For a long time, I have been told that Irish Spring keeps deer away.
I've heard the suggestion from other gardeners, read it on the Internet -- even been told by a local health officer.
I have tried it ... placing full bars of soap around the garden. It did not seem to work.
Recently, I received an email from a reader who suggested that the soap be grated or shredded on the plants. DOH!
What the heck, I'll give it a try -- I am always from some good clean fun.
I feel I got a lot accomplished today.
I tried out my new Black&Decker 18v battery weed-whacker.
It worked pretty well, I thought after about an an hour it started too lose a little juice. In its defense, the grass was pretty high -- it was the first trim of the year.
I also got a lot of plants in the ground. I can almost walk around my back porch again!
If you have missed my "From The Ground Up" column the last couple weeks, below are the online links to them.
This week, I touched on plant propagation and a great new book by Liz Primeau.
Last week, it was about plants to plant in the fall and next year's International Master Gardeners Conference destination -- Las Vegas.
Link to 10/2: http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/gardening/If_you_enjoyed_a_plant_this_year_save_it_for_next.html
Link to 9/27: http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/gardening/Think_of_autumn_as_a_planting_season.html
You better catch my "From The Ground Up" column today (Thursday, Sept. 11), there may not be many left to read!
Today's column is a potpourri of local horticulture happenings: area 9/11 gardens, coleus days, contests ... even reader participation!
If you can't get to a hard copy of the newspaper, shame on you. Here is the online link:
http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/Edel_Memorial_gardens_are_serene_places_to_remember_Sept_11.html
It's
like
Christmas
in
July!
Hoe, hoe, hoe ...
Brrrrr ... man, it's been nippy out there these last few mornings. Good thing I did not pack up my winter jacket yet.
The cold temperatures remind me of something that I READ this past weekend.
I took a quick drive to the Strawberry Blossom Nursery in Wayne to look for spireas.
I did not find any to my liking, but despite that ... I got to give some props to the Strawberry Blossom management.
Amidst the plants and patrons were FROST WARNING signs. The alerts, posted along most of the aisles, alerted consumers that FROST could still happen (usually .. it's plant at your own risk -- up to May 15).
And sure enough, this week -- our area had frost warnings.
Again, PROPS to the management for keeping their consumers informed!
Earlier this month, on April 6th to be exact, I ranted on the fact that people have their lawns treated with chemicals to get a greener lawn -- and how they display those annoying, but necessary, little warning flags.
It dawned on me that perhaps I was a little harsh.
I apologize, perhaps these people are NOT treating their grass with sprays that are unhealthy to them, their children and their pets. Maybe they are just buying and posting those annoying flags to keep people off their precious lawn.
What do you think, a special underground or WWW shop selling flags to ward off trespassers? Conspiracy?
If you missed my column Saturday, April 5 ...
here is a link to the online version: http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/gardening/Apply_green_principles_in_your_yard.html
The article was about "HOW TO GO GREEN IN YOUR GARDEN."
Coming next week -- Saturday, April 12: "HOW TO ATTRACT BIRDS TO YOUR GARDEN."
I have a question to all you people who have those tiny little alert flags on your lawn ...
Do you dislike children and pets that much ... or do you just love your grass more?
I undertand why people put the flags on their turf -- to alert those who are walking by that there has been a toxic substance applied to it.
But what I don't understand is why people have their lawns treated with a harmful chemical, in the first place!
Sure, I apply Scotts (once or twice a year tops) ... but I think it is bordering on absurd that -- in the name of a GREEN lawn -- people will pay someone to apply a poison that is a dangerous to pets, children and themselves!
Attention: For those of you who missed my first "From The Ground Up" column this year, the column is appearing in the Saturday paper for the first four weeks. It began this past weekend (Saturday, March 29) in "Better Living."
If you can't get a hard copy of the paper ... here is the online link: http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/gardening/New_from_the_seed_companies_snappier_snapdragons_cuter_basil.html
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