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.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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