Thursday, July 14, 2011

Slug Control . . . Home Remedies




You can have gorgeous flowering plants one day and wake up the next morning to nothing but sticks.  Slugs will do that!


After lots of experimenting, I found many different methods of getting rid of them . . .


Best method . . . purchased organic slug bait and put in jars with holes in the lid . . . placed sideways in areas plagued by the slugs.  The method is similar to a roach motel . . . they check in, but don't check out.  Be careful using baits if you have pets . . . even if they are organic, they can be toxic to pets.  Placing them in jars keeps the pets out of the bait.


Slugs hate scratchy barriers like crushed eggshells, wood ash and coffee grounds . . . they can be used as barriers around infested areas.  It is a tedious process and requires reapplication after rain or watering.


It is said that copper strips shock slugs and snails trying to cross them, although I never tried it.  Thin copper can be found in craft stores.


There are effective baiting techniques!  Lure them and then kill them in soapy water.  Another tedious process, but they will gather away from your plants to a confined area where you can easily dispose of them.


They love beer . . . set out in jar tops at night, collect them and dispose in the morning . . . they also love dissolved yeast.


Set out fresh melon rinds and grapefruit at night . . . lures them in just like the beer does.


The baiting techniques can be a problem in you have pets!


We haven't had a problem with slugs . . . it is the grasshoppers that are eating everything in sight.  The only way I've found to effectively get rid of them without using pesticides is catch them and stomp them dead.  I hate them!


Share your home remedies for controlling pests in your garden!



read more

Monday, July 11, 2011

Growing Tomatoes . . . soil additives




As an organic gardener, I'm always looking for tips from other gardeners who have successfully used what some would consider off-the-wall methods for maintaining healthy tomato plants.


The following mix has been used by several gardeners
 on the Organic Gardening website forum . . .


Mumsey's Magic Mix 

1 handful bone meal
1 handful cornmeal
1/2 handful powdered milk
1/4 handful epsom salts

Mix well in hole, plant tomato.  

Side dress every few weeks or so
with the cornmeal and powdered milk,
 watered down or not . . . the rain will soak it in.




I've posted these links before, but here they are again ~


If you need information on how to grow your own tomato plants, Fine Gardening has an awesome video series covering various topics.  Click here to go to their tomato page.

And if you haven't checked it out yet, click here to go to my tomato links page.



read more

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Cilantro ~ Grow it in your garden


Coriandrum Sativum . . . also known as Chinese parsley.

The leafy part is called Cilantro, the seed is known as Coriander.

Cilantro loses its flavor when dried or cooked, so it is best used fresh.

Since Cilantro plants grow and go to seed quickly, it is best to plant them continuously (every three weeks is suggested) throughout the growing season (spring and fall) to keep the crop going.  Summer heat will speed up the growing process, quickly seeding the plants when soil temperatures reach 75 degrees.  

The plants love growing in a moist, well-drained soil mulched with compost for nutrients and root protection to keep the soil cooler to prolong growing.  The shade from closely growing plants also keeps the roots cooler.

The plants do not grow well indoors . . . they require mostly full sun, although it is possible to grow in morning sun and afternoon shade.  In general, they are a cool season plant and best grown in the ground since they don't tolerate transplanting well.

To prolong leaf growing, trim off flower heads as soon as they start to flower.  You can allow the flowers to mature and seed . . . they will resow and another crop will be ready in a few weeks.  The seeds can also be collected when they turn brown to use as coriander or to dry out and save for replanting.  Keep your seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for use as a culinary spice in cooking or as seeds for next year's crop.  

The cilantro leaves are ready to harvest about 8 weeks from seed and can be cut any time during the growth period.  Cutting the outer leaves first is recommended so the smaller leaves can continue to grow.  It is best to harvest before it begins to seed, which produces bitter tasting leaves. 









read more

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Mosaic Trash to Treasure


This gorgeous mosaic planter started off as a concrete slab piece with square inserts that someone had ready for the trash.  It goes to show you that one person's trash is another's treasure.  I love the use of mosaic tiles!

Click here for the tutorial on how it went from a ready for the trash concrete slab to gorgeous mosaic planter.

Creative projects for the garden are so cool!




read more

Monday, July 4, 2011

Container Gardening in the Shade


Awesome containers!

Utilizing containers in different shapes, sizes and colors can add lots of interest to the garden landscape.

I love container gardening in shady areas of the garden, but not all plants can tolerate shade.  Find the plants that love the shade and the results are awesome!

Click here for an excellent article from Fine Gardening that lists shade loving plants and tips for growing container plants in shady areas.  Lots of great tips!

The photo source is Fine Gardening.





read more

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Outdoor Seating Areas



Having a larger sized property makes it possible to have various
seating areas for the versatility of having smaller secluded quiet 
spaces and the larger spaces for entertaining.

The Captain and and I are currently clearing out our large
property that is still way overgrown, making way for new and
exciting areas which are still in the planning stages.

I'll be featuring more garden spaces that inspire me, along
with informative articles that I find as we go through our
inspirational planning stage.

I love this intimate outdoor garden spot . . . a great little place to
escape and enjoy nature.  Love the chairs and the placement of
container plants to create the barrier.  The use of the fence as
a backdrop rather than trying to hide it is a great idea!

Click here for an informative article from Fine Gardening entitled
"Seating Areas Made Simple" for tips on creating awesome spaces
on your property.  The photo comes from this article.



read more

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Coffee grounds in the garden?





