THE WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD 3/2/2018

freerepublic | 3/2/2018 | greeenyes

[greeneyes]

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds.

From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. No matter what, you won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table(recipes)preserving, good living - there is no telling where it will go and... that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!

NOTE: This is a once a week ping list. We do post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest are welcomed, so feel free to post them at any time.

[Silentgypsy]

Well, I slept through church today. Some loon called Mr. Sg’s phone at 2:08 A.M. and then texted an apology for the wrong number. Fell asleep and didn’t wake up ‘til about an hour and a half ago. *sigh*

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Very good idea. I've seen this mentioned in various environmental articles. I think a water system would have to be quite large to make a difference.

[greeneyes]

I slept from about 6:30 am to Noon. Had to have some extra coffee. Hope to get sleepy soon, because I’m tired.

[greeneyes]

Thanks for the report.

[Augie]

Gorgeous weather here in Central Missouri over the weekend! Got lots of good stuff accomplished.

#1 Daughter's BF helped Mrs. Augie pick up all of the trimmings from the orchard trees. They hauled them off to the sippy hole and Nanner and I pushed the pile over the edge. They also spent a few hours cleaning up the kitchen garden. I hauled that stuff to the compost heap yesterday, and scratched up a 16' row for kale and spinach. It's probably a bit early for that, but it'll either grow or it won't.

I spent most of my weekend working in the shop. I had an old two-prong round bale toter that wasn't being used, so I worked that thing over to mount on Nanner's loader bucket. It will make loading/unloading fence posts/planks, saw logs, trimming trees, cleaning gutters, washing siding, etc. super easy. Once I had the fork mounts done, I welded up a frame for a cargo basket. It's mostly finished now. Just need to finish installing the steel mesh, add a safety bar to the front, and slap some paint on.

[greeneyes]

We got patio clean up done. Patio pavers place by gate, compost heap and between the newly designed raised beds close to the door from the green house.

Raised beds not done yet. Rain yesterday and last night.

[MomwithHope]

Wow nice job and clever design.

[tubebender]

It was a beautiful day today so I found the time to spend a couple of hours planting Seascape Strawberries in our garden. I still have 3 more rows to plant tomorrow before the rain returns Wednesday on…

[greeneyes]

Nice Pics. Thanks. I need to get out and get the leaves that fell this winter off my berries. Probably need to fertilize too.

Do you fertilize your berries each year in the spring?

[tubebender]

Yes I do but I forgot to put some on the bed when I spaded it so I’ll put some on before I mulch them...

[greeneyes]

So what sort of fertilizer do you use?

[tubebender]

It will be some type of commercial fertilizer that I have...

[Wneighbor]

I’d almost sue them over Pecan Trees. LOL

That's my thought over the whole business. Blood out of a turnip applies here tho. There's a long list of interior damage to the house which has had us making that drive on ever weekend above 40 deg since October. We still have 2 months more work :(

But the yard is what breaks my heart. The trees, old climbing roses that smelled like heaven and honeysuckle completely covering fences. Rosemary that was over 5 foot tall and over 10 feet in diameter. Just all cut down. Yes, I'm whining. But as hubby reminds me, I don't live there now and I've got our own land to perfect now. But no mature pecans :(

[Wneighbor]

Thanks for the links. I love the perennial grass notion. Got a perfect spot where the rosemary was too. I had forgotten that I’ve got a lot of Mexican petunias that need thinning here and I’ve got some beautiful wormwood that I can take cuttings quickly that have already layered here.

Came home from up there with a stomach bug and wasted my day yesterday so as soon as I get back from voting in our primary I’m getting on that today.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Glad you liked the perennial grass idea. I'm working on a grass, evergreen and rose combo in an old perennial bed that was abandoned/ignored for the past 20 years. Beau absolutely HATES roses, becausue he has a pasture full of the wild ones that do nothing but irritate him and the cows, LOL! I promised him I would be sparing on the roses and he wouldn't have to do any of the pruning. This is what I have in mind, but on a much SMALLER scale. All white shrub roses, though. (Blanc Double D'Cobert.) I already have the spreading Juniper and a young Heritage Birch Clump that I planted last year, so I'm working around/with those elements. I want either a big bird bath or a piece of garden art in there, too. I can see this bed from my kitchen sink window, so it's all for ME!

Photo by Johnsen Landscapes & Pools - Browse landscaping photos

Feel better soon! :)

[Wneighbor]

Thanks TIK! Aside from the plant information I love the notion of a garden bench or birdbath up there. That’s something we can add at the last minute if we turn up with a bald spot in the bed when it’s time to list. We’ve poured a lot of savings into just plain repairs already so the budget is thin. After the weekend brainstorming we found people on Craigslist who want shrubs removed if we come dig. I think we’re going to get some of those too. They’re local so I can get them watered and fed well with first planting and hopefully they’ll hang in there with only being watered on weekends when we’re there. With the Mexican petunias and wormwood I mentioned to Diana in Wisconsin in my previous post hopefully we can just do some fill work with colorful annuals and then do a bench or birdbath if we have a bare spot.

Thanks again for the “on the spot” help!

[Wneighbor]

That is gorgeous!

[Overtaxed]

We have mature pecan trees....squirrels get every one of them.

[Wneighbor]

Tree rats make a decent stew with taters.

[Wneighbor]

And one thing the nasty renters kilt was my luscious lemon balm you gave me.

Fortunately older daughter now lives in northern AL and we found a nice flavorful wild patch there. It’s transplanted nicely to central Texas.