from a friend
3. Attend a plant swap and bring something you have a lot of to exchange for something else you want
4. Start with smaller plants
5. Buy a large plant with a friend and divide it between you.
6. Wait until after Memorial Day, when plants go on sale.
Each garden will have different needs. You may already have the tools and the patio or you may be starting from scratch. If your dream garden seems out of reach, take heart. There are many viable ways to keep costs down. You might also consider the 3 year plan, were you create your garden in stages. It can be hard to wait, but each year your garden will look that much more lush and in the mean time, you’ll have gotten to know both your garden and your gardening tastes.
Reply:Why dont you create a colourful wild meadow garden the seeds can be bought inexpensivly and it needs very little maintinance.It is certaintly eye catching and different .
Good luck!
Reply:Call this number 1-800-498-6737 and ask about roll and grow flowers.
Reply:If you have a neighbor with a nice flower garden try asking them for a few cuttings the next time you catch them outside. I have a lot of plants that multiply like crazy, if I didn't give them to people they would just go in the trash anyway. I'm always happy to share! They will probably be able to tell you how to take care of the plants as well.
Are there any plants that will deter dogs from entering the garden?
I am trying to set up a cottage garden across the back fence. All the seedlings get trampled on and broken by our young dogs as they run and play. The yard is huge and they are only small dogs, so there is plenty of room for them to play elsewhere. Its so frustrating to spend so much money, time, and effort to plant a nice garden only to have it trampled on and torn apart. Yes, I know I could put up fence, but I will have to save enough money for this. Meanwhile, I am working on training them to stay out. During this training and until I get a fence, are there any plants that will deter them from entering the garden? -- e.g., things dogs don't like the smell of, I don't want to go with cactus or spikey plants that would injure. The "get off my garden" sprays, etc. don't work and I cannot afford to keep on trying the various brands. Thanks for your help.
Are there any plants that will deter dogs from entering the garden?
I don't know if this will work on dogs, but I know we have a problem with squirrels digging up bulbs. I solved it by mixing black pepper in the top soil! A few "snoot fulls" and the squirrels went elsewhere!
Reply:There are no plants that will keep dogs away. Puppies will just romp and play everywhere until 2 or 3 years old. If you can afford it maybe some kind of "invisible " fence system will dissuade them. It will probably keep them in the yard rather than running into the neighbors yard as well.
Reply:DOG-B-GONE TONIC
to keep dogs away from your yard, liberally apply this spicy tonic to your soil.
2 cloves of garlic
2 small onions
1 jalapeno pepper
1 tbsp. of cayenne pepper
1 tbsp of Tabasco Sauce
1 tbsp of chili powder
1 tbsp of liquid dish soap
1qt. of warm water
chop the garlic,onions,and pepper fine, and then mix with the rest of the ingredients. Let the mixture "marinate" for 24 hours,
strain it through cheesecloth, then sprinkle it on any area where dogs are a problem. If your on the howl prowl , the hole diggers will go elsewhere!
Reply:Until your plants get established, you may want to surround them with something. You could buy the small tomato cages. Or make some inexpensive ones with hardware cloth, chicken wire, bendable metal wire to hold the edges together and some large metal U shaped staples to attach them to the ground. Even 2 liter bottles with the necks cut off would help until your plants get going. It won't be pretty, but your dogs may learn to change their route.
Are there any plants that will deter dogs from entering the garden?
I don't know if this will work on dogs, but I know we have a problem with squirrels digging up bulbs. I solved it by mixing black pepper in the top soil! A few "snoot fulls" and the squirrels went elsewhere!
Reply:There are no plants that will keep dogs away. Puppies will just romp and play everywhere until 2 or 3 years old. If you can afford it maybe some kind of "invisible " fence system will dissuade them. It will probably keep them in the yard rather than running into the neighbors yard as well.
Reply:DOG-B-GONE TONIC
to keep dogs away from your yard, liberally apply this spicy tonic to your soil.
2 cloves of garlic
2 small onions
1 jalapeno pepper
1 tbsp. of cayenne pepper
1 tbsp of Tabasco Sauce
1 tbsp of chili powder
1 tbsp of liquid dish soap
1qt. of warm water
chop the garlic,onions,and pepper fine, and then mix with the rest of the ingredients. Let the mixture "marinate" for 24 hours,
strain it through cheesecloth, then sprinkle it on any area where dogs are a problem. If your on the howl prowl , the hole diggers will go elsewhere!
Reply:Until your plants get established, you may want to surround them with something. You could buy the small tomato cages. Or make some inexpensive ones with hardware cloth, chicken wire, bendable metal wire to hold the edges together and some large metal U shaped staples to attach them to the ground. Even 2 liter bottles with the necks cut off would help until your plants get going. It won't be pretty, but your dogs may learn to change their route.
My lower garden part looks bare. I like to put wildflowers in there. How do I go about it?
My lower garden part is a bare canvas. I have a 12x6 foot garden veggie , raised bed. on the opposite is a green house in progress. on the other side is a rock garden unfinished. Whats my best resource for wild flowers/ I love to attract Humming birds, butterflies... Thanks.
My lower garden part looks bare. I like to put wildflowers in there. How do I go about it?
Clear your area out of debris and weeds, put down a bit of topsoil if you need it or at least till it well. Scatter the right seeds for your area and give it a light watering.
Honeysuckle can be problematic. It is spreads like wildfire and can choke off other stuff. Look into if you wish, but beware. Sages, butterfly bush, gaura, rudbeckia, poppies and cornflower all look beautiful and attract wildlife. They even make mixes of wildflowers for each area of the country. Wherever you live, you will find something suitable.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/Wilds...
Reply:What sort of climate do you have? Wildflower mixes will vary according to this. You can't plant New England wildflowers in Texas; too hot and dry most years. Below is a link to a site with a regional map.
Also note that many wildflowers in mixes are not truly native. They just grow easily, and so are included because they will self sow.
Reply:Honestly...I would throw down wildflower seeds. I would also suggest Honeysuckle for hummingbirds. I had them visiting all summer.
Reply:How to Plant Wildflowers (you can send for a free catalog from this company):
http://wildflowerseeds.com/pages/plantip...
My lower garden part looks bare. I like to put wildflowers in there. How do I go about it?
Clear your area out of debris and weeds, put down a bit of topsoil if you need it or at least till it well. Scatter the right seeds for your area and give it a light watering.
Honeysuckle can be problematic. It is spreads like wildfire and can choke off other stuff. Look into if you wish, but beware. Sages, butterfly bush, gaura, rudbeckia, poppies and cornflower all look beautiful and attract wildlife. They even make mixes of wildflowers for each area of the country. Wherever you live, you will find something suitable.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/Wilds...
Reply:What sort of climate do you have? Wildflower mixes will vary according to this. You can't plant New England wildflowers in Texas; too hot and dry most years. Below is a link to a site with a regional map.
Also note that many wildflowers in mixes are not truly native. They just grow easily, and so are included because they will self sow.
Reply:Honestly...I would throw down wildflower seeds. I would also suggest Honeysuckle for hummingbirds. I had them visiting all summer.
Reply:How to Plant Wildflowers (you can send for a free catalog from this company):
http://wildflowerseeds.com/pages/plantip...
My garden gets flooded when it rains heavily, can I ask the landowner to do something about it?
The fields behind my house slope towards the house and when it rains the water drains off into my garden. When it pours down, like it did in January, a stream forms across my garden and flows into my neighbour's garden. Can I ask the owner of the fields to take action to prevent this happening by improving the drainage, or it my responsibility to do something?
My garden gets flooded when it rains heavily, can I ask the landowner to do something about it?
No - the onus is on you to improve the drainage in your garden.
Reply:As it affects your neighbours garden too I suggest the two of you meet up, discuss whats to be done and approach the landowner together. Two annoyed residents are more likely to make him listen!
Reply:since it is there land they are theones who are meant to sort out the problem
for free legal advice contact your local CAB office
Reply:Irrigation systems work well
Reply:I'm afraid you will find that run-offs of surface water is not the landowner's responsibility, otherwise you could get almost any one to sort out that kind of thing. Only the water companies can be made to improve drainage of the sewers and rivers. You may find that the fields were there before your house was built, and where once the water drained off harmlessly, it now enters someones' gardens. You will have to do any remedial work yourself or with your neighbours, such as putting in a drain at the boundary to catch the water before it comes over to your land. It may not be the answer you want, but I believe that's the position.
Reply:if the landowner is a nice fellow, he may do something to help you.... if not, he may just tell you that you shouldn't have put your garden 'there'......seems that a berm at the bottom of that hill might direct enuff water off to the side that you and the neighbor both would be better off..... perhaps if when you speak to the landowner, you have solid ideas of what would help, he'll listen better.... also if they're not going to be expensive or you're willing to help pay....
Reply:It can't hurt to ask so you should at least try to sort something out.
A question for men
My garden gets flooded when it rains heavily, can I ask the landowner to do something about it?
No - the onus is on you to improve the drainage in your garden.
Reply:As it affects your neighbours garden too I suggest the two of you meet up, discuss whats to be done and approach the landowner together. Two annoyed residents are more likely to make him listen!
Reply:since it is there land they are theones who are meant to sort out the problem
for free legal advice contact your local CAB office
Reply:Irrigation systems work well
Reply:I'm afraid you will find that run-offs of surface water is not the landowner's responsibility, otherwise you could get almost any one to sort out that kind of thing. Only the water companies can be made to improve drainage of the sewers and rivers. You may find that the fields were there before your house was built, and where once the water drained off harmlessly, it now enters someones' gardens. You will have to do any remedial work yourself or with your neighbours, such as putting in a drain at the boundary to catch the water before it comes over to your land. It may not be the answer you want, but I believe that's the position.
Reply:if the landowner is a nice fellow, he may do something to help you.... if not, he may just tell you that you shouldn't have put your garden 'there'......seems that a berm at the bottom of that hill might direct enuff water off to the side that you and the neighbor both would be better off..... perhaps if when you speak to the landowner, you have solid ideas of what would help, he'll listen better.... also if they're not going to be expensive or you're willing to help pay....
Reply:It can't hurt to ask so you should at least try to sort something out.
A question for men
I am planning a roof garden,any pre-requisites to protect the ceiling?
I am planning a roof garden,any pre-requisites to protect the ceiling? ia m not sure how the work is executed, coz i dont want to see watermarks on my ceiling. how are roof gardens designed. what pre-requistes do we need to make?does this create stains and cracks to ceiling?
I am planning a roof garden,any pre-requisites to protect the ceiling?
