Turn Your Thumb Green!

Evolution of an Amaryllis!

2011-01-27T12:49:00.000-08:00

I took this picture soon after buying this wonderful amaryllis. It cost me $15! (Willard Bay Gardens!)

11/3:

By 11/11 it looked like this:

11/18:

11/24:

?:

12/10: First bloom!

12/24: Second bloom!

Then, the leaves really came out and I was expecting to not see another bloom until next winter.

I was wrong!

1/25/11: THIRD bloom!

It still looks like this and is actually sending out 5 blossoms! I have completely enjoyed this plant! I'm hoping that I can actually get this one to rebloom. I got a great tip to make that happen, so here's to hoping!

Dahlias

2010-05-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have purchased two different types of dahlias this year. They are my first ones and I'm excited to see them pop out of the ground! I hope they all survive. I don't remember what they're called, but three are yellow dinner plate dahlias and three are smaller but equally gorgeous fuchsia dahlias.

Here are some links to some great dahlia information:

Dahlia Success

Digging, Dividing and Storing Dahlia Tubers

Garden Guides

2010-04-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

I've found this great new (to me)site! It's called Garden Guides! They have information, tutorials and video guides to help in your garden.

Check it out!

High Country Gardens has a YouTube Channel!

2010-04-03T06:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a video about how to plant perennials!

Buds

2010-03-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

Although I love full Spring/Summer, this time of year is great, too. I love to look around every day and see the new buds and starts that are coming up! I like to look at the trees and shrubs and know that they have buds and are not dead yet...

I love the potential waiting to burst into bloom!!

2010-02-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

I bought my first orchid!! It is so gorgeous!! Well, it was when I bought it and took this picture! I think it needs more light than I am giving it, but my crappy windows are too cold for it! Well, we'll see what happens...

My Yard in the Fall

2009-10-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

I love the seasons!! Since I grew up basically without them (in Florida) I love all of the changes! I can even appreciate the snow in October! I do have trouble with it in April, though!

Living in Utah, I've also come to enjoy colors other than green. There is beauty even in the gray!

So, here are some pictures of my yard in the fall!

Work in Progress

2009-09-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

I have decided that my yard is always going to be a work in progress! We are always reworking what we want and adding or moving new things. For my birthday, my SIL got me some butterfly bushes that were supposed to be an arch for entering the garden. I think we may have put them too far apart, but they are still going to look spectacular. To put the bushes where we wanted them, we had to move some very old and rank roses. We actually love the blossoms, but the plants had been neglected for many years and were a mess. So, we cut them up and dug them out. They are now replanted and will hopefully survive. We decided that we were willing to lose them, so it wouldn't be a big deal. My husband and I really want them to live. They have a chance, since it is cooler right now. So far, it looks good. It has been about three weeks.

We've also decided that we want a mostly perennial orchard/vineyard/garden in the back. We want more fruit trees, more blackberries, as well as some currants, raspberries and grapes. We'll leave about a 5 by 20 foot area that will be an annual vegetable garden.

I haven't decided if we just change what we want to do all of the time or if we have finally settled on what we really want now that we've lived here for a year. Either way, I'm happy with the plan and we'll see how it all looks next year!

Fall Gardening

2009-09-22T08:57:00.000-07:00

So, fall is quickly approaching and it seems that the garden is finishing up. But there are plenty of things you can do to enjoy your time outside as well as make next year's garden even better.

First, keep enjoying the harvest for as long as you can! Many things are still ripening and I think you should stretch that out as long as possible!

You can start planning for next year and making things ready for you then. After you are done harvesting veggies, you can turn the soil over or till it under for next year. There are also crops that you can grow as "green manure". They protect the soil from erosion as well as provide compost in the spring. They can also help you in the never-ending battle with weeds! You can plant several types of vetches, peas, clovers and other crops and then till it under in the spring. The plants can add nutrients back into the soil. Several of the options help fix the nitrogen that is already in the soil and make it more available to other plants. Fall and Winter are great times to start thinking about what you want to do in the Spring. You can evaluate the things that went well or poorly and think about what to do about it!

Fall is also a great time to plant perennials! The weather is cooler and they will have a chance to really get their roots growing. Then, as soon as the snow melts and things start to warm up, those plants are ready to go! Plus, in the fall, many greenhouses are trying to thin out their supply of plants, so they have huge clearances in the fall! We have gotten some really great deals in the fall!

As I said in my last post, spring bulbs need to be planted now. Also, pansies will do better if you plant them in the fall. They thrive in cooler weather and I actually have seen some flower if the snow comes off of them at all! (Pansies are even edible, but that is for another post!)

You can also spend some time dividing perennials in the fall. They will have the same advantages as any plant you choose to put in in the fall and many of them need to be divided every few years to stay vigorous.

So, don't pack everything up for Spring. There is plenty to do in the garden in the fall. It's even cooler and more comfortable weather!

Utah's County Extension Offices

2009-06-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

If you ever have a question about anything agriculturally related that you can't find an answer to, go to/call/email your County Extension Office! They are there for you to help you in whatever you are trying to do!!!

(Oh, and this is what my Houttuynia Is looking like, now!)

Garden Update

2009-06-13T05:42:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd give you a look into my garden as it stands, now! We finally have a real plan and that makes it so much better. We are getting somewhere, now! I know it doesn't look like a lot, but we have marked the edge of the fruit and vegetable garden and the fence. You can just barely see it starting in the bottom of the photo. In the middle of the fence, we are going to have a horticultural arbor. It's made from some transplanted snowball bushes that we are hoping survive after all the work we put in to get them there! The left side is the veggie garden and the right side will eventually be a kids' garden with a pergola and sitting area!

We are actually getting some fruit on the apple and peach trees we planted this year! I am so excited! There are literally about 6 fruit total, but it will make a nice snack!! I can't wait!

Some of our roses are blooming even though we hacked them to bits. They were completely overgrown and we were planning to move most of them. Now that we have changed our plan, we are going to leave most of them where they are. I've also been trying to get some cuttings to root, so we may end up with a ton of roses! This one smells wonderfully even when you are just standing close to it! I love it!!

This is my fairy garden. I had to cut back a lot of the branches of the shrubs on either side of it so that it could get more than an hour of sunlight per day. Now, it gets about three. I still need to build three fairy houses (the kids want them, too) and some various furniture for the fairies to come and visit us.

I Do This All the Time!

2009-05-25T14:46:00.000-07:00

I went to a friend's house to help her know which plants were worth keeping and which ones were weeds. There was one that I was pretty sure was a weed, but I couldn't identify it and it drove me crazy. I came home and researched in my books, and looked all over online. (I found some great websites along the way!) I couldn't find it!

Then, some of it came up in my weed patch, er, garden and I recognized it as the same plant but I still couldn't identify it.

I thought about it off and on, today and finally the name came to me. Western Salsify (Tragopogon dubius)

The problem was that it is a biennial and so the stage that my friend's was in made it harder for me to identify. Mine had a flower and was much larger.

I'm really grateful for all for the knowledge that I've gained...I just wish that I didn't have to wait for my brain to find the right "file" sometimes!! (But at least I have the files...)

How to and Interesting

2009-05-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

Quote Garden

Garden Digest Quotes

The Fairy's Garden

Gardening Patch

Garden Coaching Blog

Ed Hume & Gardening in America

Sunset

Cold Climate Gardening

Killer Plants

The Helpful Gardener

The Amateur's Digest

Mini Farm Homestead

Landscaping Your Front Yard

Plant Propagation

Container Gardening Tips

Seed Swaps

University Sites

2009-05-20T08:05:00.000-07:00

Horticulture at USU

Arizona State Master Gardeners Manual

Colorado State Extension

Hortiscope NDSU

USU Extension

USU Yard and Garden Extension

Plant Databases

2009-05-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

Arbor Day Tree Identification

Weed Identification Key

Weed Photo Gallery

Insect Identification Methods

Grass Weed Identification Guide

USDA Plants Database

Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers

Pronunciation Guide

USU Tree Browser

Online Plant Guide

Heritage Perennials

Horticulture Societies, Etc

2009-05-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

Arbor Day Foundation

Amateur Entomologist's Society

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Royal Horticultural Society

Plants for a Future

Notes from a Gardening Class

2009-05-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

Nomenclature and Container Gardening

Home Vegetable Gardening

Weeds, Pests and Diseases

Landscaping

Water Wise Gardening

Selected Plant Materials

Plant Requirements

Physiology and Propagation

Books I love or Would Love to Have

2009-05-20T07:17:00.000-07:00

Square Foot Gardening
Botany For Gardeners
Cactus and Succulents:A Care Manual
Carrots Love Tomatoes
Dictionary of Plant Names
How to Grow Fresh Air
How to Grow More Vegetables
Landscape Design
Ortho's All About Houseplants
Perennial Gardening Guide
Plant Propagation
Practical Horticulture
Producing Vegetable Crops
Roses Love Garlic
Sensational Dried Flowers
Simon & Schuster's Guide to Houseplants
Sunset Garden Designs
Sunset Western Garden Book
The Bonsai Workshop
Waterwise: Native Plants for Intermountain Landscapes
Xeriscape Plant Guide

Companies

2009-05-20T05:47:00.000-07:00

These are companies that are generally trying to sell you things, but they also have tons of information!!

Willard Bay Gardens

Green Careers

Clean Air Gardening

High Country Gardens

Timber Press

Gulley Greenhouse and Garden Center

TireCrafting

Star Nursery Notes

Cactus and Tropicals

Square Foot Gardening

SKS Bottle--Gardening Supplies

I changed my blog address!

2009-05-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let you know that I changed my blog address! I hope that doesn't cause any problems but I thought it should match the title of my blog! Thanks for reading!

