Watch my chickens “bobbing for apples” here. They love them, and I enjoy taking them off my plants and turning them into eggs!
Year: 2013
Rejuvenating an overgrown garden
I am helping to
renovate the garden of a house that the previous owners neglected for
decades. The original gardeners planted
it without thought to the mature size of the shrubs, and no one has pruned them
in many years. Along the front of the house
grow azaleas and other large shrubs that, unpruned, would cover the windows. After years of neglect, later owners cut back
the shrubs to expose the windows, and now the shrubs look spindly and ragged
instead of full because the new owners pruned them out of desperation, not
deliberately and carefully over the years.
renovate the garden of a house that the previous owners neglected for
decades. The original gardeners planted
it without thought to the mature size of the shrubs, and no one has pruned them
in many years. Along the front of the house
grow azaleas and other large shrubs that, unpruned, would cover the windows. After years of neglect, later owners cut back
the shrubs to expose the windows, and now the shrubs look spindly and ragged
instead of full because the new owners pruned them out of desperation, not
deliberately and carefully over the years.
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| The jungle before we began pruning |
To rejuvenate
the overgrown landscape, I am attacking the shrubs with loppers and chemical
brush killer. I try to avoid herbicides
when I garden, but I make exceptions for large shrubs that I cannot dig out by
the roots and invasive plants that regenerate from fragments of roots. I use herbicides in ornamental areas when the
weeds are out of control or are invasive perennial weeds. In this garden, overgrown with bamboo, weedy
trees, and enormous shrubs, I need help from herbicides. We hope to make the garden low-maintenance
enough so that weeding chores will be minimal in the future for the new
homeowners.
the overgrown landscape, I am attacking the shrubs with loppers and chemical
brush killer. I try to avoid herbicides
when I garden, but I make exceptions for large shrubs that I cannot dig out by
the roots and invasive plants that regenerate from fragments of roots. I use herbicides in ornamental areas when the
weeds are out of control or are invasive perennial weeds. In this garden, overgrown with bamboo, weedy
trees, and enormous shrubs, I need help from herbicides. We hope to make the garden low-maintenance
enough so that weeding chores will be minimal in the future for the new
homeowners.
 |
| In this picture are several magnolia and oak trees, among other shrubs. |
In an area about
thirty feet square, there is a mature pine tree, a large cedar, four or five
magnolia trees, and a couple of other trees.
Adding to the jungle effect are wax myrtles, ligustrum, gardenias,
camellias, and azaleas with ivy, wisteria, and Virginia Creeper running through
it all. It appears that the original owners planted a pine
tree, a magnolia, and the shrubs. The
other shrubs and trees came up as volunteers, no one bothered to pull them up
when they were babies, and now they have formed a sickly mass of vegetation. Nothing, except perhaps the pine tree, has
enough room for proper growth.
thirty feet square, there is a mature pine tree, a large cedar, four or five
magnolia trees, and a couple of other trees.
Adding to the jungle effect are wax myrtles, ligustrum, gardenias,
camellias, and azaleas with ivy, wisteria, and Virginia Creeper running through
it all. It appears that the original owners planted a pine
tree, a magnolia, and the shrubs. The
other shrubs and trees came up as volunteers, no one bothered to pull them up
when they were babies, and now they have formed a sickly mass of vegetation. Nothing, except perhaps the pine tree, has
enough room for proper growth.
My seven-year-
old knows how to weed, and follows this simple logic: she asks herself, when
encountering a seedling tree or shrub (right now, she reliably identifies pine
tree seedlings) “Would they want a mature pine tree in this spot?” If the answer is no, she yanks up the tree (I
have to stop her sometimes in public areas).
If you walk around your yard and remove seedling trees and shrubs now,
you save yourself or future owners of your home a battle armed with loppers and
herbicides in thirty years.
Azaleas grow
eight to 20 feet tall and wide at maturity; loropetalums grow up to 20 feet,
ligustrum (a shrub home builders love to use as foundation plantings under
windows that are four feet off the ground because it grows quickly) grows up to
18 feet tall or higher, and camellias grow 12-25 feet tall. Lower-growing varieties of these plants
exist, and may be good choices to reside under windows. However, the cheapest shrubs at the garden
center are not usually the dwarf varieties.
eight to 20 feet tall and wide at maturity; loropetalums grow up to 20 feet,
ligustrum (a shrub home builders love to use as foundation plantings under
windows that are four feet off the ground because it grows quickly) grows up to
18 feet tall or higher, and camellias grow 12-25 feet tall. Lower-growing varieties of these plants
exist, and may be good choices to reside under windows. However, the cheapest shrubs at the garden
center are not usually the dwarf varieties.
