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#Post#: 2193--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gardening! Who does it?
DIR By: G-Lady
Date: March 21, 2012, 10:30 am
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My yard's in sorry shape from a combination of one of the worst
droughts in Texas history, 2 large dogs, and ripping up part of
a deck. On Sunday, I spread some grass seed on half the
backyard. I under-estimated how much I'd need to cover the
whole thing so we'll pick up more this weekend.
Our lawns are primarily St Augustine grass in this area. It
spreads by sending out runners, but it's a slow spreader. So
while we wait for it to grow in, a high traffic rye combo will
fill it in and tame some of the mud in the backyard.
I haven't decided if I'll seed the front. It's pretty weedy and
the dead areas of St. A need to be de-thatched to encourage new
growth. I don't mind most weeds, but whole sections of my front
yard have been taken over by spurge and black medic. There's a
few large patches of henbit too. A friend from Public Works
suggested raking it all up and using a Weed N Feed to encourage
the St A to grow in.
#Post#: 2209--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gardening! Who does it?
DIR By: RainhaDoTexugo
Date: March 21, 2012, 5:51 pm
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We put down weed n feed last year, and it made a huge
difference.
My peas and marigolds are growing! So cool that I can plant
seeds Monday night, and have little baby plants Tuesday night.
It's like magic :)
#Post#: 2218--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gardening! Who does it?
DIR By: G-Lady
Date: March 22, 2012, 10:08 am
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At least I've already treated the lawns for fleas, cinch bugs,
and other pests. 8)
(I shudder to think of how chewed up poor Bonny would be if I
hadn't! She's more sensitive to flea bites than other dogs I've
had)
#Post#: 2244--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gardening! Who does it?
DIR By: hardia
Date: March 23, 2012, 10:22 am
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Ok, so, let's say a person was going to a gardening type store
this weekend and wanted to get some stuff to plant some herbs
(particularly rosemary and basil, and whatever else looks
appealing) in pots on her back deck. And let's say that person
knows next to nothing about growing anything. What size pots
would a person need? What kind of soil? What tips or tricks
would this person need to know?
Please don't feel like you'd be talking down to me by giving me
very, very basic instructions and information. I am completely
ignorant in this area. Thanks in advance for any advice you can
give!
#Post#: 2245--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gardening! Who does it?
DIR By: RainhaDoTexugo
Date: March 23, 2012, 11:49 am
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Unless you live somewhere warm, it's a bit early for herbs. If
you're pretty confident that it won't freeze, you're probably
okay, but you may want to start out indoors, or get your
supplies and wait a bit to plant. I know in Chicago they say
May 15th, but most people I know go with May 1. You can keep
small potted herbs in the pots they come in for awhile, if you
want to keep them indoors, but there may not be much
availability.
I usually do herbs in pots about this size:
HTML http://www.lowes.com/pd_318293-77374-20-56412_4294778659+4294838004_4294937087_?productId=3361006&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl_Pot_4294778659%2B4294838004_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=Pot
It's really very flexible, though. It's hard to screw up pot
size for herbs, they'll just get as big as they can in what they
have. You can do a window box, or you can do a bigger pot and
mix herbs in some cases. Check to see that they have similar
care instructions or if one will crowd out the others first.
Since I don't usually mix herbs, I don't know the specifics.
Once you have a pot for each herb, you'll need some dirt. Plain
old potting soil usually works just fine. There are fancier
mixes, which may or may not yield better results, but I've been
just fine with normal dirt. You'll want some sort of small
spade/trowel/diggy thing. You could get something like this
HTML http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=248708-302-2403200&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=1070931&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=rel&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1,<br
/>or just use an old spoon. I bought a bulb planter like this
HTML http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202057372/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=bulb%20planter&storeId=10051<br
/>recently, and it also makes excellent holes, so long as the
diameter of the existing dirt is smaller than the planter.
Whatever tool you go with, you basically fill your hole with
dirt (an old plastic cup works well for this, if the bag is too
big and awkward to pour), gently grip the plant by the base and
wiggle it out of the old pot, put it in the hole, cover it up
with dirt, and water. They shouldn't need much after that.