I've not done it before, but... I know a company that specializes in green roofs. I hope that this helps. Check out their Web-site and E-Mail them.
Reply:go with a hydroponics setup which would only be the weight of water and containers-and a lot less water than when using soil. or use a lighweight soilless mixture. or you can have a green roof which is nice but complicated and costly,using 5mil. plastic membranes btwn roof and several layers of soil/soilless mix.
Reply:This blog may help.
http://geosynthetic.blogspot.com/search/...
Reply:you need an engineer to look at the structure of your building. roof gardens add alot of wieght to the structure. must have a rubber barrier to keep moisture from getting in.
I am planning a roof garden,any pre-requisites to protect the ceiling?
I've not done it before, but... I know a company that specializes in green roofs. I hope that this helps. Check out their Web-site and E-Mail them.
Reply:go with a hydroponics setup which would only be the weight of water and containers-and a lot less water than when using soil. or use a lighweight soilless mixture. or you can have a green roof which is nice but complicated and costly,using 5mil. plastic membranes btwn roof and several layers of soil/soilless mix.
Reply:This blog may help.
http://geosynthetic.blogspot.com/search/...
Reply:you need an engineer to look at the structure of your building. roof gardens add alot of wieght to the structure. must have a rubber barrier to keep moisture from getting in.
How do you fix a garden that's being overrun by stuff that's been planted in the past?
I've been trying to fix up my garden, but it seems like the old stuff keeps growing back.
The culprits are those furry leaves that look like rabbit ears, and there's also some wildflowers. They keep coming back (big-time).
How do I renovate the garden so I can start over fresh? It's in-between my patio and the surrounding fence. It's in an L-shape, wrapped around the patio. I'd say it's about 18' long, by 2' wide.
And if I have to dig all the old stuff up... how deep do I have to go? And how would I get rid of the dirt, and find new dirt to replace it?
How do you fix a garden that's being overrun by stuff that's been planted in the past?
You can either dig every thing up and hope you get all the roots or you can "nuke" it. I see that it's not that big of an area. Go to the store and buy some brush/vegatation killer and spray the area you want to plant in. If you have pets that you need to keep out of there just buy a few of those green metal posts and run some chicken wire. Once it is all dead you will need to dig up any deep roots and then till the area. If you don't have a tiller you can just turn the soil with a shovel. I would suggest that you "double" dig the area. This will ensure that you get deep enough to promote good root growth and to be able to remove the stuff you want to get rid of. You will want to read the label on the stuff you spray. You will want to use something that will let you replant according to your needs. When thats all done you should add some peatmoss and till or turn it in with a shovel. Then design what you want planted there, whether shady or sun and plant away. Good luck.
Reply:well I think you should dig out the old stuff that is coming back and I would dig at least 6 inches and make sure you dig up all the old roots.
Reply:I recommend simply ROTO-TILLING the entire area and then, for 10 days (or so many, depending upon the amount of direct sunlight you get) "thermo-cook" the area.
I used a thin sheet of black plastic to cover the area in my yard that was my sister's Corn garden (4-H) 35 years ago.
There were actually corn crops still growing in my yard! - Granted, quite smaller, but I could still harvest a few tiny cobs in my yard!
Reply:Well I've read about a method that you can use in the summer. You cover the soil with black plastic (it has to be thick enough to completely prevent sun from reaching the soil) and the heat should kill most of the vegetation. When I had a lawn put in they just killed everything off with weed killer. So you have an organic method or the easy way. I think the landscaper used Round Up. He was able to lay sod the following day with no adverse affect.
Reply:If you could identify the perennials I might be willing to pay postage when you dig them up, send them to me.
Offer them to the community - you want em, you dig em, free. Everyone loves free.
If you don't want to save their lives, RoundUp, then till when they're dead.
Lowes, HomeyD sell manure, always a good amendment, then add other good stuff as your soil requires.
good luck, have fun -- what are you planting in their place? bet it will be beautiful.
Reply:pull em out by the root, after it rains or water to make it easier
Reply:Dig the plants up with a garden fork so that you can see that you have got all the root.. Get them before they seed - could be a bit late now.
The burn mentioned above is excellent.
I put my perennials on the sidewalk with a "Free to a good home" sign. Gone in an hour.
Reply:I am with Reynwater on this one, register with your local freecycle group and advertise the plants for free and state they will have to do the digging. You will get plenty of keen gardeners interested and maybe free advice as well.
Reply:Yes, you are definatly going to have to till or dig up the area and get all of the roots out and start over. Be sure to get all the roots out, but you don't need to replace the dirt.
Reply:There is no easy way. You just need to keep digging and weeding until it'll stop. :) Well, that rabbit ears you were talking about actually is Rams Ear, I think. I got some in my garden and they are quite tough. You have to dig them all with roots which isn't grow deeply, but grow wide like Bamboo. Try not to leave any roots in the soil as much as you can. After you clear the 'unwanted plants' from your yard as much as you can, I would add new garden soil and plant something you want, then top with mulch. Mulching prevents weed or other plants to germinate, since they will be under a deep layer of garden soil and mulch, they won't get sunshine. This usually works and I hope it'll work on your garden, too. I don't think you need to get rif of your dirt(not sure how anyway...) and new garden soil is easy to find in your yellow page, under Landscape Supplies.
The culprits are those furry leaves that look like rabbit ears, and there's also some wildflowers. They keep coming back (big-time).
How do I renovate the garden so I can start over fresh? It's in-between my patio and the surrounding fence. It's in an L-shape, wrapped around the patio. I'd say it's about 18' long, by 2' wide.
And if I have to dig all the old stuff up... how deep do I have to go? And how would I get rid of the dirt, and find new dirt to replace it?
How do you fix a garden that's being overrun by stuff that's been planted in the past?
You can either dig every thing up and hope you get all the roots or you can "nuke" it. I see that it's not that big of an area. Go to the store and buy some brush/vegatation killer and spray the area you want to plant in. If you have pets that you need to keep out of there just buy a few of those green metal posts and run some chicken wire. Once it is all dead you will need to dig up any deep roots and then till the area. If you don't have a tiller you can just turn the soil with a shovel. I would suggest that you "double" dig the area. This will ensure that you get deep enough to promote good root growth and to be able to remove the stuff you want to get rid of. You will want to read the label on the stuff you spray. You will want to use something that will let you replant according to your needs. When thats all done you should add some peatmoss and till or turn it in with a shovel. Then design what you want planted there, whether shady or sun and plant away. Good luck.
Reply:well I think you should dig out the old stuff that is coming back and I would dig at least 6 inches and make sure you dig up all the old roots.
Reply:I recommend simply ROTO-TILLING the entire area and then, for 10 days (or so many, depending upon the amount of direct sunlight you get) "thermo-cook" the area.
I used a thin sheet of black plastic to cover the area in my yard that was my sister's Corn garden (4-H) 35 years ago.
There were actually corn crops still growing in my yard! - Granted, quite smaller, but I could still harvest a few tiny cobs in my yard!
Reply:Well I've read about a method that you can use in the summer. You cover the soil with black plastic (it has to be thick enough to completely prevent sun from reaching the soil) and the heat should kill most of the vegetation. When I had a lawn put in they just killed everything off with weed killer. So you have an organic method or the easy way. I think the landscaper used Round Up. He was able to lay sod the following day with no adverse affect.
Reply:If you could identify the perennials I might be willing to pay postage when you dig them up, send them to me.
Offer them to the community - you want em, you dig em, free. Everyone loves free.
If you don't want to save their lives, RoundUp, then till when they're dead.
Lowes, HomeyD sell manure, always a good amendment, then add other good stuff as your soil requires.
good luck, have fun -- what are you planting in their place? bet it will be beautiful.
Reply:pull em out by the root, after it rains or water to make it easier
Reply:Dig the plants up with a garden fork so that you can see that you have got all the root.. Get them before they seed - could be a bit late now.
The burn mentioned above is excellent.
I put my perennials on the sidewalk with a "Free to a good home" sign. Gone in an hour.
Reply:I am with Reynwater on this one, register with your local freecycle group and advertise the plants for free and state they will have to do the digging. You will get plenty of keen gardeners interested and maybe free advice as well.
Reply:Yes, you are definatly going to have to till or dig up the area and get all of the roots out and start over. Be sure to get all the roots out, but you don't need to replace the dirt.
Reply:There is no easy way. You just need to keep digging and weeding until it'll stop. :) Well, that rabbit ears you were talking about actually is Rams Ear, I think. I got some in my garden and they are quite tough. You have to dig them all with roots which isn't grow deeply, but grow wide like Bamboo. Try not to leave any roots in the soil as much as you can. After you clear the 'unwanted plants' from your yard as much as you can, I would add new garden soil and plant something you want, then top with mulch. Mulching prevents weed or other plants to germinate, since they will be under a deep layer of garden soil and mulch, they won't get sunshine. This usually works and I hope it'll work on your garden, too. I don't think you need to get rif of your dirt(not sure how anyway...) and new garden soil is easy to find in your yellow page, under Landscape Supplies.
How to I deter cats from using my garden?
I moved into my house last summer but ahve neglected the garden ever since. I am looking to sort out the garden in time for Spring/Summer but my biggest problem is that my neighbour's cat uses my flower beds like a litter tray.
How can I stop/deter cats from using my garden? I have used powder (seemed to be like pepper) in the past and found it did not work.
How to I deter cats from using my garden?
You need Cat Scat from Gardener's Supply (or something like it). They are these spikey pads that you place in your flower beds, and they really work! I have two cats and a agrden, so I know what I am talking about!
http://www.gardeners.com/Safe-Cat-Deterr...
Reply:Buy a rotwieller and don't feed it.
Reply:You do realise that you are effectively at WAR.You will have to be ruthless and show no mercy.Lemon peel ,sprays, pepper ,water guns ,lemonade bottles full of water,cut outs of bigger cats ,mothballs,tried 'em all.Try covering your beds with the prunings of your prickly roses or thorns or stick pointy sticks in the ground.The cat will not lower its furry bum down on those to have a poo!(got that tip off a gardening program)Find out where its getting in.Bung up any holes .We bought a topper for the wall which had rubber points on it they hated that .I put up a pea net on sticks over where they came in that threw them.You can buy plants at the garden centre that they hate.A combination of this lot should get 'em on the run.The thorn carpet and a particularly high powered water gun were the best I found.Good luck in your campaign
Reply:Fresh orange peels of an orange, lay them on top of bed, and spread them all around.
Denise
Reply:If the problem is based on one single cat then the best remedy is to shoot it.
Reply:Clear plastic bottles half-filled with water. They don't like them...