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| Under the windows are azaleas and camellias |
If you prune
shrubs that are too big for their spot regularly, as in several times a year,
they will behave themselves, but if you are sick or busy for a couple of years,
they will obstruct your view out the living room window. Perhaps you don’t know the identity of the
shrubs around your house; the builder put them in and you haven’t done anything
to them besides prune them since. If you
have to prune them several times a year to keep them under control, they are
too large for the spot, and you will save yourself a lot of work in the future
if you replace them with something appropriate.
shrubs that are too big for their spot regularly, as in several times a year,
they will behave themselves, but if you are sick or busy for a couple of years,
they will obstruct your view out the living room window. Perhaps you don’t know the identity of the
shrubs around your house; the builder put them in and you haven’t done anything
to them besides prune them since. If you
have to prune them several times a year to keep them under control, they are
too large for the spot, and you will save yourself a lot of work in the future
if you replace them with something appropriate.
I waded into the
jungle and began cutting off shrubs and small trees at the ground with the
loppers, and spraying the remaining stump with an herbicide recommended for
killing brush. I have tried killing
shrubs organically by cutting them back numerous times or digging them out by
the roots, but most established shrubs are difficult to dig. I expect to be done with these plants after
one or two sprayings, and by cutting it back first and spraying the cut stump,
I use significantly less herbicide than if I sprayed the entire plant.
jungle and began cutting off shrubs and small trees at the ground with the
loppers, and spraying the remaining stump with an herbicide recommended for
killing brush. I have tried killing
shrubs organically by cutting them back numerous times or digging them out by
the roots, but most established shrubs are difficult to dig. I expect to be done with these plants after
one or two sprayings, and by cutting it back first and spraying the cut stump,
I use significantly less herbicide than if I sprayed the entire plant.
 |
| Brush pile after trimming, with my daughter for perspective |
I will be
writing about this garden in future articles, and I will be describing my
battle with the bamboo that is advancing on the house from a nearby abandoned
home. As for bamboo, my only advice is,
don’t ever plant it, and do everything you can to kill existing bamboo. I tried the herbicide on it, but I am afraid
it will laugh and continue growing.
writing about this garden in future articles, and I will be describing my
battle with the bamboo that is advancing on the house from a nearby abandoned
home. As for bamboo, my only advice is,
don’t ever plant it, and do everything you can to kill existing bamboo. I tried the herbicide on it, but I am afraid
it will laugh and continue growing.
 |
| Bamboo jungle, technically on the other side of the fence, but bamboo ignores fences |
Plant some herbs this spring
When I was in the produce section of the grocery store last
week to purchase some salad greens, I stopped in front of the packets of fresh
herbs. Many years ago, I purchased some
fresh herbs from the grocery store in my desperation to try a special recipe
during a time I was without access to a garden, but most of the time I rely on
dried or fresh herbs from my garden.
week to purchase some salad greens, I stopped in front of the packets of fresh
herbs. Many years ago, I purchased some
fresh herbs from the grocery store in my desperation to try a special recipe
during a time I was without access to a garden, but most of the time I rely on
dried or fresh herbs from my garden.
At $2.49 for about ½ an ounce of herbs, or in other words, a
couple of stems of wilted basil 4 inches long, using fresh herbs in the quantity I
like to use them is expensive.
Exceptions are fresh cilantro and parsley; stores sell rather large
bunches of these herbs for a dollar or two, and because our heat usually makes
the cilantro bolt to seed before tomatoes are ready to make salsa, I buy it at
the store.
couple of stems of wilted basil 4 inches long, using fresh herbs in the quantity I
like to use them is expensive.
Exceptions are fresh cilantro and parsley; stores sell rather large
bunches of these herbs for a dollar or two, and because our heat usually makes
the cilantro bolt to seed before tomatoes are ready to make salsa, I buy it at
the store.
If you find yourself avoiding certain recipes because they
call for fresh herbs, or if you do buy the expensive packets of herbs that
cannot actually be fresh by the time they reach the grocery store, try growing
your own herbs. No matter how small
your garden, it is easy to grow your own for fresh consumption and to dry some
for use the rest of the year.
call for fresh herbs, or if you do buy the expensive packets of herbs that
cannot actually be fresh by the time they reach the grocery store, try growing
your own herbs. No matter how small
your garden, it is easy to grow your own for fresh consumption and to dry some
for use the rest of the year.
