Better Farms And Gardens

(Dugie/10817) I have a fig (Ficus sp.) tree. It WAS doing horribly with lack o...

Dugie@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:07:00 -0600

I have a fig (Ficus sp.) tree. It WAS doing horribly with lack of attention and
construction dust choking its leaves, as well as cats tearing at its bark.
About 2-3 weeks ago, I gave it a shower (the thing stands about 12ft high)...
and have been watering it consistently. It's doing MUCH better, and growing new
branches and leaves. I have noticed some entirely NEW branches which I did not
expect.

My query is: Can I somehow encourage the growth of entirely new branches to get
the tree back to its former glory (again, we're well on the way, but I'd like
to direct it...)

For instance, can a nick the bark and out a branch will come (perhaps with the
assistance of a powdered hormone), can I attempt grafting (i.e., remove a
healthy young branch and insert it elsewhere to create desired shape? Fig trees
have many tiny 'pimples', and that seems where the branches grow from... How
can I trick it to putting one "there" as opposed to "there..."

(Gespalder/10816) Kathie Cox of Summersville, MO is the source of this list

Gespalder@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:18:00 -0600

Kathie Cox of Summersville, MO is the source of this list
(December/January 2008 issue of Birds & Blooms)

You might be a gardener if...

* You remember the date you planted your corn, but you can't remember your
first grandchild's birthday.

* Your car has a bumper sticker that reads, "I brake for all greenhouses!"

* You may need to take out a small loan to pay your water bill during the
summer months

* The trunk of your car contains clumps of potting soil and a few dried leaves

* You only watch television for the local weather reports

* You keep a nailbrush next to the soap in your soap dish

* The terms "germination" and "deadheading" often come up in conversation

* You've forsaken shopping centers for garden centers

* You find pulling weeds therapeutic, not a chore

(Cyanide/10815) Can I use the condensate from my natural gas furnace as fertiliz...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:03:00 -0600

Can I use the condensate from my natural gas furnace as fertilizer for a
hydro/aeroponic system? It is supposedly pretty acidic, but it should have
nitrogen and sulfer in it.

(Dugie/10814) I'll see what I can do.

Dugie@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:56:00 -0500

I'll see what I can do.

 Or as the sign in Mom's shop said, "I'm a hairdresser, not a mirical worker".
   ;)

(Artemis/10813) I would love if you'd send some heat our way. We are already int...

Artemis@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:24:00 -0500

I would love if you'd send some heat our way. We are already into fall-feeling
weather and some of the lower shrubs are undergoing leaf change already. It's
going to be hard to get my peppers to ripen up (cayenne and habenero) if our
highs continue to be in the low 70s with lows in the 40s at night. Sigh.

(Rian/10812) 90? That sounds like a cool front. heh

Rian@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:49:00 -0500

90?  That sounds like a cool front. *heh*
Needless to say, any plans for an herb garden here are going to wait until it's
not 105.  That said, I'm encouraged by the fact that the system seems to be
doing well so far in combating high heat.

(Dugie/10811) I -just- came from the deck.... it's over 90deg outside... and, ...

Dugie@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:56:00 -0500

I -just- came from the deck.... it's over 90deg outside... and, ofcourse, the
deck is hotter. I trimmed most of the old dying/dead vegetation and am
seriously impressed with what's left. Vibrant, growing, GREEN.

More to come...

(Dugie/10810) Lol! We do make some mean bunny pellet stew in SE Iowa... though...

Dugie@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:52:00 -0500

Lol! We do make some mean bunny pellet stew in SE Iowa... though, I must say,
it does sit like lead in yer belly.

(Wait, that didn't come out right....
....or did it?)

(Distant Horizon/10809) I reckon bunnies taste even better than a single pellet :) Did ...

Distant Horizon@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:42:00 -0500

I reckon bunnies taste even better than a single pellet :)  Did the drip thing
on 3 areas of my yard, still need to do a fourth spot...

(Dugie/10808) You will have more problem from racoon and chipmunk than anythin...

Dugie@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:04:00 -0500

You will have more problem from racoon and chipmunk than anything (and that's
nothing more than an small annoyance). Perhaps oppossum. Again, an
indoor/outdoor cat solves this tiny issue, but isn't even necessary. In such
close proximity to the house and elevated, you have solved most of your typical
garden pest issues. Watering is your main problem, solved by drip irrigation.

(Cyanide/10807) rabbits, coons and deer dont like irish spring soap smell. :) an...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:02:00 -0500

rabbits, coons and deer dont like irish spring soap smell. :) and/or you can go
with a phyical chicken wire type of barrier.

(Dugie/10806) Interesting you should ask.... evil grin

Dugie@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:50:00 -0500

Interesting you should ask.... *evil grin*

Firstly, the setup is on my deck and just off my kitchen, so it is elevated and
extremely convenient for cooking. "Honey, could you go grab me a handful of
basil and one of chives from the deck?"

Secondly, I have two indoor/outdoor cats. Chipmunks and small critters like to
root about and dig out seeds I've planted. This still happens, but much less so
and not to any appreciable degree any more. And my kitties like to leave their
'spoils' on my front patio that they have harvested from their own wild larder.
I just wish they were more frugal and use what they 'bought'.

Thirdly, squirrels are diurnal, as are rabbits... coming out in early mornings
and evenings when it's cool, bedding down in the heat of the day.  Shouldn't
really be an issue for you, no more than myself with the occasional chipmunk.
(see "Secondly" above...)

Fourthly, and this may raise a squirrel tail, I do harvest squirrel and bunny
from my own land.  My pellet gun is dead-on accurate, quick and clean. A
chicken costs $7 here for anything close to organic, bunnies are the cost of a
single pellet. (and just as delicious I might add...)

(Rian/10805) How do you keep animals out? Squirrels, rabbits, neigborhood ca...

Rian@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:43:00 -0500

How do you keep animals out?  Squirrels, rabbits, neigborhood cats, etc?  My
daughter would love to set up a small herb garden, and that sounds like a
perfect setup (assuming we have water here at all much longer!), but we have
all of the above wandering around, and I can't imagine how I'd keep various
wild/ wandering creatures from eating things.  Every setup I can envision seems
difficult or expensive - or both - to set up.

(Dugie/10804) Just installed a drip irrigation system for my container patio v...

Dugie@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:29:00 -0500

Just installed a drip irrigation system for my container patio veggie garden.
Three words: Awe. so. me.

Lost pretty much all my plants to hot, dry days after watering in the morning
and coming home 11 hrs later to wanting, drooping plants.

Hooks up to your hose spigot. Little UV-resistant poly-line connects to the
plants (you can still run your regular hose to your yard with a "Y"-tee thingy.
Each plant gets its own little dripper for small containers or bubbler spider
sprayer for larger.

Programmable. I have it set to come on three times a day for 20 min (6am, 2pm,
6pm or so).

Working wonderfully. Basil is back in action and setting new leaves very
bushily. Thyme, sage, catnip are perking right back up. Tomatoes are setting
new growth and flowers. Bell peppers the same.

I have seeded beets, carrots, turnip for a fall/winter harvest and will do the
same for lettuces/spinaches/asian greens and other cool season growers for a
fall/winter/spring harvest.

Cost about $150. Paid for itself in not buying produce.

(SledgeHammer/10803) Chlorine is a non-essential element except for a select few obli...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:49:00 -0500

Chlorine is a non-essential element except for a select few obligate
halophytes; even then, sufficiency for that element is typically met with the
quantity used in exchange from the EDTA chelate used to bind up iron.

As for sulfur- not much is required for sufficiency. The usual supply is with
magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts), rarely with other sources.

Peter's just isn't all that good. Look at what cannabis growers use- and not
just for the sake of using the most expensive stuff; even the cheapest growers
don't use Peter's. This may be changing, as Peter's is going to come out with a
formulation specifically for marijuana, or so rumor goes. You can bet it won't
rely upon urea.