The Colors of My Garden!

2009-05-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

I love to take pictures of my garden! I like to get up close and see lots of detail and beautiful color!

Enjoy!

If my neighbors see me, they probably think I am nuts! I get down on the ground and right up to rocks and grass! I love it! My family already thinks I'm a nut because I take pictures of plants on vacation!

New Horticulture Sites

2009-05-09T13:32:00.000-07:00

I've been adding too many new gardening websites to the sidebar to mention! I just wanted you to go check them out! There are some really great ones there! Have fun!

Mystery Plant

2009-05-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

I planted a Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' in the fall. I just love them! They are so pretty even without great looking flowers! (Beware: They can be invasive and hard to get rid of!) But, on to my story...

So, this Spring, when something came up in that spot I was glad to see that a favorite plant had survived it's first winter here. They I started to realize that it wasn't the right plant. My husband tried to convince me that I must have remembered wrong.

I kept waiting and researching. But, I couldn't find any connection between the two plants, nor could I identify the interloper. It was all wrong: leaves, flowers, timing! (If you recognize it, PLEASE let me know what it is!)

Then, I noticed that the Houttuynia was growing up underneath.

Finally, I decided that I didn't like the new plant and that it was my garden, so I could pull it out if I wanted to, and I did!

So, now I am letting the Houttuynia grow and flourish!

The end! (Until the old bits that stayed in when I pulled it out grow back!)

I want one of those!

2009-04-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

Here's what I've been researching lately, since the weather is making it hard to get outside! The moisture is wonderful, but I want to go play in with my soil and plants.

I just learned about something great! I think I may become a Garden Coach! I pretty much do it for free (which I love) but why not get paid for it, too!!! Garden coaches go into people's yards and help them learn how to be better gardeners. They can teach you how to prune, divide perennials, plant, identify the plants you have and just about anything they know that you don't. It sounds like a lot of fun!

I really want to try to grow dinner plate dahlias this year! They are gorgeous! This tricolor one is my favorite!

We are going to start getting rid of some of our lawn! I have finally converted my husband and we'll start with the parking strip! This gardener did it and how great can this look?? I can't wait! I think we'll use creeping red thyme!

I also learned what fairy gardens were. I've heard of them, but never seen one! Here are some houses! Now I have and I am so excited to create one for my daughters....okay it's for me, too! My parents are going to help with some miniature stuff! There's even help from Disney!

I am so excited to have a yard!!!!!

Links for "Man Skills" Gardening Class

2009-04-09T07:15:00.001-07:00

I thought it would be easier to give you this information online, since it is mostly links...now you don't have to type out each one. I'll add more as necessary to answer questions that come up!

Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes

USU Extension

Blue Stakes

Vegetables in Containers

Vegetable Varieties for Utah

Canned Garden Seeds @ Mountain Valley Seeds

Care of Northern Utah Cool Season Grasses

Turfgrass Watering

Squash Bugs (control is at the bottom)

More Squash Bugs (control also at the bottom)

My New Favorite Website!

2009-04-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

I just found Sunset.com! I have had one of their books for a long time and I have enjoyed the information there! I was just going to find the zone they said I am in (since they think they need their own..Sheesh!) and I started looking around. They have TONS of information including plant selection, gardening, composting and even links to yummy recipes!!

I found a new website!

2009-04-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

Cold Climate Gardening has a great website going and also has an extensive garden blog directory (that they just added me to!!! Yay!!).

They have great pictures, great ideas and tons of information!! Go check it out!

Off We Go!!

2009-03-23T11:21:00.001-07:00

On this snowy March day, I am still excited that it is officially Spring!! We bought our tiller and have started to really spend time in the garden. There is so much to do! I'm just excited to do it!

So far, it looks like the soil is in really good shape. This was once a very well-loved garden, but has been mostly ignored for several years. There are lots of weeds and weed seeds to be dealt with for many years to come. There are some beautiful but overgrown rosebushes that we are trying to keep.

We bought fruit trees and bushes! I'm so excited for that as well. Too bad we won't have fruit for a few years...

We have several varieties of vegetable seeds for the garden, once it warms up! The kids are so excited for their gardens as well!

Oh, and I am going to be blogging about gardening over at CraziBeautiful Women! It is a great website that brings lots of topics and women together! Go check it out! And check my blog posts out as well!! I am listed under Back to the Basics.

Soil Bacteria Can Make You Happy!

2009-03-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder why working in the dirt makes you happy?? This article may have an explanation for us all! Studies have shown that a certain bacteria in the soil may be helping mice be happier!

Maybe if we all "eat mud" as suggested by the title, we could be happier people! I'm hoping just being around the soil will get some of it in my system, instead!

First "Green" of the Season

2009-03-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

I must be pretty desperate for growth! I just had to take a picture of this. It's my son's marigold. We went to a literacy night at his school. They read "The Empty Pot" and sent them home with a paper cup with seeds in them. This one came up and made me happy to see the first signs of Spring...even if it is only in my kitchen.

We are going to create a garden for each of our children that is big enough to walk and take care of one. They are so excited! We bought them some seeds and they can't wait. It should be a great opportunity for them to get outside, care for something and learn along the way. I love to teach them about the things I love! They get to choose the plants, collect the rocks, weed and water their own garden.

I hope they love it as much as I do!

It's Spring!!!!

2009-03-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

Or at least it is getting there!

I'm so excited to get out in my yard and garden! I think I'm more excited for Spring this year than any other. We moved into this house in June and I was VERY pregnant so we weren't able to get much done in the garden.

We did plant some cabbage, peppers, a few pretty things around the house and got the lawn under control. Other than that, nothing! I am SO excited to get out there. I was cleaning up a little yesterday and I plan to do more today. I just can't wait!!!

Mapping the Sun

2008-11-20T13:10:00.001-08:00

I know, your garden isn't the thing on your mind, right now, but I am anxious to get out in mine and it is just cold, so I thought I'd give a little tip on here!

I decided to be good and map out the sun in my front yard. I was really surprised at how little light it gets and how much it is shaded. I thought there was full sun out there, but it turns out that there are only a few hours of direct sunlight on most of it and there is even a small area that has no direct sunlight. My house shades it until around noon and then a few hours after that, the tree in the front starts to shade it as well.

My point in telling you this is to let you know that you should take an average day (or several if you want to know more) and look at the spot every hour so that you can tell what is really going on. I just got out my gardening journal (a spiral notebook) and drew a little map. I made a very rough sketch of the area and then drew where it was in direct light at which time and then when the light was gone. I added the times up and then I knew exactly what I was dealing with.

By the way, six hours of direct sunlight is considered full sun! If you live in a higher elevation place (like me--Utah) then you have to take that into account for some of the plants that may be more sensitive. Usually, a good greenhouse will help you out with that by putting those plants in the shade section.

Gardening Journal

2008-10-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

A gardening journal can be an invaluable resource for you in your garden. Some things to include are:

Varieties selected

Botanical and common names of plants

Map of your yard/garden plot labelled with the plants where they are

Empty seed packets and labels from the pots

Gathered information about the plants you've selected

Before and after pictures

Ideas for the future

The number of plants you planted and notes about how well things did

Plans for the future, sometimes based on what you learned in the past

When planting took place

Problems and solutions

A list of your favorite plants

There are a lot of possibilities. The best part about having a gardening journal is that I have a horrible memory and if I write everything down, I don't have to remember. You can also know which varieties did well in certain areas and you can make sure to buy those again. Or, if you move, you know which plants you'd like to purchase again.

I also make notes on the entries after they succeed, die or when the growing season ends. I like to see the progress of things.

So, if you don't have one already, grab a notebook and start writing down all of the things you have in your garden!

Tomato Leaves Curling

2008-10-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Why are the upper leaves on my tomato plants curling? It's not all of them and there are no spots on them. Any ideas? Thanks for the question,Mrs. Organic!

I looked it up and it looks like the most likely culprit for your problem is cooler, wetter weather. It won't affect your tomatoes and there isn't anything you need to do.

Here are a couple of sites that have more information:

Common Tomato Problems

Tomato Pests. (This one has possible other sources for curled leaves.)

Questions??

2008-09-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

I want to post more and keep my knowledge of plants sharper! I am asking for questions that I can answer so that I have something to post here that is helpful and will help me stay in my books and websites. I really want to be able to remember all of the things I have learned and I can't if I don't use them!

So ask away and I will answer your questions! Thanks!

Planning Mode

2008-09-30T08:59:00.001-07:00

Since the season is late, I am now in planning mode. I was looking for information about fruit varieties and I found these sites. I thought I'd share!

Apple Pollination Chart

Miller Nurseries

Also, if you go to your state's extension page, you can find information about specific varieties that are good for your area!

Excited!

2008-07-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

We were offered the use of a tiller! I am so excited! Instead of having to weed it all by hand, we can just clean all of the trash out of the backyard and borrow the tiller to get the weeds under control! We also have to figure out how to get the dead fruit trees out of there as well! I can't wait to be healthy enough to get out there and make some progress! I really want to grow a ton of stuff in the spring! The same couple who offered the tiller, offered to teach me how to can! I've never done it before, but now that I have the space to grow and store food, I am really excited to do it!

Weeds!

2008-06-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

We have moved in and have things running well. The yard isn't as easy to settle into. We've figured out the sprinkler system and water turn. We bought yard tools and a lawn mower, and we need to get rid of some weeds in the grass. The garden plot is a whole other story.

The weeds are about a foot high and the ground is pretty solid. Most of the weeds are actually dead, but clearing them and all of the trash in there is daunting. We have a ton of work to do. If we could just start planting, we'd have some things in there for fall, but we have too much to do before that. We are hoping to be able to plant some fruit trees and shrubs this fall and have the rest under control so that we can plant seriously in the spring!