If you have a sunny spot big enough for a pot, grow some
herbs, even if you don’t have room for anything else. I used to have an herb garden, but now I mix
the perennial herbs in with my flowers and shrubs and I plant the annual herbs
in rows in the vegetable garden. They
are easy to grow, and with the exception of mint, behave themselves. Mint needs the confines of a pot to contain
the runners; if you ignore this advice, you will battle the runners for the
rest of your gardening career. My mint
is not in a pot, and we fight.
herbs, even if you don’t have room for anything else. I used to have an herb garden, but now I mix
the perennial herbs in with my flowers and shrubs and I plant the annual herbs
in rows in the vegetable garden. They
are easy to grow, and with the exception of mint, behave themselves. Mint needs the confines of a pot to contain
the runners; if you ignore this advice, you will battle the runners for the
rest of your gardening career. My mint
is not in a pot, and we fight.
Rosemary is somewhat tricky to establish in the garden but
once it decides it belongs in your garden, it does not require
maintenance. In the winter or early
spring, tiny beautiful purple blooms attract honeybees. Rosemary likes hot dry sites; my mother has
tried for years to find some shrub that will grow across the front of her brick
home that the afternoon sun bakes all day; rosemary thrives where many other
shrubs have died over the years.
once it decides it belongs in your garden, it does not require
maintenance. In the winter or early
spring, tiny beautiful purple blooms attract honeybees. Rosemary likes hot dry sites; my mother has
tried for years to find some shrub that will grow across the front of her brick
home that the afternoon sun bakes all day; rosemary thrives where many other
shrubs have died over the years.
I water rosemary often until it is established. I make sure the soil dries some between
waterings, but I don’t let it dry out so much that it begins to wilt. Many plants tolerate this treatment, but
rosemary does not. Rosemary will also die
in soggy soil. I have killed many more
rosemary plants than have lived in my yard, but because I persevered, I have
several healthy, trouble-free plants. If
you kill rosemary in one place, move it somewhere else until you find a good
spot. If a friend has an established
rosemary bush, ask him or her to reach under the bush and remove some baby
rosemary plants that have rooted from the mother plant for you.
waterings, but I don’t let it dry out so much that it begins to wilt. Many plants tolerate this treatment, but
rosemary does not. Rosemary will also die
in soggy soil. I have killed many more
rosemary plants than have lived in my yard, but because I persevered, I have
several healthy, trouble-free plants. If
you kill rosemary in one place, move it somewhere else until you find a good
spot. If a friend has an established
rosemary bush, ask him or her to reach under the bush and remove some baby
rosemary plants that have rooted from the mother plant for you.
Sage, in my experience, is also difficult to establish and
likes conditions similar to rosemary’s preferences. My mother has a patch of sage growing in the
same baking sun the rosemary likes that is older than I am, but she gave me
several starts of her sage before I got one to grow in my garden. Using my own sage in recipes instead of that
jarred “rubbed sage” is worth the trouble.
Thyme and oregano like more consistently moist, but not soggy, sites.
likes conditions similar to rosemary’s preferences. My mother has a patch of sage growing in the
same baking sun the rosemary likes that is older than I am, but she gave me
several starts of her sage before I got one to grow in my garden. Using my own sage in recipes instead of that
jarred “rubbed sage” is worth the trouble.
Thyme and oregano like more consistently moist, but not soggy, sites.
After several years of letting parsley flower and go to seed
in a corner of my flowerbed, parsley returns every year without any effort from
me. I have enough plants to share with
the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly larvae when they need some food, too. Cilantro and dill also reproduce each year
without any trouble from me.
in a corner of my flowerbed, parsley returns every year without any effort from
me. I have enough plants to share with
the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly larvae when they need some food, too. Cilantro and dill also reproduce each year
without any trouble from me.
Put out transplants of rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano,
chives, tarragon, and parsley at any time of the year except summer. Water them until they are established, and
try not to put them out if temperatures into the teens are expected. Sow cilantro, dill, fennel, and parsley in
the early spring, and sow basil, the only commonly used herb that is bothered by frost, after the last frost in your area.
chives, tarragon, and parsley at any time of the year except summer. Water them until they are established, and
try not to put them out if temperatures into the teens are expected. Sow cilantro, dill, fennel, and parsley in
the early spring, and sow basil, the only commonly used herb that is bothered by frost, after the last frost in your area.