Reply:Get some mothballs, and scatter them round. My wife does it in our garden, and it works. There are lots of cats where we live, and they give our garden a wide birth. Good luck..
Reply:Spray water and make a hissing nose the cat relate it to the garden if you keep at it.
Reply:Moth balls don't help we have cats that will come through our yard and spray their scent on the moth balls.
I have found that the bed thing that worked is to set metal cages out for them. When the cat is caught I take it to the animal shelter.
If I catch the cat more than once I take it to the country to a friend of mine that owns a dairy farm.
I figure if the owners cared about their pets they wouldn't allow them to roam freely.
Reply:I don't know whether you obtained the powder from a local greenhouse or farm and garden store, but I would suggest calling them if you haven't already. They may be able to suggest some products that would be completely humane, but keep the cats at bay. You may also try calling a local vet.
Having said that, I've always heard that spreading moth balls around wil keep animals away, but it may also keep humans away as well. Those really do stink!
Do check with the pros - they should have some solutions that will help you.
Reply:Get some lemon oil and sprinkle in the places that the cats are using,Also plant some mint there,As cats hate the stuff..
Reply:Put lemon peel around the edges of your garden, cats hate it.
Reply:Buy a cat deterrent for your garden they cost about £30.00 from mirror shopping
Reply:Spread orange/lemon skin. Cats hate citris. Or they have repellent to buy
Reply:buy a dog :)
Reply:I've tried just about everything people have said here, and none of it has worked. I'm now in the process of making friends with the cat so I can catch it and take it for a drive quite a distance away. The owners wouldn't care...they are a bunch of junkies and don't care about it anyway. Maybe it will find it self some decent owners
Reply:I have the same problem, Ive tried Orange Peel, also proprietary chemical deterrents, none of them work, I'm going to try one of those electronic gadgets that let out high pitched noise next, hope it works, because all that's left then is a trap, and then to "relocate" them to another town!
Reply:small clear plastic bottles of water. Very attractive though!!
Reply:SCATTER BROKEN GLASS
AB
Reply:If you can get it, tiger or lion pooh. Sprinkle this onto flowerbeds. Little cats are terrified of big cats!
Alternatively, get your own cat. Your own cat's pooh is not as bad as the neighbours' cat's pooh!
Reply:Landmines.
Reply:Holly prunings, or any prickly plants cut up small and used as a mulch on the flower beds will be an effective deterent, but you may get pricked yourself! You could try zoo poo, but it is pricy. Also, Coleus canina is a cat deterant plant you could try.
Or go the other way, and gift your neighbours with nepeta or cat grass, both of which cats love!
Reply:Cut onions up and scatter them where the cat goes,it wont be back.
Reply:go to your local zoo and ask the lion or tiger keeper if you could kindly take home some big cat poo dig this into your flower beds and trust me those lil cats wont come near for fear of being attacked by a much bigger smelling cat. eaither that or get some stay off from your local garden centre. or hang old cds on a bit of string on sticks amongst your bedding plants it scares em. or get a big dog to scare em off or just put up with it?
Reply:There are lots of gadgets and deterrants in garden centres. I used to have this problem and I had to check the garden every time the kids wanted to go out and play, but when we were in the process of moving I started to kindly return the poo to my neighbour every time I found some!
Reply:befriend a mate with a big dog, and borrow it when they go on holiday for a week or two before you start the garden conversion. works a treat, the cats soon get the message.
Reply:Buy a shot gun.
Reply:B%26amp;Q does a good cat deterrant that you can even use on vegetable patches. You just have to remember to put more down after it rains. It's also quite stinky though.
I've also heard the best thing to stop cats pooping in your garden is to get a cat! As you've discovered, cats never poop in their own garden and will defend it from other cats!
My parents have a cat and their garden is always poop-free.
Reply:cats have a strong dislike for acidic smells, such as lemon juice and onions.
either squirt a little bit of fresh lemon juice on soil that you dotn want cats to go near, it will only slightly change the acidity of the soil but not enough to damage plants.
hope that works!
Reply:Lemon and other strong citrus smells can deter cats.
You can buy a device that makes noise that is beyond our hearing range which helps to deter cats.
Another idea my dad uses to help protect his pigeons, half fill a two litre bottle and lay it on its side around the garden. apparently cats dont like this.
My dads other favourite is a kick up the backside but not too keen on this one myself.
Reply:get to know the cat by feeding it befriend it take it in to your house before u know it it will not do anything in your garden cos it classes it as its own
How can I stop/deter cats from using my garden? I have used powder (seemed to be like pepper) in the past and found it did not work.
How to I deter cats from using my garden?
You need Cat Scat from Gardener's Supply (or something like it). They are these spikey pads that you place in your flower beds, and they really work! I have two cats and a agrden, so I know what I am talking about!
http://www.gardeners.com/Safe-Cat-Deterr...
Reply:Buy a rotwieller and don't feed it.
Reply:You do realise that you are effectively at WAR.You will have to be ruthless and show no mercy.Lemon peel ,sprays, pepper ,water guns ,lemonade bottles full of water,cut outs of bigger cats ,mothballs,tried 'em all.Try covering your beds with the prunings of your prickly roses or thorns or stick pointy sticks in the ground.The cat will not lower its furry bum down on those to have a poo!(got that tip off a gardening program)Find out where its getting in.Bung up any holes .We bought a topper for the wall which had rubber points on it they hated that .I put up a pea net on sticks over where they came in that threw them.You can buy plants at the garden centre that they hate.A combination of this lot should get 'em on the run.The thorn carpet and a particularly high powered water gun were the best I found.Good luck in your campaign
Reply:Fresh orange peels of an orange, lay them on top of bed, and spread them all around.
Denise
Reply:If the problem is based on one single cat then the best remedy is to shoot it.
Reply:Clear plastic bottles half-filled with water. They don't like them...
Reply:Get some mothballs, and scatter them round. My wife does it in our garden, and it works. There are lots of cats where we live, and they give our garden a wide birth. Good luck..
Reply:Spray water and make a hissing nose the cat relate it to the garden if you keep at it.
Reply:Moth balls don't help we have cats that will come through our yard and spray their scent on the moth balls.
I have found that the bed thing that worked is to set metal cages out for them. When the cat is caught I take it to the animal shelter.
If I catch the cat more than once I take it to the country to a friend of mine that owns a dairy farm.
I figure if the owners cared about their pets they wouldn't allow them to roam freely.
Reply:I don't know whether you obtained the powder from a local greenhouse or farm and garden store, but I would suggest calling them if you haven't already. They may be able to suggest some products that would be completely humane, but keep the cats at bay. You may also try calling a local vet.
Having said that, I've always heard that spreading moth balls around wil keep animals away, but it may also keep humans away as well. Those really do stink!
Do check with the pros - they should have some solutions that will help you.
Reply:Get some lemon oil and sprinkle in the places that the cats are using,Also plant some mint there,As cats hate the stuff..
Reply:Put lemon peel around the edges of your garden, cats hate it.
Reply:Buy a cat deterrent for your garden they cost about £30.00 from mirror shopping
Reply:Spread orange/lemon skin. Cats hate citris. Or they have repellent to buy
Reply:buy a dog :)
Reply:I've tried just about everything people have said here, and none of it has worked. I'm now in the process of making friends with the cat so I can catch it and take it for a drive quite a distance away. The owners wouldn't care...they are a bunch of junkies and don't care about it anyway. Maybe it will find it self some decent owners
Reply:I have the same problem, Ive tried Orange Peel, also proprietary chemical deterrents, none of them work, I'm going to try one of those electronic gadgets that let out high pitched noise next, hope it works, because all that's left then is a trap, and then to "relocate" them to another town!
Reply:small clear plastic bottles of water. Very attractive though!!
Reply:SCATTER BROKEN GLASS
AB
Reply:If you can get it, tiger or lion pooh. Sprinkle this onto flowerbeds. Little cats are terrified of big cats!
Alternatively, get your own cat. Your own cat's pooh is not as bad as the neighbours' cat's pooh!
Reply:Landmines.
Reply:Holly prunings, or any prickly plants cut up small and used as a mulch on the flower beds will be an effective deterent, but you may get pricked yourself! You could try zoo poo, but it is pricy. Also, Coleus canina is a cat deterant plant you could try.
Or go the other way, and gift your neighbours with nepeta or cat grass, both of which cats love!
Reply:Cut onions up and scatter them where the cat goes,it wont be back.
Reply:go to your local zoo and ask the lion or tiger keeper if you could kindly take home some big cat poo dig this into your flower beds and trust me those lil cats wont come near for fear of being attacked by a much bigger smelling cat. eaither that or get some stay off from your local garden centre. or hang old cds on a bit of string on sticks amongst your bedding plants it scares em. or get a big dog to scare em off or just put up with it?
Reply:There are lots of gadgets and deterrants in garden centres. I used to have this problem and I had to check the garden every time the kids wanted to go out and play, but when we were in the process of moving I started to kindly return the poo to my neighbour every time I found some!
Reply:befriend a mate with a big dog, and borrow it when they go on holiday for a week or two before you start the garden conversion. works a treat, the cats soon get the message.
Reply:Buy a shot gun.
Reply:B%26amp;Q does a good cat deterrant that you can even use on vegetable patches. You just have to remember to put more down after it rains. It's also quite stinky though.
I've also heard the best thing to stop cats pooping in your garden is to get a cat! As you've discovered, cats never poop in their own garden and will defend it from other cats!
My parents have a cat and their garden is always poop-free.
Reply:cats have a strong dislike for acidic smells, such as lemon juice and onions.
either squirt a little bit of fresh lemon juice on soil that you dotn want cats to go near, it will only slightly change the acidity of the soil but not enough to damage plants.
hope that works!
Reply:Lemon and other strong citrus smells can deter cats.
You can buy a device that makes noise that is beyond our hearing range which helps to deter cats.
Another idea my dad uses to help protect his pigeons, half fill a two litre bottle and lay it on its side around the garden. apparently cats dont like this.
My dads other favourite is a kick up the backside but not too keen on this one myself.
Reply:get to know the cat by feeding it befriend it take it in to your house before u know it it will not do anything in your garden cos it classes it as its own
What is the best way to prepare my garden for next years garden?
Should I chop up my plants and just add them back to the soil, should I compost them first and then add them to the soil? How should I best prepare my garden for next years garden in Montana?
What is the best way to prepare my garden for next years garden?
