Saturday, November 19, 2011

Redwood Bark in Flower Beds?

I have used redwood bark in our lovely garden flower beds. Usually I have this removed yearly and soil amendment added before applying fresh bark. While planting my spring flowers I found the much of the bark is imbedded into the soil (a mess). There seems to be more bark then soil. What do you suggest


To get the flower beds back into correct condition?

Redwood Bark in Flower Beds?
Mulches such as redwood and cypress are both impressive and expensive. Unlike other alternatives of the hardwoods they do not decompose quickly or cleanly.


Where a customer insist on either of these mulches I spread a 2"layer of a double/triple shredded hardwood mulch first. Atop of that I add a maximum of 1" of the more decorative mulch. The hardwood will breakdown into soil much quicker. The combo works well.


Unless you excavate the site the redwood is there to stay for some time. Till the soil as best you can. Take a sample of your tilled soil to a reputable garden store for a soil test to see what your additive needs may be. Given it's very nature the redwood will not become soil for many years.


Another possibility that is both labor and cost intensive it to rejuvenate the soil and plant your spring/summer choices. Do this through landscape weed-block cloth. You can mulch over the cloth and when you remove the plants in fall simply remove the cloth and mulch.


Make your presentation of plants the focus of your garden not the mulch! Use the hardwood mulch for a few years and spend the savings on upgraded plant material.
Reply:It's always best to remove as much of the mulch from the soil as possible before continuing planting. I just finished dealing with a gardenbed that had the same issue. I took a sharpshooter shovel and broke the soil into 6" deep clods (ours has a lot of clay in it, so it was holding together). Then I broke up these clods of soil by hand, picking out the mulch, and any grubs, in the process. It took me about 3 weekends to complete the reworking of my garden, but I'm so glad it's done now........it's a lot of work, but you'll get good results.





The other option is to shovel off the layer of soil mixed with mulch, then replace the lost soil with compost and/or purchased garden soil.


How can you keep Armadillos out of your flower beds, I thing they are hunting slugs.?

What I usually do when I want to protect small trees, bushes or flowers from armadillos is to build an electric fence all around the place you want to preserve.


The electric fence should be at a height of 4 inches or so, and to avoid loosing the electricity you should cut the grass first wherever the fence is going to be over. Or you just can spray that line with glyphosate (Roundup).


The electric fence won't kill them, just keep them out or that square.

How can you keep Armadillos out of your flower beds, I thing they are hunting slugs.?
move to the yukon territory. the weather is too cold for armadillos to survive.


but then again, most of your flowers won't either. lol
Reply:they will also eat bulbs and so on just place moth balls in the corners and the trails of the areas or buy some lion or bear or puma crap from the zoo and slice a small slice and place it in a cheese clothe and hang it near the corners of the garden or the yard the predator smell keeps them out and a little is enough for years and lasts wrapped up in the freezer prices are steep fot the more exotic predators are worth it like lion stuff
Reply:I would so love to see an Amradillo in the wild - they're neat!





I live in Australia and have never seen one.....sorry not much help am I? I don't know how to keep them out of flower beds....to keep creatures out of flower beds over here we fill empty plastic coke bottles with water and leve them discreetly around the garden beds. Now I don't know why this work but it does!
Reply:hook up your trailer and go park it somewhre else

deodorant

How can I keep my neighbors male cat out of my yard and flower beds?

There are products available at gerden centers but they end up being costly. They have to be reapplied often if it rains or in an area you water regularly. Use a cayenne pper solution or sprinkle pepper powder directly in the areas he goes. It won't hurt your plants at all.

How can I keep my neighbors male cat out of my yard and flower beds?
.22
Reply:report it to the neighbors and if they take no action ....its time to face the death of this little RAT !(i killed it with a knife !) hehehehehe !
Reply:try sprinkling some pepper around the area.
Reply:Mouth BALLS!
Reply:Sprinkel dried red chili pepers ( like the kind you get at italian restrnts)around areas you want them at.


You can usually buy huge bottles at places like Costco etc.


Also you suppsely can use vinegar.


I know the peppers work though.
Reply:pepper, and chilli powder on a piece of chicken, they will associate your yard with pain...
Reply:I have heard that if you place moth balls in your garden it will keep cats out. My grandmother swears by it.
Reply:spray it with water
Reply:spray cheep perfume or colone around lour yard and flowers,it will stopthem from doing it.
Reply:lemon juice. Cats hate citrus
Reply:There are two methods that are effective and easy;


1. buy a dog that likes to eat cats for dinner.


2. 2/3rds fill empty clear soda (coke) bottles with water and leave lying around the yard. For some strange reason cats don't like them.
Reply:we use orange peels thay run a mile
Reply:we keep cats out of our yard by throwing a loud fire cracker in the air to scare it away. its harmless to the cats and they stay away
Reply:There are products out there that will help your garden that a cat wouldnt like. A sprinkler could keep him out for a few hours.


Anyone know a good site for identifying obnoxious vines that keep sprouting up all over my flower beds?

When I use roundup on them, they die, but the surrounding shrubs have weakened too. I am hoping that if I find exactly what it is, I can tailor the remedy to it.





It's kind of, but not quite heart shaped and wraps around limbs etc and grows extremely fast. Thin leaf and not woody.

Anyone know a good site for identifying obnoxious vines that keep sprouting up all over my flower beds?
Yup, sounds EXACTLY like bindweed. Don't think I'm nuts here, and this will take a little time. Break or cut of the bindweed close to the ground and leave about an inch showing. Right after cutting, use a small brush with round up or any weed killer on it and dot the "wound". I have done this with mush success without damaging other plants. Just be sure not to drip any off your brush.
Reply:here's a site





http://www.itms-turf.com/weed_identifier...





but I don't think you'll need it - I am dead sure you're talking about Morning Glory AKA Bindweed. It is really hard to get rid of!
Reply:Flowerevines.com
Reply:it sounds like morning glory to me..roundup will work
Reply:and never, ever let it flower, it will make seeds, and plenty of buddies next year......
Reply:If that leaf has 2 friends - run. I got poison oak 2-1/2 weeks ago from an innocent looking plant with 3 leaves. It was among regular weeds %26amp; my flower bed. Tommorrow I get to see doctor again as it has gotten worse. If not look it up on yahoo to identify, some plants require removal of roots to kill.
Reply:sounds like bind weed to me. It is a miserable weed and very hard to control. It looks like roundup is the best thing to use on it. If you try to dig it out you will never get all of the roots and it will just keep coming back.


How can I keep squirels out of my flower beds?

I wouldn't waste too much time with the home remedies or sprays, they really don't work very well for rodents such as squirrels.





The only deterrent that does seem to work well is a motion activated water sprinkler. You can find these by searching for "squirrel sprinkler" on Yahoo or Google.





Other than that, the best option would probably be to eliminate the critters all together. Try a Havahart brand trap sized for squirrels. They seem to work the best.





If you trap them, make sure to release them several miles away, or they will find their way back. Squirrels are very territorial.





Hope that helps!

How can I keep squirels out of my flower beds?
They sell commercial repellants such as Critter Ridder for cat goundhogs squirrels racoons and skunks.





My neighbor used moth balls in her potted plants.


How can you keep Armadillos out of your flower beds, I thing they are hunting slugs.?

You have armadillos???? That's really cool! All I ever see are bunnys and birds in KY. Sorry no good answer for you, I just think it's cool that you have armadillos!





P.S. I just let the bunnys chew on the stuff in my garden because I think they are cute to see in the morning.... everyone needs to eat!

How can you keep Armadillos out of your flower beds, I thing they are hunting slugs.?
Buy a powder that kills the slugs.
Reply:More likely they are hunting GRUBS. You can apply a grub pesticide. You can also try spreading mothballs or cut-up cayenne peppers in your garden to repel them, or actually live-trapping them with a Hav-a-hart trap and them relocating them.





Another idea: Amazon carries an impulse sprinkler that has a motion detector attached to it. When an animal walks in range of the detector the sprinkler fires out a spray of water to scare it away. :-)

shoe buckles

I have a question about Mulch - you know the stuff you put in flower beds and such?

ok what I was wanting to know if you have flower beds all around your home right up next to the home,, and then you add Mulch over the dirt,, for the nice look and all





will the mulch bring termites,, can and will it cause you to get termites or anything





just something I have always wondered about,, thank you

I have a question about Mulch - you know the stuff you put in flower beds and such?
No it won't bring bugs. I suggested laying down sereral layers of newpaper first before you lay down the mulch because it will stop the weeds from growing through. Make sure there are at least 4 or 5 layers of each sheet. It works get and you don't have to buy those expensive weed covering sheets.
Reply:mulch usually has been treated, and you should have no trouble using it. there are all kinds of materials to use for mulch, so check with your local garden supply store for tips %26amp; advice.





best wishes
Reply:Mulch is sterile. It gets very hot when being created and therefore everything dies. Termites come in swarms. In Ky they actually have termite swarms on the news to that people can take care of the problem or start to look for signs of termites. Different bugs like lose dirt but they are usually beneficial bugs so nothing to worry about.


