Basics of Gardening – Part VI – Slugging in Out in the Garden July 26, 2010

Do you think it can get any hotter?  Well it might and even if it doesn’t, we’ve had record breaking temperatures more days than not in the past few months.  The heat is presenting a challenge to those of us who want to keep our lawns green and our flowers and vegetables alive.  Several key tips are as follows:

You never want to water during the hottest part of the day or when the sun is the brightest.  Unfortunately, if you choose to water at night, either because it’s the coolest part of the day or because it’s the only time you are home, you might be creating another issue without trying.  Watering at night invites the slugs to your outdoor space.  If they arrive they are going to want to stay.  The best way to get rid of them is to get them intoxicated.  Really!  Serve them beer.  In can be cheap beer or whatever you are drinking.  Whatever the brand, it works!  Your neighbors might wonder why you are placing saucers full of beer in your flower beds or around the lawn but try it, the slugs will love it.   Well actually they think they will love it but they can’t swim.  They will never know the difference though because they will get drunk without a doubt.  Party on! 

Slugs Drinking Beer, Going for a Swim, Saying Bye Bye

Basics of Gardening Part V – Where, When and What to Buy July 15, 2010

Top-quality bedding plants are best purchased from a well-respected nursery or garden center.  When visiting the seller, observe the conditions in which the plants are kept  and if the  plants are in good condition.  Do not assume you can bring a plant of poor quality home and nurse it back to health. 

 Avoid buying plants from a supermarket or discount store.  Plants are not their specialty and plants sold there have been put through undue stress.  The supermarket or discount store my have a lower price than the nursery or garden center but there is no guarantee the plants will survive or be fully prepared to be planted into your garden or flower beds.

When you do finally decide where you will make your plant purchase, don’t buy the largest plants because they will suffer the most shock when transplanting them into your garden.  It may be tempting to buy vegetables or annuals that are already bearing fruit or blooming, but they may actually take longer mature than a smaller plant.

Another bit of advice, turn over the container in which the plants are displayed and check to see if the roots are growing through the drainage hole.  If you see a large number of roots, it means the plant is root bound.  Make another selection.

If you can’t transplant your newly purchased items immediately, keep them in a well protected area, out of the sun and away from the wind.  Check the soil and when the surface is dry, provide water.

Check back again for Basics of Gardening Part VI – Mail Order Plants and Bulbs