The weather is finally cold so I can reclaim my garden.I surrendered it to the pests this summer.My second bout with the yellow jackets was all it took. Now I have about 150 iris rhizomes that will need to be potted or planted and really cared for it they are going to thrive again in the spring.
But cold weather or not – I will garden on. Now is the time to tackle all of those projects that otherwise are neglected.
1.Tools – clean, repair and sharpen all of those tools that are abused during the peak of the season. This is also a good time to start making a list for new tools and looking for some great sales.
2.Seedlings – November is a great month to start seedlings to be planted in the spring. Tomato plants and pepper plants are just two of the summer crops that you can start today.
3.Planning – it is never too soon to start planning your future garden plots. Start measuring, covering and plotting your future plots.
4.Ordering – there are a number of great deals to be found in the seed catalogs and online stores. Some will not ship until it is time to plant.
5. Hardscape – it is so much easier to see the layout of the garden when everything has died back. Now is the perfect time to create seating areas and focal points with hardscape through out the garden.
No matter how much was accomplished during the peak gardening season there is always more to do. Continue to get your hands dirty and enjoy the benefits of gardening through out the year and you will be able to create more enjoyment when the next peak season rolls around.
The Brazilian Fire Ant has always been one of the worst pests in my garden.It seemed like there was a conspiracy and they always managed to find me – no matter how many other people might be outside at the same time. I carry “Stop Sting” or “Sting Away” or some combination that will help when they find me (and the WILL find me).
This year the fire ants have been outmaneuvered. Their place at the top of the pest mountain has been replaced with a vengeance. The yellow jackets in our region of the world have been meaner and their stings seem to be more powerful. And once again I seem to have a magic wand for finding them.
It started a few weeks back when I was digging iris rhizomes (some that needed digging back in 2005). I started my second day bright and early and was on my forth clump when I felt something sting my thumb through my gloves. Knowing the fire ant conspiracy you can understand why I stood there for a good 60 seconds trying to locate the fire ants. It took my brain that long to signal to my feet that it wasn’t fire ants and that I needed to run.
By the time I got up to the house the pitchfork I had left in the ground was engulfed in a cloud of yellow jackets. It seems that they don’t approve of you digging up their nest. That one sting hurt me for several days and I refused to let anyone play outside until the bug man could make it out to spray the nest.
I was ready to get back at it by the following week. The kids were preparing to hold their first plant sale and I wanted them to have some of the rhizomes. We all went out as a family and dug almost an entire row of plants. Later that day the boys went to town with their dad to put up posters for their sale and I went out to surprise them with more plants. I was on my second clump when I felt the sting – right up my shorts.
This time I didn’t stick around. I ran across the yard to inspect my sting and see what was going on. But about the time I stopped, I felt another sting. I ran father. This time I was all the way down the field when I stopped and felt yet another sting on my ankle. The yellow jacket was stuck in my sock so now I new who was attacking.
In my mind I could see the arrow that the mean little warriors were making (you know, like from the cartoon). I contemplated stripping down naked, but my father in law had just gone up to the neighbors and I was worried what it might do to his heart to drive back and see me running naked up the driveway.
I did end up leaving my clogs where they fell and ran sock footed to the front porch where I did strip down naked and ran for the shower. My clothes sat out on the porch for a full week. My clogs were left to the elements for awhile, but my husband finally picked them up.
That was about a month ago. Since then my husband has mowed over a yellow jacket’s nest and so has my father in law. I have decided that I’m not going back outside unless it’s less than 50 degrees. I have abandoned my gardens to the weeds and grass and the yellow jackets that they obviously hide.
It’s time to start digging around in the flower beds. Weeding, mulching, dividing and planting are some of the prep work most gardeners do each spring. Unfortunately, many of us stumble across poison oak or poison ivy that can make the experience unbearable at times.
I started working in the flower beds on Monday. It shouldn’t have surprised me when I awoke Tuesday with a wrist that was itching like mad. At first I thought that it was just dry skin. After carefully studying the one spot that was itching though, I discovered the tale-tale bumps.
I’m not normally allergic to poison oak or poison ivy. Occasionally, my immune system gets a little faulty and it is those times that I break out. Several years ago, I had a severe breakout on my leg. I tried all the “normal” remedies, but the itching was so painful.I needed something more and I needed it RIGHT NOW!
While doing some research over the internet about natural cures, I discovered Zanfel. It is a topical wash used to remove the oils that make the skin itch. It took even more research before I found a place nearby (about 30 minutes away) that sold Zanfel. My husband and I immediately left to make the drive.
