GardenArtist Posted September 2015
Gardening as therapy.
Follow
Share
Read More Close
3K Comments
Popular Questions
- I really want my grandmother to branch out--and to cut back the TV! Has anybody solved this problem?
- In the spirit of coping and adapting, let's share methods we've developed or read about to cope with sheltering in place.
- I feel soooo worn out and alone. What can I do to improve my non-existent life?
Related Questions
- Where to find a daycare program for someone that has Alzheimer's?
- Are there services/agencies for the elderly to have "outings' such as art classes or Sunday drives?
- Where can I buy large puzzles for my Dad that is blind in one eye and can barely see in the other?
- Do you have suggestions for interesting "books on tape" or CD's for a stroke survivor, former engineer and computer programmer?
Start a Discussion
I'm going to try to get a fall garden in if August isn't swelteringly hot, but I'm holding my breath.
In the meantime, I'm going to start planning a xeriscaped garden. If these extended stretches of 90+ weather are the future for Michigan (not even considering how bad it must be in the southern areas), I need a whole new plan, probably emphasizing pumpkins, squash and watermelon. Their roots can easily be mulched and the vines can also act as mulch if there are enough plants to cover a bed.
We used to punch holes in large juice cans, sink then in the soil, then pour water in the cans. It was a quick and direct way to water the roots.
But there would have to be a lot of sunken drip hoses to do that for other crops.
I saw one farmer's patch of all watermelons - the foliage was lovely, and so thick that it was just as beautiful as a field of flowers.
thread. Does the law guarantee the zucchini to grow after planting too?
If they don't grow at all, do we sue them?
Are there also farmers almanac-type suggestions of whether to plant before or after the full moon? Can they be planted in a planter box? Will the bunnies, possum, or racoons go after them?
I can look it up, but inquiring minds want to know.
As far as spraying aphids with soapy water that was the only way to get rid of them before the advent of expensive toxic chemicals.
I am going to try the recipe for weed killer soon. # cups white vinegar, 1 cup salt and a dash of liquid dishwashing soap Dawn I am told is good. After all they clean off oiled waterfowl with it.
Tacy, oh, yes, save your toads! Google toad houses to see all the cute little homes you can build for them.
It's been awhile since I've had aphids, but I have a vague recollection of using a frequently recommended (in the organic gardening community) spray of water with dish washing detergent. Google "aphids, natural sprays" and you'll get a lot of hits.
The toads are probably also attracted to the water. They might be suffering as much as we humans in this Michigan heat wave.
But first give the toads the opportunity for their own buffet of apphids.
A few days ago we went on a carpacking tour - down roads my sister, brother and neighbor friends used to explore on our bikes when we were growing up, on routes that are much too long for us to navigate these days (especially with oxygen equipment).
There's been some change in the road configurations, but the major change from what I remember is that the trees now all grow right down to the edge of the dirt roads, often with overhanging branches providing complete cover from the hot summer sun. It was almost dark enough to turn on the headlights.
As I frequently do when in this kind of heavily forested environment, I thought of Evangeline. Despite human made roads, these forests still appear to be "the forest primaeval."
We meandered along these old roads, remembering bike rides of long ago, places we explored, swamps that are still there, new swamps that have appeared, an old barn we used to explore that is gone, replaced by houses, searched for the apple orchard that used to be a destination in fall when we picked apples from what used to be a cultivated orchard.
Some portions of our route took us by one of the local lakes, populated well with pontoon boats, motor boats and a few rowboats. The summer spirit captured us - were it not for the oxygen equipment, we might have gone wading, but we knew the parks and the local private beach would be packed.
The trees were everywhere, lovely green trees, some with massive trunks and long graceful branches.
Queen Anne's lace was blooming in a few spots, reminding me that these lovely flowers appear so regularly during summer, and lend a graceful touch to the otherwise masses of wild things some people call weeds growing freely along the roadside.
