Saturday Gardening Thread: Down and Dirty [Y-not and KT]

PLEASE KEEP THIS THREAD FREE OF POLITICS. THANKS. Y-NOT

Y-not: Good afternoon, gardening morons and moronettes!

Spring is here!

Are you seeing bulbs pop up yet? See more from today's garden ->https://t.co/RoH4SpJW50 #Photooftheday #gardening pic.twitter.com/B9QpMYu6iq
— Fine Gardening (@finegardening) March 15, 2016

Seems like the past week has really accelerated signs of Spring here in Kentucky (and also in Alabama and Tennessee, where we were during part of last week). Daffodils are up (and past, actually) and many flowering trees are doing their thing.

Last Fall I shared some pictures I took at Cheekwood, a fine botanical garden (and art museum) in Nashville. Looks like I need to get down there again soon to catch the tulips in bloom:

The tulips are coming! #cheekwoodinbloom pic.twitter.com/qKgCThJ8dM
— Cheekwood (@Cheekwood) March 16, 2016

What's blooming where you are this week?

In honor of the mudslinging in this year's GOP primary, I thought we'd talk a little bit about dirt. Some of you may be getting ready for the new season by starting some plants in pots or simply setting up container gardens. Here's a link to an article in Fine Gardening about potting soil that may by of some use to you.

I thought this was interesting:

Soilless potting mixes are relatively free of living organisms, but mixes made with soil or compost are not. Some gardeners talk about "sterilizing" their potting mixes by baking them in the oven to rid the soil of harmful organisms, limiting the hazards of damping-off and other diseases. What I hope they mean is that they "pasteurize" their mixes. Heating homemade potting mixes to sterilizing temperatures wipes out all living things, beneficial and detrimental, leaving a clean slate for possible invasion of pathogens and causing nutritional problems such as ammonia toxicity. Pasteurization, which occurs at lower temperatures, kills only a fraction of the organisms. The best way to pasteurize your soil is to put it in a baking pan with a potato embedded in the soil. Bake it at 350 deg F for about 45 minutes. When the potato is cooked, the potting mix is ready.

Hmmm, sounds like something CBD might want to include in the Sunday Food Thread...

Or not!

If you are starting plants from seed, Fine Gardening also has some advice on how to ensure success. Or you might find this article at Mother Earth News helpful.

I doubt I'll be able to do much more than some container gardening this year as we are still trying to get settled into our new digs. (SWIDT?)

Speaking of soil, here's a problem many of us have probably encountered in our gardens:

Neighbor's land collects in a swamp then drains across our land through this pipe, hasn't been dry since Sept. pic.twitter.com/UXxK27HKof
— Patch Farmstead (@patchfarmstead) March 19, 2016

In our last home, our neighbor's sprinklers were set to run too long, resulting in a somewhat spongy section in our lawn. Have any of you had similar problems? Better Homes and Gardens has advice on how to deal with poorly drained areas. This article from The Sensible Gardener might also be of help.

So the two most important issues pertaining to lawn drainage are soil permeability and yard topography. Consider where the water is coming from and how it travels on your yard.
If a fair percentage of the water actually trickles down from elsewhere (your roof, your driveway, for instance) and ends up on your yard, then you need to find a way to divert the excess water, possibly using drains.
If the rain falls directly on your yard and just sits there, then there are a few options.
You could work on the nature of your soil and the topography of your yard, as explained below.
You could also consider installing drains.
If the problem is not too major, you could simply get wet plants or create a rain garden.

Alternatively, just go with it!

Now, heeeere's KT!

We have had some great spring-like days this week, sometimes briefly at the edge of "hot" for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Have you had good gardening weather?

My remaining turnips, planted in the fall, are blossoming now. Nice for the bees, and I have been eating some of the blossoms, too. Mr. Bar-the-Door is not much into eating flowers. I sometimes wonder if there are any Morons out there who secretly feast on tasty edible flowers when there are no women around.

The purple kohlrabi planted at the same time as the turnips is still sweet and mild, though a little firmer than it was earlier in the season. It is "Kolibri", a hybrid that gets good reviews. There are a couple of green cultivars that have an edge on earliness, or maybe a slight edge on flavor, but the purple ones are much more striking. Members of The Horde in cooler climates may be able to get a spring crop in. Generally, it is better to pick spring-planted kohlrabi smaller than kohlrabi that matures in cool fall or winter weather. I think they are the most carefree members of the cabbage family to grow (at least in terms of insect vulnerability). Have you ever tried growing it? Anybody grown one of the giant ones?

We usually eat kohlrabi raw, but a cookbook author at Rural Intelligence was inspired to substitute it for potatoes to make oven fries. "So the other day, I'm staring this beautiful bunch of kohlrabi in the face, or, rather, in the weird UFO-like purple tendons . . . "

Hope Gardens, a garden how-to site, provides additional recipes: kohlrabi roasted, on crostini, in Indian cuisine, etc.

I am late with spring planting this year. Long story. Wouldn't be a very successful farmer right now. Hope some of you are doing better with your planting schedules.

The celebrated Iowahawk has long been interested in farming, but since he moved from a Chicago high-rise to El Rancho de Hawko, it seems like he has begun paying a little more attention to yard and garden topics.

Feeling a little stressed lately?

Calm down with this Zen Japanese garden thingy y'all https://t.co/tpyfbBe348
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) March 15, 2016

And it looks like his wife has been out enjoying the garden, too! Is the women's high jump also a Zen thing?

LOL wife just broke women's high jump record. #welcometoTexas pic.twitter.com/Yl0N1mMVX3
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) March 17, 2016

The Royal Azalea

In last week's thread we discussed hellebores, based on a comment the previous week by JQ Flyover. We will be bringing up other topics from recent comments in future weeks. Remind me if we don't get to yours. This week, I thought it would be nice to ID the delicately-colored pink azalea that JQ's grandmother called a "Korean Azalea". I am pretty sure that it is the Royal Azalea, AKA Rhododendron schlippenbachii.

We have seen some gorgeous azaleas in past threads. But the Royal Azalea is different from most of them. This azalea is notable because it will thrive in less-acid soil that most azaleas. It is quite hardy. The flowers are fragrant and the leaves have nice fall color. The flowers emerge at about the same time as the leaves. JQ says that the leaves also have a minty-peppery fragrance if bruised. She advises us that the plant is kind of leggy. I prefer to think, �open and airy�.

The majority of azaleas now grown in gardens are hybrids. But the Royal Azalea is still grown as the species. It is even grown from seed, particularly for bonsai. You can order seeds using the AoSHQ Amazon link.

But don't try this at home unless you are willing to baby the seedlings. "The seeds of Royal Azalea are extremely tiny. Wear your glasses and don't breath while handling. Sow indoors. . . For best results, please follow the instructions in the order provided."

The page linked above also includes good information on how and where to plant this azalea, plus some interesting information on where the species came from:

This species was introduced to the west when it was discovered in Korea in 1854 by a Russian naval officer, Baron von Schlippenbach, for whom it is named. Its natural range extends from Korea into bordering parts of Manchuria and Russia. It is one of the commonest shrubs in Korea, being the dominant undergrowth plant in some forests. During June, these areas are transformed into vast drifts of pink.

In their natural habitat, the plants are bigger than most garden azalea plants. They can grow to 15 feet under some conditions. Their leaves make me think "Rhododendron" rather than "Azalea". But then, all azaleas are actually rhododendrons. The natural color range of the Royal Azalea is white to pale pink to rose pink. The white ones are called by a different name than the pink ones in Korea. I think the pink ones are delightful.

Louis the Plant Geek grows this azalea in his garden and warns that the plant is sometimes subject to die-back after several years, a branch at a time. So if JQ wants to keep her grandmother's clone going for future generations, she might want to start some cuttings.

Y-not: Thanks, KT!

Let's wrap things up with a song...

What's happening in YOUR gardens this week?

