Spring-2016 Gardening anyone? What do you plant? or not?

Kat0121 · Apr 26, 2016

Draco said:
Anyone know how to repel squirrels? There's this "Tamed" squirrel (thanks to my neighbor) that comes around.. and I am catching it digging in my pots. Came home to find holes everywhere and my roll-out seeded mat is destroyed from it.

How can I repel him, humanely? I just don't want him around anymore

Make your neighbor's yard more attractive than yours by dumping bags of sunflower seeds all over the place.

It's not littering, it's composting.

Squirrels are crafty little buggers. We used to have a "squirrel proof" bird feeder in the backyard. Guess what? There's no such thing. The plastic that held the seed had a metal cage around it. They still managed to chew a big hole in the plastic and all the bird seed ended up on the ground to be devoured by the chubby little menaces. DH resorted to using a super soaker when they would come around. It deterred them until he went back into the house.

It was HIS fault that they started coming around to begin with. He had been feeding them peanuts for years.

There was one female that used to come into the screen room to get peanuts from his hand. He called her Mrs S. Mrs S had a litter of babies in the tree behind the house and they started coming to him for food too. I called her Mama S. and he corrected me every time so finally I asked him why. He said that it was because she had babies. I said so that means she's married to Mr S? He looked at me like I was crazy and said YES. I was insulted. Here we have been feeding the S family for years and we don't get an invitation to the big S wedding? I was hurt. I was hoping to sit at the same table as Mr & Mrs Owl. We all know what a hoot they are at parties!

Anyway, this might help. http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2013/08/how-to-keep-squirrels-away/

jtbo · Apr 27, 2016

Squirrels are not to be found around my yard, several of my cats will go up to tree to chase a squirrel, so I guess squirrels have given up or maybe being eaten, but no squirrels seem to stay here more than 1 or 2 days at most.

Draco · Apr 27, 2016

Stupid squirrels. I read they don't like pepper or marigolds. I may get a few marigolds to plant in between my flowers an din my pots

foxxycat · Apr 27, 2016

unfortunately squirrels tease the heck out of my cats...they don't bother anymore..i guess using heavy stones to deter the pests? I would install sprinklers with a motion sensor and a screaming alarm that hurts their ears?

Draco · Apr 27, 2016

foxxycat said:
unfortunately squirrels tease the heck out of my cats...they don't bother anymore..i guess using heavy stones to deter the pests? I would install sprinklers with a motion sensor and a screaming alarm that hurts their ears?

That's a good idea, but I don't own the property, I live in a condo that gave me permission to garden in the back area.

jtbo · Apr 27, 2016

Has anyone got issues with Sorbaria?

I have been trying to kill one that I have for many many years now, but it just spreads. It spreads by roots and currently it's roots cover area more than 100 by 100 feet.

Today I did cut all of it down that had started to make new leaves and branches, but I guess it will get more speed soon and then it is hard to keep up with it.

Poisons seem not to work too well to that, so now I'm trying to bring it down right away when it tries to rise up, it can't stay alive forever without light, right?

DreamerRose · Apr 27, 2016

I don't have any experience with sorbaria, but I do with thistles, which are similar in growth. Thistles are the bane of Illinois, and the dept. of agriculture says to keep cutting them down, which weakens the plant and it will eventually die. So it sounds like you are on the right path.

Norachan · Apr 27, 2016

JTbo said:
Has anyone got issues with Sorbaria?

I have been trying to kill one that I have for many many years now, but it just spreads. It spreads by roots and currently it's roots cover area more than 100 by 100 feet.

Today I did cut all of it down that had started to make new leaves and branches, but I guess it will get more speed soon and then it is hard to keep up with it.

Poisons seem not to work too well to that, so now I'm trying to bring it down right away when it tries to rise up, it can't stay alive forever without light, right?

Have you tried covering it with a piece of old carpet or sack cloth and leaving it for a few months? That's how the farmers in this area get rid of stubborn weeds before they plant their fields. Once the weeds have been starved of light they die off and can be raked up really easily.

Margret · Apr 27, 2016

JTbo said:
Has anyone got issues with Sorbaria?

I have been trying to kill one that I have for many many years now, but it just spreads. It spreads by roots and currently it's roots cover area more than 100 by 100 feet.

Today I did cut all of it down that had started to make new leaves and branches, but I guess it will get more speed soon and then it is hard to keep up with it.

Poisons seem not to work too well to that, so now I'm trying to bring it down right away when it tries to rise up, it can't stay alive forever without light, right?

I'm not familiar with Sorbaria, but morning glory (AKA bindweed) spreads the same way. It does respond to herbicide, which I don't want to use. The best solution I've found is to cut the stems off at ground level, being careful not to uproot them. You leave the maximum amount of root in the ground, with no leaves to feed it, and eventually it dies. The disadvantage, of course, is that you pretty much have to do it every

day!