How can you stop a dog from digging in your flower beds?

Positive Reinforcement training is very effective. It will only take a short amount of time and energy on your part if he is an intelligent dog. Do what you need to try and get him to want to go in the bed naturally whether it is just getting him excited to play a game or to hide an object. Whatever he usually goes in the bed for.





Take him out on a leash and walk him by the bed. Ignore his trying to get over to it but pull him up if he tries and then walk on. Keep going by the bed until he walks by without trying to get to it and when he does ask him to sit and give him a SMALL treat.....praise him to the nines, your excitement is absolutely necessary. Keep doing this for short periods every day until he learns that when he does not go into the bed he makes you VERY happy. The treat is an attention getter and is not what does the reinforcement. Your love and showing him just how happy you are with him not going in that area...is.





Just yelling and popping them on the head does nothing.....except make a cowering dog.





If this does not work you could research some powders (such as cayenne) or spray scents that dogs to not like and spray the area.





I have trained many dogs and just do what I feel is the best for each animal.....I have no source except myself.

How can you stop a dog from digging in your flower beds?
train him.... my DOGSSSSS dont do it they know better. an animal with an owner can only be as smart as his owner. so if your smart he will be smart.
Reply:Do not allow him to dig in your flower beds. Either restrain him away from them, be out there and watch him, or fence in the beds.
Reply:There are a variety of products you can use to keep your dog away. http://www.petsmart.com/global/search/se...





Your dog could also be digging out of pure boredom and frustration. Does s/he get out for a leashed walk at least twice a day for 45 minutes each? This goes a long way to curing boredom and gets a lot of pent up energy out of the dog. Dogs need structured exercise (walks) just as much as they need unstructured (playtime and running around in the yard). Try the extra walking along with one of the products and you should see a big difference.
Reply:what i find works well is chicken wire. lay it down after or while planting. dogs will try to dig but will give up and leave your bed alone. dogs love fresh soft dirt. after plants grow you will never see the wire or you could put mulch over the wire. good luck
Reply:Train it to do something other than that, like playing with a tennis ball or chewing it up for that matter, but anything ur dog likes try and get him to turn all his/her attention to what ever it is. i.e. tennis ball.
Reply:put a little fence around them. depending on how big or small the dog is
Reply:It's a natural instinct for dogs to want to dig. I would suggest putting up a flower border. You know, a small fence around your flower bed. Sometimes a barrier between dog and flowers lets them know that their not supposed to be in there in the first place. Dogs are simple creatures, no barriers - no rules.
Reply:throw a few moth balls into the garden - dogs and SNAKES hate ther smell - they won't go near your beds


When can I stop watering my flower beds?

It's getting cooler now in southern Ontario, nights are down in the low 50s, when do I stop watering? Does it get too cold, or will all the plants go dormant? tysm ;-)

When can I stop watering my flower beds?
I let my plants slow down this time of year by withholding fertilizer, especially nitrogen and watering less. After a hard freeze I let nature do her thing. Here in the Dakotas if we have an "open winter", one with no snow cover, I give plants a mid-winter drink to help prevent winter kill. RScott
Reply:now, as it gets colder the plants will start to die, and go dormant,


How do I get rid of mold growing on top of mulch in flower beds?

OK.. Here's the thing about mold.. it really is a good thing. I know.. pick your self up off the floor and read on..





Mold is a fungus and Fungi are the agents that that convert dead, organic materials into materials that are usable by living plants.. sound promising? Read on. Further, fungi can enhance the health of the green plants by bettering their ability to absorb said nutrients.. sound even better?? It is. Fungi are valuable to living things.. you know, that 'circle of life' thing.





Fungi "bloom" when it's moist and warm... like it is now. They release spores (their version of seeds) to give birth to new funguses. Warm, wet conditions are perfect for this.





If you don't like the fungus' "flowers", pick 'em. take a shovel and scrape them off the surface of your mulch. Put them in a plastic bag and throw them away in your trash. Simple as that. Knowing what you now know and If you still want to negate the benefits of the fungus, you can treat some fungi with lawn and garden fungicides (like daconil).





Now, I know.. fungus isn't the prettiest thing in your garden, but bear in mind that it's working for you.. and you wouldn't kill someone who comes over and willingly cleans your house for you..... would you???

How do I get rid of mold growing on top of mulch in flower beds?
go get something to kill and prevent new mold from growing but make sure they wont hurt your flower beds
Reply:Get rid of the mulch Now. Then get a product that kills fungus such as black spot, etc. It can be purchased even at Walmart. You must be persistent.





I had that problem myself because our landscaping people put mulch on everyone's stuff, so I wait and when they get to my place, I tell them I do not want it.
Reply:One simple way to get rid of mold is to turn it over into the topsoil and wet it down with water. A second way is to loosen it up with a rake to allow air to circulate around it and help to dry it out. A third way is to remove the mulch and place it in a pile and soak the pile with water. When left to sit, the pile should generate enough heat to kill off the mold and fungus.





The most effective way to control the growth of mold is to change the environment in which it grows. Mold tends to grow best in warm, humid environments. And while you may not be able to control the weather, there are a few things you can do to minimize its ability to grow.





Mulch made from coarse wood products are less likely to have mold and fungus problems than fresh, finely ground woody products. Make sure to apply mulch no more than 2 inches deep (in warm weather) and follow every application by soaking it with water.
Reply:use bleach: put bleach in a spray bottle and spray the mold it will be gone in a few day.
Reply:If you have moss growing on the mulch; you have a drainage issue and anything you do to kill the moss wont do you much good becuz the moss will grow back. You'll need to fix the drainage in order to fix this.

for shoe lasts

How do I keep dogs from digging in my flower beds?

cayenne pepper sprinkeled around bushes. It's cheap and works.

How do I keep dogs from digging in my flower beds?
put an electric fence around your flower bed trust me its the only way to keep them away from your flower bed.
Reply:Electric fence around the flower bed - they make them for dogs/smaller animals. After a while, the dogs will fear any low wire and won't go near it.
Reply:Put some transparent plastic bottles full with water in your garden. At night these bottles shine in moonlight or in headlights and dogs Will be afraid of it
Reply:be the alpha
Reply:moth balls,,, dont cant stand the smell of them and it will stop dogs from even going near your flower beds
Reply:I found a really yucky way to keep one of my dogs from digging~~ I placed one (or more depending on the size of the hole) of her own piles of poop in the hole. Nasty surprise for her and she would not dig in that spot again. Tried the whole hot pepper routine ~ never worked, dog ate everything! Oh, and eventually the poop disintegrates!
Reply:Try this URL:





http://www.ghorganics.com/page6.html#CAT...





Hope it works for you...





Jesse
Reply:Next year, before your flowers come up, lay down some chicken wire on the ground and stake it into the ground. The flowers will grow through the wire and the dog will not dig through it.


How can I get rid of chipmunks in my flower beds?

Put moth balls around the outside of the flower bed. It is supposed to keep them away.

How can I get rid of chipmunks in my flower beds?
This really works... this method is EXTREMELY effective.





1. Get a 5 gallon bucket. Fill the bucket 1/2 way with water.


2. Get sunflower seeds. Cover the water with a handfull or so of seeds. (they float)


3. Get a plank... 2x4 will work fine. Setup the plank so it makes a ramp from the ground to the top. Place a few seeds at the top of the plank.





They cant swim. Expect to get 5 or more chipmunks per day.





Poor little guys.





As I said, this is extremely effective, and not too terribly cruel.
Reply:get a trap and then release them out in the wiled
Reply:I did a little checking and you can buy a product called Shake Away. It is suppose to be natural and you're going to love what the main ingredient is, predator urine from the Coyote, Fox or Bobcat. That is from their website and I don't want to know how they got it. Anyway that sounds like it might work. Good Luck!
Reply:If I remember correctly from the cartoons they are very fond of music. Play them some music and they will go away and preform a concert for their owner, Dave. Their names are Alvin, Simon and Theodore, so maybe try asking politely for them to leave first.





Or your could try fox urine sprinkled around the garden, I have heard that if you go to a beautician's shop you can get some human hair and sprinkle that around your garden, sometimes that also works warding off unwanted guests. Bonemeal around the garden works too I have heard. Good Luck.
Reply:rat pellets
Reply:rat poison, but be careful if u have other pets, they might get ahold of it
Reply:I adopted a cat in april and he is a catcher. sits outside and catches everyone of them. problem is i hate to see they die that way and my neighbors watching me chase him all over to get it from him. my friend uses a cage like trap then takes them out side of the town and lets them go.
Reply:my grandpa shoots em and i throw them in the woods
Reply:http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-c...
Reply:Sounds like you have a serious problem. Is there a nut tree over your flower bed?