I wish I could do more, too, but at 8 months pregnant there isn't a lot I can do. Maybe I could put myself into labor by weeding in a couple of weeks!!

The Amateur's Digest

2008-05-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

I love cacti and succulent plants. Recently, when I was researching a question I found a great website. It's called The Amateur's Digest. It has lots of articles and information about growing, finding and many other things you may want to know about succulents.

I plan to post about the questions I'm asked as well. Hopefully, sooner than later!

New Yard

2008-05-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

I am excited to have a new yard. It is the first yard that is actually ours! We can do whatever we want with it! There is even a ready-to-plant (once we weed!) vegetable garden!

My first plans are to plant a few melon seeds, since not much else would do that well by the time we get there and I'm pregnant and don't have a lot of energy.

Then, I'm going to start keeping track of the light in my yard. Since I haven't lived there, yet, I don't know where the shade falls and for how long. I want to create a map and pay attention to the light each area receives. Then, next season, or maybe in the fall if I can afford it, we can start planting some things and hopefully have good luck with them, since we'll plant them in spots that are good for them.

Now that I think of it, I should pay attention to how wet/dry things get as well.

Look at What's Coming Up!

2008-03-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to see my tulips coming up! I just hope they do better than last year! They aren't in the sunniest of spots!

I don't remember what they are called, but they start out yellow and slowly turn pink with lots of orange and other beautiful colors along the way!

Yay for spring!

Books I Want

2008-03-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

After linking to this blog from my other one, I realized how much fun I had doing this blog. I haven't been doing it lately (obviously), but I want to again.

I recently got my Timber Press catalog and there are always several books I want to buy there! Go check these out at Timber Press! They have contests going on all the time to win free book, discounts and of course LOTS of wonderful books!

It always bothers me when people automatically assume that organic things are always better than other choices. This book looks like it solves that problem!

This one just looks cool! I love gardening and plants that are out of the ordinary! I don't want what everyone else has and this just looks amazing!

I live in a townhouse, so gardening in pots is a lot of what I do!

This one looks cool because even though I like to garden, it would be nice if the garden could help take care of itself!

I love to cut the flowers I grow and bring them inside. Making beautiful arrangements is fun, too!

I love learning all I can about plants and this book looks like a really good source for learning about the forms and parts of plants.

I like trying to be more "green" in more ways than just in the garden!

I have been eyeing this one for a long time! I love the idea of growing on random surfaces. It seems kind of Lord of the Rings-ish!

Who doesn't need to get healthier? Why not do it with something you love!

I want to grow more of our own vegetables and I don't know what kind of yard we'll have, this looks like it could help a lot with whatever kind of space I'll have to work with!

I don't know as much about trees and shrubs as I should.

I love to learn about ethnobotany!

Again with the love of weird plants.

I have small children and I love the idea of a garden that would call out to them to play!

I love design!

I hope you go check out all of the wonderful books Timber Press has to offer! They are really an amazing resource!

What to do for Your Garden in Winter

2007-11-06T05:45:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't posted here in a long time, but I have gotten interested in improving this blog, again! I thought since it is November, it would be a good time to think about preparing the garden for winter and what you can still do in the winter.

There are many things that your garden needs to be ready for winter and so that you have a nice canvas to work with in the spring. If you weed, cut back and clean up your yard, now, you can start fresh in the spring! They may not be the most interesting gardening chores, but the time will be well spent and you'll be glad of it in the spring!

There are tons of things you can do. Go take a look at these sites for lots of ideas!
Calendar
Garden Calendar
Year Round Gardening Projects Calendar

As these say, make sure to continue to water trees and shrub until the ground is frozen. If the year isn't very wet, and the ground thaws, you may want to add more water through out the year.

When it's too cold, and you just don't want to go outside, it is the perfect time to plan for spring. What do you want to plant? Is there an area in your yard that needs planning and a new design? Now is a perfect time to spend with the new catalogs and to plan what you want to do. You don't have to be out there pulling weeds, so why not plan what will replace the snow?

Here are a few sites to look at for planning!
Timberpress has books about gardening.
High Country Gardens sells beautiful water wise plants.
Willard Bay Gardens has a wonderful selection and lots of information on their site.
Square Foot Gardening is a different way to garden. Go check it out!

Happy Gardening!!

Random Sites from Last Class

2007-05-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

I said I'd put several sites on here, since I realized I needed them last night! Thank you all for coming each week! I had a great time and I learned a lot as well! I hope you learned the things you hoped you would! If you ever have questions or if you find something you think I'd be interested in, leave me a message! I love to hear from people!

Home Vegetable Garden Varieties for Utah

Vegetable Gardening in Containers Has a list of varieties

Guide to Container Gardening Has a list with varieties and container type to use

Topsy Turvy Site which sells upside-down tomato planters

Mini Farm-Growing Tomatoes Upside-Down Instructions with illustrations

Growing Tomatoes Upside-Down Instructions with pictures

Tire Crafting

Gulley Greenhouse Inc 2007 Herb Catalog with lots of info (There is a lot of other info on the rest of this site, too!!)

Companion Herb Planting

--And, crop rotation is used to help with disease management for tomatoes.--

Other Benefits

2007-05-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of sites that don't fit in with the others, but are great anyway.

Air Cleaning Houseplants

Medicinal Plants

Poisonous Plants

2007-05-09T16:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some sites with large lists of poisonous plants!

Plants Poisonous to Dogs

Poisonous House Plants

Poisonous Plants Chart

Edible Plants

2007-05-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some interesting sites with information about plants that you may not normally think to eat. Just be careful to KNOW what you are eating!!! If you can't positively identify it, DON'T eat it!

Edible Plants List

Wild Edible Plant Nutritional Table

Edibility of Plants

Wrestilng Mother Nature in Beijing

2007-05-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

Wrestling Mother Nature in Beijing

Aaron found this and emailed it to me. How weird!! Whoever wrote it should have done a little more research to know what they were talking about. Pollen is created by the male parts of a flower or the male cultivars of a plant. It is funny how much people fight nature rather than enjoy it or find a way to work with or around it!

Greenthumb's Garden

2007-05-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

Greenthumb's Garden Kid's Online Garden

This is a cute little site that is intended to introduce kids to gardening. It is focused to kids 3-7. It also is from a puppet show with the same name and purpose!

Landscaping Links 2

2007-05-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share some gardening links having to do with perennials and landscaping. Enjoy!!

The Virtual Garden Design Online

Bloomin Designs Perennial Design Tips

Perennial Gardening Colorado State

Rose Links

2007-04-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

I found a ton of information about roses and rose care. I thought that I'd just put all of it here on the blog!!

EveryRose.com Searchable site of rose varieties

Minnesota Master Gardener Rose Care

7 Steps Toward Success with Roses

Rose Pruning USU Extension Q & A

RoseCare.com Products for caring for your roses

A new friend

2007-04-23T05:59:00.000-07:00

Look what I found. I don't know it's name yet, so we'll just call it "George" !!

How many plants are needed to breathe?

2007-04-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

I found this when I was looking for something totally unrelated. You have to scroll down to nearly the bottom. It says that the oxygen produced by 45 tomato plants, or 625 sq. ft. of grass produce enough oxygen for one person to breathe for one day! Cool, random and useless fact for the day: I like it!

Sustainable

2007-04-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of interest in being self-sustaining and in using earth-friendly products. With Earth Day being this weekend, I thought this was a great time to post. We all need to be frugal with the gifts the Earth has to offer!!

Clean Air Gardening Environmentally Friendly Lawn and Garden Supply

Journey To Forever

Composting Lots of Links and Information

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Bountiful Gardens Heirloom, Untreated, Open-pollinated Seeds for Sustainable Agriculture

Seeds of Change Organic Growing and Food

World's First Tree

2007-04-19T07:22:00.000-07:00

I just found this on MSN. Scientists have reconstructed what they think is the world's first tree. Modern science is so interesting!!

Links to online garden shops

2007-04-17T05:35:00.000-07:00

I thought these sites were interesting. I hope you have fun looking at them.

Chocolate Flower Farm

Gardening Gift Guide Lots of links to other sites

Perennial Library

Redwood Barn Nursery

The Backyard Gardener

Information for class

2007-04-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to remind everyone that class will be changed from the 26th to the 25th. I have a conflict and need to change it for just that day.

Also, for class this week (18th) I will bring a copy of the notes to class for you, so you don't need to print them. See you there!

Lithops

2007-04-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

I love succulent plants and one of my favorite succulent plants is the lithops. They are a tiny plant with only two leaves. They look kind of like little brains and are really cute. I'll admit, they are pretty weird looking, but that is part of the fun!!

Introduction to lithops

Lithops cultivation

Buy lithops I want the baker's dozen!!

I had one for a while, and I killed it!! :(

Luffa

2007-04-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to grow my own luffa sponges for a long time. I tried a couple of years ago and the plants didn't flower. I learned that I needed to have them be a certain lenght before they'd flower and fruit. I need a bigger yard!! ;)

So, here are some luffa sites that I have found and I hope to one day be a successful luffa grower!!

Luffa Seed

About Luffa

Uses, about, etc

How do make and grow luffa

FUN!

Links to Plant Requirements and Composting

2007-04-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

I thought it might make it a little easier if I put a link to the updated notes and also the links for pages with good information for class on April 12th.

Compost Troubleshooting

Compost Links

Nutrient Deficiency Links

Updated Plant Requirements Notes

I hope that helps.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

2007-03-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

I just added the Brooklyn Botanic Garden site to the sidebar. It is a really great site with tons of information! If you click on gardening, there are then a lot of links to specific types of gardening and in those there are lots of articles about various related topics. There are also sections about education and research that may be more applicable if you live in that area. Go check it out!

