Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas

Cockroach Control | How to Keep Cockroaches out of Your Garden and Home

Stuart — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 23:49:34 +0000

One of the most common beliefs by our generation is that cockroaches were the only living creature that could survive a nuclear holocaust. Fortunately, in terms of cockroach control, that belief is just an urban legend.

It’s fortunate because if radiation wasn’t even able to destroy these critters then what chance do we, as home gardeners, have in keeping them under control.

Cockroach control in your garden stops them from entering your home

Humans have a special emotion reserved for cockroaches, and it’s something which manages to combine the raw fear of these ugly creatures with a special sort of hateful avoidance. Upon the sight of just one cockroach, most people start heading for the hills and buying every insect or pest prevention product on the market. Outdoor gardens, however, are a bit of a unique situation.

The indoor products used to prevent and kill cockroaches can also kill outdoor plants. While it’s nice to have eliminated the cockroach threat, the dead garden is a drag, and it won’t enhance a home’s appeal very much. Special outdoor solutions promote cockroach control in the garden and prevent new cockroaches from showing their hard-shelled faces in the future, as well.

Diatomaceous Earth and the Plight of Cockroach Control

When treating a cockroach problem indoors, most people resort to sprays and long-lasting poisons which kill cockroaches. These unleash chemicals or scents which prevent new ones from entering the home altogether. This is pretty much the same approach taken in most gardens when using diatomaceous earth, which goes by the abbreviated name “D.E.” This substance actually looks like common flour used in the home. This is ironic given its protection of the common flower placed outside the home.

The substance works by actually causing the cockroaches in a garden to get little cuts all over their bodies. It leads to a great deal of bleeding and ultimately death. Failing that, the cockroaches will at least dehydrate — and that’s good enough for most homeowners. The substance also has the dual effect of warding off other cockroaches who might consider a garden’s contents or location to be ideal and quite tasty. This double effect is the number one way to maintain a garden’s integrity and help prevent the appearance of one of nature’s worst pests.

It should be noted, before purchasing diatomaceous earth for cockroach control, that the substance typically comes in two varieties. The one used in gardens is known as “food-grade” diatomaceous earth, and it’s perfect for getting rid of insect pests. The other kind of diatomaceous earth is actually not safe for humans and pets, and it’s used in many pool filters to help get rid of small debris and other objects which pass through the device. Notably, the kind of D.E. used in pool filters will have a minimal effect on cockroaches, if any.

Cockroach Control is for the Birds

Depending on the type of garden being planted, it might be worthwhile to consider the strategic placement of a bird bath within the typical garden. Birds happen to love killing and eating bugs, and bugs happen to love killing and eating plants. This food chain actually works in favour of many homeowners and gardening enthusiasts. It provides an organic and completely natural way to get rid of the most common pests which typically infiltrate a home garden of any variety.

Installing a bird bath is an ongoing solution that might actually be cheaper than D.E. It promotes a certain natural aesthetic that fits will with the natural environment. It’s organic, certainly, and it’s a one-time installation which is exceedingly more affordable than chemical alternatives like diatomaceous earth. As long as the plants in the garden aren’t also great sources of bird food, gardening pros should invite these winged animals to chow down on some grade-A cockroach throughout the day. They’ll even get a bath while they’re at it, and virtually no animal can turn down a great meal and a relaxing bath.

Work With Nature, and Against Insect Pests, to Promote a Great Garden

Whether gardeners choose to go with a diatomaceous earth treatment and prevention solution, or simply choose to invite the birds over for dinner, there are plenty of great ways to ensure a garden’s integrity. Those ways can be natural and organic, or chemically-based and specialized, but homeowners should know, either way, that there are plenty of avenues toward a roach-free garden during the growing season.

Photo source: John Tann

This post came from Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas - Gardening tips and advice.

How Many Plants Have You KILLED This Year?

Stuart — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 22:42:41 +0000

As a self-confessed novice gardener, Michelle Sander claims she has “The Art of Killing Plants” down pat. But, like most gardeners, killing plants isn’t the supreme domain of ludites.

