I just created a flower bed in an area that was overrun by onion grass, how can I get rid of the onion grass before planting? Is there something I can use or am I going to have to search and destroy?
Do I have to every bulb of onion grass from my new flower bed?
Have fun breaking your back! Unless you anihalate the whole bed with weed killers, those bulbs are ferrocious!!! They multiply on one side while you are digging up the other side! No really... make it a seasonal chore, one in the spring for about 3 years. that way you will know for sure that you have got the bugars... and the subsequent years will be much easier than the first.
good luck!
Reply:To remove onion grass paint straight Roundup on the leaves with a cheap paint brush. Sounds time consumming but there is no quick fix for this problem. If you dig them up the bulblets around the main bulb fall off and you can never find them in the soil. The cycle them starts ups again. If you don't disturb them and paint them, you kill the centre bulb, the bulblets then grow and then you paint them and it may take a few years to get them all. Roundup quickly dissipates in the soil and you can plant but don't expect to get all of the onion weed out quickly. Good hunting.
Reply:I use WEED BE GONE and it won't harm plants or flowers.I buy at Walmart.
Reply:search and destroy and vigilance r ur best methods. if u put something in the soil to kill the weeds, u won't b able to plant plants for months.
Monday, May 24, 2010
What can I plant in my flower bed?
It's about 10 feet long, but here's my problem- we do not have rain gutters (and my husband says we can't afford to put any up yet) and the flower bed is right underneath where the rain comes off the roof. So when it rains, any flowers that I have planted get demolished and uprooted. I need to plant something that can take the beating. I was thinking ivy. Will this work? Any other ideas?
What can I plant in my flower bed?
A couple of Ideas would be to install any type of item ie: a board a small piece of plastic..or a single piece of rain gutter just over where your flowers are..In my town you can get a 10 ft.section of gutter for under 5 dollars at the home center..then just nail it to the eaves of your house to divert the water away from your flowers..problem solved..
Or..you could move you flowers closer to the house or farther away so as the rain does not beat down on them..we had that problem until I did all of the above..
Good Luck with your project and grow something Green it goes with anything..
Reply:It is hard to get a bed established under these conditions. The problem is the fresh new dirt and plants just can't withstand the force of the water.
You need to avoid the exact line of the heaviest flow. You will probably have a good idea where that is because there are more rocks than dirt in that line.
I would plant behind that area and in front of that area. As your ground cover gets established it will spread and cover the rocks. It will take a couple of years.
Another idea is to make a rock bed. Use those pretty round smooth stones. Plant your flowers in flower pots and position them on top of the rocks so they aren't under the heaviest flow.
graffiti tags
What can I plant in my flower bed?
A couple of Ideas would be to install any type of item ie: a board a small piece of plastic..or a single piece of rain gutter just over where your flowers are..In my town you can get a 10 ft.section of gutter for under 5 dollars at the home center..then just nail it to the eaves of your house to divert the water away from your flowers..problem solved..
Or..you could move you flowers closer to the house or farther away so as the rain does not beat down on them..we had that problem until I did all of the above..
Good Luck with your project and grow something Green it goes with anything..
Reply:It is hard to get a bed established under these conditions. The problem is the fresh new dirt and plants just can't withstand the force of the water.
You need to avoid the exact line of the heaviest flow. You will probably have a good idea where that is because there are more rocks than dirt in that line.
I would plant behind that area and in front of that area. As your ground cover gets established it will spread and cover the rocks. It will take a couple of years.
Another idea is to make a rock bed. Use those pretty round smooth stones. Plant your flowers in flower pots and position them on top of the rocks so they aren't under the heaviest flow.
graffiti tags
How might I plan a shaped flower bed?
I have a shape I would like a new flower bed to be, but how will I take it from paper to the grounds? It would need to be accurate to the shape I have, and cost nothing to plan out. It is for a logo-shaped bed on my organisation's grounds.
How might I plan a shaped flower bed?
A grid.
Draw it out on a grid, sech grid space is equal to a space on the ground (1/4" =1'-0") then using string, layout a grid on the ground, it isnow quite easy to mark out the design.
Total cost, about 3$ (kite string works great)
Reply:YOU NEED TO PLANT THE SEEDS IN THE DESIGN YOU WANT THE FLOWERS TO GROW IN. YOU WILL NEED TO GROOM THE FLOWERS AS WELL AND BUY SOME WEED KILLER.
Reply:Use string or garden hoses to lay the shape and location, easy to adjust till it is perfect then just use a spade to dig the outline where the hoses are laying
Reply:Well you drew it out on paper so you draw it out on the ground.
Decide what the scale will be. How much bigger do you want it.