Horticulture News Sites

2007-03-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

I found a couple of links to horticulture news sites. It looks interesting and they are updated frequently.

Horticulture News

Horticulture Week

Fertilizer Questions

2007-03-29T16:10:00.000-07:00

I found a couple of sites with some specific information about which type of fertilizer to use.

How to Choose and Buy Fertilizer

Fertilizer

Always read and follow the package instructions. They will tell you how often to fertilize.

Growing Fruit Links

2007-03-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

I found these a while ago and didn't put them in a post. Here they are:

Growing Grapes

Pruning Raspberries pdf

Strawberries

Sounds yummy!!

Intermountain Planting Guide

2007-03-23T07:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a pdf file of an extension publication. It is a great resource with lots of information about growing plants in the intermountain west. I hope you enjoy it!

Intermountain Planting Guide

Welcome!

2007-03-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

We are going ahead with the class with a small group! If you have any friends that would like to join us, just tell them to come and they can sign up that night! I'd love to have them!

Come check this blog often, I'll try to have new posts regularly.

If you found this blog and don't belong to the community class that I am teaching, Welcome!! I'd love for you to learn along with me, ask questions and make any comments or suggestions that you'd like to!

It may not take...

2007-03-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

I went to the school district building to make the copies for the first night of class and I was told that there were only 3 people signed up to take my horticulture class this time. There have to be 8 by tomorrow at noon for it to go. I hope there are more!!

Listening

2007-03-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

This article puts gardening into very simple terms. You have to pay attention to your garden. You can't simply plant it and set the sprinkler to go and hope that it lives. If you take the time to walk through and look at your plants, you can have a better growing experience. You will be able to notice problems before they become catastrophes. You will learn if plants are getting enough water, or more likely, too much. Insect problems can be averted if you notice them when there are only a few and you take care of it then, rather than allowing them to take over your yard. You can also be aware of what the normal is for most of your plants and then know when something isn't just right.

You can also benefit from the nature around you. Just having a beautiful view when I walk into my house isn't enough for me. I like to spend some real time outside enjoying the sights, smells and other senses all around me. What a great way to relax!!

Indoor Plants as Air Fresheners

2007-03-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

Here is an article that I found with a little different take on indoor plants. Not only can they absorb some of the pollutants in the air, but they can add fragrance to the home.

Spring Outline

2007-03-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are here for the community class that I am teaching, here is the outline:

INTRODUCTION, NOMENCLATURE & CONTAINERS (March 22, 2007)

BOTANY & PROPAGATION (March 29, 2007)

PLANT REQUIREMENTS (April 12, 2007–No Class on April 5th)

PLANT MATERIAL (April 19, 2007)

WATER WISE PLANTS (April 26, 2007)

LANDSCAPING (May 3, 2007)

WEEDS, DISEASES, PESTS AND ODDITIES (May 10, 2007)

GROWING FRUIT AND VEGETABLES (May 17, 2007)

Please look around and ask any questions in the comments section!!
For everyone else, have fun looking around and welcome to my gardening blog!!

Plant Cultures

2007-03-07T05:43:00.000-08:00

I thought it was about time for me to update this page again!! I found a site called Plant Cultures and thought it was pretty interesting. There is a lot of information about plants and how they have been used by people. With a husband who studies anthropology and folklore, I am always interested in this kind of thing.

Square Foot Gardening

2007-02-28T11:52:00.000-08:00

In our last class, we were talking about square foot gardening. I just wanted to make the link available here. It sounds like a great idea, whether you have the space to do a large garden or not!!

I'm still keeping this up!

2007-02-28T06:16:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to let you know that I am going to keep updating this blog. I started it to go along with the community horticulture class that I taught. I have really enjoyed it and I have learned a lot as well. I hope you keep coming back! If you have any questions, just ask. Feel free to leave comments as well!!

Potentilla--Fading

2007-02-26T17:57:00.000-08:00

I have found some information to answer a question that was asked about a potentilla in which the flower color changed. I found a site with an article called All About Potentilla. In it, they say that the flower color often fades or "bleaches out" under heat and drought conditions. I wonder if that was the case with the flowers that were asked about last week.

Home Vegetable Gardening Notes

2007-02-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

Vegetable Gardening:

As with so many other topics, there are so many differences between the crops and their problems, planting time and depth, harvesting, etc, that we are mostly going to talk in general terms. I will, talk about some of the more common vegetables, though.

USU Extension Pub. HG313-Home Vegetable Garden: Variety Recommendations for Utah: –Gives information about what to look for in the varieties you select
–Table of Recommended Varieties
–List of Sources for seeds
–Vegetable Planting Chart: when, how and how much for a family of 4-6 people

Where? Choose the sunniest location in your yard, with the best soil.

When? Spring and fall are the best time to grow cool-season crops. Summer is the best time for warm-season crops.

How much? The amount of each depends on what you want to do with the vegetables. If you love vegetables and like to eat them fresh as well as preserved, you’ll want to grow more. Use a chart to learn what is recommended.

What to do?

Before–planning, soil preparation, variety selection, seed or transplants

Plant rows running east to west, to avoid shading other rows as the sun moves across the sky. Taller crops, including those that will be trellised or staked, should be in the north side of the garden & shorter crops to the south, also to avoid shading. Medium-sized crops should be planted in the middle of the garden.
Short: radishes, carrots, beets, lettuce, onions
Medium: cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, pumpkins
Tall: peas, beans, corn

Soil preparation–add generous amounts of organic humus to the soil and work it in thoroughly.

Broccoli, cauliflower, eggplants, cabbage, tomatoes & peppers can be bought as transplants. This can help with germination as well as giving a head start in a cold climate. Most things in a vegetable garden can be grown from seed.
Remember, that collecting seed at the end of the season only works well with open-pollinated seed. If you reuse seed from hybrids, you will rarely get the same result the next season.

During–weeding, watering, mulching, protection from cold, watering, fertilizing, training/staking

After–harvesting, composting, cover crops
Cover crops can be used to maintain fertility and keep weeds out in an established garden. A crop is planted in the fall after the main crop has been harvested. It is grown through the fall and winter. In the spring, it is turned under to provide organic matter to the soil as it decays. A process called green manuring is used in a similar way, but is intended for soil that has started out poor in fertility. A crop can be grown on it at anytime, raised to about half maturity and then turned under. This process is repeated until the soil is acceptable. Alfalfa, clover, cowpeas, soybeans, and some vetch cultivars are the best cover and green manure crops. These members of the pea family can add nitrogen back into the soil as they decay. Winter crops include wheat, rye, ryegrass, and buckwheat (buckwheat is especially good, since it can tolerate poor soils and aids those soils greatly).

Varieties

Companion Plants–Some vegetables can help or harm each other if they are grown close to each other. Carrots–leaf lettuce, radish, onions and tomatoes. Keep dill at the opposite end of the garden. Tomatoes–carrots, parsley and onions, but keep cabbage and cauliflower away from them. Corn–pumpkins, peas, beans and potatoes are good around them, but tomatoes should be far away from them.

Types of Gardens–Traditional raised beds, containers, tire, trellis, greenhouse

Raised beds–21 inches to 4 feet wide–you need to be able to reach across them. The soil should be 8 to 12 inches above ground level. You can simply mound the earth up, or hold it up in large frames. The soil can get warmer, faster than traditional gardens and can stay warmer for longer. Raised beds also provide better drainage.

Containers–Anything that you can put soil in, you can plant in. Some types of containers may produce healthier plants than others.

Container varieties

Depending on the size of your containers, you can grow:

Chives, green onions, summer radishes, various lettuces, hot peppers, carrots, spinach, broccoli, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes, eggplant, cucumber, squash, beans and peas.

Upside-down tomato plants.

If you have 30 to 55 gallon containers, you can grow anything you want in containers.

Tires–Another type of container is a tire. Tires can be turned inside-out and used as large pots. The various sizes offer large variety in what can be planted.

Trellises–Some plants grow best on trellises and some can be made to grow that way if you have a small space and need to go up rather than across. Containers, including tires can be used to grow plants on trellises.

Greenhouses–If you need the added warmth, you can at least start some plants in a greenhouse.

Incorporated–Sometimes, people will grow their fruits, vegetables and especially herb along with the flowers and other landscape plants that they grow.

Herbs–generally herbs need full sun and well-drained soil. Indoors, herbs need 5 hours of sunlight or 12-14 hours of artificial light everyday.
Harvest just before plants flower. Clip in the morning. Cut about 1/3 each time, to encourage new growth. Younger leaves have more flavor and are less bitter than older leaves.
Seeds need to picked when the seed heads change color–usually dark. Cut on a hot, dry day and then dry out for two weeks. Store in an air-tight container.
Can be dried in the air, oven or microwave. Herbs can also be frozen and thawed to use as fresh.
Store herbs in air-tight containers, preferably glass, for up to a year for best potency.
Knot gardens–herbs woven around each other to be a decorative, fragrant garden

Companion Herbs–Many herbs do better if they are grown together. They can also provide various benefits to fruits and vegetables grown in your garden.

Most plants can do just fine from seed, but if you want a little bonus time, you can buy transplants for some plants. Seeds are cheaper than transplants.

Crop rotation–This is the process of changing which crops are planted where in the garden each year. It isn’t essential, but it is a good way to avoid problems in the soil associated with specific crops. As long as the shading issues are taken into consideration, the rotation can be easily accomplished.

Weed and insect control–make sure to read labels and only use chemicals labeled for use in edible crops. Herbs can also be used to keep pests away from your garden.