Chopped, shredded, composted,or burned, any added organic matter turned into the soil will improve the soils nutrients and also water holding ability not to mention workability. My feeling is nature knows best when mellowing the soil so I plow everything under in the fall after everything harvested and let the winter snow and the freezing and thawing of the winter months do her magic. Since you are in "Big Sky" country I'm sure you'd have no problem finding some livestock manure. Adding this to you garden plot and turning it under for the winter is an excellent way to add nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil. Watch out with the horse apples though. They're "HOT" so use less but they also add humus to the soil. Come spring till and you'll be amazed at how mellow and easy working the soil is. Like coffee grounds! Good gardening!
Reply:cut down all the plants (after harvest), let them dry and burn them when they are dry. This will improve the soil fertility and ultimately, the soil productivity will be high... you will have good harvest next year.
Reply:compose them over the winter and til your soil so it will be ready in the spring..use the composte in the spring when you plant.
Reply:Till the soil now.
Reply:when the season is over , remove all the old plants ,discard any weeds or sick plants and if you have access to one run thru a shredder. then add it back using it to protect perennials . cultivating in the fall is also good esp. if you have heavy soil. to be honest all the organic material you can add right now is well rewarded next year . maybe use the lawn clippings you can bag now till the freeze . i use grass quite alot as it is so very high in nitrogen. yes you may get a bit of grass coming up from seed but the price is small to the benefit.
Reply:I always chopped up all of my plants and put back on the garden in the fall and tilled them in.. maple leaves if you have them are a great addition to the garden.. grass clippings also are a great addition.. really builds up the soil.. If you can't chop the materials up small enough.. so it don't clog up your tiller till first and throw them all on after tilling.. and then they will deteriorate over the winter.. I also add peat moss to my gardens every fall makes the soil easier to work with.. then till again in the spring and your garden will grow perfectly once again.. I also spread grass clipping and leaves on in the growing season to prevent weeds from growing.. it all will work its way back into your soil and build it up each year.. remember no meat or anythiing in gardens..
all other table scraps and stuff can be added. but cover them with dirt.
If you go fishing alot put your fish heads and guts in the garden also.. makes sweet corn grow great.. but plant deep also attracts bears to the garden..
wish you lots of luck with your coming garden next year.
Reply:Put hay on it. By hay , I mean alfalfa. It adds tons of fertility to your soil.
sports shoes
What is the best way to prepare my garden for next years garden?
Chopped, shredded, composted,or burned, any added organic matter turned into the soil will improve the soils nutrients and also water holding ability not to mention workability. My feeling is nature knows best when mellowing the soil so I plow everything under in the fall after everything harvested and let the winter snow and the freezing and thawing of the winter months do her magic. Since you are in "Big Sky" country I'm sure you'd have no problem finding some livestock manure. Adding this to you garden plot and turning it under for the winter is an excellent way to add nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil. Watch out with the horse apples though. They're "HOT" so use less but they also add humus to the soil. Come spring till and you'll be amazed at how mellow and easy working the soil is. Like coffee grounds! Good gardening!
Reply:cut down all the plants (after harvest), let them dry and burn them when they are dry. This will improve the soil fertility and ultimately, the soil productivity will be high... you will have good harvest next year.
Reply:compose them over the winter and til your soil so it will be ready in the spring..use the composte in the spring when you plant.
Reply:Till the soil now.
Reply:when the season is over , remove all the old plants ,discard any weeds or sick plants and if you have access to one run thru a shredder. then add it back using it to protect perennials . cultivating in the fall is also good esp. if you have heavy soil. to be honest all the organic material you can add right now is well rewarded next year . maybe use the lawn clippings you can bag now till the freeze . i use grass quite alot as it is so very high in nitrogen. yes you may get a bit of grass coming up from seed but the price is small to the benefit.
Reply:I always chopped up all of my plants and put back on the garden in the fall and tilled them in.. maple leaves if you have them are a great addition to the garden.. grass clippings also are a great addition.. really builds up the soil.. If you can't chop the materials up small enough.. so it don't clog up your tiller till first and throw them all on after tilling.. and then they will deteriorate over the winter.. I also add peat moss to my gardens every fall makes the soil easier to work with.. then till again in the spring and your garden will grow perfectly once again.. I also spread grass clipping and leaves on in the growing season to prevent weeds from growing.. it all will work its way back into your soil and build it up each year.. remember no meat or anythiing in gardens..
all other table scraps and stuff can be added. but cover them with dirt.
If you go fishing alot put your fish heads and guts in the garden also.. makes sweet corn grow great.. but plant deep also attracts bears to the garden..
wish you lots of luck with your coming garden next year.
Reply:Put hay on it. By hay , I mean alfalfa. It adds tons of fertility to your soil.
sports shoes
What should I do these days in my garden?
I live in north London and have a small 20x20 garden - square shaped with beds on the edges. On part of these beds I put in daffodil and tulip bulbs last year and they are just starting to come up. I would like to have a pretty garden with flowers through out the year. I'd also like an apple tree to see apple blossoms - is it too late to plant one? This is my first house and first garden so I'm clue less.
How do I go about doing this - any help would be greatly appreciated.
What should I do these days in my garden?
Clear debris and dead plants ,don't try to dig the borders till they dry out.don't plant border plants till end of may a late frost will kill them An apple tree can be planted now try to find one grown in a container, have you thought about a flowering cherry?.Find out what flowers when in your area and plant accordingly ask around for a good garden centre they will be happy to give advice Gardiner's are a friendly bunch as soon as you venture into your garden you will get plenty advice.one last thing a bird table gives endless interest. Good luck
Reply:http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_...
This site tells you all about apple trees and when to plant. There are a lot of plants and seeds you can plant out now an onwards for a garden full of flowers.
Reply:Dreaming of spring, triggering an itch to get out of the house and into the garden. But while you are fighting a full-blown case of cabin fever, plant explorers and outdoor décor vendors are turning up a whole slew of new green goods Read more at http://www.todays-family.net/house-garde...
Reply:Firstly I would ask what pH is your soil and get that checked out. Also i think you should be ok with an apple tree right about now but don't leave it too late leaving it for more than another month and i would recommend leaving it till later this year.. you see trees should only be moved during their dormancy period, between Oct - Feb, I would also recommend planning out your gardening around such a tree as they can make great focal points in the garden. So thought and consideration is important in the garden before purchasing any plant or tree therefore.
Reply:its not too late to plant apple trees they they are selling them now in garden shops
Reply:London, England?
i think you should ask other local gardeners, greenhouses, nu series %26amp; horticulture clubs. join a gardening club, if you have the time. people are always very open and happy to talk about their hobbies and shared interestes with others!
Reply:It's never too late to plant a tree. May not flower though.
How do I go about doing this - any help would be greatly appreciated.
What should I do these days in my garden?
Clear debris and dead plants ,don't try to dig the borders till they dry out.don't plant border plants till end of may a late frost will kill them An apple tree can be planted now try to find one grown in a container, have you thought about a flowering cherry?.Find out what flowers when in your area and plant accordingly ask around for a good garden centre they will be happy to give advice Gardiner's are a friendly bunch as soon as you venture into your garden you will get plenty advice.one last thing a bird table gives endless interest. Good luck
Reply:http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_...
This site tells you all about apple trees and when to plant. There are a lot of plants and seeds you can plant out now an onwards for a garden full of flowers.
Reply:Dreaming of spring, triggering an itch to get out of the house and into the garden. But while you are fighting a full-blown case of cabin fever, plant explorers and outdoor décor vendors are turning up a whole slew of new green goods Read more at http://www.todays-family.net/house-garde...
Reply:Firstly I would ask what pH is your soil and get that checked out. Also i think you should be ok with an apple tree right about now but don't leave it too late leaving it for more than another month and i would recommend leaving it till later this year.. you see trees should only be moved during their dormancy period, between Oct - Feb, I would also recommend planning out your gardening around such a tree as they can make great focal points in the garden. So thought and consideration is important in the garden before purchasing any plant or tree therefore.
Reply:its not too late to plant apple trees they they are selling them now in garden shops
Reply:London, England?
i think you should ask other local gardeners, greenhouses, nu series %26amp; horticulture clubs. join a gardening club, if you have the time. people are always very open and happy to talk about their hobbies and shared interestes with others!
Reply:It's never too late to plant a tree. May not flower though.
How do I build a garden on my balcony?
I live in an apartment with a balcony. I would like to grow my own vegetables and herbs such as cilantro. How do I build a vegetable garden on my balcony. Lots of sun shines on my balcony in the morning and some to none by mid-afternoon/evening. I appreciate your gardening wisdom.
How do I build a garden on my balcony?
You need to use individual pots and boxes. You need them as large as possible, but you need to be able to move them when they are full of dirt, so don't go over the top. Don't forget, you have to get those sacks of potting soil up to your apartment. Make sure that you water frequently. On hot summer days, plants dry out very fast. Don't be too ambitious to start out with. Try a few pots of herbs and patio-type tomatoes and peppers, then build up each year.
Reply:look up earth box for an ideal growing environment....i would you an earth box contain for 2 tomato plants....and surprisingly i use one earth box for at least 8 stalks of sweet corn...cilantro would do well in at least a 1 gallon container with lots of sand in the mix...cilantro likes to be neglected so don't fertilize or over-water...enjoy
How do I build a garden on my balcony?
You need to use individual pots and boxes. You need them as large as possible, but you need to be able to move them when they are full of dirt, so don't go over the top. Don't forget, you have to get those sacks of potting soil up to your apartment. Make sure that you water frequently. On hot summer days, plants dry out very fast. Don't be too ambitious to start out with. Try a few pots of herbs and patio-type tomatoes and peppers, then build up each year.
Reply:look up earth box for an ideal growing environment....i would you an earth box contain for 2 tomato plants....and surprisingly i use one earth box for at least 8 stalks of sweet corn...cilantro would do well in at least a 1 gallon container with lots of sand in the mix...cilantro likes to be neglected so don't fertilize or over-water...enjoy
How can I build a garden with walls-back yard has steep drop?
I have the idea in my head- I need a flower bed/garden for the back part of my yard which has a steep drop off. I want to build something with wood or cheap materials so the back of the garden doesnt slip off the "cliff"(as i like to call it) This is going to be used not only to plant flowers, but to aid in stuff such as my daughters soccer balls falling off the cliff. What ideas do you have? Thanks in advance
How can I build a garden with walls-back yard has steep drop?
I had to build steps and retaining walls on my slopes. I used cinder blocks: cement blocks that are rectangular with holes in the center. I put the cinder blocks where I wanted, dug into the ground to flatten for placement and stacked how high I wanted, then I anchored the blocks by pounding 3 to 4 foot rebar in the center of the block into the ground, leaving none above the top of the block. I then filled the holes with gravel. This is inexpensive and works well.
