FLOWER SHOPS, FLORISTS
GARDENING, HORTICULTURE
CONNECTION SECRETS

Keep unwanted weeds and grass from coming up through cracks by pouring pure white vinegar in cracks. It works.

TOADS ARE GOOD The average toad will eat 50-100 insects every night - that's 10,000 to 20,000 insects during a gardening season. They help eliminate garden pests such as flies, grubs, slugs, cutworms, grasshoppers, and anything else they are fast enough to catch.

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Rabbits hanging around your garden? You might be able to save your plants by planting shallots, onions, leeks, garlic and other onion relatives between the rows.

When along comes summer and our gardens and lawns need water to help them grow and look great. Water is a precious resource which none of us can afford to waste. There are many ways we can reduce the amount of water applied to our landscape and in many cases actually improve the health of plants. Here are some tips to help maximize the success of water and reduce the amount of water applied.
When applying water to any plant, water deeply and thoroughly.
If your soil has dried and hardened, water may not soak in thoroughly, so add 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap per gallon of water and soak the root area.
Most plant roots are very near the surface of the soil and can dry out quickly in sun and wind. Adding a layer of mulch will help reduce evaporation and insulate the soil. Avoid watering at night when insects and disease are most active.
Use water timers and avoid letting the water run for extended times. You can easily add battery timers to your hose system. Even the simple water shut off timers can help a great deal.
For a more sophisticated, automatic system, consider installing an underground irrigation system. We can even help you figure out everything you need.
Plants, which dry out rapidly and require frequent irrigation, can benefit by applying a non-toxic biodegradable spray like anti-stress 2000) which slows the evaporation rate of moisture from the plant. One application should protect the plants for several weeks.
Loosen soil and aerate lawns. Compacted soil will resist water penetration and allow water to run off. Where possible lightly cultivate around plants but not too deep.
Lawns should be aerated (which is the removing of cores of soil) by machine. Rent the machine or hire a company to do the job. You can either rake up the cores and add them to your compost pile, or you can leave them and they will breakdown into your lawn through the mowing process.
Lawns should be watered less often but deeply. To be sure you are applying water evenly, set out tuna or pet food containers about every ten feet from the edge to edge and see how long it takes to fill them and how evenly they fill. Lawns dry faster on slopes and next to paved areas where supplemental irrigation can be useful. Set your mower higher during hot weather. The longer blades help the lawn tolerate the stress of heat. Finally try not to cut off more than 1/3 of the height of the grass each time.
For container plants, use a drip irrigation to allow the water to be applied slow and deep. They are very easy to install.
Be sure to inspect valves and faucets for drips, which can not only waste water, but can be harmful to plants do to wet soil. ******************************** TIP: There is now a Fall Pansy that blooms again in the Spring. Pansies are one flower you can plant very early as they don't mind frost. I have used them in hanging baskets, as well, and they are very attractive.

SUPPLIES FOR THE GARDENERS
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