Killing Plants Doesn’t Take Much Skill

If we were truly honest, even the most experienced and knowledgeable gardeners have probably killed a few plants of their own. Surprisingly, it doesn’t take the skill of an assassin to put a plant to sleep forever. A little neglect. A little lack of TLC. Even life becoming busier than normal can render any of your prized plants DOA.

For me, this year hasn’t been about killing plants for the reasons I’ve mentioned above. Sadly, this year has seen many of my plants sacrificed for progress’ sake. We’re renovating.

And in order to renovate, plants, garden beds, veggie patches, mature trees even, had to pay the ultimate price. While most of this will be replaced once our renos are complete it’s little comfort to see established gardens destroyed.

So, many of my plants have been moved into containers and these are where the real killing fields begin. The reason: I’m not that great at remembering to water each day. While I have automatic reticulation through the garden beds and lawns, my container plants are still waiting for their driplines to be set up. Maybe this is the year so that the carnage may stop!

What about you? How are your plants fairing and have you had any keel over in the past year? Was it neglect? Did you leave your neighbour in charge of your garden for the summer break? Whatever the excuse, we’d love to hear it.

Photo source: foxypar4

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Growing Lemongrass | Tips to Grow This Amazing Herb

Stuart — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 22:53:33 +0000

Growing lemongrass is not difficult, but it needs moist soil, light and warmth to grow outdoors. Some growers plant it in light shade or dappled sunlight, and some in full sun. The leaves are thicker in full sun and long and thin in shade. It’s a matter of preference.

Growing Lemongrass Means You Will Never Have To Buy It Again

Growing Lemongrass From a Stalk

Buy a stalk of lemongrass at an Asian market and put it in a clear glass container of water. It should sit in a well-lit place for roots to develop. Roots should sprout in a few days.

The stalk can be planted in a small pot with potting soil when the roots have grown a bit, and the soil should be kept moist to the touch, but not soaked. This can be done inside and the plant can grow a little before being planted in the garden.

The plant should be kept in a well-lit place after potting. When the frost warning has passed, if this is applicable, the plant can go outside into the garden and can be fertilised. Most growers use blood and bonemeal. This plant likes heat and humidity, so growing lemongrass in a hot climate is a successful venture.

If more than one stalk is planted when growing lemongrass outdoors, the stalks should be placed two to three feet apart.

When it starts growing, it will reach a height of about a metre and form a clump. Some gardeners say that if the lemongrass is planted near vegetables, the vegetables will be more flavourful.

Lemongrass can be grown in containers if there is no garden space. It is propagated by dividing the root ball of a mature plant and replanting the pieces, so once it is established, it can go on forever.

Picking Lemongrass

If the lemongrass is to be used, stalks are cut below the swollen, white ends, leaving the roots. Leaves are just trimmed off. This can be done during the growing season.

One kind of lemongrass is for cooking, and another for making tea. Make sure to get the kind needed for its intended purpose when stalks are purchased. Cymbopogon citratusis is thicker in the stalk, and used for cooking. Cymbopogon flexuosus is for tea, and the plant is smaller in size. This kind of lemongrass can be grown from seed, which is cheaper than stalks.

If you want to use lemongrass in your cooking then there are certain techniques needed to be employed. In order to get the most flavour out of your lemongrass the stalk must be bruised first not simply chopped. Like garlic, when a stalk of lemongrass is crushed/bruised it begins to release its flavour and allows this to escape more readily into your dish.

One plant can grow enough for about 12 cm of stalk to be used in a season. A plant is mature at four to eight months, and can be cut for use or divided for propagation.

Spring Preparation for Growing Lemongrass

Cleaning up the plant and ridding it of old, dried up parts should be done in early spring. The old growth can simply be cut off just above the root.

Some gardeners burn the plants, leaving the root ball intact. The new shoots explode afterwards, and the taste of the resulting lemongrass is just as good.

The soil clods should be broken up around the lemongrass plant and watering should begin when the weather warms up. Fine loamy soil is best, but fertilizer can enrich the soil and it should be well-drained.