Specific Plants:

Asparagus–sandy soil that is high in fertility is best, but asparagus can do well in any soil; grow 8-12 inches apart; harvest when spears are 6-8 inches tall

Beans–any well drained soil; plant after frost; plant 1 inch deep and 2-3 inches apart

Carrots–cool season crop, grown in the summer in cold regions; deep loose soils with good drainage; carrot seedlings need to be thinned to give enough room for growth; harvest when carrots are between 1 & 2 inches in diameter

Corn–warm-season crop that needs to be planted after the danger of frost is gone; wide range of well-drained soils is acceptable; 1-2 inches deep & 8-10 inches apart; popcorn or field corn shouldn’t be grown within 100 feet of sweet corn to prevent cross-pollination and poor kernel development; harvest when silk turns dark brown and kernels are plump and have a milky sap inside; cook immediately after harvest

Eggplant–grown from transplants; harvest before skin has lost it’s sheen and appropriate size for cultivar is reached; a long period of warmth is needed, so an appropriate cultivar for your region; store at 50-55 degrees and preferably not in the refrigerator

Onions–best in humus-rich, sandy soil; tolerant of a large range of temperatures; photoperiod is very important and therefore, so is choosing a cultivar that works well in the region; harvest at most times during development, depending on desired size

Peas–cool temperatures & lots of moisture are needed; seed 1 inch apart; can sew seeds in double rows, 8 inches apart & trained on the same trellis; harvest when the peas start to fill out the pod and are not yet tough; use immediately if possible

Peppers–growing sweet and hot peppers together usually allows for cross-pollination, the vegetables will not be affected, but the seeds will have the qualities of both parents and will be hot, remove before eating sweet peppers; same cultural requirements as eggplant

Tomatoes–range of soils with good drainage; don’t plant in the same place year after year; need warm temperatures for fruit to set; usually grown from transplants; determinate plants will have a more bush shape, while indeterminate plants will vine; fertilize prior to planting and with a nitrogen side-dressing a month after planting; harvest when fully red, unless you like green tomatoes

Home Fruit & Vegetable Gardening Links

2007-02-26T05:40:00.000-08:00

In looking for information about home gardening, I found a lot of sites.

Variety Recommendations for Utah pdf--great resource (HG 313)

Vegetable Garden Layout

Vegetable Gardening in Containers Includes Varieties to use

Where to Put Your Vegetable Garden pdf

Plant some New Vegetables pdf

How to Grow Vegetables Site with lots of articles, etc

Preparing & Improving Garden Soil pdf

Strawberries pdf

Currents

Tomatoes

Tomatoes pdf

Herbs

Sweet Corn pdf

Popcorn in the Garden pdf

Check this out!! Lots of neat sites!!

2007-02-23T06:01:00.000-08:00

I found some various sites that look pretty neat, so even though they may have nothing to do with each other, here they are:

Edible Flowers Chart (I'm not sure of the credibility...)

Flowering Perennials:Characteristics and Culture

Home Gardening (Links to extension information)

Luring Butterflies to your Garden

Morning Glory is Gory

Utah Native Plant Society

Biological Control

Killer Plants (Botanical info--not poisonous plants)

Monthly Garden Projects

Weeds, Pests & Diseases Notes

2007-02-19T14:14:00.001-08:00

Why?

Weeds, Pests & Diseases can affect the beauty, health and vigor of plants. They can also decrease yield in fruit and vegetable crops. They can prevent growth, development or flowering of plants as well.

Good management analogy: If you have a dog that you feed outside, and you expect the dog to be the only creature to eat that food you are crazy. Cats, deer, raccoons and any number of other animals will most likely eat that food. You can’t expect to only feed the dog. The same can be said for the plant world. Weeds need many of the same things that desirable plants require. If you give the desirable plants what the weeds need, you will aid weed growth alongside the plants you want to have there. On the other hand, if you learn what the desirable plants need to make them the healthiest, many times you can crowd out or otherwise kill the weeds and weed seeds.

A healthy plant is a lot more susceptible to disease and pest damage than one that is under stress. Healthy plants are more able to outcompete weeds in the garden as well.
Also, choosing appropriate plant varieties can limit the amount of pest and other damage.

I am not going to talk a lot about specifics. There are too many to cover. So, if you have a specific problem, ask.

WEEDS:

Good Chemical Control of Field Bindweed : (80-95%) Selective Lawn Herbicides
2,4-D+MCPP+dicamba (Trimec, Weed-Out, Weed-B-Gone, etc)
2,4-D+dicamba+MCPP+MSMA (Quadmec)

Annual weeds: Generally, pull annual weeds. Or spray them

Perennial weeds: You have to make sure to kill the whole plant, not just the above ground part. Many have rhizominous roots that will create new plants from each piece left in the ground.

Approaches:

Biological–Use of beneficial insects to reduce amounts of weeds.
Cultural–Maintaining healthy plants can prevent weeds from invading. Also, use of specific varieties can aid in competing with weeds.
Herbicide–Read all labels and follow precisely–to do otherwise is breaking federal laws!!
Mechanical/Physical–Pulling and tilling are methods to kill weeds that don’t have roots that can reproduce from pieces.
Prevention–First line of defense. If you can keep it out in the first place, you don’t have to deal with the detrimental effects later.

Identification: Call extension specialists or look online or in a book. When you know what you are dealing with and what its life-cycle is, you can know better how to manage it.

Biological wildfire:

Wild fires and weeds have many things in common: Impacts, Spread & Management

Management: Prevention, Detection, Suppression (Control) & Revegetation

Noxious Weeds:

The Utah Commissioner of Agriculture decides which weeds are noxious. To be considered noxious a weed must be non-native, invasive and poses a serious threat to native plants, wildlife habitat, crops or livestock.

Land owners are responsible for the control of the official noxious weeds growing on their land.

There are also county noxious weed. Counties are asked to keep these to a minimum to reduce confusion.

Weeds in a lawn: (from USU extension publication HB 508 April 1997)

First, maintain a healthy lawn and you will have less problems. If the lawn is thick and deep, it can out compete most weed invasions.

Buy weed-free seed! The label on the seed is required to list the amount of weed seed included. If you buy cheaper seed, you may be getting more weed seeds than if you paid more for the seed in the first place. Then, you can spend more of your time and money on other parts of your landscape, rather than on the weeds that you planted with the grass seed.

Fertilize properly so that the grass can be thick and healthy. If it is very healthy, it can out compete the weeds.

Mow at about 2 ½ inches and keep the blades sharp. Mowing too low can cause damage and allows for weeds to come in.

Irrigate properly for your soil. The more clay that is in your soil, the less frequently you will need to water. Also, allow the top ½ inch of soil to dry out between waterings so that weed seeds are killed.

General Weed Control Rules:

Don’t let weeds go to seed
Kill weeds when they are young
Good management will keep out most weeds
One year’s seeding equals seven year’s weeding
Pesticides are safe if used properly and according to the labels–just because a little herbicide is good doesn’t mean a lot is better.

INSECTS:

IPM–Integrated Pest Management (from USU extension publication AG/IPM/01 April 1996)

Holistic, ecologically based, can be used anywhere
IPM utilizes multiple techniques (cultural, biological, chemical, mechanical)
Emphasizes reaching tolerable levels of insects not complete eradication
Incorporates economic sustainability
Takes into account environmental and social concerns

Strategies:

1. Do nothing–You decide that the levels of insects is below the point that you do anything, so you don’t.
2. Reduce numbers–use cultural, chemical or other means to reduce the number of insects.
3. Reduce susceptibility of crop/ecosystem–rely on changes made to the plant to improve resistence to the insect
4. Combine strategies

Key Steps:

Know your plant and pest
Decide what is unacceptable pest damage (economic injury level)
Consider all pest management options
Time pest controls with pest vulnerability

Non-native weeds and insects can be a problem because they don’t have the same ecosystem to keep them in check that they had where they are from. Use of biological control can be effective when organisms from those countries of origin are used.

DISEASES:

Choose plant varieties that are resistant to disease. Create an environment that is not conducive to the growth of disease. When you do get a diseased plant, find out what the disease is and how to get rid of it. In general, remove diseased plant parts and plants and sanitize any tools that have come in contact with the disease.

Noxious Weeds

2007-02-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

A list of Utah's Noxious weeds is found here.

There is also a lot of other information there.

Night Gardening

2007-02-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

Planting a garden to be enjoyed at night is a great way to do something a little different. Especially if you aren't home a lot during the day to enjoy it, or just need a place to relax in the evening and you want things that bloom only at night.

Here is a website that can help you with that!

Night Gardening

WEEDS!!

2007-02-19T08:14:00.000-08:00

Here are the sites I have found recently:

The Weed Web
Weed Control
Weed Management Handbook
Weed Control in Turf
Weed Control in Vegetable Gardens
Landscape and Garden Weed Control (Excellent extension publication)
Integrated Pest Management

Landscaping Notes

2007-02-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

Planning:

1. Create a base map–Drawn to scale, includes outline of house, property lines, existing vegetation and any hardscape features (patios, decks, water features, etc)

2. Site analysis–Data collecting: zone, views, microclimates, soil type, wildlife (whether positive or negative), slope, home type, easements and access to meters, utility lines

3. Needs analysis–family’s interests and needs, are there children?, design style preferred, care and maintenance desired, lifestyle, entertaining?, annuals, perennials, fruits and vegetables, storage/utility areas.