How do I get rid of ants in my flower beds without using pesticides? Is there something natural I can use?

Ants seem to dislike spearmint, tansy, %26amp; sweet fern . Plant these nearby to keep ants away.


Oils in the peel of the orange are said to be toxic to ants. Grind them up with water, strain %26amp; spray on ants.


Throw coal ash on ants to disperse them from the area .

How do I get rid of ants in my flower beds without using pesticides? Is there something natural I can use?
Get rid of ants around plants.....Kate Higgins


Either put epsom salts around the base of your plants %26amp; cover with mulch, or dissolve the epsom salts in water %26amp; pour around base. The salts are absorbed into the roots %26amp; gets rid of ants. Reapply every week or so.


or:ANTS





To keep ants out of a house or a garden: sprinkle ground cinnamon around base of house. (I get the bulk cheap stuff works great no ants in 7 yrs!) You can also sprinkle it on ant beds, to kill the ants (or they will travel to your neighbors yards). For your garden: sprinkle concentrated lemon juice round the whole garden, keeps ants %26amp; insects out of garden. Both are ok to use if you have pets or little kids around, safe for all to use %26amp; you can get the kids to do it for you without worry! Contributed by Bunnewuv@aol.com





ANTS formula 2:


Ingredients:





* Boric Acid


* Sugar


* Cotton Balls





Mix Boric Acid and Sugar in a bowl. Then soak Cotton ball in Mixture and let dry. Place Cotton balls in path of Ants.Contributed by Michelle Potter
Reply:You can spinkle pepper in the ant hills and AROUND your flowers that should get rid of them. Or you could always get yourself an ant eater
Reply:i have used cinnamon and they cleared out of my roses
Reply:I know they don't like baking soda. I sprinkle baking soda around our back entrance way to keep them out of the house.


I did a little more research and I found out that you can sprinkle Cayenne pepper around in spots where the ants are and they will leave. Also, if the ant bed is too close to the house, pour cayenne pepper down into the hole of the ant bed.


Hope this helps!
Reply:YEAH, HAVE A PICNIC ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE YARD AND THEY WILL FOLLOW YOU, RETARD!
Reply:cream of wheat works well





also cinnamon will help deter
Reply:I have had good look with cayenne pepper, or chili powder. The only thing is, it doesn't last too long. You will need to re-apply it every few days, especially if it rains.
Reply:sugar water in a jar so they drown when they go in
Reply:Sprinkle grits around and they will eat the grits and bust.


Can I put all my dead leaves on my Flower Beds?

Will it help or hinder?

Can I put all my dead leaves on my Flower Beds?
yes you can and its good protection for the winter and they will break down into compost and then soil over time
Reply:Oak leafs are acid, maple are more alkaline. Depending on your plants needs dictates the type of leafs you should use. Don't put whole leafs on flower beds they can pack together an smother plants in spring. Leafs can be put down in the fall and taken up in the spring if you only want winter protection
Reply:if you have enough leaves it will actually fertilize your flower bed dead leaves will decompose to give you the necessary ingredients you need to have a beautiful flower bed the decomposion will actually help your flower bed to grow
Reply:yes, they will break down and nurish the soil. That's how soil builds up in nature. it will also reduce the water loss from the soil thru evaporation. as well as it will insulate the soil in winter.


But make sure the leaves are not diseased (mildew or spots etc.).


Also if the leaves are grass clippings, then try to spread them on your lawn for a day to dry them a bit. Otherwise they will form a barrier and water will not go to the roots of your flowers.
Reply:Yes, the best thing for anyone to do! For ALL gardens, and good for around trees and shrubs too. Keeps the earth a more even, constant temperature for perennial roots where winters are in deep freeze and even better to collect grass clippings and just keep layering with the leaves in around base of trees and shrubs. For any climate, when these things break-down in time (decompose) you have the best natural fertilizer on earth! And it's free!!!
Reply:ah, not so. It depends on what kinds of leaves you have. Some leaves, such as oak, break down and change the pH level of the soil which in turn can damage the plants you intend to protect. You'd not want the leaves to turn to an acidic base and ruin the beds you intend to protect. A simple check of the pH breakdowns of the types of leaves you have will give you the answers you need.
Reply:I use my fallen leaves as a winter mulch every year and what doesn't get used gets mowed over to provide nourishment for my lawn. Leaves are an excellent mulch and will break down over winter into the soil adding nutrients. Even if it doesn't all break down you can turn the remainder of the leaves into the soil come spring. The organic matter will amend the soil and give it a finer texture over time. If I need extra leaves, I've even been known to ask my neighbors for theirs or collect the bagged leaves from the sides of roads.


Good Luck

Graphics software

Is it true that if you put salt in flower beds flowers will never grow there ever again?

I think someone threw something on my flowers cause they are not growing good and all the others are

Is it true that if you put salt in flower beds flowers will never grow there ever again?
salt will kill them but only temporarily you can plant out again
Reply:You can get things to grow after a salting. Just give it time and let nature take its course. Add to the soil. Could you have over fertilized? That would slow them down also.
Reply:Yeah that's true, i don't remeber why but it's true.
Reply:Few flowers are tolerant to salt - but most plants are not.





That's the reason why salty sea water can't be used for irrigation.
Reply:No its not true they will never grow there again. Dirt is a filter. Watering or rain will wash the salt thru the dirt and it will be fine for planting. Some of mine aren't growing as well as others. Nobody threw anything on them though. They might not like as much water as the other plants. They might be in too much sunlight. They might have something nibbling at their roots. Salt isn't the only reason plants revolt against us.
Reply:it will kill the plants at first depending on the amount but eventually u will be able to replant


What is the recommended amount of time to water a lawn? Every day? What if it's grass & flower beds?

Can you figure out a formula providing ideal watering time in relation to outside temprature and humidity AND the watering time of the day or night.





Thanks a lot.

What is the recommended amount of time to water a lawn? Every day? What if it's grass %26amp; flower beds?
it depends on the bylaws where you live for one .If the temperature is hot and you see that the soil and flower beds are dry , it is always best to water in the morning ,but if you work you might need to do this in the evening instead.
Reply:Hmmmmmmmmmm a formula. My formula for maintainance of my lawn to equal that of court number one at wimbeldon,London. Feed it well, treat it with tenderness, and repair any worn patches. As for watering........always water early in the morning, and as for "how Much" you cannot overwater grass............
Reply:You need to water your lawn in the morning. This way the water can drain down to the roots of the the grass before the sun comes up to evaporate it. A lawn should have


1" to 1 1/2" a week. Take into consideration the rain. More rain, less you water. It is better to water once or twice a week to saturate the grass roots. Good Luck.


What type of mulch will deter cats from defecating in flower beds?

free roaming cats are ruining gardening in my yard. what solutions really work?

What type of mulch will deter cats from defecating in flower beds?
Well Dear, a good quality lead should do it.





Dorothy Mills (Mrs)
Reply:none, what I did was made a litter box in the garden with mulch and now they go there.
Reply:None...but leaving some antifreeze out will take care of your problem.
Reply:I don't know about mulch, but they really hate tobacco juice. My grandfather makes this really disgusting "soup" out of old cigar butts and pours it around the edges of his flower beds. The cats hate it.
Reply:We live in Florida and we have five cats. They don't seem to like pine straw (pine needles). I am not sure it this in available where you live. It is basically, baled pine needles. After it settles a few days, it forms blanket that the cats can't (or don't like?) to dig in . . . hope that helps.





djf
Reply:Some people suggested cayenne pepper or mothballs. I found neither to be any help. Coffee grounds worked until it rained and my garden smelled wonderful. It gets costly, though. Finally I used 1/2" screening cut into pieces I laid flat around my plants. Cats don't like to walk on it because their toes go through. Not pretty but it was what worked for me.


Even leaving bowls of antifreeze didn't help. And my husband wouldn't let me shoot them.
Reply:i really wish people who kept cats as pets would keep them indoors... they are nothing but trouble when they're outside.





but that's beside the point.





check with a local vetenarian for suggestions that won't harm the animals (i'm sure you'll have suggestions from brainiacs who tell you the bb gun is the way to go)





... I wonder if the "Liquid Fence" or something like that would work. I used it on flowers and plants to keep away the deer and it really worked. however, it stinks to high h@!! because it's made from coyote urine or something, so you probably would want to use it directly on vegetables or anything you are planning on eating.
Reply:If you are only trying to get the cats to stop using your garden as a litter box (as opposed to leaving your yard entirely), try planting some catnip with your flowers. Cats are naturally clean animals and won't use an area that they eat in as a bathroom. Catnip also has very nice purple flowers.
Reply:I don't know about mulch but if you sprinkle red pepper in the area there using you'll ruffle some fur!
Reply:Mix a little oxblood in your garden. This should be available.
Reply:urine, yours. Folgers coffee makes a lovely collection can called "aroma seal". I'm not being wise here. Old coffee can, just get up in the morning go in the coffee can, sprinkle at your leisure around your flower beds.