Insects and pests do not like lemongrass, a real bonus for growers. Another name for it is Citronella, which is also a mosquito repellent.

Further Information

In 2011, individual stalks of lemongrass were about $3.00, in Australian currency, and that was the price in various kinds of markets. Prices may be higher in 2012 if fuel costs for transport have increased.

This is a good reason to divide the root balls of plants and replant them. One stalk can get the whole process started and a gardener will never have to buy lemongrass again.

Sometimes the lemongrass plant grows flowers and sometimes not. Growers have had mixed results on this. Some cut the flowers off, since they are usually sterile anyway. Some leave the pretty white flowers for visual purposes.

Photo source: odonata98

This post came from Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas - Gardening tips and advice.

Michelle Obama’s Top 10 Gardening Facts

Stuart — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:00:24 +0000

When wading through some gardening posts and articles yesterday, I came across this little gem from The Hollywood Gossip. Michelle starred on the Dave Letterman show and imparted some of her gardening wisdom.

Michelle Obama

As we are all very aware, Michelle is quite the gardening buff since she started the White House Vegie Patch. Obviously it’s going well if her gardening facts are anything to go by.

So, just sit back, take in a deep breath and knock these over one-by-one.

Gardening was invented in 1822 by Albert Gardener.

Plant avocados, tomatoes, onions and cilantro together and grow a guacamole tree.

Eggplants were originally cultivated for use as doorstops.

In his lifetime, the average American will eat half a radish.

The largest zucchini ever grown contained a Starbucks.

Later this year the Supreme Court will finally rule on “tomato” vs. “tomahto.”

If you have an actual green thumb, it might be scurvy.

Lettuce is 96 percent water and 4 percent lettuce.

The White House tool shed contains shovels, trowels and Weed Whacker One.

With enough care and effort you can grow your own Barack-oli.

Photo source: Tadias Magazine

This post came from Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas - Gardening tips and advice.

RotoTiller Rental | Buying vs Hiring

Stuart — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 21:44:51 +0000

Should you consider a Rototiller rental or “bite the bullet” and buy one outright? Hopefully after reading this post you should have considered all the pertinent factors and make the right decision.

Hard, compacted soil is the bane of gardening projects. In order to thrive, plants need rich, fertile and well-turned soil. Turning the soil with a spade or shovel is a back-breaking and time-consuming affair. Motorized rototillers have heavy-duty tines that do the digging for you, making quick work of an otherwise labor-intensive task.

A Rototiller Rental May Be a Better Idea Than Buying One Outright

The perfect implement for preparing ground for planting, as well as for a variety of other garden tasks, is a tiller. A rototiller may seem like a must-have garden tool. Purchasing a tiller, however, requires a substantial investment. In many cases, rototiller rental is a better option. Careful consideration of several factors can help you determine whether it’s better to buy or rent a rototiller.

Consider Your Gardening Objectives

A tiller is an essential soil-preparation tool. If you’re preparing an area of your garden for planting, you’ll need to ensure that the soil is rich, loose and drainable. This not only promotes root growth but ensures that the roots have easy access to water and nutrients. Vegetable gardens and beds of annuals only have a limited time to produce or flower. They need optimum soil conditions to grow quickly and to produce the best results.

Soil preparation, however, is not a regular garden task. If you’re preparing soil for a lawn, for example, you may only need to undertake the chore once. Even if you need to prepare the soil for a vegetable garden once or twice each year, it’s hard to justify the expense of purchasing a tiller for a tool that you’ll rarely use. Rototiller rental may be a better option.

Matching a Tiller to the Task at Hand

Rototillers should be chosen based on the size and task requirements of the garden. Front-tine tillers are a good choice for tilling established gardens and for general maintenance chores. Rear-tine tillers can handle breaking through untilled soil and can till large areas quickly. As the engine drives the wheels, they require less physical effort.

If you’re thinking of buying a rototiller to till the soil between garden rows routinely and you can afford the expense, purchasing a cultivator tiller can be a good option. Although they are smaller and lighter than front-tine or rear-tine tillers, cultivators are comparable to larger tillers in price.