4. Concept Drawings/Bubble diagrams–Express function, activities, spaces, use areas, circulation and relationships.

3 basic use areas: public, private & service

a. Public–areas that are seen and used
b. Private–back and side yards, outdoor living spaces
c. Service–storage & fruit and vegetable garden; usually out of the way and screened from the rest of the yard

Arrows are used to show direction of circulation through the yard. Driveway is largest arrow, then entryway, then sidewalks and other foot traffic areas.
Functional Edges: fences, visual screens, buffers
Focal points or conflict areas that need to be dealt with

5. Plant selection/Completion of plan–First function of plants is chosen, then specific plants are selected to fill those needs. Things to be considered are: the bloom time, height, sun requirements and color of the perennials.

Principles of Design:

Simplicity–Simple lines are much more effective than complex ones.

Repetition–Simplicity can be achieved primarily through repeating elements or plants through out a design.

Variety–So that the repetition doesn’t become monotonous, variety of planting is also needed.

Balance–Symmetrical balance is achieved through mirror-image plantings. Asymmetrical balance is created when large elements are opposed by many smaller elements, to achieve equal visual weight.
Emphasis–Abrupt changes in form, color or texture can create a focal point for a planting.

Interconnection–A common element is used to link different elements of the design together.

Sequence–This is the flow that is created with color, form &/or texture to draw the viewer’s eye from one place to another.

Garden Styles:
–Cottage: Planted for sustenance as well as beauty; fruits, vegetables and a few flowers; old-fashioned flowers; flowers seem to have sprung up naturally; fragrance; intermingling of flowers; spontaneous appearance; sweet peas, hollyhocks, roses, climbing vines; picket fences; simple, straight lines; benches; arbors

–Mediterranean: Water-wise; fragrant; terra cotta pots; tile mosaics; water features; shells & coral; courtyards; stone & stucco; lots of paths; lots of gravel; warm wall colors; conjures thoughts of the sea; shady place for outdoor eating; herbs; cool plant colors; olive, citrus, grape vines, sunflowers

–Formal: Symmetry; clean lines; clipped hedges; lots of repetition; mirror-images

–“New” Formal: Formality is purposefully interrupted; playful; interactive; contemporary materials

–Japanese: Serenity; celebrates the natural world; not a showcase for flowers; opposites are put into balance; changing of the seasons emphasized; bamboo, pines, flower cherry, Japanese maple

–Eccentric: Anything goes; strange ornamentation; fairy & gnome gardens; appeal to senses; conversation starters; living furniture; lots of color and imagination

–Xeric: Conserve water; uses hydrazoning for ease of watering; native and non native plants are utilized.

Color –warm colors advance, they are inviting and lively (yellow-orange-red)
–cool colors recede, they are restful (green-blue-violet)
–use the color wheel to choose colors that compliment or enhance each other
–colors that are side-by-side on the color wheel are analogous, they usually blend well together
–colors that are across from each other on the color wheel are complimentary, they tend to look good as accents in a design (violet & yellow, red & green, orange & blue are complimentary to each other)
Form –shape
–size
–growth habits: upright, compact, trailing, etc

Texture –the shapes and sizes of parts of the plant determine the texture
–large bold leaves, versus tiny, wispy leaves create very different effects

Drawing & Understanding a Landscape Plan:

Tools: architect’s scale, t-square, good pens, vellum, stationary triangles, pencil or lead holder, circle templates, drafting table, French curves, eraser shield

Guide patterns–Certain shapes and angles are used to give unity to a plan. When all beds, hardscapes and features are created using the same shapes, the plan is given more uniformity.

Planting plan & Planting schedule–The planting plan shows all the things that have been decided about a landscape and where each should go. It is drawn to scale and lists each plant to be used. A planting schedule is a list of each plant, with information about it. It tells the sizes and amount of each plant to be purchased.

Landscape Symbols–Symbols are used to show specific types and sizes of plants and hardscape features. There are different symbols for evergreens, deciduous plants, perennials and turf.

Section-elevation Drawings–used to highlight specific areas that need to show more detail

Plant Selection:

Use materials and plants which enhance the home. Use similar materials as home and existing structures. Consider the style of home as well as the surrounding homes and landscapes.

Perennials –hardiness zone
–size: rate of growth, amount and type of maintenance (prune to maintain size)
–soil: tolerance to alkalinity, acidity, salt, clay
–light exposure: sun versus shade (in Utah, remember that we are at a higher elevation, so we have hot, bright sunlight and many of our “shady” areas aren’t very shady–north side of home is usually okay
–pollution & pest resistance
–to create continuous bloom, either use a perennial bloom chart, or use books and create your own list of plants and when they bloom. Make sure to use plants that bloom in the colors you want in spring, summer and fall. If you have the information, try to find plants that bloom in early, mid and late times of each season.

Trees –Mature size
–Rate of growth: if fast, the wood is generally soft and can be a liability (they also grow to be fairly large as well)
–Roots: be careful around sidewalks and patios (roots can push them up), can cause problems in a septic field, WON’T damage foundations, compacted soil can make sidewalk heaving worse.
–Fruits: blossoms (color & timing), persistent or messy?, if persistent, birds usually eat them off before they can fall, some flower but don’t pollinate self

Shrubs –ultimate size
–purpose: flowers, hedges, foundation planting, consider foot traffic, hide meters, ornamental quality
–suckering can be an issue
–type: evergreen, broadleaf evergreen, deciduous

Special Needs:

Wind protection–If you have an extremely large area, large masses of trees can be used to protect an area. If you use a fence, it needs to have slats all along it so that there isn’t an updraft on the other side.

Right next to a house, you can use evergreen shrubs to protect from direct wind.

Privacy & Child safety–A fence may be needed when immediate shielding is required.

Slopes–ground covers can help prevent erosion, using large groupings of one kind of plant makes a slope look the most natural, use low maintenance plants since they will be difficult to get access to; terracing and stairs can also be used to deal with a steep slope.

Bring in wildlife–Need to provide a proper habitat for the animals you want in your garden.

Habitat–Understand the needs of the specific creatures you want to come into your yard. Protection and nesting place are needed.

Food–Berries, nuts, leaves, twigs, roots, buds, stems, grasses, mosses, lichen can all be foods for creatures. Persistent fruit is needed for longer use by birds. Have a bird feeder for when the food is gone in the winter. You need nectar if you are to attract bees, butterflies or moths.

Water–Water is necessary for drinking, life cycle and nesting. Ponds attract amphibians. Moving water attracts birds.

Cover–thick shrubs, tall grass, plant litter. Needs to be near food and water.

Questions from January 30th

2007-02-12T05:45:00.000-08:00

I answered these in class, but I thought I should put them here as well.

That I know of, I cannot find a Crabapple (Malus) that blooms pink and has no fruit.
I do have a catalog that tells lots of information about lots of trees.

The only crocus-like, night-blooming flower I could find is a cactus called Peniocereus gregii.

As far as I could find, Helleborus have leaves on year round and therefore make a nice shady ground cover. They are supposed to bloom in late fall to spring, depending on the variety. It grows in zones 4-7.

The chocolate flower is called Berlandiera lyrata. The whole plant smells like chocolate!

The only real reference I could find about growing mint in with grass for the scent when mowed was some chocolate mint that crept into the lawn. The problem is that mints are REALLY invasive and may take over the grass.

Mood Boost from Nature

2007-02-08T06:44:00.000-08:00

I was given an article, once about the effects of nature on mood and happiness. I was trying to find it so that I could link to it, here. I couldn't find it, but I found some other resources about the effect nature can have on happiness.

Get outside, get happy!
Happy by Nature

Landscaping Links

2007-02-08T06:03:00.000-08:00

I found a lot of sites that have links on them for different landscaping topics:

http://www.landscapingideasonline.com/
http://www.homeandfamilynetwork.com/gardening/landscaping.html
Planning the Home landscape
Landscaping and Garden Design

I hope you like them!

Water Wise Gardening Notes

2007-02-05T07:21:00.000-08:00

Most of this information came from www.slowtheflow.org

Make sure to contact Blue Stakes before you do any digging to avoid hitting utility lines. It's a free service.
www.bluestakes.org

Definitions:

Xeric: of pertaining to, or adapted to a dry environment (www.dictionary.com)

Xeric landscapes can be very beautiful. Rocks and mulches can be used, but are not the only things there. Cactus and succulents are also water wise, but are not the only options.

Water Wise: plants and landscapes that use less water and are adapted for dry conditions

Why Xeriscaping?

We live in the second driest state in the US. We need to conserve water so that there is enough for essential needs.
Water is a limited resource.
Resources cannot sustain the expected growth.

Water conservation:

More water is used outside of the home than inside. A large amount of that is wasted in runoff. If a water wise landscape is installed, much of that water can be conserved.

www.conservewater.utah.gov

Irrigation Changes:

Make sure all sprinkler head are functioning and spraying only the desired area. Make any needed changes.

Make sure sprinklers are not overlapping or covering less than you want them to.

“Cycle & Soak”–if you water for 3-5 minutes at a time in each zone, and then cycle through the areas a few more times, you will get a better soaking of the soil and avoid runoff. It would be better to do 3 cycles of 5 minutes each, rather than 15 minutes in one zone.

Make seasonal adjustments to your system...You don’t need to water for the same amount of time in May, August & October. The weather is different, and your watering schedule should be too.

Get a free water check: 1-877-728-3420–Slow the Flow Hotline They will come to your home, inspect your system and recommend changes to make it more efficient. They check application rate, system uniformity & soil type.