Don't throw away your used coffee grounds!! 

Fertilize your acid loving plants with old coffee grounds . . . they will love it! 

Did you know that used coffee grounds repel snails and slugs? Add to your garden soil before seed planting or work in plants already planted. 

Used coffee grounds also repel ants . . . 

Spread used coffee grounds around your flower beds to keep the cats from using your garden as a litter box.  

I never throw away left over coffee in the pot! What I do is add water to fill the pot and water the container plants in my carport jungle. They love it! 

 Of course your compost pile will also love those used coffee grounds . . .



read more

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Want to grow your own tomatoes?



Although we got a late start, we are enjoying tasty tomatoes our tomato plants are putting out.

In the past, we have been able to grow our tomatoes all year long, which is what we are setting out to do.  There is nothing like picking your own tomatoes off the plant for dinner . . . and you can never have too many tomatoes!

If you need information on how to grow your own tomato plants, Fine Gardening has an awesome video series covering various topics.  Click here to go to their tomato page.

And if you haven't checked it out yet, click here to go to my tomato links page.




Logo Creative Homepage Banner


read more

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Creative Garden Design


Michelle is "consumed by seeing art and design in everyday life."
It is apparent in her awesome landscape designs that is a mix
of gardening and art with awesome and unusual results.

Her blog, Garden Porn, is an art gallery for the gardener who
loves putting an artistic touch in their garden designs.  It is a
delight for the inspirational senses!

The above photo from her blog features an awesome staghorn fern
planting that is mixed with a variety of succulents displayed in a way
that we will definitely be doing for our carport jungle.  I've already
decided to cover the wire container with staghorn ferns since those
succulents don't do well in our humid climate.

Here is what I have done with staghorn ferns . . . they are featured
in a discarded book rack trash to treasure project that is still thriving
in our garden after a decade and survived some very harsh winters.


I started the staghorns as babies in the book rack that
was lined with chicken wire and gardening moss.  It has
grown in a semi-shady area and basically left alone for
at least the past 8 years.  This photo was taken four
years ago.  It is still thriving and growing in the same 
spot . . .  definitely a survivor!

We may scatter some baby staghorns around the sides of
the rack, which should make a spectacular feature in
 the garden.

More recent photos to come as soon as we refresh
the bald spots!







read more

Friday, June 3, 2011

Trash to Treasure


What an awesome idea for yard sale treasures!

My grandmother used one of these to make her
 tasty mashed potatoes.  It brings back lots of 
great memories :)  

I'd love to make one of these
for the carport jungle!

Click here for a tutorial on how
 to make one of your own.

I've often used many kitchen items in the
 garden.  My favorite is an old broken 
coffee maker that I painted . . .


One of the things I love creating most is giving
life to  an otherwise useless item.  You'd be
surprised what a difference a little paint makes.

Happy crafting and gardening!







read more

Labels

alocasia Amazonica annuals apartment gardening aphids aucuba azalea back yard projects bamboo hydroponics basil beneficial insects bird watching birds black eyed susan blooms blue plumbago Bouganvillea boulders bromeliad photos bromeliads bugs Busch Gardens butterfly gardening cacti cactus calender calissia fragrans candles Christmas Cactus cilantro coffee coleus colorful container planting companion planting compost bins composting concrete concrete container concrete countertop concrete leaves concrete project container container gardening container gardens container plants containers contrast cooking with herbs coriander craft projects crafts cranberry hibiscus crinum crinum lilies croton cubanelle peppers cuttings cycads DIY DIY bubble fountain DIY insecticidal soap DIY projects DIY water fountain eggshells elephant ear epiphyte fall gardening fallen tree faux rocks fence fire pit fireplace Florida florida beauties Florida gardening flower tower flowering perennials flowers France fruit trees garden garden decor garden design garden fountain garden maintenance garden path garden project garden suppies gardening gardening basics gardening guide gardening mistakes gardening tips gardens garlic gazebo gingers grass grasshoppers greenhouses ground covers growing from seed growing tomatoes heat tolerant flowers herb gardening herbs HGTV holiday plant houseplants hydroponics hypertufa hypertufa containers illumination impatiens indoor gardening insecticidal soap insects inspiration June gardening Kalanchoe landscape landscape design landscaping lawns leaf casting leaf casting water feature leaf mold lemon tree lettuce lighting lily limes log planter low light plants mandevilla March gardening may Monet monthly gardening notes mosaic mother of millions native plants nature organic organic gardening organic pest control outdoor fireplace outdoor kitchen outdoor lighting outdoor projects outdoor shower outdoor spaces painting Paradise past path paths patio gardening Paul James pavers pepper plant pruning pepper plants peppers perennials pest control pest spray pests photo tips photos photos garden plant plant containers plant damage plant profile plant swaps planter plants plumbago pond ponds propagation pruning pruning fruit trees pruning tomato plants raised beds recycle recycling redesign rocks rooting basil rooting tomato plants sago palm saving money scrub seed germination seed saving seed starters seed storage box seed swaps seeds shade shade gardening shade plants slugs soil soil mix spring staghorn fern starting from seed stepping stones stump removal succulents summer summer gardening terracotta tin cans tips tires tomato tomato plants trash to treasure trash-to-treasure trees trellis tropical tropical plants tropicals turf vegetable gardening vegetables video water feature watering weed control weed identification weeds winter winter sowing wood path wood projects yard art yard projects zones 9-11