The Case for Rototiller Rental

When a rototiller will only be used once or twice a year, rototiller rental is a better bargain. Rental companies can offer you the opportunity to use top-of-the-line products. The best tillers will not only be easier to operate but will also perform the work faster and safely. You’ll have the expertise of the rental company professionals to guide you to the right tiller for your garden as well. The cost of maintenance is another consideration. It takes time and money to keep a tiller working efficiently and effectively.

For large gardens that require monthly tilling tasks, purchasing a rototiller can be a good option if you’re willing to store and maintain the tool and can afford the upfront cost. Otherwise, rototiller rental is an ideal solution.

Photo source: Topslakr

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How To STOP Cats Pooping in the Garden

Stuart — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 06:25:04 +0000

To stop cats pooping in the garden, you can use mechanical barriers, chemical or natural deterrents or sound repellents. Along with these three methods, employ diversionary or preventive tactics to stop cats pooping in the garden.

There Are Many Ways To STOP Cats Pooping in Your Garden

Cats can turn areas of soft soil and newly planted seedlings in the garden into an outdoor litter box. In addition to the unpleasant odor, cat waste and urine may damage plants. Because cats are meat eaters, their feces can harbor harmful pathogens passed on from birds, mice and other rodents.

Mechanical Barriers to Stop Cat Pooping

Because cats look for soft, loose soil to dig in, put wire mesh poultry netting over the soil. Plant your seedlings through the holes in the mesh. Cats don’t like to walk over the wire and they find the wire impossible to dig through.

Additional barrier methods include placing large, flat stones around the plants or using pebble mulch around the plants. Cats don’t like to dig in small stones, and the large flat rocks will minimize the amount of exposed soil. To stop cats from pooping in the garden, try to make the area as uninviting as possible by covering bare soil with materials such as sticky pinecones or thorny rosebush prunings, or insert upright sticks or plastic forks into the open spaces of the garden. Use wire tomato cages around newly planted shrubs and trees to minimize cats’ access to the soil around the plant.

As most cat owners know, felines dislike water and digging in wet soil. Keep the top layer of soil in the garden slightly damp to stop cats from pooping in the garden. If you catch them digging, squirt them with a burst from a nearby garden hose or spray bottle filled with water to reinforce the lesson that they are unwelcome guests. Motion-activated sprinklers can keep 24-hour vigilance and deter cats, along with other animals, from the garden.

Chemical Repellents

Commercial cat repellents, which contain the scent of predator urine from coyotes or foxes, are available to stop cats pooping in the garden. You can also try homemade repellents by using natural ingredients in scents that cats avoid. Cut up citrus peels and sprinkle them through the area, or crushed lavender, rosemary and pennyroyal and spread it over the soil.

Try spraying a solution of rosemary and water around the perimeter of the garden. Cats seem to avoid the scent of both anise oil and eucalyptus oil, so you can soak cotton balls in these oils and place them throughout the garden. Reapply these repellents weekly or after a rainfall.

Sound Repellents

Gardeners with cat problems can try out an array of sound deterrents, from hanging up several sets of wind chimes in the garden to purchasing mechanical sound appliances. The sound of wind chimes in the garden may be enough to frighten cats from the area. If the cat becomes habituated to the wind chimes, you can try an ultrasonic repellent.

Motion activated, these devices emit a high-pitched sound at a frequency humans cannot hear when the cat comes within range. The noise frightens the cat, making it avoid the area in the future. Most ultrasonic repellents are battery operated for use away from electrical outlets, while others come with adapters for installation in locations closer to the home.

You can also employ diversionary tactics to stop cats pooping in the garden. Some cat owners suggest planting catnip in a bed or border far away from the garden. Other pet owners suggest setting up an outdoor litter box that you can clean at regular intervals. Take preventative measures by sowing a green cover crop on bare soil over the winter. Cover newly tilled gardens and flowerbeds with heavy cardboard or newspaper weighed down with boards or rocks until you are ready to plant.

Motion Repellents

Another option, and one that has proved to work well, is to instal a motion-activated sprinkler. Amazon sell this great motion-activated sprinkler(aff.) that will only come on when an animal triggers its sensors. This will scare the living poop out of cats trying to defacate in your garden.