Irrigation methods: Remember to adjust after a rain storm

Hand
Drip

Seven Principles of Xeriscaping:

1. Planning and Design
2. Practical Turf Areas
3. Plant selection & Hydrazoning
4. Soil analysis
5. Mulching
6. Efficient Irrigation
7. Maintenance

Hydrazoning:

Very low water use–no additional water once established, unless in extreme drought
Low water use–1/2" of water added once or twice per month
Moderate water use–3/4" of water added once per week (still about half that of traditional landscapes)
High water use–1/2" of water added 3 times per week (usually Kentucky bluegrass used wisely)

List of plants:

www.utahbotanicalcenter.org The bottom of the homepage has links to two plant lists
www.waterwiseplants.utah.gov Link for a plant list is under "About this Website"

There are also 3 or so sites on the Slow the Flow website.

Turf in functional areas and alternatives to turf:

Turf grass should only be used in areas of the landscape where it is going to be used. If an area is difficult to mow or water, grass shouldn't be planted there. Grass can be used for play areas as well as to have an area for snow removal.

Park strips:

Measure area
Monitor for soil, drainage, exposure
Identify goals–maintenance, water usage
Plan & Design–draw a simple sketch
Select Plants (remember to check city regulations)
Plant, water and maintain

Horticulture at USU & Plants of the Southwest

2007-02-05T06:56:00.000-08:00

I found a couple of good sites:

USU Horticulture

Plants of the Southwest

New Books

2007-01-31T07:54:00.000-08:00

I added the Mix and Match book to the side bar as well as two books with water wise plants. Water Wise was published by Utah State and has lot of great information and plants. Not all of the plants listed in Water Wise are readily available to buy, since many of them are difficult to grow or are just not being grown by many people, now. The xeriscape plant guide a lot of plants as well. All three books have great pictures.

Stepables

2007-01-30T13:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, so here is post number 3, for today, but I found a fun little site about stepable plants. They are plants that can tolerate foot traffic. So many of them are SO cute, too!

If you want to look at all the plants they have, do a search and leave all possiblities at "ANY". Or you can search by conditions, but if you put too many characteristics in, it won't bring up any plants.

Plant Material

2007-01-30T12:40:00.000-08:00

Here are the notes from class on January 30th. Sorry about the format, I'm not sure how to fix that from transferring it from WordPerfect...

Perennials (Including Trees):

Abies concolor–White Fir Large Evergreen Tree
Ajuga reptans ‘Catlin’s Giant’–Carpet Bugle Shade
Akebia quinata–Five-leaf Akebia Climbing vine
Alnus glutinosa–Black alder Large Deciduous Tree
Arabis blepharophylla ‘Spring Charm’–Rock Cress Full sun/rock garden
Armeria maritima ‘Splendens’–Thrift Full sun/rock garden
Aurinia saxatilis ‘Sunny Border Apricot’ Full sun/ rock garden
Ballota ‘Archer’s Variety’ Full sun
Bellium minutum–Miniature daisy Full sun/rock garden
Buxus sempervirens–Boxwood Hedge shrub
Campanula poscharskyana ‘Blue Waterfall’ Full sun
Carex grayii–Morning Star Sedge Grass
Carpinus Betulus ‘Columnaris’–Columnar Hornbeam Narrow Tree
Caryopteris clandonensis–Blue Mist Shrub Full sun
Catananche caerulea–Cupid’s Dart Full sun
Centaurea montana–Perennial Bachelor’s Button Full sun
Ceratostigma plumbago–Plumbago Shade
Chelone obliqua–Turtlehead Water side
Corydalis lutea–Golden Corydalis Partial shade
Corydalis elata–Blue Corydalis Shade
Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’–Contorted Filbert Ornamental Shrub
Crocosmia x ‘Solfatare’–Montbretia Full sun
Crocus Bulb
Cyclamen hederifolium–Hardy Cyclamen Shade
Cymbalaria muralis–Kenilworth Ivy Vine
Diascia ‘Red Start’–Twinspur Full sun
Dicentra spectibilis ‘Gold Heart’–Bleeding Heart Shade
Dictamnus albus var. purpureus ‘Sapphire Blue’ Full sun
Draba sibirica–Whitlow Grass Full sun/Rock garden
Dracocephalum ruyschiana–Northern Dragonhead Full sun/Rock garden
Dryopteris filix-mas ‘Chispatissima’ Fern/Shade
Eichhornia crassipes–Water Hyacinth Water plant
Equisetum scirpoides–Dwarf scouring rush Water side plant
Erica cineria–Spring Heather Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Erodium chrysanthum–Yellow Stork’s bill Full sun
Eryngium–Sea Holly Full sun
Eschscholzia californica–California poppy Full sun
Euonymus alatus 'Compacta'–Dwarf Burning Bush Large Deciduous Shrub
Filipendula vulgaris ‘Plena’–Meadowsweet Sun to partial shade
Galanthus nivalis–snowdrop Bulb
Galium odoratum–Sweet Woodruff Shade
Gentiana dahurica–Gentian Shade
Geranium --Cranesbill Full sun (most)
Ginkgo biloba–Maiden Hair Tree Large Deciduous Tree
Gypsophila paniculata–Common Baby’s Breath Full sun
Hedera helix–English Ivy Vine
Helleborus niger–Christmas Rose Shade
Hemerocallis –Daylily Full sun
Hibiscus macrophylla Full sun
Hosta–Plantain Lily Shade
Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’--Chameleon Plant Shade/Water side
Hyacinthus Bulb
Hydrangea Shade
Iberis sempervirens–Candy Tuft Full sun/Rock garden
Iris Full sun
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ Full sun
Leucanthemum ‘Becky’–Shasta daisy Full sun
Lonicera–Honeysuckle (x heckrottii-Goldflame) Vine
Lotus cornicualtus ‘Plenus’–Bird’s-Foot Trefoil Water
Lunaria annua–Money Plant/Honesty Full sun
Lupinus–Lupine Full sun
Lysimachia clethroides–Loosestrife Shade/water side
Malus–Apple Tree/Crabapples ‘Spring Snow’ Tree
Mentha requienii–Corsican Mint Stepable
Mimulus ‘Puck’–Monkey Flower Partial-Full Shade/Waterside
Myosotis sylvatica–Woodland Forget-Me-Not Shade
Omphalodes cappadocia ‘Cherry Ingram’–Forget me not Shade
Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Little Spire’–Mini Russian SageFull sun
Platycodon grandiflorus –Balloon Flower Full sun
Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’–Ornamental Pear Medium Deciduous Tree
Raoulia australis–scab plant Stepable
Rudbeckia hirta ‘Toto Gold’–Black-Eyed-Susan Full sun
Sedum angelina Full sun
Silene mexicana ‘Hot Stuff’–Catchfly Full, hot sun
Sisyrinchium Full sun/Rock garden
Sophora japonica–Japanese Pagoda Tree Medium Deciduous Tree
Tanacetum niveum ‘Jackpot’–Silver tansy Full sun
Thymus x citriodorus ‘Doone Valley’ Full sun/Rock garden
Thymus pseudolanuginosus–Wooly Thyme Full sun/Rock garden
Trachelospermum jasminoides–Star Jasmine Climbing vine/Tender Perennial
Tricyrtis hirta–Toad Lily Shade
Trifolium repens ‘Pentaphyllum’–Black-Leaved Clover Stepable
Tulipa Bulb
Typha minima–Miniature Cattail Water side
Wisteria sinensis ‘Prolific’–Chinese Wisteria Vine

Annuals:

Antirrhinum majus–Snapdragon
Begonia x tuberhybrida–Tuberous Begonia
Brassica oleracea–Ornamental cabbage and kale
Calibrachoa hybrid–Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Catharanthus roseus–Vinca
Celosia-Cock’s comb
Coleus x hybrida–Coleus
Convolvulus tricolor–Dwarf Morning Glory
Dianthus chinensis–Pinks
Gazania rigens–Gazania
Heliotropium arborescens–Heliotrope
Impatiens–Impatiens
Ipomoea batatas–Sweet Potato Vine
Limonium sinuatum–Status
Lobelia erinus–Lobelia
Lobularia maritima–Sweet alyssum
Nicotiana–Flowering tobacco
Pelargonium x hortorum–Geranium
Pennisetum setaceum–Annual fountain grass
Petunia x hybrida–Petunia
Portulaca grandiflora–Moss rose
Salvia farinacea–Salvia
Scaevola–Fan Flower
Senecio cineraria–Dusty Miller
Tagetes–Marigold
Thymophylla tenuiloba–Dahlberg daisy
Tropaeolum majus–Nasturtium
Verbena x hybrida–Garden verbena
Viola x wittrockiana–Pansy

Dave's Garden

2007-01-30T10:59:00.000-08:00

There is a great plant search funtion on this site:

Dave's Garden

How to acquire a copy of the notes

2007-01-25T06:47:00.000-08:00

Someone was complaining that they want a printed copy of the notes, so I thought I'd add a short guide for how to get one.

At the top of the screen, there is a button (it usually looks like a printer, with paper sticking out of the top). If you click on that button, it will print a copy of the page you are looking at.

For example, if you click on a certain post (like the notes), then the button, it will print a copy of that post.

This approach still enables the excellent linking that the internet allows while preventing the unnecessary decimation of innocent arboreal life.

Water Wise Gardening

2007-01-25T06:35:00.000-08:00

I found a LOT of sites with great information about water wise gardening and water conservation.

Slow the Flow Info Sheets LOTS of links to great information!
Slow The Flow Campaign
The Seven Principles of Xeriscape
Xeriscape Principles
Utah Botanical Center
Water Wise Plants for Utah (Searchable)
Water Conservation
Xeriscaping
Xeriscape (pdf)

Propagation Chart

2007-01-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

I found this propagation chart when I was searching for perennial charts.