Urea has two big drawbacks: the first is that it's not readily available. It
has to be metabolized by soil-dwelling bacteria before it can be freed up. More
importantly, it's phytotoxic in this state; I've run axenic tissue cultures
with filter-sterilizing urea, and it flat-out kills plants in sterile culture,
even at equimolar concentrations of nitrogen.

(Cyanide/10802) Sledgehammer> Yes but do they include them all? And everyone one...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:08:00 -0500

Sledgehammer> Yes but do they include them all? And everyone one i looked at
did state it included micronutrients.

Peter's Jack's brand doesnt include Sulfer or Chlorine and it uses Urea
for most of its nitrogen I can understand skipping chlorine since a lot of
people are using city water, but skipping out on sulfer?

(Distant Horizon/10801) I'd think you could get it at a greenhouse... or maybe you'll ha...

Distant Horizon@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:26:00 -0500

I'd think you could get it at a greenhouse... or maybe you'll have to get
topsoil and mix in a little bit of this and that.

(Tea Leaf/10800) I use Lakeland Natural & Organic Potting Soil, it's OMRI certifi...

Tea Leaf@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:07:00 -0500

I use Lakeland Natural & Organic Potting Soil, it's OMRI certified & I get it
from Home Depot.

(SledgeHammer/10799) Cyanide, all your commercial bagged fertilizers have micronutrie...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:33:00 -0500

Cyanide, all your commercial bagged fertilizers have micronutrients. Urea is
just a waste product, sold as fertilizer, and "weed and feed" is for your lawn,
not potted plants. I've written three books on plant nutrition; you're just
completely wrong on this.

(Tempestas/10798) Sterilizing soil in the oven is a incredible waste of energy and...

Tempestas@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:16:00 -0500

Sterilizing soil in the oven is a incredible waste of energy and puts a gawd
awful stank in the house :( I've had a couple friends do that experiment, I
ain't doing that in my house!

"Soil Moist" is actually a name-brand product. Its these small clear/white hard
'crystals'. I think its some sort of silicone product? They're not really
crystals, because when you add water, they expand to about 10x their size in
these clear jelly-type blobs. They're great if you live somewhere dry like
arizona, but I don't live in a dry climate at all, and I do like to water my
plants like 'normal' (once a week I water, trim, chat with them a bit)

Someone x'd me and said WalMarts might have something for me. I was just there
yesterday and thought I only saw the Miracle Grow, but I'll have to check again
when I'm in town next week. I'm hoping that flushing them took care of the
problem, won't know for another week... I gave them a good spray with neem oil
because they're so damaged (and likely vulnerable to pests now) I see all these
'outside' bugs hanging on my window screens just salivating for my tender,
vulnerable, nitrogen-burned plants !

(Cyanide/10797) You can use topsoil, either buy sterlized topsoil, or put it in ...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:52:00 -0500

You can use topsoil, either buy sterlized topsoil, or put it in the oven and
sterilize it. If you want "Soil Moist", I think it is mostly spagnum moss which
you can buy it too. However, im really surprised it is burning your plants what
kind of plants?

(Tempestas/10796) Where can I find potting soil that is NOT amended with nutrients...

Tempestas@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:53:00 -0500

Where can I find potting soil that is NOT amended with nutrients?

Home Cheapo, Lowes, and my local garden centers are all selling miracle grow
with 6 months of feeding... Its a ridiculous amount of fertilizer and causing
burns on my plants. I just spent the better part of a hour trying to flush the
plants I just transplanted last week. Every.damned.plant had fertilizer burns
and they're all sick now.

I used to buy Hyponex brand, which has no Soil Moist, no moisture pebbles, and
it didn't advertise anything about '6 month feeding' on the side of the bag (so
I'm assuming it wasn't amended with any fertilizer)... That shit was perfect
and real cheap.

I'm at a loss as to what to do at this point. I won't spend money on miracle
grow anymore, but is there really no other soil available ? These are indoor
plants, so I can't just use topsoil, I don't need a house full of bugs.

(Cyanide/10795) Urea, 12-12-12, Scotts weed n feed. Im only aware of the one. Ma...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 02:33:00 -0500

Urea, 12-12-12, Scotts weed n feed. Im only aware of the one. Maybe you can
enlighten us.

(SledgeHammer/10794) You have no idea what you're talking about. Name any commercial ...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:46:00 -0500

You have no idea what you're talking about. Name any commercial chemical
fertilizer that doesn't add zinc, sulfur, iron, molybdenum, boron, magnesium,
calcium, manganese- all the micros.

(Cyanide/10793) Macro nutrients are NPK or 1-1-1, but miraclegrow adds the micro...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:34:00 -0500

Macro nutrients are NPK or 1-1-1, but miraclegrow adds the micronutients like
sulfer, zync, etc. You can buy it separately, milorganite is a 0-0-1 fertilizer
that includes them. It is expensive but if you have depleted or poor soil it
helps quite a bit. You only need to apply it every other year or two.

(SledgeHammer/10792) You gotta be fucking kidding me. Miracle-Gro "supplies micronuri...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:31:00 -0500

You gotta be fucking kidding me. Miracle-Gro "supplies micronurients" that
"other fertilizers do not supply"?

(Cyanide/10791) Also leaching of nitrogen can also be caused by improper soil pH...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 06:32:00 -0500

Also leaching of nitrogen can also be caused by improper soil pH, so adding
lime to balance your pH will help prevent leaching of nitrogen. I believe out
of all the macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) it is the only
one that leaches.
As a bonus the balanced pH will also slow down the germination of some weed
seeds.

Slow Release fertilizers are a good time saver since they last about a 3 months
and so you only have to apply once to your lawn instead of the recommended 3
times a year.

As far as organic fertilizers, i don't have an issue with them, except they are
more expensive and i have to do a lot more work. And I dont believe they are
rated as "slow release" but I could be wrong.

If you use "green manure" which is like grass clippings, or anything else that
has been composted, you need to add lime to balance the pH and help it break
down, since it does in fact use nitrogen in the process, and it uses water.
Applying it directly to your garden, you can end up just dehydrating your
veggies or prevent them from being able to absorb nutrients.

This can also happen with Urea or other high nitrogen applications of
fertilizer as well so apply the lime (which can be added anytime) but apply
nitrogen before it rains since it will soak up available water. (lightning also
provides nitrogen.)

(Cyanide/10790) You maybe out of fertilizer, water, or it was just too hot and d...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 06:24:00 -0500

You maybe out of fertilizer, water, or it was just too hot and dry when they
pollinated. You can try some fertilizer, but at this point in the season, you
want miraclegrow or a fast acting fertilizer.

Urea> Sorry but this stuff is great and the only thing that is wrong with it is
people don't do their math and apply too much of it. If I use 4-6-3 and need
50lbs of of nitrogen for my acre of lawn. I need 2 50lb bags of urea or 13 bags
of 4-6-3 and I would be applying too much phosphorous which was the cause of
all the soap companies changing formulas back in the 70s.

Miraclegrow> This supplies micronutrients, most other fertilizers do not
supply. it is usually a 0-0-1 fertilizer like milorgamite. But it does great up
your lawn and provide nutrient.s

(SledgeHammer/10789) MiracleGro also gets its nitrogen from urea, a sub-optimal sourc...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:40:00 -0500

MiracleGro also gets its nitrogen from urea, a sub-optimal source of the stuff.

(Tea Leaf/10788) miracle grow needs to be refreshed about every 4-6 weeks as it l...

Tea Leaf@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:34:00 -0500

miracle grow needs to be refreshed about every 4-6 weeks as it leaches out
quickly. Consider getting an organic fertilizer in the future - the nutrients
are released as they needed. One indication of an organic fertilizer is that
the three numbers are significantly lower than Miracle Grow like product. For
tomatoes, you want the second number to be higher than the other two. Example
4-6-3

(Cragmor/10787) I am working on some vegetables and herbs in pots. Starting smal...