Photo source: Squeezyboy

This post came from Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas - Gardening tips and advice.

Are You A Nuisance Gardener?

Stuart — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:16:33 +0000

When we consider whom a “nuisance gardener” may be we rarely lump ourselves in with this bunch of misfits. Instead it’s usually a term we save for our neighbour or pesky community member who annoys the bejeevers out of us. Yet it is conceivable that some of our garden activities may not endear us with the neighbours.

Are you a Nuisance Gardener

So, before we point the finger at those who “get under our skin” let’s take a quick look at some of those pesky activities to see whether we may – perish the thought! – be considered a nuisance gardener.

The Sunday-Morning-Mowing-Nuisance-Gardener

The most hideous of all nuisance gardeners is the noise nuisance. This individual has little, or no, concern for the well-being of neighbours and insists on using the mower/blower-vac/chainsaw or other power tool first thing Sunday morning. The only nuisance who rates higher than this is one who performs these similar activities on a bank holiday. Imagine the gall!

The Boundary-Hedge-Trimming-Nuisance-Gardener

Next, but not a distant second, is the gardener who takes joy in trimming their boundary hedges only to leave their neighbour’s prunings laying in situ. While the gardener’s side of the fence looks neat and manicured the neighbours now resembles a green-waste depot.

Maybe you’re justified leaving the waste to lay there week after week because your neighbour refuses to trim their side of the hedge – but really! Is it that difficult to keep harmonious relationships?

The Foul-Wind-Fertilising-Nuisance-Gardener

I swear that most gardeners in my neighbourhood wait until the wind changes before they apply their organic fertilisers. The moment you crack open a well-earned cold beer and take a seat on the patio your skin becomes a noxious green as you gasp for breath and the odour of fertiliser envelopes the street.

Admittedly, I haven’t always checked the prevailing weather conditions before applying soil ammendments but this is one activity that will certainly wind you up as a nuisance gardener.

The View-Blocking-Tree-Growing-Nuisance-Gardener

As gardeners we’re all keen to make the most of a borrowed landscape yet not so impressed with a view-blocking landscape. A nuisance gardener is one who doesn’t consider what their landscaping activities may inhibit their neighbours from viewing. Instead they plant trees, hedges, large growing shrubs or erect landscape structures that clearly don’t promote neighbour harmony.

Most will argue that a view is a valuable commodity and hindering that outlook may cause enemies rather than develop life-long friendships.

The Nuisance-Pet-Owner

This nuisance gardener doesn’t have to be a dog, or cat, owner. Crowing roosters, threatening geese, roaming peacocks and arrogant alpacas can certainly bring the level of neighbourhood consonance to its knees. Put yourself in your neighbour’s shoes and ask the question, “If my car had become the territorial interest of my neighbour’s gander would I be removing them off the Christmas card list?”

The Smoking-Nuisance-Neighbour

Tobacco. Pot. Backyard incinerators. Regular burn-offs. Patio incense burners. Smoke, no matter the source, can strain neighbour relationships beyond burning point. It’s often an unpleasant odour that can keep neighbours indoors and label you a nuisance gardener.

In the interests of keeping friendly relationships with your neighbours it may be worth considering some of your gardening activities and assessing whether or not you may have become the nuisance gardener yourself. I’m not saying you are….just asking the question!

Photo source: woodleywonderworks

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Landscape Fabric | 5 Weed Barrier Options to Consider

Stuart — Wed, 30 May 2012 04:18:54 +0000

The idea behind landscape fabric is to provide a barrier against weeds and to protect your precious topsoil. In effect, the most natural way to keep your topsoil intact is to allow weed coverage. But if you intend planting an area out in the future the last thing you want to do is weed an area twice – or more.

Laying Landscape Fabric

Weed barriers come in all types and sizes. From the cheap and organic, that can eventually be turned back into your garden beds, to the more expensive landscape fabrics that can keep an area weed-free for years. It truly depends on which weed barrier option you require for any particular job.