Kept rabbits, deer, and cats out of the 40 x 60 veggie garden.
Reply:The kind with pop-up sprinklers.
Reply:mix some orange peels in with any kind of mulch..just sqeeze the juice out as well as you can..then tear the peelings into small pieces...organic and works great! has for the cats and dogs in this neighborhood at least!


My dog will NOT stay out of my newly planted flower beds!!!?

She's stubborn and set in her ways (13 yrs old). She's 90 lbs. I've tried moth balls, raising the flower beds off the ground 2 to 3 feet in planters, placing big rocks and bricks all throughout the plants, sternly talking to her and chasing her out of the beds, planting prickly shrubs and plants.... any other ideas? I'm at my wits end.

My dog will NOT stay out of my newly planted flower beds!!!?
At 13 years of age I don't think it will be easy to get your dog to change her behavior if she has always had free reign of the whole yard.


A remedy in one of my plant books suggests to mix 1 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of chili paste with garlic in 1 quart of water. Sprinkle the mixture over the area and she should stay away - this also works for cats.


Before I went through all that work though I would try one of the "Deter" sprays sold in pet stores.


The best and probably most effective solution will be to put some sort of fence around your garden - although that may spoil its beauty.


Good Luck!!
Reply:Check out the particular plants she goes to and sprinkle a little pepper around it just before you let her out and watch her reaction. If she goes to another plant repeat the process until she realises that it's not a nice place to be. Remember! dogs sense of smell is about forty times higher than ours! So don't go too heavy on the pepper! Have a good day.
Reply:Try a product called "Invisi-fence"...I think it is Capsacium based (pepper) I have a 90 lb Weimeraner and he learned the hard way to stay out of anything that is bordered with rocks. I would just wait for him to stray into the beds, and then spray him with the hose. Also, did you amend your beds before you planted with anything that she may be attracted to such as bone meal??? The first (and only ) time I used bone meal, my dog dug the whole bed. Be careful if you use fish emulsion to fertilize, my dog goes crazy over it too. good luck
Reply:I went to a craft store and bought little wooden stakes with plaques on top. They cost about $1.00 each. I let the kids paint them and stuck as many as I could throughout the garden. I also stuck a bunch of those solar lights in the ground.
Reply:Each time (s)he goes to the garden, chase her out and then reward him/her with buiscits or something. Do this everyday for some time and your dog will get the point that you don't want it to mess up your garden. If your dog DOESN'T go to the garden for 24 hours, give him/her an extra reward.
Reply:pee on them to mark your territory.
Reply:I have heard that gallon milk jugs half filled with water work, and from someone who has tried it too. You might need several, but it is worth a shot.
Reply:Talk to your nursery but in the meantime dogs sniff first and dig second...black or cayenne pepper is a deterrent


also bring the dog to the bed....and have a fly swatter or newspaper handy.


each time the dog steps into it smack the dog and shout NO!


soon the dog will not touch the flower beds





My dogs were always looking for a nice cool spot to rest and my flower beds were soft.


Find a shady spot for the dog.....take away the grass....put sand down and water it..the dog will be in hog heaven.
Reply:Dogs hate citronella. So spray citronella all around your flower beds. Spay even on your big rocks and bricks you placed there.





If you haven't already, don't forget to to ask this question in the "Pet" section of this site.

graffiti tags

What will keep squirrels out of my newly mulched flower beds?

To keep squirrels away from or keep them from eating your garden plants, mix this:


1 gallon of water


6 capfuls of Murphy's Oil Soap


2 Tbsp. of cayenne pepper


Spray onto plants. This does not harm the plants and WILL keep the squirrels away!


How do you keep squirrels and stray cats out of flower beds and containers?

Sprinkle cayenne pepper around all your plants. Both cats and squirrels hate it.

How do you keep squirrels and stray cats out of flower beds and containers?
Catch one and crucify it in the middle of your garden to warn the rest that u really mean business.
Reply:your local garden center should make these plastic spike mats, they aren't that big, but you can scatter them throughout the beds. I know home depot has them, and you can also get them online. Also I know if you sprinkle hot chili powder on the plants, the animals wont eat them. As for squirrels, they think its their territory and its hard to get them out of beds, n containers, but those little spike mats might work, and if you get a good pair of gardening shears, you can cut them to size.
Reply:Poison them.
Reply:I have used moth balls around the borders and try not to water near them and it seems to keep my cats away.
Reply:Try putting Lemon peels in the flower beds. Cats normally hate the smell. You may have todo it often due to rain etc.


Moth balls might help the squirrels but am unsure.
Reply:Yell "Shoo!" out the window.
Reply:Get a big dog
Reply:look for something at your local lowes or hardwhere store or gardening. ask for assistence.
Reply:reynolds wrap they do not like the sound
Reply:moth balls








or a shotgun is quite effective also..
Reply:I know this sounds gross, but to get rid of these and other critters from your flower beds, mix amonia with human urine and pour it around the flower beds in small amounts.





Many peole like to use aluminum pans or foil to scare the critters with noise, but this takes away from the beauty of the plants. Try the mixture, you will love the results if not the method.


I live in rural missouri... when should i start planting seeds in my flower beds?

I live in rural missouri too near the missouri- arkansas line.....i usally start planting seeds sometime next month after the next frost ends......so they dont die....lol

I live in rural missouri... when should i start planting seeds in my flower beds?
Here in Massachusetts we plant cold-weather plants like spinach and carrots as soon as you can dig the soil; i.e. it is no longer frozen. Warm weather plants such as corn, beans and pumpkins which would be harmed by a frost are planted 'when the oak leaves are as big as a squirrel's ear'.





You should be able to figure out when that would be for your area.





BTW, with Global Warming, the USDA Zones have moved north by about 1/2 a zone so the absolute dates have changed, but the nature-related clues still apply because they keep up with the weather change.
Reply:I live just north of you in southern Iowa. My rule of thumb is to wait till Mother's Day to plant stuff outdoors . That always seems to work well for me.


How do you keep cats out of your flower beds and flower gardens. Is there something I can put in the soil?

To protect plants and borders both mothballs and citrus are said


to be effective deterrents. Place the mothballs, orange peel or


lemon rind in the borders. Alternatively spray cloths with


orange scented air freshener and place the cloths around the


plants you wish to protect. Other known cat repellents are


cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil,


lemon grass oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil and mustard oil.





Certain herbs are said to deter cats. In particular rue but not


catnip which has the opposite effect. Coleus canina is another


plant which is marketed by one merchant as a cat repellent.

How do you keep cats out of your flower beds and flower gardens. Is there something I can put in the soil?
Often what helps is buy a box of plastic forks Push them in the soil tines up. cats are usually looking to dig in your gardens this usually stops them and wont harm the cats.
Reply:You can use motion activated sprinklers.


Some people say mixing cayenne pepper with water and sprinkling your flower beds with it will keep the cats away due to the smell. And it won't hurt the flowers or the animal.
Reply:Rinse your used eggs shells and let dry. Sprinkle with Cayenne pepper before placing in your garden.
Reply:Try sprinkling pepper through out you garden!
Reply:plant some cat nip away from the flowers.
Reply:well, i've heard of this trick as far as rabbits, raccoons and other creatures go, but you can try it and see if it will work for cats.





get a bunch of clipped hair and tie it up in a nylon stocking and place them behind and around your flower beds. I know this sounds crazy, but one lady who came in to the salon (i'm a stylist) asked for our used hair clippings.. so when we swept them up, we put them in a bag for her to pick up. I asked her why she did this, and she told me to keep animals out of her gardens... it must work for her because every summer she comes in and asks for her hair clippings!





good luck!
Reply:To my knowledge,I believe you should keep your cats occupied with a toy or food.I dont have a pet but you should consider to give your cats some slack,because they are apart of nature.
Reply:Moth balls have always worked keeping the strays out of my flowerbeds.
Reply:dunno
Reply:Yeah got to your local fred meyer
Reply:yes there is go to a pet shop their is a spray so dogs and cats avoid and it smells bad too, try planting a different area using cat nip plants as the main theme.
Reply:MOTH BALLS
Reply:a big dog
Reply:Cats do not like the smell of citrus. Try slicing citrus fruits up and placing them in the spots the cat usually potties.
Reply:Try a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water. Add a teaspoon per quart of garlic powder.