You could actually hang landscape netting on poles to keep you daughter's soccerballs corralled.
Reply:You could get some rail-road ties and stack them onto a flat ledge you've created a few feet down the slope. Then, pound re-bar into the ground on the other side of the wood to keep the wood from slipping down the hill.
Now you can shovel some of your old dirt down into the gap you've created and add topsoil, garden soil and compost to fill it in.
If you've started the ties down the hill a bit, you have now extended your flower-bed out another two-three feet.
To stop the soccer balls, you could sink fence-posts inside and build a fence.
Or you could pound metal posts in and attach a wire fence.
Or you could keep stacking up rail-road ties until it's tall enough to stop a soccer ball.
They sell retaining-wall blocks, but you said you wanted it cheap. That's the cheapest I could think of, without you becoming a mason and collecting big rocks from all over the place!
Reply:Check your local freecycle.org and see if you can get used/recycled landscaping blocks. Terrrace it with steps between the levels. Put up a 3' wire fence across the top to keep the soccer ball from going over the edge. you could plant a vine on the fence.
How can I build a garden with walls-back yard has steep drop?
I had to build steps and retaining walls on my slopes. I used cinder blocks: cement blocks that are rectangular with holes in the center. I put the cinder blocks where I wanted, dug into the ground to flatten for placement and stacked how high I wanted, then I anchored the blocks by pounding 3 to 4 foot rebar in the center of the block into the ground, leaving none above the top of the block. I then filled the holes with gravel. This is inexpensive and works well.
You could actually hang landscape netting on poles to keep you daughter's soccerballs corralled.
Reply:You could get some rail-road ties and stack them onto a flat ledge you've created a few feet down the slope. Then, pound re-bar into the ground on the other side of the wood to keep the wood from slipping down the hill.
Now you can shovel some of your old dirt down into the gap you've created and add topsoil, garden soil and compost to fill it in.
If you've started the ties down the hill a bit, you have now extended your flower-bed out another two-three feet.
To stop the soccer balls, you could sink fence-posts inside and build a fence.
Or you could pound metal posts in and attach a wire fence.
Or you could keep stacking up rail-road ties until it's tall enough to stop a soccer ball.
They sell retaining-wall blocks, but you said you wanted it cheap. That's the cheapest I could think of, without you becoming a mason and collecting big rocks from all over the place!
Reply:Check your local freecycle.org and see if you can get used/recycled landscaping blocks. Terrrace it with steps between the levels. Put up a 3' wire fence across the top to keep the soccer ball from going over the edge. you could plant a vine on the fence.
To start a new flower garden, how deep do you dig it out?
I'm using the black mesh liner to prevent weeds and other things from growing in my new flower garden? I want to know how deep should I dig to get my garden and other grass even?
To start a new flower garden, how deep do you dig it out?
You should first remove the top 5 inches to get grass roots out of the garden. Then, till down at least 1-1/2 foot. It depends on what type of flowers you are going to use though. If you are using mostly bulbs, 18"'s is good enough. If the plants have "Tap" roots, like a tree, and your soil isn't right, you should go as deep as possible, adding mulch, sand, and black dirt to the total bed.
Good Luck and might I suggest you grow endangered plants native to your area? You can contact me at cmmckim@yahoo.com for help finding a list for the proper plants. It is very rewarding knowing you can help your native ground return to its "roots".
Reply:dig below the visible root systems that are present. usually round 4 inches.
God bless
Reply:For an easy way to do it, try a raised bed flower garden. You won't have to dig at all.
ljuliano11s
To start a new flower garden, how deep do you dig it out?
You should first remove the top 5 inches to get grass roots out of the garden. Then, till down at least 1-1/2 foot. It depends on what type of flowers you are going to use though. If you are using mostly bulbs, 18"'s is good enough. If the plants have "Tap" roots, like a tree, and your soil isn't right, you should go as deep as possible, adding mulch, sand, and black dirt to the total bed.
Good Luck and might I suggest you grow endangered plants native to your area? You can contact me at cmmckim@yahoo.com for help finding a list for the proper plants. It is very rewarding knowing you can help your native ground return to its "roots".
Reply:dig below the visible root systems that are present. usually round 4 inches.
God bless
Reply:For an easy way to do it, try a raised bed flower garden. You won't have to dig at all.
ljuliano11s
I'm starting a rock garden from a small pond. Can some rock gardeners give me advice about rocks and plants?
The garden already has 500 lbs of topsoil and eggrock in layers. What recommendations do you have for rock gardening in northeast Texas?
I'm starting a rock garden from a small pond. Can some rock gardeners give me advice about rocks and plants?
Try this
http://landscaping.about.com/od/rockgard...
I'm starting a rock garden from a small pond. Can some rock gardeners give me advice about rocks and plants?
Try this
http://landscaping.about.com/od/rockgard...
How do I start a garden? Any good books on the subject?
I just bought a house with a terrible back yard and want to rip out some grass (moss, really) and put in a garden. All the books I have seen assume I have a palacial estate and unlimited funds. Anyone know a planning book that deals with reality and not fantasy? I want to start a garden and maybe do some simple landscaping. I am in the Northwest. Thanks!
How do I start a garden? Any good books on the subject?
I second whoever said start small; don't overwhelm yourself. Pick a small area, dig out all the moss. Turn over the soil with a pitchfork. Add manure. If you have a lot of clay in your soil, you will also want to add topsoil. If your soil is loose or sandy, you will want to add peat or spagnum moss. Assuming this is your first garden, stick to plants that are super-easy to grow and don't need alot maintaince. Check the tags on the plants and get ones that will like the microclimate in which you'll be placing them - ie, if your area is shady, you will want plants that say "part shade." And if something doesn't work - don't sweat it! Just try something else :)
You may want to contact your local botanical society, or any local university's botanical or horticultural programs for recommendations as well.
Some useful links:
USDA Zone Map - http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzma...
Books on gardening in the northwest US - http://books.google.com/books?q=gardenin...
Gardening Basics -
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/gardeneri...
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_gardening_ba...
http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/gard...
Reply:I agree with you about the books. there is a much simpler way to do this.
First of all, if you are growing moss, you have a yard that is 1st of all, shaded a lot and 2nd, stays moist. You must improve lighting and drainage...
Go to Home Depot and purchase a non selective herbacide. One that kills everything. After two weeks, return to Home depot and purchase several bags of soil conditioner/ mulch, 3 cubic yards for 7 or 8 dollars each, and work it into the soil.
I always try to divide the yard into smaller, managable sections with rocks or landscape timbers. You can tackle it a section at a time this way, beginning closest to the house so your efforts will be appreciated.
By creating smaller raised areas, they will drain better. If your shade is created by trees, get yourself a long pole, tree trimmer and raise the canopy of the trees. This means, trim away all lower greenery on your trees until filtered light comes through the tree to the ground. This may mean removing half of the smaller limbs or more. This will be a blessing in the fall when you will have only half as many leaves to rake up.
Establish a walkway that will meander through your yard and create the rock or timber walls at the edge of this walkway. You can even define areas along it that are plantless by putting weed blocker fabic down with playground sand on top. This is very effective if you pick up a few pieces of redwood and build a small bridge over it.
Reply:Of course there are books on gardening appropriate to every situation. Go to your public library, not the bookstore.
Reply:I had the same problem. I just did a search for 'starting a garden' and many websites popped up. Some looked pie in the sky and others looked more like reality.
You can also talk to a knowlegable person at a local nursery. They are happy to help because they want your business. Of course you don't have to buy anything....
happy gardening
Reply:The best book that I've found yet for a smaller garden is the square foot gardening method. You can do as many "squares" as you've room for, and the harvest is well worth the initial effort. The instructions are easy to follow, and it covers every aspect of the gardening method in one book. I used this method for a year or so, and had great success with it. There is a great site for all of the information, which you might want to check out before buying the book. Happy gardening! http://www.squarefootgardening.com/
Reply:The Vegetable Gardener's Bible, by Edward C. Smith. It deals with vegetables, but most of the information can be used for any type of garden. You can get it at Amazon.com, and right now it's on sale.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580172...
Reply:Start small. Do not overwhelm yourself with a new hobby. Buy a garden bench, a bird bath, then work the back bone of your 'outdoor room'. Gauge the amount of sunlight, or shade. You mention moss, hmmm, leave some, and work around it. Sounds shady, and there is a world of possibilities out there. There are ornamental under story trees of small stature, and don't forget to add some potted plants. Don't ignore annuals for tucking into small places. You can learn more from garden catalogs too. Visit your local garden centers. For success look at native plants as well.Our local university has an arboretum, greenhouses, and gardens. There is always someone about to answer your questions. Look into joining a local garden club. You have a wonderful area to work with. I am in the south, and summers a challenge, but well worth the beauty of the effort. Happy gardening!!!
Reply:Definitely "Square Foot Gardening" and also get "Carrots Love Tomatoes". An excellent book on companion planting. If your soil is crap don't plant in it. Plant on top of it!
Reply:well, one good plant is amerath. but for books, go to a bookstore. henry's garden is a show that does that type of stuff. or try plowing it with a couple of friends.
How do I start a garden? Any good books on the subject?
I second whoever said start small; don't overwhelm yourself. Pick a small area, dig out all the moss. Turn over the soil with a pitchfork. Add manure. If you have a lot of clay in your soil, you will also want to add topsoil. If your soil is loose or sandy, you will want to add peat or spagnum moss. Assuming this is your first garden, stick to plants that are super-easy to grow and don't need alot maintaince. Check the tags on the plants and get ones that will like the microclimate in which you'll be placing them - ie, if your area is shady, you will want plants that say "part shade." And if something doesn't work - don't sweat it! Just try something else :)
You may want to contact your local botanical society, or any local university's botanical or horticultural programs for recommendations as well.
Some useful links:
USDA Zone Map - http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzma...
Books on gardening in the northwest US - http://books.google.com/books?q=gardenin...
Gardening Basics -
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/gardeneri...
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_gardening_ba...
http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/gard...
Reply:I agree with you about the books. there is a much simpler way to do this.
First of all, if you are growing moss, you have a yard that is 1st of all, shaded a lot and 2nd, stays moist. You must improve lighting and drainage...
Go to Home Depot and purchase a non selective herbacide. One that kills everything. After two weeks, return to Home depot and purchase several bags of soil conditioner/ mulch, 3 cubic yards for 7 or 8 dollars each, and work it into the soil.
I always try to divide the yard into smaller, managable sections with rocks or landscape timbers. You can tackle it a section at a time this way, beginning closest to the house so your efforts will be appreciated.