If you can manage @Norachan's technique instead, that would be much easier, I think.

Margret

AbbysMom · Apr 28, 2016

DreamerRose said:
@AbbysMom
Lettuce comes up really fast from seed. Right now is a good time as it likes cool weather. My favorites are the buttercrunch varieties. Don't like the black-seeded Simpson at all.

I may have to look into seeds. :nod:

We've actually had frost the past few mornings.

Squirrels make me crazy with the bird feeders also.

mackiemac · Apr 28, 2016

Draco said:
One possible problem... but not if your cat is indoors!

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mackiemac

Apr 28, 2016

But some d*gs love it... or not.

Scarecrow+sprinkler.jpg

mackiemac

Apr 28, 2016

Squirrels are smart, though-- this may be just one of a number of deterrents.

mackiemac · Apr 28, 2016

An orange 'dwarf' canna getting the jump on its garden mates as the irises take their bows-- summer is coming!

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mackiemac
Apr 28, 2016

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mackiemac
Apr 28, 2016

Yellow Bird of Paradise still blooming. This will flower all season, until frost time...

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mackiemac
Apr 28, 2016

Draco · Apr 28, 2016

@MackieMac - great suggestion, though I live in a co-op. I can't install anything. The co-op was nice enough to let me garden in the back area though, but I can't do anything drastic. Thank you

Margret · Apr 28, 2016

MackieMac said:
But some d*gs love it... or not.

Scarecrow+sprinkler.jpg

mackiemac

Apr 28, 2016

Squirrels are smart, though-- this may be just one of a number of deterrents.

I used to have a problem with workers coming into my backyard (which has a privacy fence) because the junction box for the entire neighborhood's cable television was in our back yard. They never even had the courtesy to inform me they were there, just treated our backyard as a public right of way. And, you know, I like being able to be naked in my own house without worrying about peeping toms in my backyard; that's what the privacy fence is for, after all. And what if I'd had a dog back there? I can guarantee they'd have sued me if they'd been bitten.

I mentioned this to my computer club, and they suggested that I install an electrical link from the gate to the sprinkler system, so it would turn on every time the gate was opened. Fortunately, the cable company changed and I didn't have to implement their solution.

I saw a Pickles cartoon once. Dog and cat are sitting in the front yard, in bright sunshine. It rains. It stops raining. It rains. It stops. The dog explains to the cat "Sun showers. They say that means it will rain again at the same time tomorrow." And inside the house, the old man is looking out the window, saying "Why don't they just come in out of the sprinklers?"

Margret

mackiemac · Apr 29, 2016

Margret said:
I used to have a problem with workers coming into my backyard (which has a privacy fence) because the junction box for the entire neighborhood's cable television was in our back yard. They never even had the courtesy to inform me they were there, just treated our backyard as a public right of way. And, you know, I like being able to be naked in my own house without worrying about peeping toms in my backyard; that's what the privacy fence is for, after all. And what if I'd had a dog back there? I can guarantee they'd have sued me if they'd been bitten.

I mentioned this to my computer club, and they suggested that I install an electrical link from the gate to the sprinkler system, so it would turn on every time the gate was opened. Fortunately, the cable company changed and I didn't have to implement their solution.

I saw a Pickles cartoon once. Dog and cat are sitting in the front yard, in bright sunshine. It rains. It stops raining. It rains. It stops. The dog explains to the cat "Sun showers. They say that means it will rain again at the same time tomorrow." And inside the house, the old man is looking out the window, saying "Why don't they just come in out of the sprinklers?"

Margret

AbbysMom · May 2, 2016

Lettuces have been planted. I may look for arugula seed today.

jtbo · May 2, 2016

Today I looked my yard and it really is a mess, I need to do a lot for it, but oh where I get all the time!

MoochNNoodles · May 7, 2016

I broke down and bought my tomato and pepper plants yesterday. And a couple sets of petunias. it was cold and wet in the garden center; but we are supposed to have some nice days now so I was afraid people would be out there this morning getting theirs since it's a Saturday. So my kids wagon is loaded with the plants for now. It looks like rain and i have a graduation party this afternoon. They will be ok like they are for now. DH needs to put my planter back together for the petunias anyway. Not that I couldn't put them in the boxes and just set them outside.

I ordered my Mariachi Peppers online from Burpee and those arrived a couple days ago. They are in my kitchen window.

Altogether i have 3 mariachi peppers, 3 banana peppers and 3 orange bell peppers. My kids can devour sweet pepper slices and I like pickled banana and hot peppers for my sandwiches. I'm hoping to have a better harvest than last year. Some bugs (looked shield like; similar to stink bugs) really did a number on them last year. I only got 4 jars of peppers.

I got 4 tomato plants but I can't remember which varieties off the top of my head.

I know one is a high-producing cherry tomato. Those are popular in our house. Another is a patio variety. Those will all be planted in big nursery pots.