You would need to be able to look down at your design as you were laying it out. Is there a high spot where you would be able to look down on it?
Well you lay out rope or cord as close as you can come to the design. You will have to pin down the rope as you are going.
Now so that you can replant if needed you should lay out permanent borders where you laid the rope.
If the plan on the ground is a little off it isn't a real big problem because even if the plan was perfect the flowers wouldn't always grow evenly any way.
The key to it looking good is in planting %26amp; trimming the flowers.
Unless you are doing this for nothing it will cost.
This isn't a little job %26amp; laying out the design will take time %26amp; money.
Reply:Stake a garden hose out in the shape you want and carefully plant around the inside to make the shape
Reply:Beside using string or a garden hose, an effective technique is to use landscaping paint to mark the boundaries. Unlike string and hose, it won't move while you work thus maintaining the desired shape.
Reply:I've laid out a garden hose on the ground , makes proper curves or straight, then dug it out
Reply:Pass the buck, if your organisation have many people, delegate, you have the initial plan on paper, its your plan, you get the honour and pride of the initial plan. Then sit back and watch with pride as your delegated colleague toils and sweats over the task!
How might I plan a shaped flower bed?
A grid.
Draw it out on a grid, sech grid space is equal to a space on the ground (1/4" =1'-0") then using string, layout a grid on the ground, it isnow quite easy to mark out the design.
Total cost, about 3$ (kite string works great)
Reply:YOU NEED TO PLANT THE SEEDS IN THE DESIGN YOU WANT THE FLOWERS TO GROW IN. YOU WILL NEED TO GROOM THE FLOWERS AS WELL AND BUY SOME WEED KILLER.
Reply:Use string or garden hoses to lay the shape and location, easy to adjust till it is perfect then just use a spade to dig the outline where the hoses are laying
Reply:Well you drew it out on paper so you draw it out on the ground.
Decide what the scale will be. How much bigger do you want it.
You would need to be able to look down at your design as you were laying it out. Is there a high spot where you would be able to look down on it?
Well you lay out rope or cord as close as you can come to the design. You will have to pin down the rope as you are going.
Now so that you can replant if needed you should lay out permanent borders where you laid the rope.
If the plan on the ground is a little off it isn't a real big problem because even if the plan was perfect the flowers wouldn't always grow evenly any way.
The key to it looking good is in planting %26amp; trimming the flowers.
Unless you are doing this for nothing it will cost.
This isn't a little job %26amp; laying out the design will take time %26amp; money.
Reply:Stake a garden hose out in the shape you want and carefully plant around the inside to make the shape
Reply:Beside using string or a garden hose, an effective technique is to use landscaping paint to mark the boundaries. Unlike string and hose, it won't move while you work thus maintaining the desired shape.
Reply:I've laid out a garden hose on the ground , makes proper curves or straight, then dug it out
Reply:Pass the buck, if your organisation have many people, delegate, you have the initial plan on paper, its your plan, you get the honour and pride of the initial plan. Then sit back and watch with pride as your delegated colleague toils and sweats over the task!
How to prepare a flower bed for planting using newspaper and lime stone rock?
Any other ways to prepare the flower bed? I am a novice so I don't know where to start.
How to prepare a flower bed for planting using newspaper and lime stone rock?
One of the shows on HGTV (one with a funny Middle aged guy with salt and pepper hair I forget his name) did part of an episode on this. He recommended preparing the garden in this manner in the fall, prior to the season you wish to plant. This gives the newspaper longer to kill not only the grass, but all of the seeds from any noxious weeds that may also be present. Also you may wish to lay at least two but probably no more than three layers of newsprint down. One layer, which would stop direct light, would still let some light through (much like a window shade). If you have any shady areas in your yard, you will note that while grass wont grow, weeds still thrive in reduced light. Remember you are not only trying to kill the existing vegitation, but also any ungerminated seeds. The darker the better chance of stopping weed germination. However, more than three layers would require not only a lot of newsprint, but also would take more time to decay. Depending on where you live if you have plenty of moisture even if it is snowfall, this should not be a problem. If you are not the organic type, a good preemergent would also be ok, but only if you are planting established plants.
If you are not set on using the newspaper method, you may try compost. Many cities are turning yardwaste into compost that can be purchased very cheaply. If you can get this, buy a couple of cubic yards and spread it to about 4-6 inches in the area you want your garden. As it decomposes at the facility, it generates heat. There will still be some of this process when you receive it so the heat combined with the lack of light will kill off everything beneath it. Plus it is rich in nutrients and you will not have to worry about fertilizing much the first season.