Perennial Planning

2007-01-25T06:20:00.000-08:00

Here are some perennial bloom charts and other great sites to help with planning a perennial garden:

Choosing the Right Perennials
Flowering perennials: characteristics and culture
Perennial Chart
Perennial Chart
Perennial Encyclopedia (Searchable)
Perennial Library (Database & Gallery)
Perennial Gardening (pdf)
Perennial Gardening (same as above, only in web form)
Perennial Database
Perennials!

I hope you have fun looking at these, I did!

Notes for Class

2007-01-25T06:08:00.000-08:00

For any of you who check this blog, I am going to TRY to have my notes for class up on Mondays, so that if you want them, you can print them before class. I will try to do this for the rest of the class and I'll also announce this in class. For next week (January 30th), I'll print them and bring them to class for you all. I am only printing this set because it is needed to keep up. I am going to go over a lot of plants and I want you to be able to make notes about the ones you want to add to your yard or wish list!

Plant Requirements Notes (Updated)

2007-01-24T05:32:00.000-08:00

---Here are the notes from class on 23 January 2007---Updated for 12 April 2007

Climate– Temperature, precipitation, humidity, light & wind.

Seasons–What are plants doing during each season?
Spring: Most new growth, break dormancy, many flower, use stored nutrients
Summer: Maturation for most temperate plants, energy storage (mostly in root system), survival (tissue toughens, plant growth slows
Fall: Transitional time, senescence (death, plants unload energy), dormancy, seed dispersal, preparation for winter
Winter: A time of waiting, dormancy (tissue is alive but not actively growing, some plants may freeze solid (suspended animation–cells are not frozen, but the water between them is)
Cells send water out and minerals in. Concentration of minerals gets very high. Just like salt on our sidewalks freezes at a lower temperature, the cells can protect themselves in this way. They can also freeze in this state because the cell has room to expand since a lot of the water has been sent out.
NOTE: evergreens may need some additional water, but can’t always get it if the ground is frozen
—Winter damage: Frost damage, Southwest winter injury (bark damage—warms cells--they rehydrate–freeze & burst), heaving of soil (root damage), sunburn (broadleaf evergreens due to lack of water when the sun hits the leaves), rodent damage

Temperature–ranges vary from plant to plant.

Cold–Plants go into dormancy to deal with cold temperatures. They have certain thresholds of tolerance, and can withstand extremely cold temperatures since most of their functions are shut down.
--Many plants, known as frost tender plants, have a tolerance of only as low as 28 degrees F. This is the temperature where the liquid in the plants freezes and kills the plant.
--Many plant parts can be cold hardy, but the buds and blossoms can be killed if there is a frost after those parts have developed.
–Chilling requirement: Some plants, particularly one that bear fruit, have a chilling requirement. They need to have a certain number of days below a specific temperature for fruit to appear.

Hardiness zones: USDA: We are in Zone 4 b -25 to -20 degrees F
Sunset: Zone 2–growing season is early May through September, winter lows range from -3 to -34 degrees F.

Heat–Heat zone map; in higher elevations, you can find plants listed with different requirements based on the tolerance to heat. If a plant can take a certain amount of sun in one location, it may need to have more shade to be able to tolerate the sun and heat here in Utah.

Water/Precipitation–In Utah, we get an average of 13 inches of precipitation, per year. The range is 5 (semi-arid ) to 30 (high mountains)inches across the state.
Water is used to carry nutrients through the plant. It also is needed to maintain plant health due to respiration, or lose of water. Water is also necessary for the chemical reactions that occur inside all plants.

Humidity–“The amount of water air contains relative to the amount it is capable of holding at that specific temperature.” Air can hold higher amounts of water at higher temperatures. Higher humidity can help plants grow better, since they won’t lose as much water through respiration. But, lower humidity doesn’t hinder plant growth as long as there is enough water available to the roots to make up for the loss.

Light–Plants have different requirements for light. Six hours is of sun per day (morning/evening/combination) is considered “full sun”, in Utah.
–Full sun, partial shade (partial sun), Full shade
Full sun–south & west sides of house, nothing in the way to block the sun
Partial shade–direct sunlight for 1/3 to ½ of the day
Full shade–areas where the sun rarely shines directly & when the light is direct, it is in the hours when the sun is the furthest away from the earth and the rays are the weakest. (Early morning)

Day length–regulates flower initiation, vegetative growth, dormancy; acts as a cue in Spring and Winter; many plants must have a specific day length before they can flower (poinsettia, Easter Lily)

Wind–Wind can be a factor if it is too strong. It can cause damage to plants if the wrong plants are selected or improperly placed.

Soils–Cation Exchange Capacity; good structure (rather than compacted and solid) for water movement as well as nutrient availability. Soil with good texture is called friable.
A soil needs to be able to keep nutrients in it, but also needs to allow plants to take them out of it. Too much clay can make a soil have poor drainage. To change this, you can work in organic matter to improve the texture & change the cation exchange capacity as well. Texture is determined by the amount of sand, silt, and clay. Organic matter can also affect the texture of the soil.

pH–Acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Most plants need near a pH of 7 (neutral) to grow and develop properly; nutrient uptake is greatly affected by pH. In Utah, you can’t change the pH very much, due to the high amounts of calcium in the soil. Calcium acts as a buffer.

Oxygen–The plant’s roots need oxygen to respire. If the soil is over-watered, or if there is inadequate drainage, the roots cannot receive the oxygen they require and will eventually rot.

Nutrients–Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen |Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorous | Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur | Boron, Chlorine, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Zinc
C, H & O are available in the soil and air and don’t need to be added.
N, P & K are called primary nutrients–they are usually lacking before the others because they are needed the most, after C, H & O. They need to be added.
C, Mg & S are called secondary nutrients–They are usually available in the soil, but need to be added sometimes.
The rest are known as micronutrients. Plants only need them in very small amounts. Some of these, like Iron, can be tied up in the soil and need chelating agents to make them available. (pH causes iron to be tied up.)
Macronutrients get tied up in the soil more often in soils with low pH.
Micronutrients get tied up in the soil more often in soils with high pH.
If a plant is lacking in certain nutrients, there are specific symptoms that can be used to diagnose the problem.
Composting–Organic materials are converted into soil conditioner by making the conditions right for them to break down. Humus is what it is called when the process is complete.
Organic Matter –When worked in, it can improve friableness, drainage & nutrient holding capacity. Can be gained by adding composted material, mulches, or other products available to buy.

Composting–Choose a level, well-drained site. Build your pile over soil or lawn to make use of earthworms.

Tools: Compost thermometer, compost bin, aerator

If you just add to a pile and don’t manage it, you’ll have a slower decomposition. It may take a year or two. If you do everything that you can, you’ll have a fully composted pile in 3-4 weeks. You can either put everything together all at once and work that pile or continually add to it. The latter will take longer since new materials are added.

Factors: All organic matter will decompose, but the following guidelines will speed up the process.

Carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N)–the carbon is the “food” and the nitrogen functions as the digestive enzymes. The ratio should be 30:1 by weight. Accomplish this by adding 3-4 pounds of nitrogen material for every 100 pounds of carbon material. Not enough nitrogen will slow the decomposition process and too much can cause foul odors. Carbon: Leaves, newspaper, cardboard, sawdust, etc. Nitrogen: Manure, grass clippings, plant parts. Be careful with diseased plants and weeds. These can be added, but you need to make sure it gets hot enough to kill any diseases or weed seeds. (www.compostguide.com has a great chart listing material to be used and what not to use as well as why or why not.)

Surface Area–Cutting, chopping or otherwise making the materials in a compost pile smaller will enhance the surface area. With more surface area, the material will have more access to oxygen. Microbes can then have more access as well.

Aeration–Decomposition uses up the available oxygen. For the process to continue, more oxygen needs to be added. A compost pile needs to be turned to place the decomposing material in contact with new oxygen. The microbes will also have more access to the material.

Moisture–Microorganisms can only decompose organic materials if there is water present. The moisture content should be 40-60%. If water content goes below 40%, decomposition may stop completely. If the level is above 60%, aeration stops, nutrients can be leached out and the pile will smell. If you squeeze a handful of the compost, it should feel like a wrung-out sponge.

Temperature inside pile–The temperature should range between 90 and 140 degrees. If it is higher or lower, decomposition will slow.

Temperature outside pile–Though you can’t change the outside temperature, it will affect the temperature inside the pile. Spring is the best time to start composting. You can also improve the outside temperature by choosing a sunny, protected area.

Pollination–For fruit/seed production to occur, pollination must occur beforehand. Some plants can pollinate themselves, but others need to be pollinated by other plants. Bees, birds & wind can accomplish this.

Microorganisms–There are many microorganisms active in the soil. Some of these can provide benefits to plants. Some can make some of the essential nutrients more available to the plants by converting them into the forms that are more available to plants. Iron and Sulfur are two elements that are affected by microbes.

Microclimates–Areas that have different conditions than the surrounding land. This can be a temperature, wind, sun, moisture or any other condition, difference. This can be a beneficial or detrimental difference. If it is beneficial, you may be able to grow something that you can otherwise grow in your yard. The reverse is also true. Microclimates can be created by natural things such as trees, or hills. They can also be created by things that you do, such as plantings, fences, or buildings. Paint color or the material chosen for a fence/ building can make an area warmer if it is very light or made of glass.

Compost

2007-01-23T13:13:00.000-08:00

Again, in preparing for class, I found some good places to learn how to make a successful compost pile.

Composting: The Basics
Compost Guide

I wish I had the space to have a compost bin!

Nutrient Deficiency

2007-01-23T05:39:00.000-08:00

I found a few really good websites about plant nutrients and recognizing deficiencies.

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Deficiency Decision Tree
Plant Nutrient Deficiency Decision Key
Photos of Deficiency Symptoms
Essential Plant Nutrients
Plant Nutrients