I use this to keep the cats away from my bird feeders and out of the garden and it works!
Reply:There is stuff called Critter ridder, it is available at home depot
Reply:put some wire mesh like fencing stuff ( looks like chicken wire but smaller ) over the dirt cats hate the feeling and if you want you can put a little bit of mulch on top but not to much.
Reply:You can buy a special "deer netting" at any garden store, or your local wal-mart. It's virtually invisible from any distance, and it provides a physical barrier that the cats can't cross. It worked for me.

horns

What are some good things to use to repell ground squirels, bunnies, bugs and deer in my flower beds?

A .30-06 works pretty good.

What are some good things to use to repell ground squirels, bunnies, bugs and deer in my flower beds?
okay, for the little rodents---usually a healthy dose of cayenne pepper around the perimeter will do it and not affect anything. Also, you can bury a semi smushed bulb of garlic next to your roses and keep it pest free.


For the deer, it's gross, but it works (trust me, i live in maine, i have deer TRAILS through my front yard)---Get your boyfriend or husband or someone to urinate around the garden. Deer and other critters will naturally avoid human


urine. It wont make your flowers smell like pee so dont worry--and, a little goes a long way, its not like he's gotta head outside everytime he needs to go, maybe once a week or so. Good luck!!!
Reply:12ga shot gun or call your local zoo about tiger pee it will scare away animals.
Reply:use moth balls or some human hair from your local beauty shoppe works for me
Reply:Naw, those things will kill and you wanted to repel. A BB gun works great but only the spring propelled one. Don't use an air BB gun.
Reply:If you wanna go organic plant flowering tobacco it is poisonous and therefore a repellant for ants plant cucumbers
Reply:spread cayenne pepper on the ground. Mix some with vasaline and spread ti on the foliage. It will burn their noses and mouths.


What is an organic means of getting rid of fire ants? They are taking over my flower beds and bushes.?

I sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) on the mounds. D.E. is fairly inexpensive and is completely natural. NO environmental issues. I cleared out 25 acres of fire ants in just a few days using it. Available from swimming pool supply stores or most feed stores.

What is an organic means of getting rid of fire ants? They are taking over my flower beds and bushes.?
a fire extinguisher, seriously not being a smart a**
Reply:digging them up or setting them on fire would work but personally i would not worry TOO much over organic or not , this is war! fire ants are dangerous, they can kill small animals or even people if the colony gets large enough, they damage homes, my mother in west Texas had to have 3 electric breaker boxes put in because the ants kept getting in the wiring and eating the wires! in places of serious infestations the county has been known to give out free ant bate to kill colonies, you may want to contact your county extension agent for advice on this one.


good luck with the ants
Reply:I've got 2 methods for you.





1. Pour boiling water on the mound. All you need to do is kill the queen and the rest will die.





2. Get a buddy. You should each have a shovel. Get positioned over 2 nearby ant beds, scoop up half, then walk to the others half-scooped pile and dump your scoop of ant pile on top. They recognize the new scoop on top of them as strangers, not of their colony, and both beds will fight to the death. Voila. No more ants.
Reply:The person who told you about ants going to war is correct. I remember my grandparents doing this when I was a child. You take a shovelful of ants from one hill and throw it on a different hill. If you can include some ant eggs, it works even better. Than take a shovelful of ants, etc. from the second hill and put it on the first hill. We kids watched them for days while they battled it out. You could see long lines of ants moving in opposite directions, headed for each others' hills. It sure cut down on the ant population, and while they were busy making war they weren't taking over the garden and flower beds. If you have several different hills, just repeat the process until you've got them under control. Trust me, it works!





One more thing: make sure you pick two hills that are not too close together and if possible pick two different varieties of ants. Seems to work more quickly.
Reply:beneficial nematodes. Try your local feed store or perhaps from the Internet. Not an overnight cure, a long term plan.
Reply:Try neem oil. or you could fight fire with fire and use a solution of water and hot chili powder.
Reply:salt sprinkled around..try it!
Reply:Othro Max for fire ants which you can get at a local WalMart. Not sure if it's organic or not..hehe Orange peels work for cats...it might work for ants to!
Reply:Coffee grounds work, save them and sprinkle around where needed!


What can I do to keep armadillos from digging up my flower beds?

a .22 short with a baby bottle nipple over the end of the barrel. works like a charm.

What can I do to keep armadillos from digging up my flower beds?
maybe you could try chicken wire.also they sell dog and cat repellent at walmart, maybe that would detour them.also you might try red pepper and black pepper,maybe that would burn their noses.also you could try a few moth balls,i know that i remember my grandmother putting them under her house,to keep them from going under the house!
Reply:Lowes and Home Depot sell a product called Sweeney's Poison Peanuts. You poke a hole in the ground and pour it in and they eat it and die.


What can be used to keep cats from going in the flower beds and on the patio furniture?

a squirt bottle with a couple of ounces of vinegar mixed water...use a straight sream

What can be used to keep cats from going in the flower beds and on the patio furniture?
if you want cats to stop going on the patio furniture and in the flower beds just sprinkle some pepper on them they don't like the smell of pepper. It's cheap and not harmful to the cats. But if they're your cats not neighborhood cats the best and most effective solution is just to buy a litter box and keep them inside.
Reply:I believe that my mom used to use lime juice but not sure.


I would check with your vet. I do know that cats do not like marigolds.
Reply:a rottweiler
Reply:Lime,"not the fruit".Lime is sold at almost every hardware store,and I believe walmart has it to.Lime is a powder like substance that you would spread through out your garden,it will not harm our plants but will "sting" the bottoms of animals when they squat to relieve themselves.
Reply:I have tried a host of different things... Lime, bleach, cayanne pepper, some special junk from the pet store. Nothing seemed to work. Then my three y/o son decided to relieve himself one day in the flower bed, and whaa laa, the cats stayed away for weeks. That seemed to work better than the bb gun, the electrified fence wire, and the remote controlled weed whacker.
Reply:Cats hate (Yes, hate) citrus smells. Oranges of all kinds are the best. Put it under the cushion of furniture and within the gardes soil. Also, if you eat out there clean it up. Cats adore the scents of spices.

choosing shoe horns

Are there any plants or natural remedies that would deter cats from using my flower beds as a litter box?

My neighbor's cats like to use my wine barrel planters on my front porch. I can't stand cat poop especially when I walk out or in my front door. It is really embarassing when I have company. Please Help.

Are there any plants or natural remedies that would deter cats from using my flower beds as a litter box?
A couple things I've tried:


Spreading citrus peels


Sprinkling cayenne pepper


Planting Coleus-Canina





The best for me was the cayenne and the coleus-canina. The cayenne did add some color to ground until it rained or I watered. The coleus canina has a strong odor, so one plant seemed to work for my entire front garden area.
Reply:There is a detterent for cats and dogs, called Get Out Of My Garden.
Reply:Just go yell at your neighbors and tell them to do something about their cats or you'll do something bad to them. If you don't prefer to take that approach, i can't really help you but i'm sure there is something that smells bad to cats but not to you (ie toothpaste) that could work by placing it around your house but I would not be an expert on that.
Reply:you can feed them some food laced with castrol beans
Reply:There is a Citronella plant. There are many stay away sprays and most are strong citrus smell. Too bad there are not motion detector water sprinklers... when they hit the grass they get sprayed!!! I love cats, but neighbors that are rude and let theirs run free - is rude. Put the poop on their doorstep when you find it. Maybe they will leave them indoors.
Reply:Peppermint oil soaked on cotton balls and dropped in different places in the garden and porch.
Reply:THE MOTHBALL IDEA IS GOOD AND IT WORKS OCCASIONALLY, YOU CAN ALSO BUY "BOBCAT URINE" AND SPRAY IT ON YOUR GARDEN....IT'LL KEEP THE DOMESTIC CATS AWAY....THE "GET OUTTA MY GARDEN" THING IS GOOD TOO.......BUT BETTER YET IS A "HAVAHEART TRAP" AND A CAN OF TUNA. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO PHYSICALLY REMOVE THE UNWATED CATS TO A NEARBY ANIMAL SHELTER WHERE THE CATS WILL GET BETTER TREATMENT ANYWAY AND THEY WILL BE FED BY HAPPY LITTLE SHELTER MANAGERS AND YOU ALL LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER, THUS NO CAT, NO CAT POOP, NO EMBARRASSING ODORS AND YOUR COMPANY WILL NOT BE TALKING ABOUT YOU BEHIND YOUR BACK AFTER THEY LEAVE.
Reply:Garlic is supposed to keep cats out of sandboxes. I don't suppose it would hurt plants since you can make garlic pest-sprays. Just get some cheap garlic powder in bulk, and sprinkle it on every so often.
Reply:water flowers and sprinkle black pepper liberally on the bed. It won't hurt plants or animals, but the will sneeze their way home and not come back. Also works well mixed with flour to keep dogs from digging in the trash cans.
Reply:Try mothballs
Reply:orange peel


Do you have any ideas what would be nice to plant in my front flower beds?