When we arrived home I wasted no time trying Zanfel on my poison ivy. Within seconds, the itching was gone and never returned. The bumps were gone in a day or so as well. Since that first experience, I have never let my cabinet become empty of Zanfel.
Granted the price is not cheap. You may pay around $40 for a 2 ounce container. But if you know the product will work – consistently and quickly – does it really matter in the long run. Besides, that one container can last my whole family a year or two (and I have a house full of boys that are ALWAYS adventuring).
Don’t suffer through poison ivy or poison oak any longer. Call your local drugstore and see if they carry Zanfel.
Paradise Gardens is a dream that I have had in my head since my husband and I first purchased this land. I used the inheritance received from my grandmother to honor both her and my grandfather (an avid Iris grower) by purchasing plants to begin the garden.
Over the last several years, we have hit a few minor (and major snags). Just after getting the garden show ready, we found out we were pregnant with our third child – surprise! Last year we went the entire summer with out more than a drop of rain and the dirt became solid brick. The flowers bloomed, but the weeds thrived and tended to block them out. It’s truly amazing how strong and versatile the weeds can be in this region.
This will be the first year that we are able to truly open the garden up to the public. We’ve had a few visitors over the years, but this is the one where we actually put up a sign and point the way. The kids are excited, my husband is excited, and I am ready for this dream to become a reality.
The whole family is going to work together to make Paradise Gardens a financial success, but also make it a place that will bless the people who visit the gardens. We are mere stewards over all this land, and we want it to be as much of a blessing to others as it has been to us.
In the next few weeks, we will begin to post pictures of the gardens, list plants that are available, and hopefully get the ball rolling in the right direction. Along the way, I will continue to share tips, secrets and ideas that helped us get to the point where we can say that what we have in our gardens is a testament of Who we belong to in life.
Every year we plow a HUGE garden. Every year we plant a portion of that HUGE garden and the rest grows up. Every year that small portion gets crowded out by weeds or is neglected of water so that by the time the tomatoes are ripe we have given up.
The square foot garden idea seemed simple enough, but we have one of those “we’ve never done it that way before” kind of people around our house. If the garden isn’t in rows then it just isn’t a garden. “Why, all my life . . .”
Caught in the middle of how it was always done and let’s try something new were my two children. The oldest was NOT taking it well at all. Every time he thought he’d figured something out, it seemed the rules were changed. The middle child is like a duck – it all just rolls right off his back (unless it’s the older brother causing the trouble then he’s going to fall to the ground in pain and moaning).
Once the dust and seeds settled down, I worked out the square foot garden idea with each of the boys. The middle child said once these grew, he’d just do the square foot garden then – great attitude. After I convinced the oldest child that he didn’t need to dig up all the seeds he already set in, and showed him how we could still make a square foot garden, he got right to work measuring out the grid and getting it ready for some twine.
So – the great square foot garden experiment has hit a small bump, but still is well on its way. The most fun will be planting new and different crops as each on of the squares comes to harvest – that is if no one else beats me to it next time!
It’s time to start thinking about the garden. The trilliums are up in the woods, the daffodils are blooming all around, and even the frogs are chirping in the pond. Spring may not officially be here, but she is sure making her approach known.
This year our family is using the square foot system for our vegetable garden. Each member gets one square (approximately 4 ft by 4 ft). Around the square we put down weed barrier with pine straw mulch.
Each square is marked by a string into smaller 1 ft squares – giving each person 16 planting zones. Then each smaller square is planed according the seed packages that are being used. You can plant about 36 carrots in one square, but a squash plant will take up around four squares.
The idea behind the square foot garden is there will be less prep work needed, less planting required, easier weeding and watering and higher yields (because you are likely to take better care of the garden).
We played with the concept during the fall and even got a good crop of radishes and lettuce (that is still producing) for the effort. The gardens are already prepared for the spring planting as we speak and it only took about 10 minutes total.
According to the book that I read and based our garden on, six squares is all that will be needed to produce enough produce for our family. It will be interesting to see if all that the book promised about square foot gardening ends up being true.
Fire ants are already on the move. If you wait until traditional garden season before you begin your combat then you will be too late. Start right now – while the weather is dry and above 70 degrees and hit them with all you got.
·Granules – put out bait around the mounds that the workers can take back to the queen. It may take a few days for the effects to show, but you will be grateful.
·Seasonal treatment – there are many brands of treatment you can purchase, or you can spend that extra bit and have a professional come treat your yard. You will breathe easier when the kids are out wrestling in the grass if you know there are no fire ants on the prowl.