Cragmor@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:25:00 -0500

I am working on some vegetables and herbs in pots. Starting small. I have
cilantro, oregano, parsley, and basil in two cedar boxes on my deck (2 herbs
per box, non treated wood) and I have a 10" high by about 14" wide pot with
cherry tomatos, and a bigger pot, maybe 14" high by 16" wide with mexibell
peppers, and mild jalapenos.
The bell peppers are supposed to be 4.5x4", but they are maybe 1.5x1.5 to about
2x2" The jalapenos are also small, maybe 1" long. Could the pot be a
limitation on their size?
Also, the tomatos are getting smaller. early July, they were nice sized, but
they are not quite as big as a small marble now. I wonder if this is the
weather doing this, or could it be that nutrients in the soil have been used
up? I put a mixture of regular soil, and miracle grow garden soil in each pot.
The herbs, I am going to have to make some changes. I did not have nearly
enough cilantro, so that will get a box of its own.

(Heartburn/10786) Spinach overwinters for me. I had fresh Spinach from the garden...

Heartburn@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:14:00 -0500

Spinach overwinters for me.  I had fresh Spinach from the garden in February
this year!

(Tea Leaf/10785) SFD: I meant beets, not radishes. Beautiful dark red leaves woul...

Tea Leaf@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:21:00 -0500

SFD: I meant beets, not radishes. Beautiful dark red leaves would be a fun
contrast in a container

(Tea Leaf/10784) spinach, swiss chard

Tea Leaf@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:20:00 -0500

spinach, swiss chard

I'm not sure how cold it gets in DC, but those are my two favorite cool season
crops. I'm trying radishes for the first time this year - my friend says he can
grow a radish anytime of year except summer or if it stays below 30 for more
than 2 weeks.

(MoonToad/10783) You could probably grow something that grows from seed quickly. ...

MoonToad@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:06:00 -0500

You could probably grow something that grows from seed quickly.  You might end
up with baby lettuce vs full heads, depending on how cold it gets in the
winter.  If you can make a cover for the containers (like draping it with some
clear plastic, using dowel rods so it keeps it off the plants) and make sure
the soil stays warm , and plant plants that are at least one hardiness zone
less than your area you should do fabulously.  I know that lettuce and spinach
do well in cold.  If you want to be safe, pic plants that are 2 hardiness zones
below yours.  I think it's below, I should say hardiness zones that are colder
than yours.  Normally this area doesn't really freeze but the last two winters
were really atypical for the area, so who knows what we're going to have this
year.  Probably another 30" of snow.    (that should be pick up there, not pic)

(Cyanide/10782) leaf lettuce. bib, boston, etc. cabbage and I think brocoli are ...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:06:00 -0500

leaf lettuce. bib, boston, etc. cabbage and I think brocoli are both cold
season crops, but Im not sure how long of a season they need. You can start
tomatoes, but you have to take them in before it freezes or else they will die.

(Mama K/10781) I'm leaning more towards edibles. Would any varieties of lettuc...

Mama K@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:05:00 -0500

I'm leaning more towards edibles.  Would any varieties of lettuce work?  Or
some other kind of greens?

(MoonToad/10780) Oh, and I have a very small pot of impatiens that I've neglected...

MoonToad@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:03:00 -0500

Oh, and I have a very small pot of impatiens that I've neglected, and it has
stayed green for a solid year.  There's also a dark green plant in there that
blooms purple flowers that stays green all year, it has narrow dark green
leaves, it might be a lily of some sort, I can find the name for you.  I have
it in my garden as well and it stays green there too.

(MoonToad/10779) There are cold tolerant flowers that do well. You see pansies a...

MoonToad@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:56:00 -0500

There are cold tolerant flowers that do well.  You see pansies all over the
area because they thrive in colder weather.  My more hardy herbs last in the
winter (stuff like rosemary, basil doesn't make it), assuming you mean to leave
them outside and not bring them in.  Kale and collards will grow, and if your
containers are deep enough you m ay be able to keep some root veg going.

(Mama K/10778) Any suggestions of good resources for container gardening? What...

Mama K@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:16:00 -0500

Any suggestions of good resources for container gardening?  What kind of things
can be planted nowish in the DC area?

(Cyanide/10777) you really want the dwarf varities, or else they take longer to ...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:26:00 -0500

you really want the dwarf varities, or else they take longer to mature, and you
need a HUGE ladder. Mulberry trees are messy, if you -prune- them, you make
them into a bush, so they dont get tall, they will have suckers that will come
up too.

I can't find where i ordered from, but you can find a lot of places that sell
bareroot trees. like http://www.baylaurelnursery.com

(MoonToad/10776) Mulberry trees are disfiguring. The fruit is so good that squir...

MoonToad@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:21:00 -0500

Mulberry trees are disfiguring.  The fruit is so good that squirrels go nuts
over them and often eat the fruit before you can get it.  This made one of the
reasearchers at a natural history museum angry, so he shot all the squirrels in
his yard to save his mulberries.  He brought in dozens of them, and we had to
skin them and stuff them.  While skinning them, my scalpel slipped and sliced
my finger wide open, so the fat spilled out and you could see the workings of
my finger under the fat layer.  Now I have a permanent scar.

I told you the were disfiguring.

(Dugie/10775) Online Nurseries> I have had excellent results with www.starkbro...

Dugie@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:38:00 -0500

Online Nurseries> I have had excellent results with www.starkbros.com ... they
have an excellent reputation, and many dwarf varieties (which I wanted, so I
could grow more varieties in the same area).

(Another Yossarian/10774) Be real careful with mulberry trees. They're actually quite inv...

Another Yossarian@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:19:00 -0500

Be real careful with mulberry trees.  They're actually quite invasive
(depending on where you live).  Around here, they show up everywhere.  What
about American Plum?  Sorry I can't help you more on online places, I get all
my stuff from local nurseries.

(Keogk/10773) can anyone recommend a place online where we can get decent Frui...

Keogk@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 08:44:00 -0500

can anyone recommend a place online where we can get decent Fruit trees. We are
looking to add some Black and Red Mulberry as well as some eatable Cherry trees
 to our property. The local places have a few cherry but want like 500 dollars
and no Mulberry.
I have 100 feet across and 200 away from my house that is in full sun where I
am going to plant them so dropping fruit will not be an issue. The onlt
neighbors are the City Fence that keeps me out of the resevoir.

(Susannah/10772) But wouldn't the leaves be limp if it were spider mites?

Susannah@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:22:00 -0500

But wouldn't the leaves be limp if it were spider mites?

I went to look at them tonight.

There are 2 cactus plants.

One has the yellow leaves and the webs.  I killed a tiny spider on that one.
The leaves on it are yellow but firm and upright.

The other one had some leaves on it that had frozen, gone grey-yellow and limp,
and fell off.  These are the ones, I am now told that the leaves fell off and
new green ones came back on.  Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Photos of the firm yellow leaves with darker green leaves are at
http://tinyurl.com/6323pyy.

(SledgeHammer/10771) Spider mites.

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:08:00 -0500

Spider mites.

(Susannah/10770) SledgeHammer> There are spider webs on some of them. I have al...

Susannah@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:34:00 -0500

SledgeHammer>  There are spider webs on some of them.  I have also been
informed that the yellow leaves are falling off and new, dark green ones are
taking their place...... WTF?

(SledgeHammer/10769) Overwatering, underwatering, or insects.

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:45:00 -0500

Overwatering, underwatering, or insects.

(Susannah/10768) In spring 2010, I bought several Easter cactuses, and it did fin...

Susannah@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 16:35:00 -0500

In spring 2010, I bought several Easter cactuses, and it did fine until I had
to leave for a month to take care of a family emergency in mid-January 2011.
Until it turned cold, they were on a patio with a roof such that they were in
total shade all the time.  They were thriving.  While I was gone, and for the
next few months, they were completely neglected and were inside one house and
then another and came close to dying.

Then, my mother decided to resurrect them by re-potting them and putting them
outside, giving them a shot of liquid Miracle Grow fertilizer, to boot.

Now, they are putting out new leaves at the tops of all existing leaves.  The
existing leaves are the original dark green they are supposed to be.  The new
leaves are yellow.  In the past, new leaves were a light green that quickly
turned a deeper green.  These are not doing that.  They are completely the
wrong color and have been the same color for 2-3 weeks now.

