Author |
Message |
Kristylovesbb
Member
09-14-2000
| Monday, May 16, 2005 - 3:01 pm
LOL, War that's exactly what I am going to do! Thanks for the ideal.
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Nightcrawler
Member
02-12-2002
| Monday, May 16, 2005 - 8:56 pm
this is a dumb ? we are going to put are garden in tuesday. I'v seen people put coffee cans in the ground then the tomato plants in the cans this keeps the bugs outs of the roots better this I know. now my ? we don't have loots of cans so I got about 30 1/2 gallon milk jugs to use in place of the cans some one at work was telling me that the plastic would not be good for the plant. any one know if this is wright. I think it's BS, but I thought I would see if any one of you have heard this. I allso put this in the dumd ? place. nc
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Nightcrawler
Member
02-12-2002
| Monday, May 16, 2005 - 9:00 pm
in are garden we have sweat corn and ogins up we have started are pepers and tomatos in side and will be puting them out tommro. some of are tomatos are about 2 feet tall. I cant wait to get it all out side. nc
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Karuuna
Member
08-31-2000
| Monday, May 16, 2005 - 9:17 pm
NC, I've heard of folks putting cans around them as starters (or milk jugs) to keep the wind out and heat in; but never heard about the bug thing. So I can't help ya. My question: pesky old Bugsy Bunnies are eating my spring flowers. The crocuses are decimated, and now the little boogers are clipping the tulip flowers off the plants. I like the bunnies, but they're kinda tickin' me off. Any suggestions? er, besides Elmer Fudd. 
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Tess
Member
04-13-2001
| Monday, May 16, 2005 - 10:52 pm
Kar, we have the same bunny trouble here and nary a tulip to be found anymore. No clue how to safely guard the flowers without harming the bunny family living large in our yard. I'll be anxiously waiting to see if anyone has advice for you.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 12:10 am
I'm jealous of the tomatoes NC! I tried a couple years ago to grow some. Had six plants and a ton of tomatoes, then all of a sudden they started to split (the tomatoes.) I was told I was over watering so cut back and they all shriveled up in the heat. I think out of all the tomatoes and plants we ended up with something like 3 tomatoes, lol. Can't help with the bunnies, we never get anything cute like that! We end up with things like frogs, lol.
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Jagger
Member
08-07-2002
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 6:28 am
OK as far as the cans or milk jugs ( I think milk jugs would work, the cans have been used because everything use to come in cans and not jugs. I don't think it will hurt them any to use jugs.) The purpose of the cans is for two reasons, as stated above 1 to protect from the weather, but the main reason is to protect the roots from cut (grub) worms, so if you do use cans make sure they go deep enough into the ground to protect the entire root system. My understanding is that after the plants and roots get big enough it won't hurt them as much if a cut ( grub) worm eats some of the roots. As far as the rabbits eating the flowers, been there, had that done to my plants. Easiest and safest way to prevent this is to put up a fence of chicken wire around them, it may look ugly but at least it will keep most critters out. They also have stuff you can spray onto the plants to irritate the pesky critters, but I have found that doesn't seem to work to well. Can't wait until I can go out and plant my garden, still too cold, although I should get my plants and get them used to the temp changes.
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Karuuna
Member
08-31-2000
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 8:15 am
In Colorado, most people grow their tomatoes upside down. It's a funny sight to be sure. They plant them in those white 5 gallon buckets, with the plant poking through a hole in the bottom. But apparently it works well. As for the bunnies, my neighbor lady told me to get a can of dehydrated fox urine stuff. You shake it around the plants and she says it works really well till it rains hard. Then you have to reapply. So I guess I"m off to find some fox urine today! 
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Jagger
Member
08-07-2002
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 11:32 am
Karuuna I've tried the upside down tomatoes growing, from what I found it works great for Cherry tomatoes, but not to hot for regular tomatoes, which seem to get to big and heavy and fall off. It is a great idea for someone who lives in an apartment or doesn't have much of a yard, you also don't have to put cages around them that way.
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Rabbit
Member
08-12-2001
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 2:46 pm
Well if you are concerned with Bunny, just put a poster of Hardy out in your garden, that will keep her occupied. If it is me out in your garden, you could always invite me in for a tossed salad, a couple of carrotinis, soft music and then I'll let you rub hare conditioner all over me, we'll dance, we'll do............. the bunny hop ... and it will take your mind totally off the trimming I did in your garden.
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Karuuna
Member
08-31-2000
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 3:31 pm
Jagger, I imagine they must keep them trimmed somehow, or pick the tomatoes early then? It's very common here; but Colorado is a tough state to grow tomatoes, the growing season is too short and it doesn't get hot and wet enough. Rabbit, your solution is amusing, however, it appears to be not just you and Bunny munching on my pretties, it is a whole dang herd of your relatives. They are both prolific flower munchers as well as prolific producers, cute as they are. (and the little baby bunnies are really really cute, but I'm not so sure it's a good idea for 20-something of them to be living under my deck!)
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 3:34 pm
Anyone ever grow a lace-cap hydrangea in a container? I have one that I need to replant. Wondering what type of soil would be best, etc. (it's a blue one so also need to keep soil acidic). I have read some entries in books, but wondering if anyone had experience here. Thanks!