By creating smaller raised areas, they will drain better. If your shade is created by trees, get yourself a long pole, tree trimmer and raise the canopy of the trees. This means, trim away all lower greenery on your trees until filtered light comes through the tree to the ground. This may mean removing half of the smaller limbs or more. This will be a blessing in the fall when you will have only half as many leaves to rake up.
Establish a walkway that will meander through your yard and create the rock or timber walls at the edge of this walkway. You can even define areas along it that are plantless by putting weed blocker fabic down with playground sand on top. This is very effective if you pick up a few pieces of redwood and build a small bridge over it.
Reply:Of course there are books on gardening appropriate to every situation. Go to your public library, not the bookstore.
Reply:I had the same problem. I just did a search for 'starting a garden' and many websites popped up. Some looked pie in the sky and others looked more like reality.
You can also talk to a knowlegable person at a local nursery. They are happy to help because they want your business. Of course you don't have to buy anything....
happy gardening
Reply:The best book that I've found yet for a smaller garden is the square foot gardening method. You can do as many "squares" as you've room for, and the harvest is well worth the initial effort. The instructions are easy to follow, and it covers every aspect of the gardening method in one book. I used this method for a year or so, and had great success with it. There is a great site for all of the information, which you might want to check out before buying the book. Happy gardening! http://www.squarefootgardening.com/
Reply:The Vegetable Gardener's Bible, by Edward C. Smith. It deals with vegetables, but most of the information can be used for any type of garden. You can get it at Amazon.com, and right now it's on sale.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580172...
Reply:Start small. Do not overwhelm yourself with a new hobby. Buy a garden bench, a bird bath, then work the back bone of your 'outdoor room'. Gauge the amount of sunlight, or shade. You mention moss, hmmm, leave some, and work around it. Sounds shady, and there is a world of possibilities out there. There are ornamental under story trees of small stature, and don't forget to add some potted plants. Don't ignore annuals for tucking into small places. You can learn more from garden catalogs too. Visit your local garden centers. For success look at native plants as well.Our local university has an arboretum, greenhouses, and gardens. There is always someone about to answer your questions. Look into joining a local garden club. You have a wonderful area to work with. I am in the south, and summers a challenge, but well worth the beauty of the effort. Happy gardening!!!
Reply:Definitely "Square Foot Gardening" and also get "Carrots Love Tomatoes". An excellent book on companion planting. If your soil is crap don't plant in it. Plant on top of it!
Reply:well, one good plant is amerath. but for books, go to a bookstore. henry's garden is a show that does that type of stuff. or try plowing it with a couple of friends.
How can I prevent cats coming into my garden?
Local cats are coming through my garden and are using our garden as not only a toilet but also they are often fighting each other and "singing" during the night. Now some of you out there may find these animals loveable but I however really can not tolerate any more of their late night X-factor style auditions. Please let me know what are the most cost effective way is of removing these foul creatures from my garden, thanks.
How can I prevent cats coming into my garden?
Well water is all well and good but if you want them to stay away when you're not there or at nighttime, then orange peel sprinkled around where they normally go (ie: where you find the droppings) cats hate it!
There is also a product I used to sell at my old job called a CatStop, it is from http://www.drivall.com - a UK company who do delivery. Here is the product:
http://www.drivall.com/pestdeterrents/ca...
Hope this helps!!!
Reply:Hi there...Common odours that are effective deterrents for cats are:
Citronella works best for cats as well as citrus scents (primarily towards cats), cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and mustard oil.
"Havahart's Cat Repellent" uses capsaicin pepper and oil of mustard as its active ingredients. It repels by both taste and odor, has a lemon scent.
Every animal responds differently to each of these. Some will not be phased by them and others will be quite revolting.
For training purposes they are applied on items that are to encourage avoidance behaviours and not for use with a squirt bottle as they could harm the eyes or respiratory system. Test each substance and observe to see which works as a deterrent so that accidental injestion does not occur as some could then be fatal.
Reply:Plant catnip or basil. If you're up at night - throw rocks at them - the cats will equate pain with not returning back to your garden.
Reply:Borrow a cat. Roll it in flour and let it wander the garden at night. The other cats will think it is haunted and they will go away!
Reply:Ammonia or moth balls
Reply:place half bottles of water in different places in your garden, it scares them off
Reply:Sprinkle chilli pepper on the soil.
Reply:I use a pellet gun and bury the target behind the garage
Reply:get a shot gun
Reply:There are lots of products that you can buy:
Sprays
Special plants that deter cats and dogs, they are plants made just to smell bad to the animals. Marigolds work for rabbits...not sure about cats.
You can also put some garlic around.
Good luck
Reply:spray them with water
Reply:get your self a dog
Reply:There are products you can buy at pet stores to help with this problem. One is called Repel the other is Boundary. They work like a charm. It comes in a granular form and you sprinkle it around to keep the animals away. It is inexpensive and the only down side is that you need to reapply it weekly and after heavy rains. You don't have to limit it to your garden...you can use it around the whole parameter of your yard to keep them completely away.
Reply:Get a small to medium size dog!
Reply:My local zoo sells Lion Poo manure!
It'll make them think there's a damn great big cat around and they'll leave your garden alone. Alternatively a squeezey bottle with water and a little lemon juice (jif will do!) - I'm quite a good shot now. (and I have a cat!)
Reply:a rat catcher ait rifle will always deter the litttle feckers just pop one of those little lead pellets into the cars a rs e and wolla no more moggies
Reply:seasoning salt it burns their nose so they will learn to stay away
Reply:Use fly spray regularly on the boundary they hate the smell I use it on my bin bags to stop them.
Reply:first of all it isn't the cat's fault it is their owners who let them outside, so start there or just call animal control, they shouldn't be outside to roam around on their own anyways. Leash laws do apply to cats as well.
Reply:cats hate citrus fruits
so try leaving a few orange peels in your garden
or have a water gun ready
Reply:Use (male) human or dog urine as a repellent, Keep away from food items.
Reply:put coffee grounds out of a coffee machine on the dirt in your garden i had that problem but they stopped once the coffee grounds were on the dirt
Reply:aaah leave the kitties alone they aint hurting noone.
Reply:You can get electrinc repellers that give out high pitched noises which only cats and dogs can hear. I have used the rodent repellent and found it very effective.
Reply:Good question I had the same problem, What you can buy is plastic strips they are about 2ins wide and about 18 ins long and have spikes, harmless to the cats they come in a pack of 10, so what you do is screw them to the top of your fence and gates where they come in. That's what I did and it stopped them. You can get them in black or brown colour. You will find that will do the trick.
Reply:but what you could do is sing along with them,who knows you may become buddies. then you could just ask them to keep out .
Reply:by a cat. lol. no, seriously, cats are very terratorial, and if you get your own, it will see that no cats enter your garden.
Reply:electric fence
Reply:You can buy cat repellent from some garden centres but a more eccentric way is to buy lion dung (can be bought in some garden centres) and spread in your garden. Cats are dead afraid of the smell of lions, even if they've never seen one.
Reply:Place moth balls on top of the dirt or you can shave into flakes.
Reply:This is beginning to be a problem in some cities. I live in Defiance, Oh. Its a smaller town. Average I guess. But the town has passed a law stating that all cats have to be on a leash if their outside. The town nearby has also made a new law. If a cat is found outside then it will go to the shelter. You will have to come get your cat and pay a fine. Maybe you could talk to the city council or someone at your court house. You could ask if this is beggining to be a problem. Maybe there has been a lot of complaints and they would make a new law. Basically it's like having a bunch of stray dogs. The dog warden takes them to the shelter. Thats the same w. the cats.
How can I prevent cats coming into my garden?
Well water is all well and good but if you want them to stay away when you're not there or at nighttime, then orange peel sprinkled around where they normally go (ie: where you find the droppings) cats hate it!
There is also a product I used to sell at my old job called a CatStop, it is from http://www.drivall.com - a UK company who do delivery. Here is the product:
http://www.drivall.com/pestdeterrents/ca...
Hope this helps!!!
Reply:Hi there...Common odours that are effective deterrents for cats are:
Citronella works best for cats as well as citrus scents (primarily towards cats), cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and mustard oil.
"Havahart's Cat Repellent" uses capsaicin pepper and oil of mustard as its active ingredients. It repels by both taste and odor, has a lemon scent.
Every animal responds differently to each of these. Some will not be phased by them and others will be quite revolting.
For training purposes they are applied on items that are to encourage avoidance behaviours and not for use with a squirt bottle as they could harm the eyes or respiratory system. Test each substance and observe to see which works as a deterrent so that accidental injestion does not occur as some could then be fatal.
Reply:Plant catnip or basil. If you're up at night - throw rocks at them - the cats will equate pain with not returning back to your garden.
Reply:Borrow a cat. Roll it in flour and let it wander the garden at night. The other cats will think it is haunted and they will go away!
Reply:Ammonia or moth balls
Reply:place half bottles of water in different places in your garden, it scares them off
Reply:Sprinkle chilli pepper on the soil.
Reply:I use a pellet gun and bury the target behind the garage
Reply:get a shot gun
Reply:There are lots of products that you can buy:
Sprays
Special plants that deter cats and dogs, they are plants made just to smell bad to the animals. Marigolds work for rabbits...not sure about cats.
You can also put some garlic around.
Good luck
Reply:spray them with water
Reply:get your self a dog
Reply:There are products you can buy at pet stores to help with this problem. One is called Repel the other is Boundary. They work like a charm. It comes in a granular form and you sprinkle it around to keep the animals away. It is inexpensive and the only down side is that you need to reapply it weekly and after heavy rains. You don't have to limit it to your garden...you can use it around the whole parameter of your yard to keep them completely away.
Reply:Get a small to medium size dog!
Reply:My local zoo sells Lion Poo manure!
It'll make them think there's a damn great big cat around and they'll leave your garden alone. Alternatively a squeezey bottle with water and a little lemon juice (jif will do!) - I'm quite a good shot now. (and I have a cat!)
Reply:a rat catcher ait rifle will always deter the litttle feckers just pop one of those little lead pellets into the cars a rs e and wolla no more moggies
Reply:seasoning salt it burns their nose so they will learn to stay away
Reply:Use fly spray regularly on the boundary they hate the smell I use it on my bin bags to stop them.
Reply:first of all it isn't the cat's fault it is their owners who let them outside, so start there or just call animal control, they shouldn't be outside to roam around on their own anyways. Leash laws do apply to cats as well.
Reply:cats hate citrus fruits
so try leaving a few orange peels in your garden
or have a water gun ready
Reply:Use (male) human or dog urine as a repellent, Keep away from food items.