Any ideas on what is going on?  She thinks they do not get enough sun, but
they are getting more sun now than ever because the patio on this house is 6x4,
and they are at the edge of it.  The patio on the other house was at least
10x20, and they were at the back of it.

(L Michele/10767) Lowe's gift card sounds like a great idea!

L Michele@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:42:00 -0500


Lowe's gift card sounds like a great idea!

(Kyoti/10766) Thanks, L Michele - He has a large yard in a suburban setting on...

Kyoti@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 20:57:00 -0500

Thanks, L Michele - He has a large yard in a suburban setting on a lake. A good
distance, but, as he said, lots of power cords. And he's not anal about his
yard, especially the lower areas near the lake.
I'm thinking the best idea is a Lowe's gift card and giving him a few
recommendations in the note I send with it. Especially as he's a few timezones
away.

(L Michele/10765) Kyoti, consider your Dad's trimming needs, too, in selecting. Do...

L Michele@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 17:19:00 -0500


Kyoti, consider your Dad's trimming needs, too, in selecting. Does he live in a
trailer park (in which case KAM is a great reference), or have a large yard in
a neighborhood, or a semi-rural setting? If he has the patience to deal with
the electic cords, yay him... cetainly longer use at a stretch than batteries.
If you're considering batteries, check out what else he has around the house
that also uses rechargeable battery packs, and stick with that manufacturer and
voltage if you can. For example, over the years I've accumulated hedge
trimmers, drills, jig saw, circular saw, trimmers and mini chainsaw for
thinning apple trees, all that run on the same Black & Decker 18V batteries.
Some came with batteries, some didn't... but now we have a small cavalry of
batteries for projects. Mighty handy, especially when I don't need to break out
the big Stihl. :)

(Cyanide/10764) I have a stihl gas-powered one, and wouldn't trade it for the wo...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 26 May 2011 06:09:00 -0500

I have a stihl gas-powered one, and wouldn't trade it for the world. :)

(Tempestas/10763) I have a Toro electric and I use an extension cord (two if I do ...

Tempestas@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 26 May 2011 04:07:00 -0500

I have a Toro electric and I use an extension cord (two if I do the front).
He's gonna bitch at the string no matter what. There are replacement heads
that'll fit certain models that'll eliminate the string... My model happens to
not take those heads (and hence why it was like 5$ at a flea market).

(Organic/10762) Kyoti> We got the Black and Decker LST2200 12", 20V lithium-ion...

Organic@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:30:00 -0500

Kyoti>  We got the Black and Decker LST2200 12", 20V lithium-ion cordless
GrassHog trimmer/edger.  Currently $110 on Amazon, includes 2 batteries.  The
entire thing, with battery, weighs 5 lbs.  And you don't need to smack it to
get more line.  :-)

(Kyoti/10761) Nope, dad said electric.

Kyoti@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 25 May 2011 20:00:00 -0500

Nope, dad said electric.

(SledgeHammer/10760) Don't overlook propane powered weed trimmers. Lots of power, no ...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:49:00 -0500

Don't overlook propane powered weed trimmers. Lots of power, no cords or
batteries, and the propane cylinders can be refilled off of a larger tank using
a $18 adapter. Don't have any models in mind, I just wanted to point out that
they're a good option, particularly if you already have a propane cylinder for
BBQ.

(Kyoti/10759) Huh! Good tip, Organic.

Kyoti@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:39:00 -0500

Huh! Good tip, Organic.
KAM> Dad was clear that he has plenty of extension cords, so either plug in or
battery are fine. And I think he's less picky than I would be about what he
would optimally have :)
Any specific model numbers? Especially on yours, Organic?

(Organic/10758) We just got the new Black and Decker weed whacker (and hedge tri...

Organic@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:13:00 -0500

We just got the new Black and Decker weed whacker (and hedge trimmer) that
comes with the new lithium batteries.  Much lighter, and yet still more
powerful and a longer-lasting battery.  Totally awesome, we love them.  Not
very heavy at all.

(KAM/10757) I've been perfectly happy with my corded Black & Decker I bought...

KAM@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:14:00 -0500


I've been perfectly happy with my corded Black & Decker I bought for $30.
It won't come with it's own power cord, most likely, so be sure to buy a good
outdoor extension cord. Or, two or three if necessary to get the trimmer to
where it needs to go.

Battery power ones suck ass, IMO, they're the weakest and there's always an
issue of balance IMO.

With the issue of balance, though, ask him if there's a particular model he
likes. If he doesn't know or hasn't tried any, then take him to his favorite
store and have him try some. The biggest issue with trimmer is how heavy it's
going to feel on your arms when you're using it. A trimmer that doesn't feel
balanced or comfortable is going to exhaust your arms pretty quick.

(Kyoti/10756) So my dad wants a weed whacker for Father's Day (an "electric st...

Kyoti@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:07:00 -0500

So my dad wants a weed whacker for Father's Day (an "electric string trimmer").
Now growing up dad would swear about his weed whacker, and now I listen to my
own husband swear about his. The eternal hatred of the electric weed whacker.
Mr Kyoti has a Black and Decker one with a battery. His complaint is that the
battery is mounted in such a way that you can't grip it right, and once you do
you have to bash it against a hard object to get it loose.
Any suggestions or anti-suggestions on electric string trimmers?

(Aightball/10755) I put it out, watered it, and am keeping an eye on it. I took of...

Aightball@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 12 May 2011 05:30:00 -0500

I put it out, watered it, and am keeping an eye on it. I took off any dry/dead
bits, and it looks like it's starting to grip the trellis already. *fingers
crossed* I've got some Miracle Grow Shake N Feed I'll put on it to give it a
boost, but so far so good.

(Punky/10754) Aight- Yep, water your Mandevilla as usual. It may actually need...

Punky@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 12 May 2011 04:12:00 -0500

Aight- Yep, water your Mandevilla as usual. It may actually need a shot of your
basic liquid fertilizer to support growth. Mine is happy outside and has
quickly started sending out new growth again. I am assuming we won't have
another frost here. I guess that's what a sheet is for!:)

(Aightball/10753) Punky> Thank you! I didn't know it okay to set it out already =)...

Aightball@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 09 May 2011 06:05:00 -0500

Punky> Thank you! I didn't know it okay to set it out already =). I'm in NW
Central Iowa (Fort Dodge), so it's been warmer here than at my folks
(Cherokee). I'll go chuck it outside then...should I give it some water? It's
had no water or sun all winter (had to put it out of the cat's reach...he
thinks it's a back up litter box...).

(Punky/10752) Aight... I'm in IA too. I have wintered over my Mandevilla ins...

Punky@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 09 May 2011 04:45:00 -0500

Aight...  I'm in IA too.  I have wintered over my Mandevilla inside for a
couple of years and actually just put mine back out side this past weekend.
Don't cut your new green shoots off.  Just wind them around your trellis. They
will toughen and send out more off shoots as the season progresses.:)

(Q Who/10751) Now that the basement repairs are done I no longer have the "lux...

Q Who@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 08 May 2011 15:30:00 -0500

Now that the basement repairs are done I no longer have the "luxury" of
redesigning the outflow from the sump to the back yard every few weeks. Over
the course of 20 years it became a landscaping and zoning challenge that I came
to look forward to in a weird way. Over the years I envisioned various ponds 
and waterfalls on my quarter-acre with the two hundred-foot maples that remain.

Now that the sump is in the process of being directed to the city's storm sewr
system I find myself wondering what difference it might make. We maintain a
simple bird bath and several feeders year round aside from the sump outflow and
I watched a sharp-shinned hawk kill and carry off a mourning dove not 10 feet
from the bird bath today.

Maybe we'll wait and see.

(KalTorak/10750) Let us know, in a few more years, how they're holding up.

KalTorak@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 08 May 2011 11:06:00 -0500

Let us know, in a few more years, how they're holding up.

(Dugie/10749) I did raised beds last year, and specifically asked the lumberya...