I just want something with low maintenance ... yet something that will last all season... btw I'm in Ohio. ( ya know ... weird weather here )

Do you have any ideas what would be nice to plant in my front flower beds?
You may want to try some roses in the back of the border and some sweet allisum in the front. Keep them watered in the warm weather. They are a one time investment. The sweet allisum will self-sow seeds for next year. Choose a variety of roses that are fragrant. Ask your nursery for help on that. They are usually very knowledgeable about the varieties of roses.
Reply:Thanks! I am glad that you liked what i shared. Hope that your gardening project goes well!! God Bless!! Report It

Reply:You know, that's a good idea. I think I'll try it too! I've a garden on the side of my house that i just can't think of anything to do... excellent choice!! Report It

Reply:I like Tulips, and Crokus
Reply:portulaca
Reply:You need to determine what zone you are in first to see what is hardy (if you want perennials)





Checkout http://www.springhillnursery.com





They have a pull down menu so you can choose what attributes you like/want.
Reply:i love Osteos. they are SOOOO pretty...and a lobelia border....nice. petunias are very hardy but they are disgusting when the flower gets wet..slimy and gooey. Pansy's and violas are even better. and if you pinch the wilting dying flowers off you get ridiculous amounts of blooms....
Reply:I love hydrangias and orchids
Reply:wacky tobacky
Reply:You could try:





Tulips,Daffodils,Clematis this climbs,Rhododendron's,Wisteria/ Lavender is nice but no flowers,Hostas.





I live in Michigan let me tell you about weird weather.All of these will come back after the winter you will not have to replant them.
Reply:I think white carnation flowers and red roses would look nice.


My monkey grass is invading my flower beds, how do I control it?

I dig, and I dig, and I dig...





Is there an easier way to keep it where I want it?

My monkey grass is invading my flower beds, how do I control it?
they spread horizontaly through small rhizomes-you basically have to create an obstacle either with a trench or by surrounding them with rubber borders. if they're in a mixed planting with the flowers the only thing that might work is with a thick mulch where you don't want them to pop up.
Reply:with bananas


Como puedo traducir: densely planted flower beds?

densely planted flower beds





tengo dos opciones posibles cual sería la correcta





1. Macizos de flores densamente plantados





2. Macizos de flores y parteras

Como puedo traducir: densely planted flower beds?
1. Macizos de flores densamente plantados

choosing loops

How do I get rid of slugs in my flower beds? There are WAY too many to use the beer trick. Thanks!?

You can buy copper strips that you can put around the borders of your garden. The copper is toxic to snails and slugs. I'm not sure if they sell it in most nurseries but it is usually readily available through most garden supply catalogs. There are also chemicals you can spray to get rid of them but other than that keep using the beer.

How do I get rid of slugs in my flower beds? There are WAY too many to use the beer trick. Thanks!?
We use store-bought slug killer. It's got a special formula to kill slugs, snails and other bugs. It kinda looks like wood shavings when you pour it out... Ask someone at Home Depot or Lowe's or something. :)
Reply:My Mam used to use soapy water (made with washing up liquid)
Reply:MORE BEER!!!





Really, once you wipe out the first wave they mostly stay away (because they're mostly drowned!)
Reply:An inexpensive and pet safe way we have found is to sprinkle rock salt around your plants, being careful not to get the salt directly on the leaves or petals as it can burn them. And of course you have to repeat after rain


How do I get my siberian husky to stop laying in my flower beds and crushing all the plants?

that is going to be tough with the type of dog you have. before i got my husky I was told there would be certian things you would have to forgo if you want to have this kind of dog. One of the big issues was landscaping. They dig, they explore, they play. I am remeinded by Star Trek, Resistence is futile.





I think if will be a losing battle on this one so don't get your hopes up. the only suggestion is would have is





1. buy a big kennel. Bring them into the house when you home, and only let them play in the back yard when your there.





2. There is an outdoor spray repellent that will keep them away. and if they try to eat the flowers, it will taste very bitter.





the peppery smell will also make them avoid the area.





pepper could work too...lots of it...





3. get high tech. There is a special spinkler that will activate by motion. this may backfire on you though because my huskly loves water...it may just become a new toy for him/her.





4. buy a remote control spray collar. don't do the electrical shock one, thats is rather cruel. the spray is just it citrus mist that will get his attention....stalk your dog for the next couple of days and when he tries to jump in hit the button and say no...





but i think all of this would be insuffient....





5. run your dog...get him tired and he wn't have so much energy to destroy your back yard....then again...after the run he may just decide to take a nap and roll all over your garden!


(i suggest using a scooter and attatching the leash to your belt. plan on at least a mile or 2)





thats the best i got for you....it all depends on whats more important...your flower or your dog...





after losing a couch, 10 towel, 4 shirts, 10 flower potted plants, a small fruit tree, 5 or 6 dvd's, 3 games controlers, a wallet, and the 290790328 other things....i just learn to let go.





you have quite frankly the World's Greatest Dog breed. everthing else doesn't matter.

How do I get my siberian husky to stop laying in my flower beds and crushing all the plants?
try putting moth balls in your flower bed or they make stuff to keep dogs and cats out of flower beds it works and after they learn to stay out you don't have to use it all the time
Reply:Keep him in the house. Dogs are pack animals.





He gets the companionship he needs - your flowers look great. It's a win/win situation.
Reply:Spray him with the garden hose and he'll soon get the idea!
Reply:Huskies love to be outside and like to burrow a little into the ground to lay down. The dirt keeps them cool in the warm months, and the snow keeps them warm in the winter. It's natural for him to want to do this. If you really want to save flowers you should get a sand box in a shady area (unless you have areas that don't have grass in your yard you don't mind him tearing up to make a bed).


When will the last frost be in missouri?!? i want to start sowing seeds and making flower beds!?

also what are some flowers that spread easily? what about groundcovers? when should i start planting them?

When will the last frost be in missouri?!? i want to start sowing seeds and making flower beds!?
Check out this site, probably as accurate as you will get.





http://www.victoryseeds.com/frost/mo.htm...
Reply:buy a farmers almanac
Reply:depends on where you live in missouri. i live in springfield.





but the weather is really unpredictable and there has been snow in march before.





but im guessing that its probably good to start with the gardening stuff. since its almost april.








i dont know about flowers...
Reply:Unfortunatly I don't know, I live here though.. It's our state were talking about though, so theres no telling when the frost will stop, it could be sunny and nice for a couple days, then snow within a couple days.. I'd say wait til about maybe mid April.. Good luck though


How can I keep my neighbors dog out of my flower beds without hurting it?

Moth balls !!!

How can I keep my neighbors dog out of my flower beds without hurting it?
I like gina's answer-- talk to the owner first.





Show that you want the dog to be safe, but will protect your yard as necessary. If the owner is smart, they will restrain their animal... if they aren't smart, animal control is a legitimate solution.





Unless you are like me and live in a "free range" area (no legal requirements to keep animals contained), the owner is required to restrain his/her animals.





On the other hand, if you actually do live in a "free range" area, talk to the owner. If he says to shoot the offending animal... do it- quickly and quietly!
Reply:Tell your neighbor that you just put down some kind of chemical in your flower bed that may be harmful to animals and that you think it would be best if they kept it out of your yard, to prevent the animal from getting sick or dying. That will show that you "care" about their animal. If not, call animal control and report a stray dog the next time it is in your yard.
Reply:Buy 2 or 3 jalapeno peppers; boil them; add some water to dilute the mixture if you want to; spray the liquid on your flowers. The dog will get a sniff of pepper and quit. If he doesn't, make the same mixture but don't dilute it. It won't hurt your flowers; it won't injure the dog.
Reply:Zap it with a power hose or parp an irritating hooter everytime it abuses... it will get the message before long. Dogas aren't that dumb!
Reply:Put cayenne pepper, steak spices or ashes on them.....ashes and steak spices both work and their cheap!!!! But somtimes that stuff doesn't work and i am not trying to be the best but thats what i do to get my neghigbor's dog away from my rose bushes!!!! And if that doesn't work i'm sorry for even trying but i alway's TRY to help!!!!!
Reply:You don't! You're neighbor does! If they don't call animal control or the city cops.Don't put up with it . Haven't they herd of the leash law.

dvr

How do I get rid of chiggers in my yard & flower beds?

Sprinkle moth balls near the infected weeds - the smell drives out chiggers!