Perhaps one day I will have a formal herb garden, but for
now, I am content having access to some fresh herbs nearly year round and dried
herbs from my garden during times the fresh ones are not at their peak.
now, I am content having access to some fresh herbs nearly year round and dried
herbs from my garden during times the fresh ones are not at their peak.
Don’t be scared of compost
Having a compost pile has become a popular trend among
urbanites as well as rural folks. Even non-gardeners who want to do something with their kitchen scraps besides put them in the garbage have begun composting. Visit local home stores, and you’ll find containers to hold the scraps inside the house, and numerous containers to help with the outdoor composting process.
urbanites as well as rural folks. Even non-gardeners who want to do something with their kitchen scraps besides put them in the garbage have begun composting. Visit local home stores, and you’ll find containers to hold the scraps inside the house, and numerous containers to help with the outdoor composting process.
Why make compost?
Compost is a wonderful addition to the garden, and it’s certainly better to add plant material back to the soil instead of throwing it in the landfill. Making compost is not something that has to be expensive, or even cost any money at all, although gardening catalogs would have you believe you must purchase all the correct products to begin.
My parents have collected their compost ingredients in an aluminum pie pan for as long as I remember, and they’ve thrown the scraps at the edge of the garden in a pile where they eventually turn into compost. When I was a child, they told me, I am sure in response to my questions, that they were taking it to feed the garden creatures, and so we called it “the bug and worm pile.” I don’t remember hearing the word “compost” until I was an adult.
My parents lack either a garbage disposal or a big roll away cart for their trash, because they have no county trash pickup, so they make sure not to put anything that might smell bad in the trash before my father takes the trash to the dump. My parents compost out of necessity and for the health of their garden, and they feed the wildlife with scraps they can’t
compost. They have not spent any money on their compost pile.
compost. They have not spent any money on their compost pile.
I do have county trash pickup and a garbage disposal, and it
would certainly be easier to throw everything in the garbage than to separate the items. I feed my chickens non-poultry food scraps sometimes, and sometimes I send refuse down the garbage disposal. I save all vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee and tea grounds, and other food scraps that do not contain fat, dairy, or meat for my compost pile. I have spent money on my compost pile and compost collection containers, but it’s
not necessary.
would certainly be easier to throw everything in the garbage than to separate the items. I feed my chickens non-poultry food scraps sometimes, and sometimes I send refuse down the garbage disposal. I save all vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee and tea grounds, and other food scraps that do not contain fat, dairy, or meat for my compost pile. I have spent money on my compost pile and compost collection containers, but it’s
not necessary.
My stainless steel compost container has a tight fitting lid and two filters, keeping the stench of the smelliest onion inside. Initially, I had a metal one, but because compost scraps are moist, holes rusted in it quickly. I enjoy using it because it stores the scraps neatly away until I’m ready to take them outside, but frequent trips to the compost bin give me exercise. Here is one similar to mine.
My Compost Piles
My husband built me an elaborate three bin compost container, based on my plan, and for several years I put the fresh compost scraps in one bin, the intermediate-level compost in another bin, and the finished compost in the third bin, and I tossed the compost ingredients among the bins to make sure they were properly aerated and layered.
I have neither the time nor the energy for this now, and so I have one main pile of compost ingredients against the garden fence. When I obtain kitchen scraps that are neither dairy, meat, nor fat, I put them in the pile.
I put annual weeds that have not gone to seed on the pile, leaves, grass
clippings, non-diseased dead plants, and any other plant trimmings. Eventually, it all rots and turns into compost, just like the leaves on the forest floor.
I put annual weeds that have not gone to seed on the pile, leaves, grass
clippings, non-diseased dead plants, and any other plant trimmings. Eventually, it all rots and turns into compost, just like the leaves on the forest floor.
Spring Flower Photos
I am sharing some more pictures of my foxgloves and other spring flowers.
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| Foxgloves |
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| Foxglove with some sort of mutation that causes a wider stem and clump of blossoms. |
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| Another mutated foxglove from a few years ago. This one did not produce seeds. |
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| Daisies and foxgloves |
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| A rear view of the garden, with the stump of the tree in the lower left photo. The garden has flourished since we removed it. |
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| Roses and foxgloves, with poppies beginning to bloom. |