Dugie@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 08 May 2011 10:35:00 -0500

I did raised beds last year, and specifically asked the lumberyard for the
pressure treated lumber without arsenic. They had it in stock, and it was
reasonably priced. (I also looked into railroad ties, and there were varying
opinions on the safety of the creosote content (declining with the age of the
tie to 'safe' levels) I opted for the non-CCA treated lumber. Safe, good price,
easy to work with).

(SledgeHammer/10748) Trex is a copolymer (if you want to say that wood is a polymer, ...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 07 May 2011 19:32:00 -0500

Trex is a copolymer (if you want to say that wood is a polymer, which cellulose
is) of recycled plastic bags, and wood.
http://www.trex.com/plan/why-trex/environmentally-friendly/recycling-facts/inde
x.htm

Plastic bags, in turn, are polyethylene; best as I know, BPA is found only in
polycarbonate- a plastic that is only rarely recycled anyway (#7 plastic, which
almost nobody accepts, at least out here). Polyethylene is about as innocuous
as it gets; I don't even think plasticizers (unrelated to BPA, other than that
they may have some undesirable effects in long-term exposure) are used in
polyethylene, at least not plastic shopping bags which are the feed stock for
Trex's operations.

(Aightball/10747) Now that we're getting closer to planting time here in Iowa (nex...

Aightball@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 07 May 2011 18:59:00 -0500

Now that we're getting closer to planting time here in Iowa (next weekend), I
have a question. I wintered over a Mandevilla and it started growing. It only
has green stalks right now, but do I need to cut it back before I put it out?

(Tea Leaf/10746) Sledge: Thanks for teh correction - yes arsenic, not cyanide.

Tea Leaf@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 07 May 2011 13:53:00 -0500

Sledge: Thanks for teh correction - yes arsenic, not cyanide.

I'd like to find out about the plastics in Trex - it's fine for decks, but if
there is BPA in there at all, I wouldn't want the potential for that to leak
into my veg/fruit either.

(SledgeHammer/10745) Best as I know, there's no cyanide in CCA wood. There's arsenic,...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 06 May 2011 21:18:00 -0500

Best as I know, there's no cyanide in CCA wood. There's arsenic, and arsenic
has been lowered in drinking water standards from 50 parts per billion to under
10 ppb in the United States. Just recently, I sighted monosodium methyl
arsenate (MSMA, "Agent Blue" from Vietnam) in consumer herbicide products. Just
great- spray your lawn, track the arsenic into your house, and inhale the dust
the rest of your life.

(KAM/10744) Reading the end of the article, I did notice that they are also ...

KAM@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:06:00 -0500


Reading the end of the article, I did notice that they are also suggesting a
newer type of treated lumber called ACQ (alkaline copper quarternary amonium).
It still leaches, but none of the chemicals are considered hazardous by the
EPA, slightly more expensive than CCA treated wood because of higher copper
content.

(Artemis/10743) thanks, TL. KAM, I'd really rather that large amounts of chemicl...

Artemis@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:04:00 -0500

thanks, TL. KAM, I'd really rather that large amounts of chemicls not leak into
our yard at all. We use the dandelion greens to feed pets and such, so I'd
rather avoid that problem. I'll look into the cedar. As for the plastic, I'm
not against it, but we live in a very rural area, about 250-300 miles from any
bigger retail city, so driving that distance, or paying for shipping for 54
linear feet of it, isn't something I want to do if there are other options.
Thanks everyone!

(Tea Leaf/10742) I understood you wanted untreated wood due to the high content o...

Tea Leaf@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:05:00 -0500

I understood you wanted untreated wood due to the high content of cyanide which
can leech out. I haven't read KAM's article so I can't comment on that. If you
want to use organic practices, it's better to use untreated wood. I have a 7
year raised garden bed with untreated cedar wood that hasn't shown any signs of
age. I also did not stain it and it's been fine.

If I were you, I would check out Organic Gardenings magazine which probably
covers this issue.

(Cyanide/10741) If you don't want to use plastic, you can use Cedar or redwood, ...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:10:00 -0500

If you don't want to use plastic, you can use Cedar or redwood, both of which
untreated can last a very long time. If you go with untreated wood, I would
recommend to at least seal it with something before adding dirt.
(like a oil based poly or stain..)

(KAM/10740) According to this article, there's not much harm in using CCA-tr...

KAM@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 06 May 2011 16:40:00 -0500


According to this article, there's not much harm in using CCA-treated wood.
There will be an initial huge leakage of chemicals after the first rains, but
once the surface chemicals wash out it will leak low levels of chemicals over
time, but not enough to do harm. The biggerissue is that the chemicals may loer
the pH of the soil in the bed.

http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/pressure-treated-wood-in-beds.aspx

(Q Who/10739) Why not use recycled plastics for your forms? Virtually indestru...

Q Who@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 06 May 2011 16:37:00 -0500

Why not use recycled plastics for your forms? Virtually indestrucible. "Trex"
is one brand name I recall. Used for decking and siding as well if I'm not
mistaken.

(Artemis/10738) We are building raised beds for some of our gardening this year....

Artemis@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 06 May 2011 16:29:00 -0500

We are building raised beds for some of our gardening this year. We're getting
the lumber tomorrow. My dad says to use treated wood so we don't have to
replace them due to damage from the elements. A few places online that I've
looked, say not to use treated wood because of the chemicals used to treat the
wood. It will be an organic veggie garden, as far as seeds and fertilizer. Does
the treated vs non-treated really make a difference? Are treated boards really
a risk to the plants/veggies? I'm ok with replacing $40 worth of lumber every 5
years or so.

(Aightball/10737) If you're working with flower pots, a friend says that duct tape...

Aightball@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:03:00 -0500

If you're working with flower pots, a friend says that duct tape with the
sticky side up works wonders.

(Nectarine/10736) I think my mom used cayenne pepper and onion powder to keep the ...

Nectarine@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:27:00 -0500

I think my mom used cayenne pepper and onion powder to keep the cats out
(outdoor barn cats).

(SledgeHammer/10735) There are also motion-activated sprinklers out there. Amazon sel...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:48:00 -0500

There are also motion-activated sprinklers out there. Amazon sells a few, such
as the Contech "Scarecrow."

(Organic/10734) Keeping animals out of hte garden> Try "Repel Away! from my Gar...

Organic@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:54:00 -0500

Keeping animals out of hte garden>  Try "Repel Away! from my Garden".  You can
look it up on Amazon.  It's nasty stinky gel crystals.  Worked great for
keeping our dog from digging...

(Artemis/10733) We used the chicken wire in our smaller planters in the front ya...

Artemis@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:32:00 -0500

We used the chicken wire in our smaller planters in the front yard, it does
work really well, but it seems like a huge pain to do in a normal veggie
garden. Our garden is about 3x2 railroad ties (I think they are 6 feet? so I
suppose 18x12 feet. I will try the shake away. I'll look online, not sure our
teeny local feed place will have it, but I'll call them too. Thanks for all the
suggestions! I did try to some citrus rind on the suggestion of my grandma but
it didn't help very much.

(MoonToad/10732) Try scattering around fox piss that you can buy from hunting sto...

MoonToad@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:02:00 -0500

Try scattering around fox piss that you can buy from hunting stores, garden
stores, or online.  It seems like predator urine works best in conjunction with
a few other things.  See about getting one of those scarecrow watering systems,
which shoot water out when they see movement (my friends have that, and they no
longer have cats in their garden).  There's also the "scaredy cat" plant,
Coleus canina.  There is debate about it being a true coleus.  supposedly rue
(which is my favorite plant), lavender and pennyroyal can help too.  the
'scaredy cat" plant is also supposed to be unpleasant to dogs.

Oh the fox piss can be bought in "Shake Away", it uses a variety of predator
urine, coyote, fox and bobcat in a granule form, so you just shake it out.  You
can also lay down a rough surface in and around your garden (chicken wire, pine
cones, rocks) since cats would rather not crap on that.  You can get an eletric
fencing system for gardens, it allows you to open up sections to bring in
things as big 6 feet across.  Mr. MacGregor fencing is the name.  It's low
enough to step over, and I guess the setup allows for cats trying to jump over
it.  You can also plant a catnip plant away from the garden to attract cats to
that area instead of the nice soft soil of the garden.