Reply:Lime stone rock can be decorative if you like the white color. Other than that, it can be bad if crushed because it is a caustic. Some plants like acid soils..in fact most of the ones I like do.
Newspaper is a cheap mulch. It can kill weeks underneath it but I would just do that anyway and skip using trashy newspapers. Enjoy your garden. It is not so hard. Water it a lot, fertilize with Miracle Grow and use good soil to begin with...at least 6 inches. Enjoy!!!
Reply:You can use shredded newspaper to mulch your garden, as a layer in making "lazagna" (no till) beds, and flat newspaper to cover existing grass to kill it (at least 6 sheets). You can weigh the edges down with rock if you like, but I usually spray it down with a hose, then through some straw or leaves on top, and wet them too. I don't have trouble with blowing-away things.
The limestone scares me. Unless your soil is overly acid, don't use limestone in your soil! It will raise the ph. The soil around here is a bit on the clay side, and alkaline. Lime stone would make it even MORE alkaline, and all my acid-loing plants would complain even more than they are now.
But perhaps it serves a purpose in your area. I don't know what kind of soil you are starting with.
Reply:I take it your using the newspaper to cover the sod? You outline the garden with the rocks, I find if you dig a bit of a indent for the rock to sit in it helps. Then fill it up with soil, on top of the newspaper, and put in your plants. You should use at least 3 pieces of paper thick, once it rots the grass underneath is dead and won't hurt your garden. Good luck and enjoy your garden
How to prepare a flower bed for planting using newspaper and lime stone rock?
One of the shows on HGTV (one with a funny Middle aged guy with salt and pepper hair I forget his name) did part of an episode on this. He recommended preparing the garden in this manner in the fall, prior to the season you wish to plant. This gives the newspaper longer to kill not only the grass, but all of the seeds from any noxious weeds that may also be present. Also you may wish to lay at least two but probably no more than three layers of newsprint down. One layer, which would stop direct light, would still let some light through (much like a window shade). If you have any shady areas in your yard, you will note that while grass wont grow, weeds still thrive in reduced light. Remember you are not only trying to kill the existing vegitation, but also any ungerminated seeds. The darker the better chance of stopping weed germination. However, more than three layers would require not only a lot of newsprint, but also would take more time to decay. Depending on where you live if you have plenty of moisture even if it is snowfall, this should not be a problem. If you are not the organic type, a good preemergent would also be ok, but only if you are planting established plants.
If you are not set on using the newspaper method, you may try compost. Many cities are turning yardwaste into compost that can be purchased very cheaply. If you can get this, buy a couple of cubic yards and spread it to about 4-6 inches in the area you want your garden. As it decomposes at the facility, it generates heat. There will still be some of this process when you receive it so the heat combined with the lack of light will kill off everything beneath it. Plus it is rich in nutrients and you will not have to worry about fertilizing much the first season.
Reply:Lime stone rock can be decorative if you like the white color. Other than that, it can be bad if crushed because it is a caustic. Some plants like acid soils..in fact most of the ones I like do.
Newspaper is a cheap mulch. It can kill weeks underneath it but I would just do that anyway and skip using trashy newspapers. Enjoy your garden. It is not so hard. Water it a lot, fertilize with Miracle Grow and use good soil to begin with...at least 6 inches. Enjoy!!!
Reply:You can use shredded newspaper to mulch your garden, as a layer in making "lazagna" (no till) beds, and flat newspaper to cover existing grass to kill it (at least 6 sheets). You can weigh the edges down with rock if you like, but I usually spray it down with a hose, then through some straw or leaves on top, and wet them too. I don't have trouble with blowing-away things.
The limestone scares me. Unless your soil is overly acid, don't use limestone in your soil! It will raise the ph. The soil around here is a bit on the clay side, and alkaline. Lime stone would make it even MORE alkaline, and all my acid-loing plants would complain even more than they are now.
But perhaps it serves a purpose in your area. I don't know what kind of soil you are starting with.
Reply:I take it your using the newspaper to cover the sod? You outline the garden with the rocks, I find if you dig a bit of a indent for the rock to sit in it helps. Then fill it up with soil, on top of the newspaper, and put in your plants. You should use at least 3 pieces of paper thick, once it rots the grass underneath is dead and won't hurt your garden. Good luck and enjoy your garden
What should I use as a barrier to keep tree roots out of a flower bed?
I am going to dig up the flower bed in order to bury the barrier.
BTW I know about weedblock, but I think something stronger would be better.
Thanks!
What should I use as a barrier to keep tree roots out of a flower bed?
Here are a few professional websites. Most of this you can purchase from a Porfessional Landscape Supply company like John Deere Landscapes:
NDS -
http://www.ndspro.com/cms/index.php/15-L...