PLEASE USE THE THREAD BELOW THIS ONE FOR POLITICS AND OTHER CHAT. THANKS.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 12:25 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 My Bradford pears are in full bloom now. Next up with be the apple trees and the Japanese Cherry tree.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at March 19, 2016 11:27 AM (t2KH5)

2 Too early to garden. Shoveled almost a foot of new snow yesterday.

But birds are feeding at the feeders. We have redwing blackbirds, house finches, and occasionally, one gorgeous flicker.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at March 19, 2016 11:28 AM (U6f54)

3 Let me know if that first picture causes you problems. It didn't look so long when I saw it on Twitter, but if it makes scrolling annoying, I'll change it.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at March 19, 2016 11:29 AM (t5zYU)

4 My yard is all sandy soil so I have no issues with drainage. Back when I loved in GA had a lot of problems because nearly everything there is red clay.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at March 19, 2016 11:29 AM (t2KH5)

5 Some of the feeders are hung in a tree I'm told is a Cleveland pear, which is all full of ready to burst flower buds.

Supposed to be 70 Monday, after our big snow yesterday. Then maybe more snow mid week.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at March 19, 2016 11:29 AM (U6f54)

6 planting a dog, sadly. planning a brick rosette over.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 19, 2016 11:29 AM (Cq0oW)

7 But birds are feeding at the feeders. We have redwing blackbirds, house finches, and occasionally, one gorgeous flicker.
--

Redwing blackbirds have such beautiful songs.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at March 19, 2016 11:30 AM (t5zYU)

8 >>Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 19, 2016 11:29

Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at March 19, 2016 11:32 AM (t5zYU)

9 Thanks, KT!

Posted by: JQ Flyover at March 19, 2016 11:35 AM (044Fx)

10 Weather nice, got a repeat customer, wife is healthy, life is good...

:-D

Posted by: setnaffa at March 19, 2016 11:37 AM (1qXzU)

11 My daffodils have refused to bloom, in an apparent strike action. DBM... Daffodil Blooms Matter!!!

Posted by: Colonel Haiku at March 19, 2016 11:38 AM (SuAAx)

12 Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 19, 2016

So sorry about your dog. We have planted a few, too.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 11:39 AM (qahv/)

13 Aww, Bigby. So sorry to hear that.

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 19, 2016 11:40 AM (nXeSu)

14 Big storm came through Texas and dropped all of .14" here in SA, where we could use a little rain, then blew through to the coast where our little condo is. An email went out this morning to all the owners, showing a picture of the kayak racks--kayaks strewn around and some missing, lol.

My one plant there is an aloe vera on our balcony that thrived all winter in place. I wonder if it's still there?

Anyway, this weekend I'm putting in most of the peppers I've bought, and a few more transplants of other varieties are coming by mail. I'm still mostly doing container gardening on Hell Patio, and this year it's Pepperpalooza. Or Pepper-rama?

Posted by: stace at March 19, 2016 11:40 AM (ozZau)

15 Pasteurizing soil mixes in the oven can be a nasty-smelling project. Don't do it on a day you can't open the windows.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 11:40 AM (qahv/)

16 Have Daffodils coming out, lettuce seeds sprouting in a window and been cleaning out rocks in my addition of my garden. Have around 6 feet to go, cleaning down around 10 inches.

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2016 11:42 AM (fizMZ)

17 That's 10 acres of field that drains into a 1 acre swamp which overflows across some of our low forest. Normally it's moist but not wet but there has just been so much rain since Sept that it couldn't drain on the other side of our property so we've had standing water for 6months. Hopefully it will be dry in a couple weeks and I can seed it on forage. At least that's the plan.

My wife had five days in a row off last week and I had enough time to get our yard looking almost like a real yard. This weekend I'm finishing a flower bed right beside where she parks. Then it's planting in the garden and more planting in the garden.

Posted by: Traye at March 19, 2016 11:43 AM (UtlQ1)

18 west KY, clematis is starting to bud heavily, daffodils and hyacinth blooming well. Had a lovely 80 degree day Tuesday so I managed to repair alot of winter damage. Now to cut the grass for the first time this year!

Posted by: FCF at March 19, 2016 11:45 AM (kejii)

19 Well, our garden seems to have survived yesterday's bigger-than-golf-ball sized hail. Few little branches came down in front.

The potato plants are going to take over the world.

My husband bought morning glory seeds and then someone gave me a giant morning glory cutting. So there may be morning glories in our future!

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 19, 2016 11:45 AM (nXeSu)

20 So sorry to hear Bigby's news and I hope Mama AJ did NOT get any of this rain that passed through last night.

Posted by: stace at March 19, 2016 11:46 AM (ozZau)

21 Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 19, 2016 11:29 AM (Cq0oW)
I'm so sorry for your loss.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 19, 2016 11:50 AM (egOGm)

22 That peppery/minty smell is so hard to accurately describe, it's not-quite eucalyptus-y. But the flowers are unscented, (as far as I can tell) and tinted more lavender-purple than pink.

I wonder, too, if grandmother said "Korean" because: she also said the lady who gave it to her had actually brought it home from Korea. (This would have been in the 1960s, and hopefully not breaking any laws.)

I will pay more attention to leaf size this year-- hadn't thought they were especially large, but did turn brilliant orange-red last fall.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at March 19, 2016 11:51 AM (044Fx)

23 Kansas: tilled the garden yesterday morning, snowed (no accumulation) in the afternoon. Doubled the garden this year, since the sprout is big enough to help out and it's time he learns exactly where food comes from.

Posted by: Parker at March 19, 2016 11:53 AM (ATuUs)

24 Congratulation on surviving the hail, Mama AJ. Do you know what kind of morning glory cutting you got? Sounds like it might be a perennial one. Under the right conditions, some can be invasive.

Did your husband get morning glory seeds in mixed colors? I like the Japanese Imperial types. I also like single colors.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 11:53 AM (qahv/)

25 So sorry about your doggeh, Bigby's.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at March 19, 2016 11:54 AM (044Fx)

26 Aw, Bigby, sorry for your loss. So hard to see our animal friends go.

Friend found a little local nursery near church that has seedlings grown in the area. So we are patronizing, hoping they're already acclimatized.
Bought a cuke and a pepper, but did not put them out, b/c should be almost freezing tonight.
The cats ate the catnip seedling down to the stems, before I remembered to put it on the back porch.

Narcissus (which I'm not allowed to force indoors, 'cause stinky) are flowering, as well as the Dutch iris. They all bloomed overnight- boom!
The Lady Banksia, which grows up and over the driveway fence is outstanding this year. I'd say it was a shower of gold, but phrasing...

Posted by: Sal at March 19, 2016 11:55 AM (MRX6w)

27 Gardening here won't start until the first or second week of April. But when it does..... Bulbs and some Aspen trees are on the agenda.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at March 19, 2016 11:55 AM (JfSXS)

28 >>Big storm came through Texas and dropped all of .14" here in SA, where we could use a little rain, then blew through to the coast where our little condo is. An email went out this morning to all the owners, showing a picture of the kayak racks--kayaks strewn around and some missing, lol.

We've got a bunch of damage to the Del Rio house from a couple weeks ago. That was a lot of hail and wind.

I can't believe SA is missing all the rain that's hit the rest of the state (and next door here)!

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 19, 2016 11:57 AM (nXeSu)

29 Hello folks-- I'm looking for advice, cause I know I don't know it all. I live at 10500'. Temperature here is almost never below freezing, but seldom makes it to 70 degrees. I've tried several crops, trees etc. with no success. Looking for veggies, fruits, nut trees --whatever I can cultivate that will actually live. Suggestions please.

Posted by: rld77 at March 19, 2016 11:58 AM (dclYX)

30 Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 19, 2016 11:29 AM

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at March 19, 2016 11:58 AM (JfSXS)

31 That sucks Bigby. Very sorry to hear.

I had to have my house replumbed this weekend, all the way to the street. They needed to run a new line, stright through my garden and right past my old Weimaraner's resting spot. Thankfully nothing was disturbed except some Mexican petunias that will bounce right back.

Posted by: weew at March 19, 2016 11:58 AM (O1uuu)

32 Planting a Satsuma today. We've had it since Christmas but was waiting until the chance of cold weather was past, plus months of arguing about the right place to put it.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at March 19, 2016 12:00 PM (rwI+c)

33 Suggestions please.

A greenhouse.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at March 19, 2016 12:01 PM (rwI+c)

34 Bigby didn't read the comments first off, sad to hear that.

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2016 12:01 PM (fizMZ)

35 >>Do you know what kind of morning glory cutting you got?

She just said "giant".