There are high frequency sound emitters that give off a sound when something
walks in front of them.  pet stop or cat stop or animal stop, something like
that, that might work.

I've had the best results with the shake away, the uncomfortable walking
surfae, and the scarecrow stuff, though next year i'm going to try the plants
as well.  Right now I just use the predator piss as I don't have a garden but I
do have a cat that craps under the eves of the house (she craps under every
house on the block, drives us insane, and has two litters of kittens every
year).  The predator piss, a can of food, and a hav a hart trap that is, if I
can catch her this year.  I don't care that she seems to belong to someone
(she's always well fed and fat), she shouldn't be out roaming producing
kittens.

(Artemis/10731) I'm guessing it's more the fact that it's a dozen cats peeing in...

Artemis@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:03:00 -0500

I'm guessing it's more the fact that it's a dozen cats peeing in the dirt on a
daily basis. They have killed every single flower garden in the yard. This year
will be the first veggie garden year so I'd like to prevent that. Also, our dog
craps in the yard and it fertilizes the grass really well. However, it's not
recommended to fertilize plants you are going to eat with raw waste. if you
have a composting thing that turns the poop into compost first, that's fine.
But shoveling raw poop into a veggie garden is generally recommended against.
Not to mention it doesn't make me want to dig in the garden with my
hands...lol.

(Giraffe/10730) There's a difference between fresh cat poop and the same which h...

Giraffe@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:56:00 -0500

There's a difference between fresh cat poop and the same which has been
composted.  Composting makes everything better fertilizer.

(Paladin Grendel/10729) I was told that cat poop is deadly to plants. and to not dump my...

Paladin Grendel@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:53:00 -0500

I was told that cat poop is deadly to plants. and to not dump my litter in my
garden.

I did it anyway. I also dumped all my twigs/trees/ branches in there.
came back on year later. the cat poop and wood is gone. All that's there is
humus. high lignin brown humus. your mileage may vary. The raspberry bushes are
growing like mutants on steroids. obviosuly not toxic.

(Artemis/10728) Is there any sort of plant I might be able to put on the perimet...

Artemis@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:37:00 -0500

Is there any sort of plant I might be able to put on the perimeter of my veggie
and herb gardens to keep the friggin feral cats out of them? Fences do no good,
they just jump over them. They don't seem to eat the plants as much as they use
it for a litter box, which of course after a bit kills the PH of the soil.
There are many cats (dozen of them maybe, and they come from across the street)
Doing anything about the cats, short of poisoning them or shooting them, isn't
likely to happen. I'd rather not risk poisoning the wildlife in the process and
I don't think i can get away with shooting cats in town...nor do I really want
to kill the cats. I just want them to stop pissing and shitting in my gardens!

(Aightball/10727) Last summer, a friend's parents had some Mandavilla's that weren...

Aightball@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:08:00 -0500

Last summer, a friend's parents had some Mandavilla's that weren't selling and
gave to several of us for free. The damn thing did so well I decided to winter
it over inside. It's now got green stalks (for lack of a better term) that
reach the celing (it's on a bookshelf), despite having no water or sun all
winter. Do I need to cut this back before I set it out in May? I don't want to
kill it, as it was so pretty last summer.

(Heartburn/10726) Thanks for the responses! I have another question. I am puttin...

Heartburn@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:17:00 -0500

Thanks for the responses!  I have another question.  I am putting red lava rock
around the front of my house, which is a SE exposure but gets a fair amount of
shade from a large tree.  I'm looking for a plant to put in under some low
windows which will pop against the red rock.  I love the yellowish-green
'Golden Mop' false cypress, as well as the yellowish green barberries, etc. 
However, I fear they will turn darker because of the shade.  Does anyone know
how much their color will change?  Or can you think of any other plants which
would look nice against the red lava rock?  The typical dull green
juniper/cypress bushes will be too dull, I think.

(Cyanide/10725) IIRC they only have berries on canes that are over a year old.

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 05:42:00 -0500

IIRC they only have berries on canes that are over a year old.

(Tea Leaf/10724) Yes, you are assuming correctly. Berries are set in the spring. ...

Tea Leaf@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:01:00 -0500

Yes, you are assuming correctly. Berries are set in the spring. If you want to
have an idea of how many berries you may harvest, look and see if you have any
buds. Buds ----> flowers ----> berries. Also, do you have any new cane growth?
You are going to need new canes for the buds to set on, need leaves for
photosynthesis, etc.

(Heartburn/10723) I assume they'll produce few or no berries this year, right?

Heartburn@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:43:00 -0500

I assume they'll produce few or no berries this year, right?

(SledgeHammer/10722) Tough to kill raspberries and blackberries. An 8" prune may be a...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:00:00 -0500

Tough to kill raspberries and blackberries. An 8" prune may be a bit
aggressive, but they should persist. A good video on the subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP4FOqNn0XA

(Heartburn/10721) I think I've made a mistake. I planted two large (12" root ball...

Heartburn@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:46:00 -0500

I think I've made a mistake.  I planted two large (12" root ball) blackberry
plants last year.  Of course, they only bore a few fruit the first year.  I
pruned them back this winter to about 8" high.  Was that a mistake?  Did I kill
them?

(SledgeHammer/10720) Home Depot buckets are about $1, I think. Add a drainage hole, f...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:09:00 -0600

Home Depot buckets are about $1, I think. Add a drainage hole, fill with dirt.
Use the lid as a coaster. For additional lighting, the newer, high-powered CFLs
(some hit 250 watts) can be used. Intensity is important, and proximity is the
only way to get that with fluorescents. A notch up from that is metal halide,
and that's way too expensive for veggies- although people certainly do that. At
that point, you may as well go to a hydroponic set-up; the stores that cater to
that sort of thing mainly sell for cannabis, but can certainly be used for
vegetables. That's what they do in the stores, anyway- still illegal at the
federal level to sell stuff specifically for growing weed.

(Tempestas/10719) Indoor container gardening is an excellent way to blow 50$ on a ...

Tempestas@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 19:04:00 -0600

Indoor container gardening is an excellent way to blow 50$ on a pound of
produce.

Anything is doable for a price. I think that's the thing you really need to
watch, if you're expecting to generate produce cheaply, its not gonna happen
with indoor container gardening.

Ditto on getting away from the box stores for your supplies. There's a
hydroponics store near my dr's office, that's where I picked up fertilizers for
the plants I used keep indoors. They're premium liquid fertilizers, organic,
and short-lived (ie, if the plant isn't using it, as long as you're flushing
the plants regularly, the excess fertilizer will wash right out). You'll need 2
stages of fertilizer, 20$ per bottle, one for vegetable growth (this is your
spinach, lettuce) and one for fruiting growth (if you're doing tomatoes or,
basically, trying to get anything to flower).

I wouldn't invest a lot of money in the containers... Plastic garbage cans at
the dollar store, one to fit inside another so there's drainage/overflow. Pick
up containers that are a minimum of about a 2.5gal size. Water from the top,
let the plant set for 10-15min to get a good drink, then any water that drained
out the bottom dump outside (its full of fertilizer, after all, just not
appropriate to re-use on an indoor plant).

You'll also really want to think about your lighting situation... Often
sunlight through a window isn't enough. You might need to add more light. 4ft
fluorescent lighting fixture at home depot will run ya 25$, plus you'll buy the
tubes separately, brain freeze on the pricing of those tubes. If you're growing
just vegetables (spinach, lettuce), any old bulb is fine, but those plants
really need about 18H of light per day to give you real produce output.

If you're getting into a fruiting growth, like a tomato, you will need intense
light inside... Those lighting fixtures+bulb will cost 250$ to start (and now
you can see why some folks can easily spend 50$ on a pound of produce)

(Cyanide/10718) It is doable, and i think it was the burpee seed catalogue had l...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:06:00 -0600

It is doable, and i think it was the burpee seed catalogue had lettuce
combination packs, so you could grow more like what you get in say a mixed bag
of lettuce.

you really just need a tray or pot, and some dirt in it. If you look at
instructables.com you will see all sorts of different growing containers for
self watering pots and hydroponic type of systems.