Deep Root-
http://www.deeproot.com/template.php?sec...
BioBarrier
http://www.biobarrier.com/
Reply:water would do the trick.
if you water deep, the roots will grow deep to get the water.
if you watering shallow, the roots stay near the top of the ground.
BTW I know about weedblock, but I think something stronger would be better.
Thanks!
What should I use as a barrier to keep tree roots out of a flower bed?
Here are a few professional websites. Most of this you can purchase from a Porfessional Landscape Supply company like John Deere Landscapes:
NDS -
http://www.ndspro.com/cms/index.php/15-L...
Deep Root-
http://www.deeproot.com/template.php?sec...
BioBarrier
http://www.biobarrier.com/
Reply:water would do the trick.
if you water deep, the roots will grow deep to get the water.
if you watering shallow, the roots stay near the top of the ground.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Should Hostas be cut down low this time of year to clean up flower beds and allow better growth in the summer?
Hi,
I'm in No. IL., I just cut mine back and cleaned up the area.
Any flower beds I've seen that are taken care of by professional landscaper crews have cut and cleaned up the sites they tend, plus all the lillies are cut and cleaned up, too.
Hope this helps, Dave
Should Hostas be cut down low this time of year to clean up flower beds and allow better growth in the summer?
If it hasn't died back yet yes then it cut it to ground level.
Reply:In the Chicago area, I had good luck letting my hostas stay as they were over winter and then pulling up anything that was left in the spring after it started getting warm. As I pulled out the dead leaves that hadn't decayed, I found little hosta sprouts underneath. The decaying plant matter seemed to warm them, and they grew quicker and bigger than the same plants at my neighbor's house.
Reply:Clean them up now or in the spring take your choice.
It's easier to cut them back now rather than trying to clean out the dead leaves from the new growth in the spring.
If you leave the foliage now it will give the roots some protection from freezing %26amp; thawing during the winter. It they freeze %26amp; thaw to many times that will weaken them.
Reply:Treat them as you would any perennial plant that dies off over winter months. Cut back dying foliage to ground level and mulch, fertilise in spring for strong new growth. If patch is too big you can divide for more plants.
Reply:After the leaves die down, trim them back. Go to the following web site and the info is at the bottom of the page.
http://www.hosta.net/tips.htm#6
Reply:Clean them up now. Good garden sanitation involves removal of plants' dead growth, since a host of insects and diseases can overwinter in this material. This differs from mulch, in that mulch, such as raked leaves, can benefit by insulating the soil from heaving plants in freeze/thaw cycles. But hostas are the type of plant that will tolerate winter no problem. If the hostas had slug damage and other problems, those things will most certainly be transferred back to them in the spring if you don't clean up. Exposure to cold allows the cold to do its job by killing certain insects that would otherwise overwinter in plant waste. And hosta leaves are one type that just get nasty and slimey once they die, so get rid of them! Hint for preventing slug damage in hostas: spread wood sawdust (not charcoal dust, since it can react with rain to form sulphuric acid), and the slugs will be repelled. And you can use the beer-in-a-saucer method, but why waste beer?
Reply:Hostas should be cut back in the fall. That way no fungas will grow on the leaves.
Reply:FLOYD B IS BY FAR THE BETTER ANSWER
Reply:I have several different types of hostas. I find that they come back better in the spring if you just leave them alone.
horns
I'm in No. IL., I just cut mine back and cleaned up the area.
Any flower beds I've seen that are taken care of by professional landscaper crews have cut and cleaned up the sites they tend, plus all the lillies are cut and cleaned up, too.
Hope this helps, Dave
Should Hostas be cut down low this time of year to clean up flower beds and allow better growth in the summer?
If it hasn't died back yet yes then it cut it to ground level.
Reply:In the Chicago area, I had good luck letting my hostas stay as they were over winter and then pulling up anything that was left in the spring after it started getting warm. As I pulled out the dead leaves that hadn't decayed, I found little hosta sprouts underneath. The decaying plant matter seemed to warm them, and they grew quicker and bigger than the same plants at my neighbor's house.
Reply:Clean them up now or in the spring take your choice.
It's easier to cut them back now rather than trying to clean out the dead leaves from the new growth in the spring.
If you leave the foliage now it will give the roots some protection from freezing %26amp; thawing during the winter. It they freeze %26amp; thaw to many times that will weaken them.
Reply:Treat them as you would any perennial plant that dies off over winter months. Cut back dying foliage to ground level and mulch, fertilise in spring for strong new growth. If patch is too big you can divide for more plants.