The seeds are "heavenly blue", I'm told.

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 19, 2016 12:02 PM (nXeSu)

36 JQ Flyover,

Your photo looked a lot like some of the photos I saw of the Royal Azalea. But if yours are unscented, it could be a lavender hybrid.

The leaves of the Royal Azalea are not huge, but they are bigger than the Belgian Indicas I am used to grow in Southern California. There are a couple of Southern Indica types that do OK in our hot valley in the shade. They have bigger leaves than the Belgian Indicas, and I think their flowers look more like "rhododendrons", too.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:02 PM (qahv/)

37 Soft spot in the lawn: friend of mine transferred to NE Ohio, bought an abandoned farm that backed up to the considerable wooded acreage of Ravenna Arsenal. Odd place: high elevation (for here), but swampy in the woods. Something about the old canals.

There was a nice hillock out behind the house, with a hyuuge willow tree on it. He didn't want that willow. Had it cut down and rooted out. Then he found out the hill had a spring in it, and that's what the willow was doing there -- sucking up all that water. He had it sodded over, but you could walk out into a 30-foot radius and hop on the grass, and the turf would bounce like a water bed. Made me squeamish.

Only other place I'd seen that phenomenon was where a backyard built-in pool had been filled in with no clay, just topsoil. All the way down. A deathtrap.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 19, 2016 12:02 PM (xq1UY)

38 KEEP POLITICS OFF OF THIS THREAD.
- Y-NOT

Posted by: Fyscyl Clyff at March 19, 2016 12:03 PM (r4pNb)

39 I'm so sorry, Bigby's. Made me tear up. The rosette is a lovely idea.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 19, 2016 12:04 PM (q1FtT)

40 west central IL, just the daffodils and hyacinth blooming in full, tulips coming up, tomatoes and jalapeno started inside. Buds are swelling on fruit trees, collected about 30 gallons of maple sap and boiled it down for the first time last month. Sweeet. But need to boil it outside next time ... found out how greasy my walls were after the steam was pouring down the walls.

Interesting idea .. pasteurizing instead of sterilizing. Never gave that a thought, but I never tried to sterilize. I just use soil from a bag for my inside starts, and try to let them get a little dry every few days, to prevent damping off. Not an exact science for me, but no damping off this year at least. Heat mat makes them dry out faster so have to watch, but that is supposed to help the roots develop faster.

Had 60's for a week, but 28 last night. Soon everything will be popping.

Posted by: Illiniwek at March 19, 2016 12:04 PM (eUbDe)

41 Cheekwood in Bloomers!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Imperatrix Siculus at March 19, 2016 12:07 PM (jR7Wy)

42 I was worried when the pomegranate bush lost all its leaves a couple of months ago. We hadn't been watering or covering it and it's the first winter we've had it. All is well though. Lots of new leaves in the last couple of weeks.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at March 19, 2016 12:08 PM (GDulk)

43 Mama AJ,

Watch the Giant Morning Glory to make sure that it is the flower, rather than the plant that is "giant". The perennial Blue Dawn Flower can be invasive in some circumstances, but it is spectacular in others.

I love Heavenly Blue.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:08 PM (qahv/)

44 Thank you again for your research, KT-- and whatever it's lineage, I love the little shrub.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at March 19, 2016 12:08 PM (044Fx)

45 Does anyone else have a loquat tree? We planted ours about two years ago and still haven't gotten blossoms or fruit.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at March 19, 2016 12:10 PM (GDulk)

46 First blossom on the plum tree, and I am hoping that the other trees hold off until it warms up. The bees need to have parkas still, it is still chilly

I did mow most of the yard this week, so I am ahead of the game.

I am afraid my plum grafts did not take, so I have to try again next year.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 19, 2016 12:10 PM (XQHkt)

47 29
Hello folks-- I'm looking for advice, cause I know I don't know it all. I
live at 10500'. Temperature here is almost never below freezing, but
seldom makes it to 70 degrees. I've tried several crops, trees etc. with
no success. Looking for veggies, fruits, nut trees --whatever I can
cultivate that will actually live. Suggestions please.

Posted by: rld77 at March 19, 2016 11:58 AM (dclYX)

You should check with a local seed and feed store. They will know. Also, Better Homes and Gardens has a great book that gives a lot of that kind of info. I tried to find my copy of that book but evidently someone "borrowed" it and did not return it.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at March 19, 2016 12:10 PM (t2KH5)

48 No gardening here. Six inches of snow Thursday night. Temperatures in the 20s at night.

Posted by: Ronster at March 19, 2016 12:11 PM (7VC+5)

49 On my 3rd-grade field trip, we made a stop at the "State Farm," which was an extension of the State Hospital. Truck-farming used to be a therapy. Let's just think about that.

They had a manure spreader that had been modified with steam pipes. They'd compost cow manure and when it was mostly soil, hook up a feed from the greenhouse boiler and kill off the errant seeds. The guy who ran it called it sterilizing, but, he was nuts, right?

That farm is now the site of a v.large medical school. Built on...yep.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 19, 2016 12:11 PM (xq1UY)

50 rld77 at March 19, 2016 11:58 AM

What region are you in that you have such moderate low temperatures at such a high elevation? Interesting challenge.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:11 PM (qahv/)

51 I need some outdoorsy help, I live in a real hot and humid part of the SE and get fungus growing on the outside of my house. What do you all suggest for getting that off vinyl siding?

I'll tell you what I've done so far. Power washing can get it off but I have to be about 2 feet away and that won't work for the top part by the roof. I've also used some power washing cleaner I got from HomeDepot but I can't say it did much. My power washer instructions say I can't use bleach based cleaner or it will screw it up. Also there are some bushes and stuff in flower beds I don't want to kill.

I'm power washing twice a year and it still looks grungy at the top.

Posted by: bananaDream at March 19, 2016 12:12 PM (Ag8Mw)

52 Why would Fine Gardening be tweeting a picture of dahlias this time of year?!

I don't know enough about azaleas to identify that one, but I do love them, specially the lesser planted ones. I love swamp azaleas.

Lots of azaleas have traits you never hear about, like great Fall color, and many are fragrant.

Our daffodils and hyacinths are in full bloom here, along with the redbuds andtulip magnolias.. Bradford pears, too, some are already past their prime. Dogwoods soon to bloom. Lilies and aliums are popping up, clematis leafing out.

Fall in New England gets a lot of well deserved attention, but spring in the South is heart-breakingly beautiful.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 19, 2016 12:13 PM (q1FtT)

53 Azaleas running riot all over New Orleans and Houston. All that spring rain

Posted by: ThunderB at March 19, 2016 12:13 PM (zOTsN)

54 Thanks y-not and KT for the thread. The soil links can only be helpful. It's not like I know so much about gardening. Our seedlings are getting their first 'real' leaves and haven't had any wilted ones. (Yet.) Although we have a wintry mix in the forecast, we had very nice weather this past week and daffodils and flowering trees are gorgeous. Our neighbor has several Bradford pear trees. I swear I saw them Wednesday morning and they were bare. That afternoon they were in full flower. This happens every year and it still comes as a pleasant surprise.

Posted by: JTB at March 19, 2016 12:14 PM (FvdPb)

55 Does anyone else have a loquat tree? We planted ours about two years ago and still haven't gotten blossoms or fruit.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at March 19, 2016 12:10 PM (GDulk)

Heh. Polli, wife and I have been talking about what to do with our loquats that is full now. Found a website to look into it's uses.

Beware- the tree and more specifically its blooms are mega! bee magnets. Mega bee magnet.

Posted by: weirdflunkyonatablet at March 19, 2016 12:15 PM (q/y4y)

56 Sorry to hear about your doggy, Bigby. We buried our cat Maire in the back yard a few years back. We knew her time was short, and my hubby dug her grave a few days before she passed. It was a somber time - he said the act of digging a grave brings much useful contemplation. Little did we know that he himself had less than 6 months left.

Lost the house to foreclosure last July, but it's still unoccupied. I visit her grave sometimes.

I like the rosette idea.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 12:15 PM (bIGOo)

57 OK wife found it.

http://tinyurl.com/jg6n7t9

This is a really good book, especially for a beginner.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at March 19, 2016 12:16 PM (t2KH5)

58 Most bulby-things are in full bloom now: Daffodils, hyacinth, early tulips. Crocus and snowdrops are finished, taller tulips have big buds starting to show color.