You will want potting soil, not topsoil at least to start.

(Tea Leaf/10717) Sure indoor container gardening is possible. Off hand, I don't k...

Tea Leaf@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:15:00 -0600

Sure indoor container gardening is possible. Off hand, I don't know of any
websites to consult. Have you asked any of your local nurseries? The store I
used to work in had tons of books and can ask you lots of questions about your
environment to help you place them. (Don't go to a box store for this kind of
thing.)

(Mama K/10716) Disclaimer: I know approximately || this much about gardening, s...

Mama K@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:55:00 -0600

Disclaimer: I know approximately || this much about gardening, so I don't even
know if this is possible.

I have been toying with the idea of container gardening, indoors.  (There are a
long list of factors that make doing it outdoors not very feasible.)  I live in
a room with large windows, so there is a decent amount of sunlight.  I'm
thinking lettuce....maybe a couple different varieties.

So here are my questions:  First, is this doable?  Second, websites to consult
for details?  Thanks!

(MoonToad/10715) I haven't, but my mother has. She has dug them up, made sure th...

MoonToad@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:23:00 -0600

I haven't, but my mother has.  She has dug them up, made sure that they don't
get too dry (I think she would place them on lightly damp paper towels), then
would plant them in big pots so she could bring them inside if the weather
where they were ending up was too harsh for them (too hot and sunny means they
can burn from the stress of moving).  NOt all of them survived, but probably
3/4 did.

(Susannah/10714) But, MoonToad, did you dig them up as they were budding out in t...

Susannah@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:22:00 -0600

But, MoonToad, did you dig them up as they were budding out in the middle of
their growing season?  Off season digging is fine.  It's next week I'm worried
about.

(MoonToad/10713) I've never kept a clump of dirt around bulbs when I've transport...

MoonToad@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:18:00 -0600

I've never kept a clump of dirt around bulbs when I've transported them.  When
I've had to store them for a season or two, I would then add dirt to them and
put them in a container.  But for regular moving?  I've just dumped them in a
bucket after digging them up and kept them out of direct sunlight.

(Susannah/10712) SFTD....

Susannah@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:15:00 -0600

SFTD....

The Nakes Ladies appear to be Lycoris radiata, per Wikipedia.

(Susannah/10711) Moving my mother to live with me..... She has a lot of daffodils...

Susannah@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:05:00 -0600

Moving my mother to live with me..... She has a lot of daffodils and a bed of
what we have always called Naked Ladies, but which are apparently something
else.  I want do dig them all up and take them with us.  She is moving from SW
Mississippi to Fort Worth, TX.  I know it's the wrong time of year, but I don't
have a choice.  How big of a rootball should I leave around the bulb clumps and
hope to not disturb them too much?  THere are also some snowdrops involved in
this effort, if I can find them.

TIA!

(Gespalder/10710) Your state forester would be able to help you.

Gespalder@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:25:00 -0600

Your state forester would be able to help you.
Just give their office a call.

(Cyanide/10709) I saw that before. I am really looking for some comparison list ...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 09:23:00 -0600

I saw that before. I am really looking for some comparison list of the
different hybrids for various charactoristics. I want either timber/wood and
fastest growing. But i have seen like variety n21 from one site, and b35 from
another and nothing that compares the two.

There are existing hybrids on the property and the dirt is all clay, but the
trees are a good 30 years old and I was wondering if there was something better
now.

(SledgeHammer/10708) I'd guess:

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 22:35:00 -0600

I'd guess:

http://www.hybridpoplars.com/

(Cyanide/10707) Anyone know where to find the best new varieties of trees? Im th...

Cyanide@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 22:30:00 -0600

Anyone know where to find the best new varieties of trees? Im thinking hybred
poplars in this case.

(SledgeHammer/10706) I think it's a few bucks to join, but I have found Appliance Blo...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 20:44:00 -0600

I think it's a few bucks to join, but I have found Appliance Blog to be
remarkably helpful in terms of answering technical questions, even about
specific models. The forum moderator will frequently post images from repair
manuals and all kinds of stuff to help.
http://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums/

(Mama K/10705) You're likely to get more response in Handycraftsyperson>

Mama K@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 20:31:00 -0600

You're likely to get more response in Handycraftsyperson>

(Rick Jenkins/10704) Our water heater is six years old and we never had one problem w...

Rick Jenkins@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 20:20:00 -0600


Our water heater is six years old and we never had one problem with it until
this week. Pilot light went out so we re-lit it. Pilot stayed on for perhaps
12-18 hours max and then went out. Sicne then we've re-lit it three times and
it hasn't stayed on for more than five minutes.

Lighting the pilot light is about the extent of our ability to fix a water
heater. What kind of $$ am I likely to have to shell out for a technician to
come out and fix it? And I'm assuming this kind of thing can be fixed and
doesn't mean the water heater itself is toast?

(Susannah/10703) How much maintenance is there to those trees that are trimmed in...

Susannah@rss.iscabbs.com — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 12:50:00 -0600

How much maintenance is there to those trees that are trimmed into a bare trunk
with round blobs of stems and leaves - they look like a poodle-cut on a dog?  I
bought a house, and it has 2 at the driveway.  Nicely kept and established, but
I don't foresee putting much effort into them.  It might be better to dig them
up and sell/give away.

(Aightball/10702) You should be okay...I confess I don't know much about those, bu...

Aightball@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:22:00 -0600

You should be okay...I confess I don't know much about those, but my
understanding is that hostas are indestructable. Lilly of the Valley might be a
bit less hardy and peonies I'm not sure about. I say plant them; if they don't
come back, at least they were free.

(SIIFG/10701) I was able to get some hostas, lilly of the vally and ponies fro...

SIIFG@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:06:00 -0600

I was able to get some hostas, lilly of the vally and ponies from my
grandmothers yard in early Oct. I put them in a bucket with some water and was
unable to replant them right away. Is it to late for me to plant them or have I
lost them. I live in Iowa City if it makes a difference.
Any answers would be great... I just hope I haven't lost them.
Thanks
K

(Susannah/10700) I bought 2 brugmansias in the spring. They were in 8" pots, and...

Susannah@rss.iscabbs.com — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:32:00 -0500

I bought 2 brugmansias in the spring.  They were in 8" pots, and I transplanted
 each to a 14" planter.  Both have grown, but one more so than the other.  Over
the last 2 weeks, I've noticed the leaves on the smaller one are disappearing.
Only a couple of dry dead leaves in the planter.  Over the last month, I've
seen ample evidence of bugs eating some of the leaves.  However, now the plant
is almost leafless, and they appear to have broken off clean at the branches,
rather than having been eaten down to that point.

What do I need to do to save this poor little guy?  The first one is doing
great, and they sit side by side.  I figured what affected one would naturally
affect the other, but apparently not.

(Giraffe/10699) I've identified the caterpillar in question: The Ceratomia catal...

Giraffe@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:10:00 -0500

I've identified the caterpillar in question: The Ceratomia catalpae or catalpa
sphinx moth larva.
http://www.ruralramblings.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/catalpa-caterpillar1.j
pg

(Another Yossarian/10698) Other caterpillars will pupate and emerge and start their migrat...

Another Yossarian@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:35:00 -0500

Other caterpillars will pupate and emerge and start their migration.  I
wouldn't consider this late in the season at all.  Wooly Bear caterpillars come
out in the fall and "predict" the severity of the winter (not really, but
that's the myth).

(Gwark/10697) Moths can overwinter in pretty much any stage of development, so...

Gwark@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:57:00 -0500

Moths can overwinter in pretty much any stage of development, so it may be
these will develop then pupate and emerge as adults next year.

(Moab/10696) They are massing for an attack when you least expect it. Those ...

Moab@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:23:00 -0500

They are massing for an attack when you least expect it.  Those are just the
scouts.

(Giraffe/10695) Why am I seeing caterpillars this late in the season? Good size...