Reply:put coffee grounds out of a coffee machine on the dirt in your garden i had that problem but they stopped once the coffee grounds were on the dirt
Reply:aaah leave the kitties alone they aint hurting noone.
Reply:You can get electrinc repellers that give out high pitched noises which only cats and dogs can hear. I have used the rodent repellent and found it very effective.
Reply:Good question I had the same problem, What you can buy is plastic strips they are about 2ins wide and about 18 ins long and have spikes, harmless to the cats they come in a pack of 10, so what you do is screw them to the top of your fence and gates where they come in. That's what I did and it stopped them. You can get them in black or brown colour. You will find that will do the trick.
Reply:but what you could do is sing along with them,who knows you may become buddies. then you could just ask them to keep out .
Reply:by a cat. lol. no, seriously, cats are very terratorial, and if you get your own, it will see that no cats enter your garden.
Reply:electric fence
Reply:You can buy cat repellent from some garden centres but a more eccentric way is to buy lion dung (can be bought in some garden centres) and spread in your garden. Cats are dead afraid of the smell of lions, even if they've never seen one.
Reply:Place moth balls on top of the dirt or you can shave into flakes.
Reply:This is beginning to be a problem in some cities. I live in Defiance, Oh. Its a smaller town. Average I guess. But the town has passed a law stating that all cats have to be on a leash if their outside. The town nearby has also made a new law. If a cat is found outside then it will go to the shelter. You will have to come get your cat and pay a fine. Maybe you could talk to the city council or someone at your court house. You could ask if this is beggining to be a problem. Maybe there has been a lot of complaints and they would make a new law. Basically it's like having a bunch of stray dogs. The dog warden takes them to the shelter. Thats the same w. the cats.
How do you rid your garden of rats without using poison.?
We have a large garden that is surrounded by fields. We are getting lots of rats digging all over the garden. We dont want to use poison as we have 2 dogs. Traps wont work and the dogs can't catch them. Im shooting them at the moment, but there are far too many. Any help please.
How do you rid your garden of rats without using poison.?
Call in the local authority vermin control. I have them out twice per year, free of charge. I have two cats and a dog ..no problem,they put the poison in special containers so that rats and mice can partake, pets can't. Works for me and I live next to a farm
Reply:If you don't want to use poison how about giving the pied piper a call!! :) Seriously though............. i saw a rat at the bottom of my garden months ago and didn't want to put poison down coz i have dogs too, so my next door neighbour put poison down in his garden they took the bait and none of us have seen any since!(They eat the poison and them go to their dens never to be seen again.)
Reply:An old farmer's remedy is to plant Castor beans. Rats hate this plant as well as other rodents. The seeds are poisonous. The reason this plant keeps them away was explained to me as a child and that is the plant gives off a odor that we can't smell as humans but animals can and hate it. It's a beautiful tall reddish plant. If you choose to use Castor bean plants you need to plant them as a perimeter for your garden. I've never know of anything eating the Castor beans. It acts as a repellent. If you have small children I would keep the seed pods picked off not allowing them to mature.
Reply:rats are normally attracted to something make sure the garden is clear - my in-laws use poison - push it far down the holes and cover it up - shame your dogs can't get them our girl loves to catch them - maybe get a golden lab
Reply:call a pest control dude
Reply:Try some of these pages http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en%26amp;q=n...
Reply:Use a big stick and hit them HARD
Jack
Reply:Large rubber snakes
Reply:are you in UK.if so get environmental health in .where ever you are or to others with same problem.wash thoroughly if you come in contact with or think you may have touched something a rat urinated on.`weils disease ` (leptospirosis) can in cases be fatal or cause massive trauma.
Reply:Get a cat or many cats!
Reply:A cat or a rat terrier.
Reply:I know aspirin will kill rats- but check with your vet if it's lethal to dogs
Reply:if you could take the dogs out of the garden and let a few cats out there for a few nights they might get rid of them. I have also heard that ferrets are great to get rid of rats
Reply:Use 4 inch drainage pipes, cut them to approx 3ft long. Set the traps inside the pipes using chocolate as bait.
Block each end with some wood that has a hole just large enough for a rat to get in.
Lay the pipes close by to the rat runs but not directly over them. Rats are naturally cautious so if the pipes are on their runs they will avoid them. However they are also curious so if they are close by they will investigate.
There is a rat poison available that does not affect other wildlife and will not harm your dogs.
This link will give you the details.
http://www.trapman.co.uk/eradirat.htm
Reply:you can always try eating them
that or buying a cat to get rid of them
but they might bring it into your home, yucky
and once all the rats are dead then you will need to get in a big bird to kill the cat...
and once the cat is dead you will need to bring in something bigger to get rid of that!
ohhh when will the night mere end
Reply:Moth balls---rats can`t stand the smell of them. We put them in the farm equipment after harvest for the winter to keep the rats out. Works great!
Reply:My Pest Control put a tube down in my garden so that the rats could get inside it ,but my Dog Couldnt ,Also feeding birds dosent help ,And keep the garden uncluttered they like places to hide
Reply:I know this sounds cruel but hey there friggin disgusting pests!!! if you can catch a rat alive or can get someone that is competent to do so in a live catch trap, move the trap to open ground where you suspect the rats are hiding
pour petrol over the rat in the trap and then set on fire, i have seen this done, all the rats from the same and neighbouring hole do a mass evacuation THEY ABSOLUTELY HATE FIRE!!!
regards
steve
Reply:get some cats
Reply:!make a strong portable cage that can be staked into the ground with rat size few holes at the base, ( so dogs cant get in). Set traps with baits inside it. You can move the cage to different locations. Also the rat size holes can be made like inward opening valve windows, of any clear material, (such as, glass or plastic), so the rats know that its an opening there, so they can get in to eat! and that way, they wont be able to come out, your dogs will be safe! In this valve design, traps will not be necessary!!!
Reply:Hi Dave, get a Manchester Terrier, that's why farmers have them, get him a kennel outside, they are Working dogs,not Pets, he will see them off, go to your local dog Sanctuary, Love Jo xx
Reply:moth balls turpentine or call in the heavies
Reply:it's a wives'tale, but i've been told rodents don't like the smell of lavendar; maybe plant some lavender flowers (or other fragrant herbs)?
Reply:If your dogs won't hurt it, get a cat. Really. I had 2 roof rats for almost a year, and had this exterminator company on retainer (duh) to catch them! I was going crazy, because they made really loud noises at night- like they were moving furniture or something (I initially thought they were raccoons). Finally, one went outside and my cat got him, and the other one took off. I never got my money back for the exterminator. The other answer is a barn owl. I had one of those (I got it for free from the Junior Museum) when I managed the riding stable in Golden Gate Park. That thing could really eat! Good luck.
Reply:Hang some dead ones up on stakes! They'll get the message! LOL
Reply:Get a cat! Better than that go to Humane society and adopt several that have been spayed or neutered, that way you will be helping the cats the Humane society and yourself, We have a farm and we were losing a lot of our produce to rodents, adopted some cats and the problem was solved, they make great pets around the farm, they sleep in there own place in the barn and they seem to love being with us!
Reply:Make sure that all debris is cleaned up. Don't leave piles of leaves or compost. Sanitation is the key. Check out the ucipm website for more detailed info on controlling rats.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES...
Reply:Peppermint.....
They absolutely hate the smell of peppermint.....
I use peppermint oil to keep them out of my basement, attic and shed.....
It works wonders....
Peace.
Reply:we have 4 cats
have not seen a mouse or rat, yet
we did get a baby squirrel one day as a 'toy, but
distracted the kitty as we got it back out the door and it FLEW up the tree
have a great 2008!
Reply:1/ Stop feeding the birds.
2/ Stop putting kitchen waste on your compost heap.
3/ Remove any untidy areas to deny rats a hiding place.
4/ Get all your neighbours to do the same.
Reply:let me guess, they recently closed a dump near you. the dogs will catch them over time , might take a couple years LOLpoisin would be the fastest and most effective , jus be careful of ya pets
website host
How do you rid your garden of rats without using poison.?
Call in the local authority vermin control. I have them out twice per year, free of charge. I have two cats and a dog ..no problem,they put the poison in special containers so that rats and mice can partake, pets can't. Works for me and I live next to a farm
Reply:If you don't want to use poison how about giving the pied piper a call!! :) Seriously though............. i saw a rat at the bottom of my garden months ago and didn't want to put poison down coz i have dogs too, so my next door neighbour put poison down in his garden they took the bait and none of us have seen any since!(They eat the poison and them go to their dens never to be seen again.)
Reply:An old farmer's remedy is to plant Castor beans. Rats hate this plant as well as other rodents. The seeds are poisonous. The reason this plant keeps them away was explained to me as a child and that is the plant gives off a odor that we can't smell as humans but animals can and hate it. It's a beautiful tall reddish plant. If you choose to use Castor bean plants you need to plant them as a perimeter for your garden. I've never know of anything eating the Castor beans. It acts as a repellent. If you have small children I would keep the seed pods picked off not allowing them to mature.
Reply:rats are normally attracted to something make sure the garden is clear - my in-laws use poison - push it far down the holes and cover it up - shame your dogs can't get them our girl loves to catch them - maybe get a golden lab
Reply:call a pest control dude
Reply:Try some of these pages http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en%26amp;q=n...
Reply:Use a big stick and hit them HARD
Jack
Reply:Large rubber snakes
Reply:are you in UK.if so get environmental health in .where ever you are or to others with same problem.wash thoroughly if you come in contact with or think you may have touched something a rat urinated on.`weils disease ` (leptospirosis) can in cases be fatal or cause massive trauma.
Reply:Get a cat or many cats!
Reply:A cat or a rat terrier.
Reply:I know aspirin will kill rats- but check with your vet if it's lethal to dogs
Reply:if you could take the dogs out of the garden and let a few cats out there for a few nights they might get rid of them. I have also heard that ferrets are great to get rid of rats
Reply:Use 4 inch drainage pipes, cut them to approx 3ft long. Set the traps inside the pipes using chocolate as bait.
Block each end with some wood that has a hole just large enough for a rat to get in.
Lay the pipes close by to the rat runs but not directly over them. Rats are naturally cautious so if the pipes are on their runs they will avoid them. However they are also curious so if they are close by they will investigate.
There is a rat poison available that does not affect other wildlife and will not harm your dogs.