All the trees have broken bud: most are at least beginning to flower. New green shoots on most shrubbery...

After the rain, it *smells like spring* out there. Finally!

Posted by: JQ Flyover at March 19, 2016 12:16 PM (044Fx)

59 Sorry about the plum grafts, Kindltot. Grafting sometimes seems like magic to me.

What kind of plum tree do you have? Some are self-pollinating, but if yours needs cross-pollination, you might need to bring in a big vase of blossoms from a neighbor's plum tree. Needs to be a different cultivar.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:18 PM (qahv/)

60 I do my own compost from the leaves and everything else that the earthworms will eat.
I run a two year system where I use one year to pile it up and turn a couple of times, and then let it sit unturned for another to let most of the weed seed and volunteer squash sprout and die from not enough water.

I really haven't seen a need to treat the compost but then I don't use it inside and I wouldn't know how to process the yards of compost I generate.

I have been feeling pretty cocky since I rigged a sieve to get the sticks, lumps and clumps out.
Compost makes great soil amendment.

(When old composters get together they start arguing the merits of earthworms vs black soldier-fly larvae)

Posted by: Kindltot at March 19, 2016 12:18 PM (XQHkt)

61 Mama AJ,

Sadly in SW Austin, we missed most of the rain also. It was enough to make the grass happy for a few days but not much more. I built 10 tomato cages last weekend by buying a roll of 5' x 50' welded galvanized fencing, some bolt cutters, and zip ties. A bit tricky working with the welded wire for the first time but these should last for a long time. Planted 2 cherry tomato varieties, 4 regular varieties, and 4 tomatillos. Last week I put in a zucchini and yellow squash. I need to get a cucumber still. I put down basil seeds, long beans, and butternut squash seeds.
The yard has been scalped, top dressed, fertilized, and all the flower beds cleaned out and mulched....now all the live oak leaves and soon pollen, will cover the mulch, aarrggghhhhh!!!
Starting my compost bin back up. While planting the veggies and various flowers through the yard, I encountered quite a few earth worms which I take as a good sign of my soil's condition.
Unfortunately, the guy who cleaned up my flower beds trimmed my Hydrangeas so no flowers for me this year. I'm a bit upset about it but I didn't think to say anything and Hydrangeas are not that common around here so he didn't know.

Posted by: lindafell de spair at March 19, 2016 12:18 PM (xVgrA)

62 Posted by: weirdflunkyonatablet at March 19, 2016 12:15 PM (q/y4y)

I've heard that the bloosoms smell heavenly and would love to find out personally. The leaves can be used in tea and I intend to use some of the blooms and fruit the same way, once we get some.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at March 19, 2016 12:19 PM (GDulk)

63 I meant to add that Rhododendron Schlippenbachii has ten stamens instead of five, and the pic above looks likeit has 10, or at least more than 5!

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 19, 2016 12:20 PM (q1FtT)

64 Audebon Park in New Orleans is in full bloom

Posted by: ThunderB at March 19, 2016 12:21 PM (zOTsN)

65 Looks like you would be in Zone 5. Here is a list of popular trees for zone 5.

http://www.arborday.org/Shopping/Trees/PopularTrees.cfm?zone=5

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at March 19, 2016 12:22 PM (t2KH5)

66 I appreciate the talk of dirt, specifically soilless mix. I have a 10'x6' balcony. Brought some of my favorite perennials from the yard when I moved (memorabilia, you know).

Since weight is an issue, I was told by the nursery that Espoma's soilless mix of peat moss and perlite would be my best option. I've bought 2 Sterilite bins (106 qts each) that I'm setting end-to-end along the short wall that gets the most light. Drilled plenty of drainage holes, and elevating the bins over a few 10"X2" blocks and using the lids as drip trays.

Still waiting for the Espoma to come into stock, so everything is on hold for now.

Question: what do worm castings do? They're added to the mix.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 12:23 PM (bIGOo)

67 bananaDream at March 19, 2016 12:12 PM

There are concentrates you can buy to get moss off roofs, if that is what you have. If you don't get any other guidance today, I'll check during the week.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:23 PM (qahv/)

68 Can I ask for advice about my rosemary plants? I had two lovely largish ones, in separate pots, that I bought last year. After years of leaving them outside and having to buy new ones each year, I thought I would bring these two in for the winter. So I did. One now looks completely dead, the other looks only half (not quite mostly) dead. I've given them both a haircut and am hoping for a resurrection (at least from the one that seems to have a little life). Do they have a chance, or am I just whistling past the graveyard, so to speak?

Posted by: bluebell at March 19, 2016 12:24 PM (2WwbN)

69 Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:11 PM (qahv/)

Yea, kind of hard to imagine it never getting below freezing at 10,500! I know there are mountains in Hawaii, but I wasn't sure if they were that tall.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 19, 2016 12:24 PM (q1FtT)

70 Polliwog the 'Ette,

My Loquat tree is setting fruit for the first time this year. I heard it can take up to 5 years to start flowering and set fruit. I like to just eat the ripe loquats fresh. It is becoming popular to make preserves with them around here.

Pomegranate trees are extremely hardy. Mine looks dead every winter then doubles in size every summer. I have cut it back to pretty much the trunk then loped the top off and it has come back.

Posted by: lindafell de spair at March 19, 2016 12:25 PM (xVgrA)

71 Everything is coming along nicely.
I have tulips blooming, the amaryllis bulbs are starting to get blooms. The paper whites are done. I have alliums but they haven't bloomed yet.
I bought the alliums from the school kids last year. I'm not sure what they will look like. They look like long chives right now.
I also have irises. They bloom year round.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 19, 2016 12:27 PM (egOGm)

72 Calm down with this Zen Japanese garden thingy y'all

==============
You think this will calm down the poor doggehs and kittehs? Hell no!

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at March 19, 2016 12:27 PM (iQIUe)

73 We get juncos and some other birds only during cold weather, more so when it's colder than average. Despite the warm weather lately, we still have juncos in the yard. I don't know if they are lazy, confused, or know something I don't. Possibly all three. I wouldn't mind a long, mild spring but would prefer no last minute cold snaps.

Posted by: JTB at March 19, 2016 12:28 PM (FvdPb)

74 I had what I think was root-stock from a grafted plum that grew when the grafted part died off. It made terrible plums that were small and had all the defects of brooks plums with none of the firmness.
I cut it down a couple of years ago while clearing out the corner of the lot.
I got suckers coming up and I decided to try to make something useful out of it, so I grafted a lovely yellow plum that is growing on my mechanic's parking lot.

This is not a scientific grafting procedure, I nipped some starts with a pocket knife while out walking one morning, trimmed them and the root stock with a razor knife and bound it up with electrical tape.

Failure is not surprising in this case.
I find myself like the March hare meekly muttering that "it was the best butter"

Posted by: Kindltot at March 19, 2016 12:28 PM (XQHkt)

75 We should all list our favorite gardening books and authors some day.

I have tons, but I especially love Four Season Landscape, by Susan Roth.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 19, 2016 12:28 PM (q1FtT)

76 Morning glories and moonflowers are always, always part of my sowing plans. I've got a trellis up one wall of the balcony, a second at a 45 degree angle to the ceiling, and a third running along the ceiling. Last year they climbed all the way to the end.

I was fortunate to get 5 seeds from my moonflower last fall. They're soaking in a thermos now. The MG's are already sprouting.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 12:28 PM (bIGOo)

77 Miley's tongue,

Ohhhh, Moon flowers smell divine in the evening!!! I had one last year. In fact i still have some seeds, I'll go plant them and see if they are any good.

Posted by: lindafell de spair at March 19, 2016 12:31 PM (xVgrA)

78 Lindafell - make sure you snip a bit of the hard shell from the pointy end (the one without the "belly button"), then soak in a thermos of warm water for 24-48 hours. This will speed up germination.