Fire ants are not just a nuisance in your yard and in your garden, but they can be dangerous – particularly if you have small children around. Don’t wait until they are a problem. Start Now!
Some Things You Should Know
There are often more than one queen in the imported fire ant colonies. Be patient with baiting large mounds. It might take several applications to get all the queens.
Fire ants have to have water to survive.If their mound is not located near water, you can be sure it is digging down TO water.
You can not drown fire ants – they will form a protective ball around the queen and just float to safety.
Most queens will be several (up to six feet) underground. You will not be able to burn her out.
Fire ants will not forage in extremes (if it’s too hot or too cold). During the summer, put bait out first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon when the ants are likely to be the most active.
Gardening is an adventure that will grow and change, not only with the seasons, but with the latest introductions to the family and to the world of gardening. No matter what you are interested in growing, there a few basic steps that you must follow if you want to have a successful, and enjoyable garden.
Observe. Look around your area and see where the sun falls and for how long. Take a day to record the number of hours of sunlight your plants will receive.
Plan. Measure and then sketch out the area you will be using. Think about what plants you want and how much room they will take up (when they are mature). If you don’t have gardening books, check some out at the library.
Clear. Get the garden ready to plant. There are many ways to go about it. Some people cover the area with plastic for a full year to kill out the weeds and grass. Some people use Roundup for a year before planting in a spot. I discovered a sod cutter. It’ll cut out the grass and weeds in perfect strips. Then you can start sharing your garden before you grow a single plant. My neighbor uses the grass to cover his pasture pond.
DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. It will be look (and seem) easier to just plow up or till up your space and then rake through it a few times. I’m speaking from experience when I tell you the weeds will come to haunt your. Get rid of the vegetation before you plow or till.
Prepare. Once the area is clear of other vegetation, it is time to till. After a couple of times tilling the dirt, you can amend the soil with manure or other fertilizers to make sure you plants have the best start.
Design. When you start to buy plants (especially flowers) put them down in the pots before you start planting. See how they look together. Look at them from different angles. They are a lot easier to rearrange while they are still above ground.
Plant. Every plant is a little different, so read the labels. Make sure the roots are loose (pull them away from the dirt – but be gentle so they don’t break). I’ve always heard this called “tickling” the roots.
Water. Give your plants a good start by watering them in. This means that the ground needs to be wet to the depth of the new plants roots. This could involve leaving a sprinkler on for a few hours, or a hose next to the plant (on low) over night.
These steps will help you get off to a great start in your garden. But it’s only the beginning. Once the plants are in the ground, you have to maintain the area to give them the best chance of survival and to give yourself the optimum amount of enjoyment. Be sure you weed REGULARLY (a baby weed is much easier to pull up than one that has been allowed to establish itself) with your hands, a weeding tool, or even a post-emergent.
Water your plants during long periods of drought. Some will go dormant without the water but many will die – especially in the first year. For the first week or two, make sure the plants get watered daily. Once they are established, a weekly watering should be sufficient.
Last, but not least, share the love. Give the extras from your garden to friends, family, neighbors, or anyone who shows and admiration for what you’ve accomplished.
Anyone who lives south of the Mason Dixon Line has probably encountered those pesky Brazilian fire ants. Painful would probably be a better way of describing them. They are aggressive and apparently resistant to most types of ant poison.
I have small children, love to wander in the garden, and have guest over all the time. I don’t want to spend half the day treating fire ant stings, especially on myself. I’ve used the Seven broadcast product, Over and Out in the past and it worked wonders. But it has to be watered in and that hasn’t been an option for our 10 acres as of late.
For the past few years, we have been using some kind of powder that comes in a green can and stinks to the heavens. It seemed to be working. When I went to buy some the other day, a lady told me that it doesn’t kill the mound, just lots of the workers. She told me to watch around the mound I treated and see if there wasn’t another fire ant bed near by in the next couple of days. She was right.
Fortunately, Seven has come out with another version of the Over and Out. This time it’s a mound poison. It even comes with a convenient measure attached directly to the container. It takes three days for the product to work, but I have yet to have fire ant mounds pop up else where. It may be too soon to scream “IT WORKS!” It’s getting close, though. I have one more GIANT fire ant mound to test the product on, and I’ll keep you posted with how the ants stay away through out the season.
Fire ants are not only annoying, they can be dangerous. It will be great when we finally find the product that will rid us of these foreign pests one and for all.
