Archive for the ‘General Yard Questions’ Category

Great Garden Gift Gadgets
For Christmas

I am posting some ideas I have found while doing my own research on garden gadgets and tools. I hope this will help you save time in your search for the perfect for gift for the gardener in your life.

The Urban Compost Tumbler

This is being posted on December 10, 2007. You have 14 shopping days to Christmas.

The new Urban Compost Tumbler^TM/UCT9 is taking composting into an easy and practical way for gardeners to handle their garden green waste, to order your Urban Composter for Christmas go to

http://www.philthegardener.com/uct9

 

This is a great way recycle your garden debris back into the soil. For more information go to http://www.philthegardener.com/composterinfo.html

 

 

Here is a gadget that appears to be great but save your time looking for it.

Thirsty Light

 

I saw the Thirsty Light being promoted on tv and it must be great because the company is sold out until February. I guess you could order one anyway because the ratings are high, but you won’t get it in time for Christmas. I just have a problem putting a gift card to my favorite gardener under the tree with the note, To My Favorite Gardener here is the receipt for your Thirsty Light it should arrive sometime in February.

Happy July

It is our prayer that everyone have a safe holiday with family and friends.
Summer is here. Amongst the weed pulling and watering you need to make sure you work on these tasks in the early morning or early evening when the temperature is not so hot.

LAWN CARE

>Fertilize your lawn with an application of fertilizer this month. Make sure you water it into the soil after you have removed any overspread from your walks and patios.

> Remember to water in the morning to prevent disease problems. How do you know how much water you have applied? You can place several small containers with a flat bottom (such as an old margarine tub or tuna can) in your garden beds and lawn. Then measure the amount of water in the cans.

GARDEN CARE

> Your flowers, shrubs, trees, and vegetables need at least an inch of water a week. Pots, especially will dry out quickly in the heat. Check your containers daily.

> Make sure your lawn or plants are well watered before applying fertilizers, fungicides, or insecticides. Apply them in the early morning before the temperature reaches 80 degrees. This will allow the plants to dry before the temperature reaches 85 degrees. It is best not to spray when the temperature is above 85 degrees or if the pants are stressed from lack of water.

> Continue to deadhead annuals and perennials, this will encourage a longer bloom.

> Quit pinching back your mums, mid-July. Flowers will begin to bloom about 5 or 6 weeks after your last pinching. If you haven’t been pinching your mums, cut them back by half in early July and fertilize them. This will help your mums to grow bushier and delay bloom until later in the summer.

> You can still plant summer blooming perennials and shrubs, just make sure you give them a little extra TLC. Do your shopping at Gurneys while it is hot. Planting in the evening or on a cloudy day when the temperatures are cooler gives the plant a better chance to settle in before being hit with the heat and light of a typical July day. Make sure you keep newly planted flowers and shrubs well watered. Drought tolerant plants need to be treated the same way until they get established.

John has gopher problems in his yard in La Madera, New Mexico. Gophers are a problem everywhere from the mountain country of New Mexico to the San Joaquin Valley in California.

Gophers can be controlled by registered Vertebrate Pest Control operators. If you are looking for a natural repellant send me an email or post your request.

Phil