I had one that I brought inside every winter. It continued to flower (yes, a heavenly scent!) You can cut them back and new sprout/vines appear.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 12:34 PM (bIGOo)

79 Posted by: lindafell de spair at March 19, 2016 12:25 PM (xVgrA)

That's good to know, in both cases. We all love pomegranates so I hope this works out.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at March 19, 2016 12:37 PM (GDulk)

80 I'm having a landscape designer come in and help me with my yard on Tuesday, I've never done this before because I've always been able to figure things out myself as well as do all my own planting. But we just moved VA, and our lot has nothing but hard rock and red clay, you can't dig a hole without a machine, it's horrible. I'm terrified to find out what it will cost to have someone else do the work.

Posted by: spypeach at March 19, 2016 12:38 PM (nyYhO)

81 bananaDream at March 19, 2016 12:12 PM
I have a product in my garden shed called worry free Moss and algae control. The ingredients include sodium lauryl sulphate, Citric acid, acetic acid.
I've never used it. We use diluted bleach in the power washer. It hasn't hurt my lawn or plants. They rinse really well after using it.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 19, 2016 12:39 PM (egOGm)

82 74 ... Kindltot, I have a book from the 1970s called "Pirating Plants" by Peter Tobey. Lots of stuff on grafting and weird ways to propagate plants. Kind of a fun, late Hippie era read, especially if doing it to experiment without too many expectations. Long out if print but used copies are available.

Posted by: JTB at March 19, 2016 12:41 PM (FvdPb)

83 spypeach, Virginia clay is heartbreaking. I'd gardened in New England and Sweden, both with well-drained soil. I found that all I could really do was break up the clay with a heavy pike and do raised beds.

I'm in awe of the settlers who had to clear the land and plow this admittedly rich but hellish clay.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 12:44 PM (bIGOo)

84 Don't hydrangeas do ok in clay?

Posted by: ThunderB at March 19, 2016 12:46 PM (zOTsN)

85 Neighbor's land collects in a swamp then drains across our land through this pipe, hasn't been dry since Sept.

Can't do anything about natural run-off, but if your neighbor is causing water problems on your property due to human activity (pipe, excessive sprinkling, etc), you have legal rights, under the British principles announced in Rylands v Fletcher.

Posted by: One-Eyed Cat Peeping in the Seafood Store at March 19, 2016 12:47 PM (aeVIR)

86 Gosh, spypeach, how much will a landscape designer cost? Hard to imagine.
There are probably more books and articles on "soil amendment" than any other physical-sciences topic. If you have grass, leaves, animal droppings in the area, ou can build a fertile soil out of that clay. No, it won't happen all at once, but if ou can work in tractor-bucket size composts, you'll have something going by the second season.

There are plenty of things that will grow on the surface of the clay that can be "manured" with a small plow at the end of the season. Some of them even look kind of like grass. I'd recommend that over the usual real estate flipper thing of top-coating with just a little imported topsoil, or that enemy of all that's holy, sod.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 19, 2016 12:47 PM (xq1UY)

87 Tammy al-Thor at March 19, 2016 12:13 PM

Sounds like your yard is gorgeous right now. Thanks for the azalea info.
Some of the swamp azaleas native to the Southeast are, indeed, spectacular.

I had wondered about the dahlia photo this time of year, too. Maybe a reminder to plant?

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:47 PM (qahv/)

88 JTB, I had a series of gardening books from the 70s that I used for reference books in the pre-internet days. Astounding how many chemicals they used.

Propagation is fun and usually easier than you think. I worked on weekends for a friend who had a nursery and took thousands of cuttings. Mostly lavender, which is really easy, but you can buy one plant then butcher it into a bunch of cuttings. Addictive, but you need a lot of space or a lot of friends to give them away. Just buy a little root hormone powder.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 12:48 PM (bIGOo)

89 Just back from a week-long conference in San Diego. On the last day, Mrs. pep and I went to Balboa Park. I cannot recommend it highly enough. My favorite parts were complete opposites: the desert plant xeriscape, which as far as I know is one of the finest anywhere, and the Japanese garden. If you're ever in the area, go there.

Posted by: pep at March 19, 2016 12:48 PM (LAe3v)

90 Mud can be fun. One of my friends growing up had great mud in her yard when her parents watered the garden. We would go over to walk in it sometimes. A moose visited once. Right down in the city.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:49 PM (qahv/)

91 spypeach, Virginia clay is heartbreaking. I'd gardened in New England and Sweden, both with well-drained soil. I found that all I could really do was break up the clay with a heavy pike and do raised beds.

I'm in awe of the settlers who had to clear the land and plow this admittedly rich but hellish clay.
Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 12:44 PM (bIGOo)

Heartbreaking is the right word, I was so excited to start planting, It didn't even consider that I might not be able to actually dig a hole. My husband and I were able to plant 15 lelands last October, but it took us 3 days and an auger just to dig the holes, and it looks like there are at least 5 dead already and the others are struggling. Having a garden is one of my favorite things in life, so I just can't imagine having to look at my barren backyard. I just pray I don't have to take out a second mortgage to have someone help

Posted by: spypeach at March 19, 2016 12:49 PM (nyYhO)

92 But we just moved VA, and our lot has nothing but hard rock and red clay, you can't dig a hole without a machine, it's horrible. I'm terrified to find out what it will cost to have someone else do the work.
---

Yeah, our soil in our new "old Kentucky home" is unworkable, too.

We're thinking of hiring someone to draw up a multi-year phased landscape plan and then using our usual lawn guy to do most of the labor.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at March 19, 2016 12:51 PM (t5zYU)

93
I'm in awe of the settlers who had to clear the land and plow this admittedly rich but hellish clay.

My husband and I were able to plant 15 lelands last October, but it took us 3 days and an auger just to dig the holes

I put in a cherry in my backyard last year, in an area where it appears there is absolutely nothing but clay, no topsoil, mulch, nothing. I dug the hole, which took a lot of work, then just on a whim, filled it half full with water. I came back about 2 hours later, and the water level had barely changed. IOW, it was completely impermeable. I did notice, however, that it was much easier to widen and deepen the hole since the clay was now partially waterlogged. You should try that little trick.

Of course, the hole has to be much larger than would otherwise be the case, with gravel and sand in the bottom, and with the soil very heavily amended. The cherry seems to be doing alright.

Posted by: pep at March 19, 2016 12:54 PM (LAe3v)

94 Polliwog the 'Ette at March 19, 2016 12:10 PM

What kind of loquat tree did you get? There are seedlings sold for landscaping that may or may not have good fruit. Some of the cultivars sold for fruit do better with cross-pollination. Some are grafted onto quince rootstocks to control their size. That may also speed up flowering and fruiting.

Depending on exactly where you live, there are loquats that bear fruit in winter. Some bear fruit in spring.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:55 PM (qahv/)

95 spypeach, the problem with digging holes in clay is that they become bowls with no drainage, so I'm not surprised your plants are struggling.

Equipment rentals would be one way to go (a baby backhoe?) My hubby dug a drainage ditch years back and filled it with coarse gravel. That was a help. Then of course, adding topsoil etc.

I began with a small area about 6' x 6' and each season I expanded it. Very small scale - not sure what kind of area you're planning.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 12:57 PM (bIGOo)

96 Warm winter in Conn., so pussy willows done, heather and crocus in bloom, daffodils, tulips, day lilies, chives up and green. Perennial beds silent as the tomb. Going out for pansies for the window boxes today, but Nor'easter forecast for tomorrow night.

Posted by: Caliban at March 19, 2016 12:57 PM (3GFMN)

97 There are plenty of things that will grow on the surface of the clay that can be "manured" with a small plow at the end of the season. Some of them even look kind of like grass. I'd recommend that over the usual real estate flipper thing of top-coating with just a little imported topsoil, or that enemy of all that's holy, sod.
Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 19, 2016 12:47 PM (xq1UY)

We did build a landscaping package into our new construction house, unfortunately we didn't get to choose the plants because the builder was an asshole. We have sod in the front and part of the back yard, and misc. filler plants around the front and sides of the house, nothing that I would have chosen of course, and that was a 10k landscaping allowance, I think they used most of it on the sod, and then at the last minute they told us it wouldn't be warrantied unless we bought a sprinkler system. I promptly told them where to go. I'm hoping that I can plant quite a few nice trees in the back, especially close to the pond. I'd love to do some weeping willows and some red maples. I'm also thinking I can incorporate some nice ground covers, as well as lots and lots of mulch.