Giraffe@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:10:00 -0500

Why am I seeing caterpillars this late in the season?  Good sized caterpillars,
black on top and yellow-green on the sides. In Kentucky.

(Lammam P Yrruf/10694) Yes. I have watched little bundles of bees around it and the ne...

Lammam P Yrruf@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:59:00 -0500

Yes.  I have watched little bundles of bees around it and the neighboring
tomatoes/peppers.

(Shag/10692) And you've seen bees going in and out, so you know it's not the ...

Shag@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:00:00 -0500

And you've seen bees going in and out, so you know it's not the home of some
other kind of stinging insect?

(Lammam P Yrruf/10691) Today I found a hint that I'm doing something right in my garden...

Lammam P Yrruf@rss.iscabbs.com — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:43:00 -0500

Today I found a hint that I'm doing something right in my garden.  Under the
eave of my garage, whence I hung two topsy-turveys full of various tomatos and
peppers, there is the small beginning of a beehive!  A triangle of honeycomb
about two and a half inches across.  I'm so delighted. :)

(Gnome Among Fairys/10683) My soil must not be acidic at all...my hydrangia bloomed for the...

Gnome Among Fairys@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:20:00 -0500

My soil must not be acidic at all...my hydrangia bloomed for the first time
this year and in pink!  I need to give it a good dose of miracid and haven't.

(Another Yossarian/10682) Just watch that you don't use too much and make your soil too ac...

Another Yossarian@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:23:00 -0500

Just watch that you don't use too much and make your soil too acidic.

(SledgeHammer/10681) Use vinegar as an herbicide for plantain.

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:19:00 -0500

Use vinegar as an herbicide for plantain.

(Tempestas/10680) susannah> look for a contractor mix of grass seed... its a mix o...

Tempestas@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:59:00 -0500

susannah> look for a contractor mix of grass seed... its a mix of annual seed
typically, but it'll sprout and cover ground any time of year and within 2-3
weeks you'll be covered.

my local hardware store sucked ass on grass seed. it was expensive (like home
depot) and the guy really couldn't help me. i ended up going to a place about
20min away that only sells turf and seed. their most expensive 50# bag of seed
was still under 100$. farkin' home depot was looking for 20$ for a couple
handfuls of seed.

(Gnome Among Fairys/10679) I had to plant grass over my septic tank and drain field when it...

Gnome Among Fairys@rss.iscabbs.com — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:41:00 -0500

I had to plant grass over my septic tank and drain field when it was replaced a
few  years ago at the lake and found that fertilizing it when planting was
essential.  I have grass up there where we never had grass in the past 15
years.  Unfortunately I think a lot of the fertilizer ran down the hill and got
into the spring and into the lake because the past 2 years there has been an
abundance of weeds growing in the lake where the spring goes into it!  That
year I was using the cheapest seed I could find too...the sun/shade mix from
Big lots...worked just fine.

Since then I have bought the good stuff...Scotts shade mix, at home and haven't
had nearly the good results. The spot I have trouble keeping grass in my dog
yard is a spot where the downspout drains so it gets too much water, plus the
dog stands there to bark out into the woods. One of the first years I tried
planting more grass out there I put down Weed and Feed too early and killed off
all the new grass. Now I am scared of using weed killer out there so plantain
is popping everywhere.  It seems like a never ending battle!

(Lammam P Yrruf/10678) Really if you're planting new grass or even transplanting sod, w...

Lammam P Yrruf@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:17:00 -0500

Really if you're planting new grass or even transplanting sod, watering 2-3
times a week is /not/ enough.  new grass needs daily water, or it dies.

(Tea Leaf/10677) I'd go to your local hardware store that sells grass seed and as...

Tea Leaf@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:58:00 -0500

I'd go to your local hardware store that sells grass seed and ask them for the
mix for your area. I also recommend you water the seeds at night so you are
utilizing as much rain as possible. Artemis gave good directions. A couple
times I didn't do as Artemis suggested and the birds enjoyed the extra
free food. I still had grass that grew, I just had to use more grass seed.

(Artemis/10676) We use just plain grass seed to patch areas in the lawn. Just us...

Artemis@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:56:00 -0500

We use just plain grass seed to patch areas in the lawn. Just use a garden
rake, make some trenches, plant the seed, cover it up, and water. Ours grew
some pretty quickly but it didn't completely fill in the bare areas until the
following summer (almost a full year) But, we live in Minnesota and grass is
dead from pretty much early November until May.

(KAM/10675) Spraypaint.

KAM@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:14:00 -0500


Spraypaint.

(Susannah/10674) I have accidentally let the lawn almost die. The front is patch...

Susannah@rss.iscabbs.com — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:53:00 -0500

I have accidentally let the lawn almost die.  The front is patchy, and the back
half of the back yard is pretty much gone.  I am in Fort Worth, renting until
November.

What can I seed it with in the next month that will fix it if I water 2-3 times
a week for the rest of the summer?

Landlady will freak if her yard is dead.

(SledgeHammer/10673) Hose-end feeders with liquid fertilizer work well. They have ref...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:29:00 -0500

Hose-end feeders with liquid fertilizer work well. They have refillable ones
where you can just buy a bag of soluble fertilizer, dilute it down, and use the
hose-end feeder to water and feed at the same time. Time of year doesn't
matter, so long as it's green.

(Dugie/10672) I would be sure you're not cutting too low... you should cut at ...

Dugie@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:07:00 -0500

I would be sure you're not cutting too low... you should cut at 3in. This is
healthiest for the grass, and allows the grass to shade out the germinating
weeds. It also helps moderate between times of high and low rainfall. Short
grass is much more susceptible to disease than long. The only times you should
be cutting shorter, are in the early spring and late fall, just to clean up
your lawn and prep it for the season.

You could do a weed and feed. That might prove an issue if, as you say, most of
your lawn is weeds...you may well end up some significant bare spots. If
fertilizing, I myself would try to locate a slow release product that will
fertilize over weeks (so as not to give the weeds unfair advantage).

(Rick Jenkins/10671) Would you recommend fertilizer now or before winter?

Rick Jenkins@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:24:00 -0500


Would you recommend fertilizer now or before winter?


And as far as the grass, when I bought the sod it was a type that was
recommended for our area.

(SledgeHammer/10670) You may have grass that is incompatible with your region. You ca...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:05:00 -0500

You may have grass that is incompatible with your region. You can re-seed if
you want. You might also try throwing some fertilizer on, particularly if
you're not doing anything more than weed, cut,and water.

(Rick Jenkins/10669) We have a small grass lawn that we put down as sod five years ag...

Rick Jenkins@rss.iscabbs.com — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:22:00 -0500


We have a small grass lawn that we put down as sod five years ago. We take
care to water it regularly and weed it and cut it, but other than that have
done nothing to it. Predictably, it looks a little worse each year to the
point now where it's 75% weeds and dead grass.

One spot where the grass still looks very good is the spot where the yard
sees the least amount of sun. We don't live in a very warm area, but
something about the climate makes it difficult to grow grass as most people
around here don't have traditonal lawns.

Any suggestions on what we could do to perk it up?

(SledgeHammer/10668) Never heard of the stuff before, but this guy notes that on bran...

SledgeHammer@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:44:00 -0500

Never heard of the stuff before, but this guy notes that on branches as small
as 2" diameter, the characteristic marks may be found:
http://carverscompanion.com/Ezine/Vol2Issue2/BobGander/DiamondWillow.html

So, while you'd have to go hack off a branch, given how prolific willows are it
probably won't be missed very much. I suppose you could go scrape off the bark
from an appropriate section of the tree without cutting it, look for the
characteristics on site.

(Artemis/10667) Not sure where else to ask. Is there a way to tell, externally, ...

Artemis@rss.iscabbs.com — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:05:00 -0500

Not sure where else to ask. Is there a way to tell, externally, if a willow has
the fungus that causes diamond wood? We have a large willow area in a swamp
nearby, and my dad seems to believe that many of them are diamond willow. I
don't really want to be chopping branches to try to find out, so I'm trying to
find if there is a way to tell without peeling the bark.