Water them if they get dry, leave them alone if you have enough
rain. Snip off any flowers to encourage leaf growth. You can
fertilize if you like, but it's not really necessary. I use
Miracle Gro when I fertilize, but there are tons of options.
Make friends with a garden center employee :)
#Post#: 2295--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gardening! Who does it?
DIR By: Nugget
Date: March 25, 2012, 11:39 am
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I love gardening! Last year I had a super epic container garden
on my balcony. I moved to a smaller place, though, with no
balcony. I do have access to a yard, so maybe when the "threat"
of frost has passed, I'll plant some tomatoes in a pot in the
backyard, and maybe put my potted japanese maple outside.
I've currently got some indoor herbs (rosemary, parsley, and
catnip) growing in pretty small pots—I painted 32oz yogurt tubs
and just stuck 'em in. They stay pretty small, so I'm eventually
going to put them in larger pots. I've also got a lemon tree
which is finally growing some dang branches. I don't think it
liked being repotted last year; it lost about half of its
leaves.
#Post#: 2413--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gardening! Who does it?
DIR By: PurpleLlama
Date: March 30, 2012, 9:34 pm
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I love gardening, but sometimes my energy levels don't match up
with the amount of work I need to do.
Last summer, I was lucky to get a bunch of veggies from my yard,
because my mother was in the hospital and nursing home care
center all summer, after she wound up having open-heart surgery
in a hospital across town. Going to visit her basically took
all evening. Luckily for her, she got better, and is now home.
This past winter, we had one HUGE snow storm, a couple of medium
storms, and lots of dry weather.
This spring and summer, I am hoping to get the rock pile out
front dug out and used along the sides of the house (2-foot
border around the edge of the house discourages bugs and
mice-like animals). Hoping to put more flowers out in the front
yard, probably going to spread out a bunch of wildflower seeds.
I read an article where is says that it is friendly to
butterflies to have lots of wildflowers, like in a meadow, to
provide lots of food for them. Ditto for honeybees.
And then in the backyard, trying to use the rototiller to plow
up some dirt, probably spread a bunch of drought-friendly grass
seed. Taking a suggestion from people here, I'll also use some
weed-n-feed.
I also have a bunch of iris that have been in their current
location for about 5 years, and need to be dug up and replanted
and or thinned.
For herbs, I'm hoping most of mine come back from this winter.
I have horehound (the type you make the throat candy from),
sage, thyme, lemon thyme, fennel, lovage, lemon balm, oregano,
sorrell, salad burnett, tarragon, onion chives, garlic chives,
yarrow, soapwort, sweet woodruff, spearmint, chocolate mint,
orange mint, apple mint, purple coneflower (ecchinacea),
lavender, feverfew, wormwood, hmmmmm, i might have more, but
not that I'm recalling offhand.
I need to plant lots more flowers, especially marigolds.
And I need to check if my raspberry and blackberry bushes wll
come back.
#Post#: 2516--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gardening! Who does it?
DIR By: WinesWellWithOthers
Date: April 4, 2012, 2:02 pm
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I love my apartment and I spend lots of time on my balcony
because it is shaded and there is a great breeze. However I
have new downstairs neighbors and they smoke... outside... lots.
Anyone have any good plant suggestions that might block some of
the smoke? I have great shade and then a few hours of wicked
afternoon sun.
#Post#: 2517--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gardening! Who does it?
DIR By: G-Lady
Date: April 4, 2012, 2:24 pm
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Jasmine, honey suckle, fragrant roses. I've seen jasmine done
in containers, but I don't know about the others. An outdoor
fan might help.
#Post#: 2525--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gardening! Who does it?
DIR By: Nerdling
Date: April 4, 2012, 10:52 pm
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I think instead of planting bulbs or seeds, I'm breaking down
and buying some plants. DH surprised me by digging up the front
section I've been planning on landscaping and planting a few
plants of his own along the porch. The rest is just awaiting
its new occupants, who I plan to pick up sometime this weekend
-- the holes are even already dug. :D
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