Posted by: spypeach at March 19, 2016 12:58 PM (nyYhO)

98 Soil testing is pretty important when you're trying to fix ground you don't know well. If you have caustic clay, you won't want horse manure, for instance. Ordinary grasses tend to go mildly acid as they decompose, but in the west, some wild plants concentrate brackishness, like strychnine. Can drive your whole herd crazy.

Never heard of that problem in the east. Worth looking into on new ground.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 19, 2016 01:00 PM (xq1UY)

99 spypeach, are you in NoVA or farther south?

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 01:01 PM (bIGOo)

100 Posted by: bluebell at March 19, 2016 12:24 PM (2WwbN)
I did the same with my Rosemary plants last winter, and found out they just don't do well inside in colder climates. When I lived in CA they did okay indoors, but up north here, they never recovered really. The dead looking parts never rejuvenated no matter what I did with my green thumb. Think it has to do with the combo of shorter & less intense sunlight with the dryness of furnaced air. The temptation is to start watering a lot when they start looking dry, which actually just drowns their fiberous roots. Being native to the Mediterranean doesn't give them much hardiness for our colder regions.

Posted by: Bebe Dahl at March 19, 2016 01:02 PM (yNyJy)

101 pep, I used to hang out at Balboa Park all the time. Beautiful area.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 01:03 PM (bIGOo)

102 lindafell de spair at March 19, 2016 12:25 PM

Just to clarify for the Vast Gardening Thread Readership, lindafell probably does not mean that pomegranates are very hardy to cold. Don't try them in Minnesota. Except maybe the ornamental ones as indoor bonsai.

Pomegranates are tough, though.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 01:03 PM (qahv/)

103 Bluebell, I've killed a half-dozen rosemary plants. They aren't hardy here in NoVA and even indoors they die. Don't know why.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 01:05 PM (bIGOo)

104 "Tillage radish" came to my mind for you red clay soil folks. I've looked into cover crops just a little, but have not tried anything yet in my little fields. But for a yard, or garden area, perhaps a small plot of them would "work the soil" for you and improve it.

Google gave me a couple links, but maybe they are just trying to sell seed.
tillageradish.com for instance, has one testimonial about improvement to a heavy clay soil.

Posted by: Illiniwek at March 19, 2016 01:06 PM (eUbDe)

105 A few years back, I used a bunch of forsythia stems (new green shoots) as filler for a vase full of tulips.

When I pulled everything out to discard the bouquet, I noticed the forsythia had rooted.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at March 19, 2016 01:08 PM (044Fx)

106 spypeach, are you in NoVA or farther south?
Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 01:01 PM (bIGOo)

We live in the Spotsylvania area, not to far from Fredericksburg.

Posted by: spypeach at March 19, 2016 01:09 PM (nyYhO)

107 Examining the yard this morning I think my Star Magnolia has quite a bit of winter kill. It looked kinda sad with the early frost last Fall. Now it looks like it may be toast. And to top that off, city workers that did the last snow plow two weeks ago that has finally melted today into what must be every single leave that every neighbor had in their street in front of their house is now piled up onto my sidewalk now. Ack!

Posted by: Bebe Dahl at March 19, 2016 01:09 PM (yNyJy)

108 Bluebell,

Your rosemary bushes may still have a chance. Don't water them too much while they don't have any (or much) foliage

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 01:09 PM (qahv/)

109 I've always regarded seeds and other means of propagating plants to be very cool. Even when Mrs. JTB and I were too busy to garden or have house plants, I would glance through the 'Pirating Plants' and 'New Seed-Starters Handbook' just for pleasure. I haven't done any esoteric grafting, yet, but if our lilac comes back to life, I want to give it a try. And I still hope to try saving vegetable seeds in the future. This year is dedicated to the existing garden and expanding the in-ground garden area.

Posted by: JTB at March 19, 2016 01:09 PM (FvdPb)

110 84
Don't hydrangeas do ok in clay?

Posted by: ThunderB at March 19, 2016 12:46 PM (zOTsN)

My MIL has huge hydrangeas at he house. Her soil is swampy and wet. I would like to grow some here but they are poison and the neighbor's dogs are over here a lot.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at March 19, 2016 01:11 PM (t2KH5)

111 At Walmart, snow on ground outside, here's a Spanish speaking mom, kid in stroller, 10 year old daughter in high leather boots, mom in flipflops.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at March 19, 2016 01:11 PM (FLuk9)

112 The house I grew up in, the next door neighbor always had water in his back yard, so he put in this drainage system in and had all his water it drain to our backyard. That really pissed my Dad off, he made him change it and connect to his pipes in his front yard.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at March 19, 2016 01:11 PM (c4yY7)

113 103 Bluebell, I've killed a half-dozen rosemary plants. They aren't hardy here in NoVA and even indoors they die. Don't know why.
Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 01:05 PM (bIGOo)
Please view # 100

Posted by: Bebe Dahl at March 19, 2016 01:12 PM (yNyJy)

114 Central Florida has fruit set on container tomatoes, using Happy Monkey and Fox Farm potting soil plus Espoma tomato fertilizer.

Posted by: Otis Campbell at March 19, 2016 01:16 PM (VV4qd)

115 Spypeach,

As others have mentioned, raised beds sound like a good option for your impermeable soil.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 01:17 PM (qahv/)

116 For those dealing with Virginia-style clay soil (I use the word 'soil' as a bad joke) don't try to grow carrots in unamended clay. The carrots will go down about an inch or two and take a hard 90 degree turn so it looks like a weird letter L. Don't ask how I know.

Posted by: JTB at March 19, 2016 01:18 PM (FvdPb)

117 Bigby: So sorry about the dog. We quit planting critters when the German Shepherd died. I have a collection of little boxes that my kids are to tuck into my casket when the mortician isn't looking. Since Mr. catlady makes tombstones, he sandblasts each critter's name and a silhouette of either a dog or a cat on a nice chunk of rock, and I have a rock garden. It makes me sad, sometimes, when I realize how many rocks I have, but it also makes me smile when I remember how each critter made my life better.

My crocuses have bloomed and my apricot is blooming. But it is currently snowing off and on, and I am going to be extremely peeved if we get a hard freeze that kills the apricot blossoms before they set. My Black Knight butterfly bush died the winter of 2014-15, and a national garden store chain sold me what they claimed was a Black Knight for an obscene amount of money last year. (If that sucker was a Black Knight, then I am Mickey Mouse!) I'm going to start looking for a Black Knight earlier because this year I know the sucker is dead and I won't wait until the middle of June to see if it resurrects. It seems like I have to replace them every three or four years, but they are usually in full bloom when the monarch migration comes through my area. (Yes, I also have a couple of milk weeds for the babies.)

Posted by: catlady at March 19, 2016 01:18 PM (bn5b8)

118 spypeach, my stepdaughter and her hubby bought a house just west of I-95 in F'burg. The front yard is baked clay (ALL topsoil washed away) and nothing is growing on it but weeds. I've been pondering that problem. It's godawful ugly.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 01:19 PM (bIGOo)

119 My brother lives in Texas and where he is there is a layer of soil on top of Limestone and the limestone literally bakes his grass, I have no idea how he makes anything grow.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at March 19, 2016 01:19 PM (c4yY7)

120 also, drain tile for swampy areas is pretty cheap (fifty cents/foot for 4" with filter cloth cover), and not that hard to put in for a small area. Assuming there is a place to drain to, it is money and time well spent.

Posted by: Illiniwek at March 19, 2016 01:19 PM (eUbDe)

121 Damn, Mama AJ, you got it on both ends! I didn't know about the Del Rio damage.

We actually did get some rain out of that storm a couple of weeks ago, but it got into the 90s after that and I'm greedy for more so I won't have to water for awhile.

Posted by: stace at March 19, 2016 01:21 PM (ozZau)

122 Reading this garden porno has me all squirmy. Think I'll visit the nursery down the road and see what's come in this week.

SPRING TOMORROW!

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 01:23 PM (bIGOo)

123
Fire ant hills are in full bloom here. Yikes!

Pear trees have set fruit. The deer and raccoons will let me know, in August, when they're ripe.

Posted by: Spun and Murky at March 19, 2016 01:23 PM (NDVSb)

124 The garden photos are really lovely. Really gets me into the gardening mood, except it's cold out with snow expected in the AM. I roasted kohlrabi once, maybe I did it wrong.