How do I get rid of chiggers in my yard %26amp; flower beds?
burn em...wait that was the same thing i told the lady with fleas...that probably won't be an option for you either...i don't know..they are nasty little buggers though.
Reply:I don't know about how to get them out of your yard, but if one buries itself in your skin, use red or clear fingernail polish.


Do you have lawn maintenance? How much does it cost? Does the lawn man take care of flower beds?

Please let me know where you are located.





I have a lawn man in Southwest Florida for $90 a month. He trims the plants and flowers but does not do the herb garden!?

Do you have lawn maintenance? How much does it cost? Does the lawn man take care of flower beds?
Thats pretty decent I live north of FtMyers mine is 70 a month with no frills of plant trimming and what not. You just have to ask about it if the company/person would and what they would charge and my lot is a 14400 oversized corner lot so you have some idea of the size of the yard

deodorizers

How can I keep squirrels from digging up my lawn and flower beds????

Put moth balls (found in any dollar store or Walmart) around the area.

How can I keep squirrels from digging up my lawn and flower beds????
You would have to first ask God why he created the little anventurous creatures.


Yes, squirrels can be menaces. They get into my patio cusions in the spring to steal fibers for their nests to procreate and produce more menaces!


Perhaps you can find out if they like manure. Maybe if you spread some of that on your lawn and water a lot, they'll go elsewhere due to the strong smell.


But please don't put anything on your lawn to harm them.
Reply:I have never seen a squirrel dig.





Two choices:





Get a dog.


Shoot the offending creature with a .22 cal rifle or pellet gun.
Reply:in the lawn i dont know but in beds and gardens i have had luck be sprinkling and i mean heavy sprinkling of cayenne pepper in the areas
Reply:Lawn - - no idea.


Flowers - - lay chicken wire on ground in front of flowers or cut wire around flowers. Deters cats from digging, too.


Whose stupid idea was it to put flower beds next to the drive thru ?

You go to roll down your window and all kinds of bees and crap are fying in your window!!.





Granted , it looks nice , but its stupid !

Whose stupid idea was it to put flower beds next to the drive thru ?
Just thank your stars that the committee that suggested a cobra ledge next to the drive thru got over-ruled.
Reply:very good point and if people wouldnt throw trash out on top of it to attrack more prob would be to bad..but the orders come from head quarters to make the place look nice..wait till someone sues over a bee sting and i am sure the flowers will be gone
Reply:a landscaper that wanted to sell services
Reply:They're easier on your car tires than asphalt.
Reply:Actually it would have been your local planning department. The pretty much decide where parking is, and where you can put flowerbeds. Usually even, what you can put into the flower beds during construction.
Reply:What a humbug! Geez, people will complain about anything these days...
Reply:Everything everywhere should be plastic - then we wouldn't have to worry!!!!!
Reply:that dirty frenchman call pier lets get him chaps....and its not just because my ppl hate the french lol ...
Reply:its for the dogs to pee on when they walk by
Reply:umm it looks nice and ppl enjoy lookin at it i guess
Reply:Especially if you have bad allergies! I never really thought about it until now.


How can I keep my puppies out of my flower beds?

These puppies are driving me crazy. They have destroyed most of the plants outside my door. I tried putting them in a fenced area, but they just dig out and get right back in the flower bed. What can I put in the flower bed to make them stay away from it? I did have a plant that keeps them away, but I can't find those anymore.

How can I keep my puppies out of my flower beds?
When the neighbors decided 14 dogs was just exactly the right number of dogs to have, their puppies liked to lie in my cool shady flowerbeds. I'm an animal lover and have 9 cats and 1 dog of my own, but their dogs destroyed all my plants and defecated everywhere.





I sprinkled (thickly) cayenne pepper on my plants and mulch. Cayenne pepper is finely-ground red pepper.





Animals get a snootful of this hot pepper and sneeze, but it doesn't hurt them. It doesn't hurt your plants either. It also helps repel armadillos. (But not squirrels!)





I still use cayenne pepper to keep my cats out of my houseplants.
Reply:use green snow fence and posts to keep the dogs out while you can step over it . make ure to get a snow fence that you can jump over. Oh wait i just read the post a flower bed. install an invisable fence around the garden and your property boundreys itll keep your dogs out of the flowers and stop them from running away.
Reply:Oh Lordy, please don't do the moth balls. What if your dog ate one of them? I installed the 12 inch wire fences and the little buggers learned to hop over them. Now I just yell NO a lot. They're 4, 3, %26amp; 1 and they are getting the message. Also please go to the ASPCA web site and check out the list of plants that are poisonous to dogs. My pup did survived after eating star gazer lillies but a lot of the other plants got pulled out. Now my dogs are safe in the garden but I'm not sure if the garden is safe with the dogs. Yuk Yuk
Reply:i understand, my dog used to do the same thing.





what we ended up doing is putting up a short (like 8 inches high) decorative dark green (dark green blends in with our plants) fencing type stuff. its not exactly a fence, i guess. but it doesnt look bad, and it keeps him out.
Reply:This worked for me. I have 10 Min Pins....They haven't been back in any of the flowers outside. I put moth balls around the edges of the plants. So far no dogs and plants are alive. Plus I also heard that moth balls keeps snakes away(that's a plus).
Reply:maybe sprinkling some cayenne pepper in the bed would help


How do you keep your dogs out of flower beds?

We have three dogs and they all seem to love to cross thru my flower beds or snoop around in them!!!! They are smashing my flowers. Any ideas or kinds of plants that keep them away?

How do you keep your dogs out of flower beds?
try the dog whisperer ... you can fine him on the national geographic channel
Reply:You could get inexpensive electric fence charger and surround your flower beds. Usually one bad experience will deter their crossing the boundary. Of course you'll have to be careful as well or you'll get a shocking experience. Or perhaps more expensive, you could install the underground wire. The dog wears a collar that gives a shock if they get too close, it generates a shock. You'd need collars for each of the dogs.





Chemical repellents don't work very well that I've tried.
Reply:dark green vinyl covered wire fence, four ft high... steel posts pound in, hooks the fence, and yer done... it nearly disappears and it does save the garden from the mooches.... if you're going to have anything left, you HAVE to fence it... or be out there with the dog the whole time he's outside....
Reply:I use garden fencing. It's the kind that is folded up and you just stick in the ground.

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Flower beds?

I want to have a small flower bed in my garden but am useless at gardening.





I'd like some low maintinance colourful flowers therefore to brighten things up. What can you recomend?

Flower beds?
I am seriously disabled, and the following are the very low maintenance plants that have won me over.





"Hardy" geraniums (pinks,blues,white) you can't go wrong with them. Long flowering periods, winter hardy, pest free and drought tolerant. They benefit from cutting back in autmn, but it isn't strictly necessary. They can be split and will self-propergate readily, so ask around and you may get some freebies.





Pinks are very reliable, (dead heading will encourage more flowering). They are aviable in different colours and have some lovely scents.





Coreopsis, (yellow). If they like your garden they behave like pinks, but its a matter of luck. Cheap though





Chives(purple) and oriental chives(white). When the chives have flowered, just top the whole plant. They will spread and flower at least once more. The whole plant is edible as well.





Wallflowers. (all colours, reds are most hardy) If your bed is shaded and has some wind protection wallflowers are excellent. May need a littlte watering in summer.





Polyanthus, front of the borders only.





Ornamental nettles. Quicker growing than geraniums but less colourful and less predictable.





Feverfew. (daisy-like flowers and bright leaves). Prefers some shade. Self-propergates.





Poppies. Scatter seed and then they'll seed themselves.





You could also fill the border with a couple of small shrubs. Hebes, hydrangeas and tree peonys are what I grow. They will take a couple of years to reach a good size.





Pineapple mint. For its verriagated foiliage.





French Marigolds are a good annual, if you put slug pellets down occassionally as well. Again pinch off any dead flowers to encourage more.





The most reliable daffs/narcissus are minature ones called "tete a tete". They've produced beautiful classic yellow flowers every spring for over a decade, for me.
Reply:Begonias, petunias, pansies,bizzie lizzies, allysum, lobelia, marigolds, daisies,roses,


I got all these in my garden, i keep forgetting to water and feeed them and they all seeem to be doing well, except where the puppy dug them up!
Reply:Bizy lizzies are not hard to look after and they come in all nice shades.
Reply:Fuscias and geraniums are really nice to look at but not too difficult to look after.
Reply:What you could do is clear the grass away, then see what grows naturally. I know this seems like it won't result in anything particularly wonderful - but if you concentrate on keeping thugs at bay - remove two-thirds of anything that looks like it wants to take over, and all of anything that's spiky or poisonous, or which you think 'lowers the tone' - you'll probably end up with a decent mix of plants that are native or naturalised.