So here are a list of weed barrier options to try in your garden.

Cardboard or Newspaper

Layers of cardboard or old newspaper provide a great organic option for reducing weeds. For newspaper it’s best to lay 5-10 sheets on top of each other directly onto your bare soil, pre-moistened so they sit flat, and then cover with a layer of sawdust or pea straw. The same can be done with cardboard but a single layer should suffice.

After 12 months or so, the cardboard or newspaper – along with the sawdust or straw – should have broken down enough to allow being dug back into the soil. This provides more nutrients and texture to your soil even after it’s performed its job of controlling weeds.

Old Carpet

If you’re renovating your home, or have access to quantities of old carpet from your local flooring store, then this option is a very cheap solution to providing a weed barrier. It may not look pretty – especially if your remnants are different styles of carpet – but this can easily be hidden the same way as the newspaper/cardboard idea.

Alas, it’s not the most organic option as you can’t dig the carpet back into the soil – unless they’re wool or hessian based – and you must choose carpets that haven’t been glued down with adhesives.

One benefit of carpet is that you can actually place it directly on top of weeds rather than pulling them up before you lay a landscape fabric.

Weed Barrier

Barring the first two choices there are a myriad of inexpensive landscape fabric options that are easy to source. One such option is this Dewitt Weed Barrier Fabric. It’s a woven polypropylene fabric that conserves moisture and prevents seed germination. These are very common in commercial landscape operations.

These are a great option for most smaller gardens because of the size of the rolls and how easy they are to lay.

Weed Mat

For landscapes that have garden rows that aren’t wide Pro Weed Mat is a great option to lay between them. While it is still a barrier to weed control, weed mats can be used specifically in areas where they are needed rather than as a “blanket” type approach.

Landscape Fabric

Commercial operations tend to use landscape fabric as their source of weed barrier. This is also helpful for larger gardens that have areas beyond the norm. The benefits of Preen Commercial Landscape Fabric, as one example, are the colour choices available. These can tie in with your garden colour scheme or be subdued enough to blend in with the natural look of your garden – and don’t forget the anchor pins.

Certainly the colour of your landscape fabric is not the most important attribute but, honestly, most of these products have similar characteristics and price determines the strength and size options.

So, if you’re wanting to save dollars and get an effective product trial small areas within you garden first. A landscape fabric is only as good as its application and what works in one garden doesn’t necessarily work in another.

Photo source: John Loo

This post came from Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas - Gardening tips and advice.

Hanging Gardens for Apartments

Stuart — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:00:04 +0000

For those spacially-challenged gardeners who find living in their apartment borders on claustrophobic tendencies this may be the answer. Gizmodo have just posted How to Grow Your Own Little Hanging Garden Of Babylon using merely the window opening.

Gardening For Apartments With No Balconies

The idea allows gardeners to hoist their plants outside into the sunshine for maximum growth but easily reels back in so that the gardener can engage with the plants again. The three planters can be accessed to provide nutrients, allow the gardener to perform some pruning tasks and even pick produce if required.

For more information check out Treehugger’s article.

This post came from Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas - Gardening tips and advice.

Garden Crime is Growing

Stuart — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:51:46 +0000

Remember the days when you could leave your front door unlocked as you whizzed down to the corner store? Or, the car could be left unattended with the engine idling and the windows down?

Keep Your Garden Under Lock and Key

I’m a little too young to remember those days myself, but folklore has been handed down to me by my forefathers of a bygone era. And it seems that leaving your tools where you need them may not be as safe anymore.

According to this report thieves broke into an allotment shed and stole a lawnmower, rotovator and pump while in another police are advising gardeners to weigh down their pot plants, anchor valuable garden ornaments and security mark expensive tools.

Garden crime seems to be escalating as the value of gardening equipment increases and the opportunity to dispose of items quickly becomes much easier. Gardeners need to be more shrewd than ever just to keep their garden tools, plants and furniture protected and find preventative measures that ensure they’ll remain in their gardens.

So, what have you been doing to protect your valuables against garden crime?

Photo source: APM Alex

This post came from Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas - Gardening tips and advice.