Posted by: Bebe Dahl at March 19, 2016 01:24 PM (yNyJy)

125 spypeach, my stepdaughter and her hubby bought a house just west of I-95 in F'burg. The front yard is baked clay (ALL topsoil washed away) and nothing is growing on it but weeds. I've been pondering that problem. It's godawful ugly.
Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 01:19 PM (bIGOo)

Ugg, that's so depressing. I'm praying at the very least I can get some trees to grow, I don't mind doing some well placed ground covers, vines etc... I guess I'll know more after meeting with the "expert"

Posted by: spypeach at March 19, 2016 01:25 PM (nyYhO)

126 @112 For sure, men have died for less in Ohio. I've got two neighbors going at it down the road right now. Folks have to remember, Ohio is not the same place it was 200 years ago. It's an engineered state -- and somebody's downstream.

BIL has the opposite problem. He has a pond that 50 years ago was a raised multilevel barn. Pond level started going down, and he saw $ coming as a pond liner or fresh clay coat...then found out in casual conversation that Favorite Cousin next farm over (you have not seen politer back-stabbing than Central vs Evan) had pulled the well pump that used to drain his back woods into the pond. That pump was the only thing keeping the durn pond full in the first place.

Woods swamp is now seasonally inundating the inadequate drain tiles under a neutral strip that grows alfalfa. They're "discussing" whose electric bill that pump should have gone on. Somebody's gonna trench, that's for sure.

We misuse "First World Problems." It's Old World, New World, Third World.
There were a lot of Old World wars over water rights. Only here in the land of plenty do we have to fight about drainage rights. And Rain Tax.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 19, 2016 01:27 PM (xq1UY)

127 Rhododendron Schlippenbachii has ten stamens instead of five

Thanks, Tammy al-Thor!

My "Korean Azalea" does indeed have 10! (Well, more than 5 after the windy days we've had lately)

Posted by: JQ Flyover at March 19, 2016 01:30 PM (044Fx)

128 our lot is about 1/2 acre, so the back yard is roughly about 1/4 and a lot of that is sod, so, I'm really just looking for doing things on the perimeter of the back of the lot to block the ugly parts of the pond and accentuate the nice parts. I wish there was a way to upload a photo here, maybe in two weeks

Posted by: spypeach at March 19, 2016 01:31 PM (nyYhO)

129 It looks like we should be able to plant early this year in Minnesota. I'm keeping an eye on the soil temperature. It got up to 44 degrees a few days ago before coming back down to 38 today.

Normally in the Twin Cities, zone 4A, the planting date is about May 15.

Posted by: Gordon at March 19, 2016 01:33 PM (R+3uy)

130 We misuse "First World Problems." It's Old World, New World, Third World.

I've always wondered why there's never talk of a (presumed to exist) "second world" in between that "first" and "third". LOL.

The garden is my 2nd world... [obligatory on-topic content.]

Posted by: JQ Flyover at March 19, 2016 01:33 PM (044Fx)

131 @126 Stringer: In the city proper we don't have a rain tax. But apparently one can get a property tax credit for putting a "rain garden" in the boulevard between the sidewalk and the street. It's supposed to hold runoff to keep the load on the storm drains lower.

Posted by: Gordon at March 19, 2016 01:37 PM (R+3uy)

132 Even after decades of "amendment" my Ohio garden soil is pretty clayey. I don't complain, it's full of minerals, grows things fine, but in mid-season if it's dry you'd swear you could make dinner plates and bricks out it. Which they used to do.

Best thing I did last year was to muck out a couple of trenches in the spring and put dirty fill-sand in, for radishes and carrots. They were gorgeous, and I'd about given up on the idea of growing them. I recommend the French Breakfast radish.

Now I have to remember where those two rows were. They have a fresh layer of compost over them, dammit.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 19, 2016 01:40 PM (xq1UY)

133 Looked outside and saw the grapefruit tree we planted last year has lots of blossoms. Thinking of taking a lot off since the tree is still small. Removed blossoms would be used for tea or essential oils.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at March 19, 2016 01:41 PM (GDulk)

134 Oh, we should do a post on clay soils. There is much to love, but not at first, of course.

I'd start with Serviceberries and some gums...Nyssa syl...hmmm, Nyssa syl-something or other is good for clay.

One thing to be careful about when looking for thing that do well in clay is that a lot of them only do well wet clay. If yours doesn't stay damp at least, keep looking.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 19, 2016 01:41 PM (q1FtT)

135 JQ, I think the "second world" was industrialized Commie countries like East Germany, Poland, Bulgaria et al. Wikipedia says my memory is correct. There is also a 4th and 5th world. I don't think I want to live in the 5th.

Posted by: Gordon at March 19, 2016 01:42 PM (R+3uy)

136 Posted by: spypeach at March 19, 2016 01:31 PM (nyYhO)

Please get yourself a copy of Four Season Landscape, by Susan Roth. You can probably get it for a penny and $4 shipping on Amazon, since it's put of print now.

She also has one about Weekend Gardening that is well worth it.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 19, 2016 01:44 PM (q1FtT)

137 Bebe Dahl at March 19, 2016 01:24 PM

I can imagine some ways of roasting kohlrabi that would make it taste icky. Slicing it with a mandolin slicer was a new idea for me. Not necessarily for roasting.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 01:44 PM (qahv/)

138 Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:55 PM (qahv/)

Something gold I think. It was in the fruit section of the nursery so hopefully it's a bearing variety.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at March 19, 2016 01:44 PM (GDulk)

139 Please get yourself a copy of Four Season Landscape, by Susan Roth. You can probably get it for a penny and $4 shipping on Amazon, since it's put of print now.

She also has one about Weekend Gardening that is well worth it.
Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 19, 2016 01:44 PM (q1FtT)

Thanks Tammy, I'll do that now.

Posted by: spypeach at March 19, 2016 01:45 PM (nyYhO)

140 @131 I'd be all for that. Speaking of carrots, they're better than sticks.

Once you have a tractor (I'm always on here, selling tractors) there's a lot you can do with large clean stone and filter cloth, to keep your water local without it standing on the grass. I've looked at those "building block" systems for constructing underground reservoirs, and they look like a good way to get rid of money fast.

For those considering trying to build a growable soil out of clay, it's surprising how much you can accomplish with a rear-tine rototiller and some patience. With a mid-breaker bar, you can even do some trenching, enough for 4" flex tile. I'm giving expensive advice though, since we're already entering the prime tiller-buying season. The time to buy them is right after somebody else has given up. Like most farming...

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 19, 2016 01:47 PM (xq1UY)

141 Spypeach, digging a hole at least twice the size of the rootball has worked for me. A tractor auger is your best friend here! For a bed, we've used a tiller to go about a foot deep. I relocate most of the clay, all of the rocks and mix compost, topsoil, peat moss and whatever I can find. Fallen trees turn into very rich compost. Sometimes my dogs even help me dig it out so I can fill my cart.

I'm getting ready to order a bulk delivery of compost for veggies in raised beds, tho. We like T-Famz landscaping a lot. They might be worth an estimate.

Posted by: OldDominionMom at March 19, 2016 01:50 PM (GzDYP)

142
I put on a pair of Big Mac overalls to do yard work today. I forgot how comfortable they are.

I look kinda like Bruce on Swamp People, but with a T-shirt underneath...

Posted by: Spun and Murky at March 19, 2016 01:50 PM (mVjMU)

143 Polliwog the 'Ette at March 19, 2016 01:44 PM

It's a good sign that your loquat was in the fruit section. It may be "Gold Nugget", a late variety that is self-fertile. Supposed to grow into a tall, upright tree.

See the California Rare Fruit loquat page.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 01:52 PM (qahv/)

144 Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts on my dismal rosemary plants. (I've been off doing our taxes and just popped back in.) We are in NoVa too and indeed, they don't seem to last no matter what I do. My parents, who live 7 miles away from me, have some large, ancient rosemary plants in the ground that survive from year to year (with some branches that die off), but they are planted right against the back of the house so are maybe protected a little. I guess I'll just leave them and wait and see. It's too early to buy new ones anyway. By the time it would be warm enough my half-dead one will either be growing again, or all the way dead. Thanks again for the responses.