We have vetch, clover, self-heal, sorrel, buttercups, daisies, dandelions, dock, fox and cubs (the flower, not the fauna!) at the moment - all we do is keep the grass from taking over again, pull up thistles, and trim anything that's gone over, to make room for the next month's stuff to flourish.





Helen
Reply:Always put down a black cover so the weeds will be next to nothing. Try some bulbs for early flowers like hiacinths, daffodils, tulips then after they go some good perinniels that always come back such as pintas, vinca, daisies, miniture canna lillies, day lillies, even miniature sunflowers are fun. For a good filler use some cedar chips or pine chips or even colored rock. If you are in hot climate try the succulent family and some cacti with the white rocks or colored rocks or mix.


Annuals only bloom for that season but are fun if you have time to plants every year or add something different each season. Mondo grass is a good border plant. The miniature mondo grass if flower bed is small.
Reply:Go to your local garden centre and they will advise what plants to buy.
Reply:It depends on what growing zone you live in. I think you could do a search online and find your zone and probably lots of info, but if not, go and find The Sunset Western Garden main book that costs about $25, and sit down in the store and handle it with care and look up info about your zone, this book is like the gardeners bible Without good soil nothing grows much, so if you don't have good soil consider pots and raised beds
Reply:Pansies, marigolds, lobeliaand petunias are all low mantinance flowers which should brighten up your garden and they are bedding plants so they wont grow huge


A web-site that designs flower/shrub beds?

I would like to design my flower beds before I go and spend the time and money on shrubs and parenniels. I can't seem to find one or if there is one.

A web-site that designs flower/shrub beds?
Try the Scotts/Miracle Grow site:





http://www.scotts.com/smg/grow/growLandi...





I use this one a lot.
Reply:Here are a couple more websites to check out:


http://www.markcullen.com/gardening_guid...


http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/te...


This website has some links to some interesting sites: http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com...


I hope these help. there are some gardening programs out there that range anywhere from $5.00 and up, but I am sure you will find the information you need at one of these sites.





Good luck and happy growing!!!
Reply:Garden Gate:


http://www.gardenplans.com/beds.html





Better Homes %26amp; Gardens:


http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plans/


How do I keep the neighborhood cats out of my flower beds?

Pepper





Works everytime.

How do I keep the neighborhood cats out of my flower beds?
Try cocoa mulch.
Reply:1. There are many herbs that cats don’t like to be around, including lavender, rue, geranium, absinthe, and lemon-thyme. Also, a German professional gardener, Dieter Stegmaier of Essingen, has created a hybrid so repulsive to cats, they stay a yard away from it. It smells like schnapps to us, and is actually a pretty and hardy plant with blue flowers that bloom throughout most of the summer. Its Latin name is Coleus canin. You can order it through various mailorder services in Germany, for example here: here.


2. This mixture is easy to make and can be used anywhere you want to repel cats (or groundhogs, for that matter):





2 parts cayenne pepper


3 parts dry mustard


5 parts flour





Simply mix together and sprinkle.





3. Use large flat river stones in your garden beds to make the soil less diggable, and so less attractive to cats. Besides, river stones are pretty. You can also use them in houseplant pots to keep the furry little darlings out of those.





4. Cats don’t like tea leaves, so empty your used ones onto the garden soil.





5. You could also try using a sprinkler that is activated by a motion-sensor. All it takes is a time or two of getting dowsed with water to deter any cat. It can work for intruders, too.
Reply:I sprinkle ground Cayenne pepper around. It seems to work, though it does have to be refreshed every once in a while.
Reply:A friend has placed chicken wire flat on the ground over her flower beds. I would suggest a very thin layer of mulch on top to make it less unsightly.


You could try large chunks of bark (not the medium or fine bark chips), they would be rather uncomfortable for most cats to walk on.


Cats generally hate the smell of tea tree oil (an essential oil). You could try diluting it into a spray bottle %26amp; spraying it around the area, or soaking something like cotton balls in it %26amp; placing those around the flower beds. You would have to respray/refresh these on a regular basis. I used to use it to keep my cats from clawing certain areas of my rugs (very diluted solution).


You may want to think twice about using cayenne pepper as it could get into any creatures eyes. Squirrels have been known to scratch their eyes out trying to remove the offending "object" - very cruel.
Reply:I've heard ammonia, too.
Reply:I've heard moth balls work pretty well, they also keep snakes out.


What can I use to keep cats out of my flower beds?

the stray cats keep digging up my flowers any ideas on how to keep them out. We have tried all kinds of things but so far nothing is working. Thanks

What can I use to keep cats out of my flower beds?
I would say moth balls but those are poisonous . try to get to your local lowes or home depot and see if they have any suggestions . good luck .
Reply:They sell the stuff at home depot, loews etc bot it stains cement I use ammonia in spray bottle
Reply:New Critter Ridder® Pepper-Based Granules Repel Small Animals





As the name implies, new Critter Ridder® shake-on granules keep small animals away from flower and vegetable gardens and from garages, attics, basements and indoor storage areas.





The all natural repellent uses a patented formula that repels by both taste and odor. It features a unique patented pepper-based formula with oil of black pepper, piperine and capsaicin as active ingredients.





Critter Ridder is particularly effective in deterring skunks, groundhogs, squirrels, raccoons and even dogs and CATS. It also is long-lasting, based on independent testing, and one application lasts up to 30 days. Critter Ridder is the latest addition to a growing line of humane animal control products from the Havahart division of Woodstream Corporation. The repellent comes in two sizes -- 1.25 lbs. and 2.20 lbs. – and contains a dual pop-open lid for either shaking or spooning. It also features a 3-D style holographic label to draw attention to the Havahart name and product use.





The Havahart brand features a comprehensive line of pet and wildlife control products including live animal cage traps and deterrents, pet electronics and containment systems, and birdfeeders. For more information, visit the company’s website: www.havahart.com or write to Woodstream Corporation, 69 N. Locust St. ; Lititz , PA 17543 .
Reply:Mothballs.
Reply:cayenne pepper
Reply:Put out some chili pepper. That should work. Shake it out on the ground like a salt shaker.
Reply:mix ammonia in milk........they won't be back!
Reply:get a dog. lmao sorry i couldn't resist
Reply:Cayenne Pepper powder...they hate it.
Reply:rub lemon juice around it...they run away from the smell of lemon.
Reply:have you tried a repelant? they sell them in pet stores.

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How do you keep cats from using the flower beds and get rid of the smell?

Add a few chili pepper plants, and some other fragrant flowers. Cat hate the scent of the chili peppers and avoid the area. Since you can't really scrub or flush the area, its best to cover the odor with other scents. Mulching may help block some of the odor.

How do you keep cats from using the flower beds and get rid of the smell?
There are repelants you can buy. Cat Stop® Cat Repellent will effectively deter cats from your yards, gardens, cars, or anywhere you would rather them not be.
Reply:It's easier to train a young cat than an old one. Before going to bed try lock the cat inside the toilet %26amp; let him spend the night there for a month. You will notice that everytime it would pee or dirt he'll go to the toilet to do his thing.


Stray cats and flower beds?

how can i stops cats and dogs from useing my flower bed as a bathroom?

Stray cats and flower beds?
Orange peels skin side up laid on the area they use. Before you put them down but while you're in the spot squeeze the peel to release the oil. Cats hate citrus. You don't have to completely cover the area but about the skin from one orange for every 2-3 square feet. This works on cats but I'm not sure about dogs.
Reply:the only way I can think of is to build a fence.





I am having the same problem. My pool just "died" so all I have in its spot is a bunch of sand and stray cats keep coming and using it.
Reply:My mom sprinkled pepper around the outer edges to keep her cat out of her flower beds. Worth a try. As for dogs, watch to make sure that it isn't someone who is walking their dog, some people will allow their pet to do their business in flower beds...rude! Anyway, if they are step out and nicely ask them to please quite doing that, if that doesn't work then, remind them that they are trespassing.
Reply:There is LIQUID FENCE on the market now........try it..


How do I stop all the wild buttercups spreading in my flower beds?

The easiest method is to carefully spray the leaves with a systemic weed killer. Make sure it is done on a wind free day though, to avoid other plants getting sprayed.





Buttercups (Ranunculus), can be very thuggish in the flower beds, and seem much stronger than those in the lawn.





You could try digging them out, but I experienced long underground roots, all because I had planted their attractive "relations" once!!





Hopefully after a few days you will notice them dying off, but leave taking them out until they are really gone, so it gives the weedkiller time to get to the heart of the roots...





Good Luck!

How do I stop all the wild buttercups spreading in my flower beds?
Dig them up with a trowel and leave no trailer roots behind.
Reply:The most effective way to stop them in their tracks would be to dig them out. As long as you get the crown out you will succeed in getting rid of them.