I wanted to take a moment and re-post this from last year:

It’s time to plant mums

I was planning on picking up a few mums this weekend to add some fall color to the yard. But it’s raining now and is expected to continue through the weekend. Planting may be on hold, but this gives me a great opportunity to offer up some tips and advice on getting the most from your plants.

When purchasing mums there a a few things to remember. Try not to purchase plants that are in full bloom. It’s much nicer if they begin their bloom in your yard where you have more time to enjoy them. Pay close attention to the flower buds. If they look dried out and shriveled, choose a different plant. Be certain the soil is moist and not dry. Another thing to consider is the container. Some are sold in decorative containers. We’re paying extra for those. If you have no intention to keep the plants in those containers (you’re planting them ) look for plants in a simpler pot.

Mums will grow in any average soil but will appreciate the addition of some compost. Well drained soil is necessary for the plant’s growth and the ability to survive the winter successfully. Regular fall watering is necessary if the season is dry.

Mums should be lightly mulched to help prevent multiple freeze/thaw cycles. But don’t mulch too heavily as the plants may suffocate. It is just necessary to mulch the soil under the plant and an area around it. Don’t mulch up over the plant’s stems and foliage. Shredded leaves are a good material to use as mulch. The plants may also be aided by the installation of a burlap covering at the end of the season. This will help protect them from damaging winter winds.

If all goes well the hardy mums should survive the winter. The spring will tell us if our work was successful. The plants will then have all year to grow and add even more color to next fall’s landscape. After a few growing seasons the plants will be large enough to be divided and separated. But we’ll discuss that in the spring when it’s more appropriate.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

September 13th, 2008

My apologies to everyone who has been trying to keep up with TBG and found nothing new lately. Computer problems and my schedule have combined to make things difficult.

I hope to continue bringing information to all of you. Information that you will find useful, helpful and interesting. Please bear with me and I hope things will be back to normal soon.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

Here is a link to more information.

http://monroetalks.com/livechat/index.php?theCase=enterChat&chatID=6

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I received some interesting “how to grow it” tips from Mother Earth News. I just thought I would pass them along. I hope you find them interesting.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/Growing-Potatoes.aspx?utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2008-10-01/How-To-Grow-Spinach.aspx?utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/Growing-Peas.aspx?utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2008-08-01/How-To-Grow-Carrots.aspx?utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I thought this may be of interest to some of you:

Community Gardeners presents

“The Do’s and Don’ts of Houseplants”

Presentation on how to grow beautiful houseplants.

Thursday, January 15, 6:30pm-9:00pm

Cost $3.00

At: Community Lutheran Church

23984 Gibraltar Rd

Flat Rock, MI 48134

RSVP Church office at 734 782-0563

I’ll see you in the backyard!

A free beginners organic gardening class and party from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday Nov. 6 at the London Youth Enrichment Program facility, 11983 Tuttle-Hill Rd., Milan.

Conservationist Al Norwood will give the presentation, which is designed for all ages.

Refreshments will be served.

For information, call 439-8964.

http://www.monroetalks.com/events/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=109976&year=2008&month=11

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I was asked an interesting question a few months ago. “What can we do with our fish?” The family was a victim of our state’s economy. They were moving out of their house and were concerned for all the fish in their ornamental pond.

I remember helping them build that pond nearly twenty years ago. I knew how much they enjoyed it and understood their concern for the fish. Realizing the possibility that the house may be unoccupied for some time, there were obvious concerns about the fish. Their survival would depend on a pump running in the pond and someone feeding them. Neither would happen while the house was empty.

I decided that I had to find a new home for those fish. We were able to keep a few. But I did not have room for the estimated 60 or 70 that were in the pond. I asked everyone I could think of that could possibly have room for the fish. Many wonderful people wanted to help. But they just did not have room for more fish.

I had no intention on giving up, but I was ready to look for other options. I was running out of possibilities and time.

My answer was found at my chiropractor’s office. I was in for an adjustment and was telling him of my problem. He informed me that his cousin had a pond and offered to check with him to see if he had room for them. He called his cousin on the spot and my problem was solved.

There were still some challenges along the way. Finding the time to move the fish was difficult. Catching that many fish was a project. Even after draining the pond of all but a few inches of water, the fish still had their hiding places. There were sheltered areas and hiding places built into the pond. Those fish used them all to their advantage. It took two trips to obtain all the fish. If our count was accurate, we rescued 78 fish. A few of them stayed with us to keep my kids happy and for sentimental reasons.

Last night the remaining fish were delivered to their new home. There were still over 60 fish that found their way to that new pond. It was a nice feeling to get to that happy ending.

I would like to thank everyone who helped make this possible. I could not have done it without you.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I now have four rain barrels to assist me with summer watering.

I was fortunate to get the 55 gallon plastic drums free. Their previous contents were not harmful. A quick rinse and they were ready for use.

The barrels are being used on a roof without gutters. I used a jigsaw to cut the tops out of the barrels. Hardware cloth was used to make a cover for the barrels. This helps to keep debris out of the barrels. The barrels were then lined under the edge of the roof to catch the runoff.

I plan on just dipping the water out of the barrels and use it for spot watering. I’ll still have to use the water hose. It just won’t be as often.

It wouldn’t take much to drop in a small submersible pump to empty the barrel. This could pump to the water to the garden or used to fill a bucket.

I could have made them with a drain valve at the bottom. But I was trying to keep costs minimal.

Adding a valve is usually easy. Most barrels have two openings on top. these are generally two inch pipe thread. Using reducer fittings will allow you to add a drain valve. The barrel would then be turned upside down and supported off the ground on blocks to allow space for the valve.

The second opening could be used to connect a second barrel and so on. This system would allow multiple barrels to drain from one valve.

This approach would work very well for connecting to a downspout. All that is needed is one hole cut in a barrel to allow the downspout to be redirected to the barrel.

Quick tip: I try to save as much water as possible. Whether it’s saving the water you rinse vegetables with or the water left from the ice that melted in the cooler. It all can be dumped into a rain barrel and be used on your plants.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

The Junior Master Gardener program is coming up. This is a wonderful opportunity for the kids to gain some knowledge and have some fun!

See the links below for ages and times.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

This one in Monroe: http://www.monroetalks.com/events/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=102010

This one in Temperance: http://www.monroetalks.com/events/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=102011

This is my favorite part of the spring season.

My garden is nearly all planted. All that is left are the pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and a row of sunflowers.

The landscape project I was working on has been completed.

Now I have time for the fun stuff. Watching it all grow!

It is also time to begin the smaller projects, I’m planning an arbor to grow birdhouse gourds on. I want to build a raised bed to plant more raspberries in. I’ve also been working on a couple of rain barrels. I have lots of project ideas.

I’d better hurry before the weeds start to grow!

I’ll see you in the backyard!