Posted by: bluebell at March 19, 2016 01:52 PM (2WwbN)

145 well, it's done. see you later

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 19, 2016 01:57 PM (Cq0oW)

146 thanks everyone for the kind words

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 19, 2016 01:58 PM (Cq0oW)

147 Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 01:52 PM (qahv/)

Gold nugget is it. Seems to be the standard here south of Houston.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at March 19, 2016 01:58 PM (GDulk)

148 @142 Try Finck's. "Wear like a pig's nose." My late uncles lived in them.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 19, 2016 02:00 PM (xq1UY)

149 Thanks, Gordon-- I didn't know that!

Fave garden book would be Sunset Western Garden Book. Plants referenced alphbetically, by both latin and common names, with illustrations, so you can actually FIND what you're looking for. Also it has sections on plants for particular areas, such as for privacy screening, drought-tolerance, shade, etc.

Downloaded (at no charge) the Idaho Master Gardener handbook from UI extension site. Definitely for the more serious side of gardening and farming.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at March 19, 2016 02:01 PM (044Fx)

150 Fallen trees turn into very rich compost.

I've been told that wood (as opposed to bark or leaves) actually depletes the soil of nitrogen. I don't know if that's really true.

Posted by: pep at March 19, 2016 02:05 PM (LAe3v)

151 Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 12:11 PM (qahv/)
What region are you in that you have such moderate low temperatures at such a high elevation? Interesting challenge.

Well KT-- I live about 4 degrees north of the equator. I am simply tired of experimenting TRYING to grow things. There are a lot birds here. Most I've never had time to try and identify. Starting to work on that now-- I'm on the yahoo group if you have any tips or more questions--Thanks

Posted by: rld77 at March 19, 2016 02:10 PM (dclYX)

152
148 Try Finck's. "Wear like a pig's nose." My late uncles lived in them.

Never heard of Finck's. Dickies, Carhartt, sure. These were my late Dad's.

Posted by: Spun and Murky at March 19, 2016 02:11 PM (mVjMU)

153 rld77 at March 19, 2016 02:10 PM

I imagine that there would be some issues with low oxygen levels in the air at that altitude. I'll keep your situation in mind and try to come up with some ideas.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 02:40 PM (qahv/)

154 The photo of the dahlia is beautiful. I love dahlias.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 19, 2016 02:41 PM (egOGm)

155
I've been told that wood (as opposed to bark or
leaves) actually depletes the soil of nitrogen. I don't know if that's
really true.
Posted by: pep at March 19, 2016 02:05 PM (LAe3v)

The bacteria that break down wood use up the available nitrogen.
However it is considered a long term good since it provides nutrients and organic material to support a lot of soil bacteria and animals.

They use wood waste, as in large chunks of wood and slashings, for a type of raised bed because it also acts to hold moisture when the wood is half way broken down.

Posted by: Aunt Dahlia at March 19, 2016 03:19 PM (XQHkt)

156 Stupid PG Wodehouse sock. . .

Posted by: Kindltot at March 19, 2016 03:19 PM (XQHkt)

157 Back from the nursery - saw some beautiful blue corydalis. I think both like clay - my gf in Sweden had some yellow ones that seeded nicely in clay.

But my balcony is simply too limited to allow myself to get distracted.

Bluebell, I'm in Ashburn by Bles Park on the Potomac.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 03:27 PM (bIGOo)

158 I find falling trees rotting draw insects, so be on lookout for invasions if to near homes or buildings

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2016 03:27 PM (fizMZ)

159 Wisteria thrives in clay, but it ate a whole stockade fence over the years. Gotta keep it in check.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue dba Ylva of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at March 19, 2016 03:30 PM (bIGOo)

160 Well I have 1 wheelbarrow to sift out, then can start grading the garden level. Lot of hours to add 1 row of plants.

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2016 03:31 PM (fizMZ)

161 rld77, you might look into honeysuckle.

I once got very homesick in Bogota when I stumbled across one that was growing there.
Mom had a giant one beside the kitchen when I was a kid, and it always said summer to me.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 19, 2016 03:34 PM (XQHkt)

162
rld77, grow quinoa...

Posted by: Spun and Murky at March 19, 2016 04:24 PM (mVjMU)

163 After a day of pruning it occurred to me that pruning actually helps my gun control (the good kind that is). Holding the pruner over my head for long periods works small muscles in my hands, forces me to concentrate, and exercise my manual dexterity even when my fingers are tired and shaky. That, and there's a certain "circle of life" Zen thing...

Posted by: Stew Taylor at March 19, 2016 04:31 PM (WmLD5)

164

Kindltot at March 19, 2016 03:34 PM (XQHkt)

I once got very homesick in Bogota when I stumbled across one that was growing there.
Mom had a giant one beside the kitchen when I was a kid, and it always said summer to me.

I'm in the same general area. LOT's of trees. Honeysuckle would be good for tea, it's own beauty and aroma-- But I am looking for something that I can harvest, nuts, fruit veggies--good to eat stuff-- and NO BEETS--lol.--Thanks

Posted by: rld77 at March 19, 2016 04:39 PM (dclYX)

165 Saskatoon (Service berry) strawberries, huckleberry, salal, all do well in the upper areas of the Cascades. Jerusalem artichoke does well in the foothills of the Rockies, no idea if they need freezing weather to do well.

You already know about potatoes.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 19, 2016 04:52 PM (XQHkt)

166 I would think things like lettuce, peas, broccoli would do well. Cool season crops. Radishes, things one picks in the Spring.

Nut and fruit trees might need more chill for dormancy.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 19, 2016 06:16 PM (q1FtT)

167 rld77

For some reason, I think Siberian Kale might work for you. White Russian, Red Russian or Ursa. More tender than regular kale. Different species. Maybe some other cabbage-y things, too. Portuguese kale (actually a loose-leaf cabbage) comes to mind.

There also might be some strawberries that would live there. I don't know where you would get everbearing regular strawberries, but maybe you could get seeds of musk strawberries: They are rated for Zones 5 - 10 in the USA, but are said not to like temperature fluctuations during the growing season. They live in moist conditions at the edge of woodlands in Europe. Alpine strawberry seeds are more common, but I don't know how much winter chill they need. They are rated to Zone 9 on the warm side here.

Seaberries? (Hippophae rhamnoides) rated for Zone 9 on the warm side here.

No beets? Maybe Swiss Chard ? Argentata is supposed to have good-tasting stems.

Posted by: KT at March 19, 2016 06:25 PM (qahv/)

168 My Thanks to all of you for the advice. I now have more and better ideas. If you are in the AoS Yahoo group, I may start putting some of the bird photos there if folks are interested. Happy Saturday to all!--rod

Posted by: rld77 at March 19, 2016 07:03 PM (dclYX)

169 This all reminds me of politics. Oops! sorry.

Posted by: Guy Who Thinks Things are Worse than Hitler at March 19, 2016 08:33 PM (GOGi1)

170 I have been feeling pretty cocky since I rigged a sieve to get the sticks, lumps and clumps out.

Homemade tools are the best! This could be a future garden thread topic, couldn't it?

I made soil-sifters out of 1/2inch wire mesh sandwiched between wooden frames (cheap, cheap! made from furring strips and 2x2's)

Just big enough to fit over the wheebarrow, about 3ft x 2-1/2ft.

I made 4 of them out of a 10ft x 3ft roll and gave the extras to gardening friends. Maybe should make more of them to sell... they're very sturdy.

Would like to make a "fine" one out of 1/4inch mesh, next time the mood strikes.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at March 19, 2016 08:35 PM (044Fx)

171 I grew kohlrabi as a winter crop (PHX,AZ) and enjoyed the heck out of it. I used the 'rabi bulb and leaves along with beet roots and beet leaves to make awesome coleslaw.

Posted by: AzDesertRat at March 20, 2016 11:44 AM (CEbm8)

172 82 74 ... Kindltot, I have a book from the 1970s called "Pirating Plants" by Peter Tobey. Lots of stuff on grafting and weird ways to propagate plants. Kind of a fun, late Hippie era read, especially if doing it to experiment without too many expectations. Long out if print but used copies are available.
----------
I will look that up. Thanks for the info.

Posted by: mullingthingsover at March 21, 2016 11:49 AM (NrMU9)

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