I looked for that perennial vine with its masses of white flowers but saw none in bloom yet. Silver Lace Vine, or Polygonum Aubertii, has always been one of my favorites, even if some consider it invasive. It's gracefully beautiful, light and frothy, so perfect for summer decoration. Sometimes it reminds me of the froth on a fresh vanilla milk shake.
So try to save your tree as you've planned; it'll be a happy tree if you do!
Love, from Send
Hubby will remove the grass around the tree that only migrated there since Feb. when all the grass was dying-I think I knew better-but at that point, green was green! But I kept silent.
All the suggestions will be explored and I will treat the wound with Melaleuca Oil.
Then, check for bugs, disease, close the gopher hole and send it packing! This I know how to do. Then, if needed, the scrape (wound) will be sealed with a special sealant for trees that I have from when Osh Hardware closed it's doors-looks like tar-which was what my Father used and he was a tree surgeon. I was too young to be taught much of what he knew, but remember how he had flushed out gophers with water down each hole. My summer project, hoping hubby helps willingly.
FUN.
But I'm wondering if there are insects inside that hole, and you wouldn't want to seal them in. Animal holes can open pathways for unwanted insects.
I wouldn't feed the tree anything but water or compost. You can also water around the drip line, the edge of the extent of the tree branches.
Putting rocks close to a tree would allow the rocks to heat up and retain that heat, perhaps also heating up the soil depending on the size of the rocks. Not a good move if they want to save the tree. Tree trunks need breathing room; that's another reason why mulch shouldn't be piled up around the tree trunk, as I've seen in so many "professionally" planted trees - their lower branches could literally smother in mulch.
and just before this bloom, my husband left the hose dripping overnight.
Maybe I should feed it and patch up the bark damage. Or, just let nature take it's course? I see that some neighbors have put their decorative rocks right up to the base of their little trees-I know that won't work in this heat. But we have about a two foot patch of St. Augustine grass and bark surrounding the tree. Gotta go out and talk to the tree now-it just has to survive-how else will it be able to clap it's hands when the time comes?
GA, it was always my ambition to try to espalier some fruit trees. My brother had planted large apple trees that mostly went to waste as it was impossible to keep them insect and disease free, ultra dwarfs and espaliers are the only sensible option for the home grower.
But I'm wondering about a few other things besides a damaged tap root: soil, drought in California, and pollinators. Any one of these could affect setting blossoms and developing fruit.
AKDaughter is an expert on growing fruit trees; she probably would know more than I. I've been thinking more and more about getting some dwarf trees to grow, though, so at least I could have some pesticide free fruit. But I'm not sure the raccoons or the nosy neighbors would even leave the fruit for ME to harvest!
Yesterday, I saw this little flower bloom on one branch. It is one little flower! It looks like my avatar photo, but smaller-only one magical bloomin white flower.
My garden grows itself, no matter what I do. I am so over-joyed over this one little flower.
Sad to say there are some who would kill a bunny on purpose, once I was out with a group and a bunny didn't know enough to get off the road, the driver (a young man of course) stepped on the gas to see how fast the bunny could go. Fortunately for the bunny there were women in the car!
Has anyone experienced, after removing the grass and replacing with decorative rocks, the sound comes inside the house more? Every loud voice, every car door slam-is this my imagination?
It would not work at all to let him stay outside-maybe I would get called out for neglect of a vulnerable adult!
The strawberry moon (time to pick remaining fruits) is even more rare than blue!
The strawberry moon has other names, too. As do all of the full moons. The Farmers Almanac will tell you.
and yayy for the solstice, strawberry moon. wonder what the others are called..
113° is not normal! Very heat sensitive here, 75° indoors is too warm for me.
Enjoy the Summer Solstice (first day of summer) coinciding with the rare strawberry full moon (last one was 1948!-also the year In-N-Out was started; that year Israel became a Nation, and-not so important, I was born.
Hope everyone can stay cool!