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Hypermom
Member
08-13-2001
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 4:20 pm
Kar, I've used hot pepper flakes for bunnies and it's worked pretty well. Now, if I could just get rid of some of my chipmonks.....
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Karuuna
Member
08-31-2000
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 5:17 pm
Hyper, do you sprinkle those on the plants? is that how they work?
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 7:09 pm
We usually depend on the coyotes to keep the rabbit population down. Even though I live in the city, there are coyotes nearby. I had one streak across in front of me while I was out walking last year. Bigdog commented the other morning that the coyote population must be dwindling because we are seeing rabbits everywhere.
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Karuuna
Member
08-31-2000
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 7:31 pm
Our rabbits live in our fenced back yard. Although there are coyotes nearby, they don't usually come into the yard. The one outdoor cat we had used to catch the babies, but honestly, I couldn't stand their screaming. The indoor cats are currently not doing very well at reducing the mouse population. And the dogs would get 'em if they could, but the rabbits are just too fast for 'em! My pets are pretty and we love 'em, but rather useless in this area. 
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Tess
Member
04-13-2001
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 8:26 pm
Our rabbit family has the run of our fenced yard and have taken up permanent residence along with the chipmunks and squirrels. Bunnies and chipmunks live under the shed and the squirrels tap dance on our roof. All destroy the garden. Whatever bulbs they don't dig up and chew to pieces they get as soon as they bloom. We've given up on any tulips, daffodils, etc. Forget vegetables. The one good thing about the bunnies is that they do nibble the grass so there's a spot near the sliding door off the family room which doesn't need quite as much mowing. 
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Hypermom
Member
08-13-2001
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 9:08 pm
Kar, I sprinkle it on the plants and the mulch. My sister uses vinegar. She puts it on cotton balls and places them around her plants. It works too. Cayenne pepper works well for container plants if anyone has a squirrel problem.
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Nightcrawler
Member
02-12-2002
| Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 8:05 am
thanks Jarrer and Karuuna we did do the milk jugs we did them more for the wind, because as we got started some of the taller starters tomatos the wind bent over and snaped them.(are farm is very flat and windy) so the jugs made good wind breaks we put out all the pepers and most of the tomatos. and got lots of sweat corn planted. still have more sweat corn and popcorn,apple gord,water melons,punkons,green bean,peas,and lot more to go. are garden is about 3/4 of an acker this year we are going to sell things at the farmers market this year. as for rabbits are dogs keep most of them away but the dogs sleep in are flowers(there tierd from running after the bunnys) are bigest problme in are garden is are 2 yongest kids 2 and 3 years old we have to put up a small fence to keep the kids out. they help to much or drive the battery powerd trucks throu the garden happy gardoning nc
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Nightcrawler
Member
02-12-2002
| Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 8:13 am
I ment thanks JAGGER sorry for killing you name nc
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Friday, May 27, 2005 - 2:11 pm
Anyone know what might be eating my trees (maple and some others) and what I can use to get rid of it/them? Here are a few shots of the damage... (Not real good shots as it is hard to see what I am shooting in the bright sun.)
 Also note the leaf above and to the left of the thumb in the thumb shot-see how it is almost completely gone...
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Friday, May 27, 2005 - 8:11 pm
Julieboo, looks like worm of some sort, maybe caterpillar? Look really closely right where the leaves join the stem and underneath the leaves to see if you can see any tiny bugs, red, white or green. That would be something like an aphid, although they usually suck from the leaves, and this looks like chewing. Do you have a state or country agricultural extension you can call? See if they have e-mail, and if you can e-mail them the photos. You could also take a couple leaves in to a local nursery. They will be happy to tell you what it is, AND to sell you the cure.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Friday, May 27, 2005 - 8:22 pm
I'll try the Morton Arboretum. I think I'll bring some leaves to a local nursery too... Thanks, those are great suggestions!
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 12:06 pm
Whoo-hoo! I built my first raised bed/planter box today, and I have the blisters to prove it! It is 4'x8'x1' tall, and it will hold my cantelope, watermelon, peas, beans, carrots, and lettuce. I have another one to do tomorrow for tomatoes, bell peppers, and hot peppers, and a third on Monday for herbs, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. If I last that long, that is. Thank goodness for Advil.
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Graceunderfyre
Member
01-22-2004
| Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 6:59 pm
Julie - DH tried to look it up but said it's difficult to tell from the pics. He suggested you either take a sample over to the Arboretum's plant clinic they have in the afternoons or mail a sample of leaves to county cooperative extension. He also said if you are mailing them 1. you need to do it early in the week so they don't sit around over the weekend rotting 2. a short plant history on the plants with as much info you can give about that plant including it's name (it looks like 2 separate problems are happening to the maple and the dogwood or whatever plants are affected) - they will want you to be as specific on what type of maple/dogwood it is. 3. Sometimes they also like to see one healthy leaf, one not so healthy and one really bad leaf so they can see the stages. (That's what the Arboretum likes for their labs) DH also said to be careful about going to nurseries for advice because they will just try to sell you something to cure it and it's not always going to work out. He worked at a nursery for 5 years and often sold stuff he thought might work and told the customer very confidently it would work. And my DH is a pretty honest guy. He also said that you should be careful about using sprays because by the time you see the damage, often the lifecycle of the insect is coming to an end. So the spray may not really be effective but it looks like it because the insect has died off naturally. Then next year they'll come back and you wouldn't have solved it.
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