We've had nothing but rain and gloom for about 2 weeks; so DH is out mowing the lawn between things now. Maybe tomorrow I can do my weeding and start getting those in the ground and pots.

Does anyone have an idea on how to keep the tomato pots from sinking into the ground? We have SUPER sandy soil and over the summer my pots started to lean and sink. We had to push the ground back into place for a few of them when we cleaned up the yard last fall. I'm wondering if we could put those cement pavers under them? Or if that would make them dry out faster in the heat? Or a couple boards? My other idea is some kind of wood frame to hold the pots in place. It is nice to turn them from time to time as they grow. Last year they all outgrew their cages and I had to add supports.

I put the pots against the side of the shed.

foxxycat · May 9, 2016

pavers would work-or patio stones-is that the same thing? or a piece of pressure treated boards nailed together like a platform would work but the wood will sink in the ground. the flat stones sounds like a better idea.

are you in ny/new England? we got sunshine finally today.

I bought my petuunias on Saturday because when june comes there are never any left of the good colors-I go to the little nursaries in my area-they often have better variety than big box stores=they had 5 of these for $20. they are shockwave variety-these grow bushlike and are used in the hanging baskets. I am too cheap to buy a $25 hanging plant=I build my own. And I saw they have these black petunias with yellow stripes-I didn't buy them-I stuck to deep purple and coral colors..will get more next week..i keep them in my bathroom-masterbath has a skylight and I grow plants In the tub-I don't take baths-I use it for a greenhouse type=keeps the air nice and fragrant with my house plants and now petunias-I tried to winter over some plants I started from seeds but it didn't go well.

ebay is an excellent place to get seeds for $1 and free shipping=theres a few vendors who have hundreds of perenials in seed form-for those who don't want to deal with transplanting-you can try from seeds..at least this year we don't have snow on the ground now...

I have to paint the deck because the boards are splitting and don't have money to rip it out and build until the fall-then I need to weed and plant some more stuff to replace what died last year-so I am trying to get into the mood to paint afterwork since we will have dry weather all week-just don't know how long it will take and hopefully the bf doesn't fuss at me that I am doing it wrong=I have hinted to him to build me a new one-I would buy the materials but he insists we need footings=ummm the house is built on big boulders-unless its diamond drills-you wont be able to break through the boulders-so we are at a stalemate-so he wanted to use composite boards-but again then he wants to change the dimensions=I told him I wanted to add on and make a mini greenhouse back there with materials left over from last years projects-like maybe a bench built into the railings etc and shelves for the cats to lounge on. then paint the fencing that is support for some of the vine flowers=clamentis type flowers..

And the weeding from last year...never ends!

MoochNNoodles · May 9, 2016

I'm in the mid-Atlantic region. I think the square style pavers would work the best too. And they are fairly inexpensive. My worry is that they will hold heat and the pots will dry out faster. I had the pots on my patio one year and it was harder to keep them moist. I already have to water twice a day. I might just have to try it and see. Where I put the tomatoes is where I want to put in a small greenhouse someday anyway. So they wouldn't go to waste.

I ended up buying all my flowers yesterday too (what I wanted for Mother's day). You are right; if you wait till June the good colors are gone! We stopped at a Lowes for my flowers yesterday and you could tell things were picked through. I mean I got all I wanted; but I had to look and a couple need TLC or the pot was dented but the plant looked ok. I ended up with an extra pot somehow. Now I get to fill that too.

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MoochNNoodles
May 17, 2014

For the backyard I got 2 gerbera daiseys; pink and orange. Those are so pretty! I found a deep purple geranium I couldn't resist. I meant to put that in a new blue pot but I accidentally planted a mix of verbena and calibrachoa in that one. Oops! So it's in a purple pot.

I bought 2 small million bells in purple and a reddish pink and I got one hanging basket in a peachy pink already done. I won't pay $25 for a hanging basket either!! I think it was $12; so still quite a bit more than the 2 smaller pots I put into hanging baskets I already own. But it's already full and beautiful. I seem to mostly have chosen purples and some pinks for my flowers this year.

DD got her 2 flowers and pots yesterday. We ended up just getting 2 blue pots that match my purple ones. She chose a pink geranium and a reddish pink zinnia. I got all of the pots filled yesterday. I just need to do the petunias and whatever I'm putting out front. I need to get to the garden center for more drainage rocks for the big pots anyway. Right now all my peppers and tomatoes are sitting together in an empty window box planter sitting in the grass. We went outside briefly but it started sprinkling so we came back inside. DH covered my potting bench with a tarp just in case last night. It needs to be sealed. Hes talking about putting casters on it for me. Last year we had room under the wood shed for me to work; but it's full so I have it next to the shed; up on some scraps of wood from another project.

I'm trying to convince DH to get some hydrangea bushes for the side of the house.

Spring-2016 Gardening anyone? What do you plant? or not?

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