Reply:After the leaves die down, trim them back. Go to the following web site and the info is at the bottom of the page.
http://www.hosta.net/tips.htm#6
Reply:Clean them up now. Good garden sanitation involves removal of plants' dead growth, since a host of insects and diseases can overwinter in this material. This differs from mulch, in that mulch, such as raked leaves, can benefit by insulating the soil from heaving plants in freeze/thaw cycles. But hostas are the type of plant that will tolerate winter no problem. If the hostas had slug damage and other problems, those things will most certainly be transferred back to them in the spring if you don't clean up. Exposure to cold allows the cold to do its job by killing certain insects that would otherwise overwinter in plant waste. And hosta leaves are one type that just get nasty and slimey once they die, so get rid of them! Hint for preventing slug damage in hostas: spread wood sawdust (not charcoal dust, since it can react with rain to form sulphuric acid), and the slugs will be repelled. And you can use the beer-in-a-saucer method, but why waste beer?
Reply:Hostas should be cut back in the fall. That way no fungas will grow on the leaves.
Reply:FLOYD B IS BY FAR THE BETTER ANSWER
Reply:I have several different types of hostas. I find that they come back better in the spring if you just leave them alone.
horns
Its time to trim Roses and clean up my flower beds. What can I use to perk up my dirt? Chicken manure or??
I don't know where you are, but I would not do much cleanup on roses until March. If you cut too much and have a hard freeze, you can lose up to a foot more on the branches. I would get a soil building compost and go easy on chicken maunure. There are specific rose and flower fertilizers to add, just follow the directions on the box. Look in any nursury or big box store and there should be someone in the garden department to advise you. I work in a nursery and some of the saddest roses I have seen were pruned too early and overfertilized to the point of being burned.
Its time to trim Roses and clean up my flower beds. What can I use to perk up my dirt? Chicken manure or??
Now is not the time to amend your soil. For now just cover the areas around your roses and other plants with a few inches of compost. Come spring you can just dig it in to the soil. That would be the time to add fertilizers or anything else.
Reply:Try going to a garden shop where you can buy bagged nutrients for the soil
There are lots of different choices: peat moss, fertilizer, maybe even a bit of mulch, and manure
even try just saving lots of old scraps live fruit rinds, eggshells, and almost anything else organic
Added leaves
Just go to a garden store and look around, or ask a person who works there, or even another customer, whoever shops there is probably knowledgeable, but yes, chicken manure will probably work
Reply:Rabbit dung has always worked well for me.
Reply:Like the orange peels-- bananas really! perk up roses-just throw the peels around the plants-- they turn brown and disappear- I also crush egg shells and throw them around the plants-- I haven't gotten my compost started so I'm going half way.
good luck
Reply:This may not work but its a good suggestion. I once saw my neighbor throwing orange peels ( the skins and some of the juices,) into her flowerbeds and my goodness, she has the most beautiful garden in town. Supposedly the nutrients from the skin makes the dirt easier to work with
Reply:If you want it to be cheap but as effective as the stuff you buy at the store. Try Rabbit manure! My Sister-in-law breeds rabbits and has sold A LOT for that purpose. But this is one of the best "over all" fertilizer you can put in your grown!
:-)
Its time to trim Roses and clean up my flower beds. What can I use to perk up my dirt? Chicken manure or??
Now is not the time to amend your soil. For now just cover the areas around your roses and other plants with a few inches of compost. Come spring you can just dig it in to the soil. That would be the time to add fertilizers or anything else.
Reply:Try going to a garden shop where you can buy bagged nutrients for the soil
There are lots of different choices: peat moss, fertilizer, maybe even a bit of mulch, and manure
even try just saving lots of old scraps live fruit rinds, eggshells, and almost anything else organic
Added leaves
Just go to a garden store and look around, or ask a person who works there, or even another customer, whoever shops there is probably knowledgeable, but yes, chicken manure will probably work
Reply:Rabbit dung has always worked well for me.
Reply:Like the orange peels-- bananas really! perk up roses-just throw the peels around the plants-- they turn brown and disappear- I also crush egg shells and throw them around the plants-- I haven't gotten my compost started so I'm going half way.
good luck
Reply:This may not work but its a good suggestion. I once saw my neighbor throwing orange peels ( the skins and some of the juices,) into her flowerbeds and my goodness, she has the most beautiful garden in town. Supposedly the nutrients from the skin makes the dirt easier to work with
Reply:If you want it to be cheap but as effective as the stuff you buy at the store. Try Rabbit manure! My Sister-in-law breeds rabbits and has sold A LOT for that purpose. But this is one of the best "over all" fertilizer you can put in your grown!
:-)
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