This link will give you the details.
http://www.trapman.co.uk/eradirat.htm
Reply:you can always try eating them
that or buying a cat to get rid of them
but they might bring it into your home, yucky
and once all the rats are dead then you will need to get in a big bird to kill the cat...
and once the cat is dead you will need to bring in something bigger to get rid of that!
ohhh when will the night mere end
Reply:Moth balls---rats can`t stand the smell of them. We put them in the farm equipment after harvest for the winter to keep the rats out. Works great!
Reply:My Pest Control put a tube down in my garden so that the rats could get inside it ,but my Dog Couldnt ,Also feeding birds dosent help ,And keep the garden uncluttered they like places to hide
Reply:I know this sounds cruel but hey there friggin disgusting pests!!! if you can catch a rat alive or can get someone that is competent to do so in a live catch trap, move the trap to open ground where you suspect the rats are hiding
pour petrol over the rat in the trap and then set on fire, i have seen this done, all the rats from the same and neighbouring hole do a mass evacuation THEY ABSOLUTELY HATE FIRE!!!
regards
steve
Reply:get some cats
Reply:!make a strong portable cage that can be staked into the ground with rat size few holes at the base, ( so dogs cant get in). Set traps with baits inside it. You can move the cage to different locations. Also the rat size holes can be made like inward opening valve windows, of any clear material, (such as, glass or plastic), so the rats know that its an opening there, so they can get in to eat! and that way, they wont be able to come out, your dogs will be safe! In this valve design, traps will not be necessary!!!
Reply:Hi Dave, get a Manchester Terrier, that's why farmers have them, get him a kennel outside, they are Working dogs,not Pets, he will see them off, go to your local dog Sanctuary, Love Jo xx
Reply:moth balls turpentine or call in the heavies
Reply:it's a wives'tale, but i've been told rodents don't like the smell of lavendar; maybe plant some lavender flowers (or other fragrant herbs)?
Reply:If your dogs won't hurt it, get a cat. Really. I had 2 roof rats for almost a year, and had this exterminator company on retainer (duh) to catch them! I was going crazy, because they made really loud noises at night- like they were moving furniture or something (I initially thought they were raccoons). Finally, one went outside and my cat got him, and the other one took off. I never got my money back for the exterminator. The other answer is a barn owl. I had one of those (I got it for free from the Junior Museum) when I managed the riding stable in Golden Gate Park. That thing could really eat! Good luck.
Reply:Hang some dead ones up on stakes! They'll get the message! LOL
Reply:Get a cat! Better than that go to Humane society and adopt several that have been spayed or neutered, that way you will be helping the cats the Humane society and yourself, We have a farm and we were losing a lot of our produce to rodents, adopted some cats and the problem was solved, they make great pets around the farm, they sleep in there own place in the barn and they seem to love being with us!
Reply:Make sure that all debris is cleaned up. Don't leave piles of leaves or compost. Sanitation is the key. Check out the ucipm website for more detailed info on controlling rats.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES...
Reply:Peppermint.....
They absolutely hate the smell of peppermint.....
I use peppermint oil to keep them out of my basement, attic and shed.....
It works wonders....
Peace.
Reply:we have 4 cats
have not seen a mouse or rat, yet
we did get a baby squirrel one day as a 'toy, but
distracted the kitty as we got it back out the door and it FLEW up the tree
have a great 2008!
Reply:1/ Stop feeding the birds.
2/ Stop putting kitchen waste on your compost heap.
3/ Remove any untidy areas to deny rats a hiding place.
4/ Get all your neighbours to do the same.
Reply:let me guess, they recently closed a dump near you. the dogs will catch them over time , might take a couple years LOLpoisin would be the fastest and most effective , jus be careful of ya pets
website host
Do you work in your garden barefoot?
It rains often where I live and I also have heavy clay soil. Wearing shoes or boots in the wet garden means tons of soil sticks to them and also causes soil compaction. However, walking barefoot in the garden does not cause this if the soil is not totally saturated.
I have found that working in the garden barefoot has made me a better gardener in that I can tend to weeding and harvesting quicker after it rains. To wear shoes, typically we must wait 2 to 3 days before entering the garden to accomplish anything, so weeds tend to grow out of control and produce gets overly mature.
There are still some tasks that cannot be done, for example, beans should never be touched when the plants are wet -- that is an old wives tale that is true. But, basically, barefoot gardening is a good thing. If you have never tried it, I recommend it some time.
Do you work in your garden barefoot?
I have always gardened barefoot.
I find it more comfortable, it’s a quick way to judge dry soil conditions and to pick up on the first hint of moles and other tunneling critters. I garden with all my senses and being barefoot increases information from touch.
I also love to feel all the different textures underfoot.
Reply:no i dont work in my garden barefoot .
keep smiling bye ?!@}-p43
Reply:no...what about the worms huh?
Reply:I LOVE being in my garden barefooted, but then again I go barefooted whenever I can. Living in Wisconsin, that can be a short season. When I'm barefooted I feel more connected to the earth.
Reply:I went into the garden barefoot once when I was a teenager and stepped on a garden slug, yuck, gross. I never went without shoes again in the garden.
Reply:I'd like to garden barefoot too, but unfortunately Nepoleon is right. Flip through a parasitology text book when you get the chance and take a good look at the photos. I'm all for natural, but watching worms squirm about just beneath my skin would be a bit too natural for me.
Reply:I agree it feels great but too many dangers in the garden, not only the hook worms, but far to many accidents occur with people who don't think it will happen to them. The garden is a place to relax and take your cares away and most of the time that's when a pair of secateurs fall, or the fork bounces of a stone or the lawn mower runs back. Had a couple of close shaves over the years and seen too many accidents. Wear protective shoes unless you don't like to dance.
Reply:Unfortunately I have lots of thistles and poison ivy in the back yard. The people before me (the house is 76 years old, so lots of people!) left lots of "bits" behind - glass, metal, wood scraps with nails, etc. I have found a shovel, a frying pan, a trowel, several toys, and most recently a woman's plain wedding band! (Sold it for gold - $10.00 worth)
And now I have a dog.....
Reply:No that's gross and i do not recommend you do that. If you research something called a hook worm. You would think twice about stepping on your front porch barefoot.
Reply:There are very few things that feel better than gardening barefoot. There's just something so organic, so unifying with mother nature, that it can't be ignored. But then again I am a Pagan so i love being enveloped by nature in most of her forms.
Reply:No,there was a garden in my house before i did my renovation but i never walked barefoot in it for 1 reason,centipedes.Big black ones could be found under all my flower pots...
Reply:If I had a garden, I probably would
Reply:No, I wear shoes. Some people are nudists, I do not do that either! As a couple of other people mentioned, you can get parasites by walking barefoot.
Reply:I do everything barefooted, and gardening barefooted is a pleasure. There's nothing like the smell of dirt! Lovely!
Reply:I do, it is nice to walk around and feel the dirt and mud under your feet
Reply:I think that sounds like a good idea. Especially if you don't mind. I have read that wearing bare feet on the earth, and grass helps keep you grounded.
It sounds like fun.
Reply:I too have done the barefoot weeding thing. It is soooo much easier to wash the mud from your feet than from your shoes. The only thing that deters me is the fact that I have used sheep manure to fertilize and am afraid of picking up a serious infection if I were to have a scratch or wound on my foot. But sometimes I have no control and end up in there shoeless.
I have found that working in the garden barefoot has made me a better gardener in that I can tend to weeding and harvesting quicker after it rains. To wear shoes, typically we must wait 2 to 3 days before entering the garden to accomplish anything, so weeds tend to grow out of control and produce gets overly mature.
There are still some tasks that cannot be done, for example, beans should never be touched when the plants are wet -- that is an old wives tale that is true. But, basically, barefoot gardening is a good thing. If you have never tried it, I recommend it some time.
Do you work in your garden barefoot?
I have always gardened barefoot.
I find it more comfortable, it’s a quick way to judge dry soil conditions and to pick up on the first hint of moles and other tunneling critters. I garden with all my senses and being barefoot increases information from touch.
I also love to feel all the different textures underfoot.
Reply:no i dont work in my garden barefoot .
keep smiling bye ?!@}-p43
Reply:no...what about the worms huh?
Reply:I LOVE being in my garden barefooted, but then again I go barefooted whenever I can. Living in Wisconsin, that can be a short season. When I'm barefooted I feel more connected to the earth.
Reply:I went into the garden barefoot once when I was a teenager and stepped on a garden slug, yuck, gross. I never went without shoes again in the garden.
Reply:I'd like to garden barefoot too, but unfortunately Nepoleon is right. Flip through a parasitology text book when you get the chance and take a good look at the photos. I'm all for natural, but watching worms squirm about just beneath my skin would be a bit too natural for me.
Reply:I agree it feels great but too many dangers in the garden, not only the hook worms, but far to many accidents occur with people who don't think it will happen to them. The garden is a place to relax and take your cares away and most of the time that's when a pair of secateurs fall, or the fork bounces of a stone or the lawn mower runs back. Had a couple of close shaves over the years and seen too many accidents. Wear protective shoes unless you don't like to dance.
Reply:Unfortunately I have lots of thistles and poison ivy in the back yard. The people before me (the house is 76 years old, so lots of people!) left lots of "bits" behind - glass, metal, wood scraps with nails, etc. I have found a shovel, a frying pan, a trowel, several toys, and most recently a woman's plain wedding band! (Sold it for gold - $10.00 worth)
And now I have a dog.....
Reply:No that's gross and i do not recommend you do that. If you research something called a hook worm. You would think twice about stepping on your front porch barefoot.
Reply:There are very few things that feel better than gardening barefoot. There's just something so organic, so unifying with mother nature, that it can't be ignored. But then again I am a Pagan so i love being enveloped by nature in most of her forms.
Reply:No,there was a garden in my house before i did my renovation but i never walked barefoot in it for 1 reason,centipedes.Big black ones could be found under all my flower pots...
Reply:If I had a garden, I probably would
Reply:No, I wear shoes. Some people are nudists, I do not do that either! As a couple of other people mentioned, you can get parasites by walking barefoot.
Reply:I do everything barefooted, and gardening barefooted is a pleasure. There's nothing like the smell of dirt! Lovely!
Reply:I do, it is nice to walk around and feel the dirt and mud under your feet
Reply:I think that sounds like a good idea. Especially if you don't mind. I have read that wearing bare feet on the earth, and grass helps keep you grounded.
It sounds like fun.
Reply:I too have done the barefoot weeding thing. It is soooo much easier to wash the mud from your feet than from your shoes. The only thing that deters me is the fact that I have used sheep manure to fertilize and am afraid of picking up a serious infection if I were to have a scratch or wound on my foot. But sometimes I have no control and end up in there shoeless.
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