I am just pasting this from my e-mail, I can't take credit for it.
-Even if you don't normally place your houseplants outside
during the summer, watch the weather reports and place
them outside during a warm, gentle rain. It will wash off
the dust and give them a nice shower.
-Once your bearded iris has stopped blooming remove the
flower stock/seed pods so the plants energy can focus on
the roots instead of seed production. If your irises are 3
years old or older you may want to consider dividing them.
I have instructions on planting and dividing here:
www.oldfashionedliving.com/iris.html -Blossom end rot isn't uncommon in tomatoes and other
fruits and vegetables. Prevention involves watering your
plants evenly and on a regular basis. If you let them dry
out too much, then soak them, they may get it. Plan a
watering schedule and try to stick to it.
-Believe it or not, you really should be planning for your
spring garden, if you want less work that is, and a good
soil to plant in next season. There is a technique known
as "soil solarization" that works really well during the hot
months of June and July. The area must receive full sun
for it to work the best. Determine where you want to place
a new bed, or extend one you already have. Pull up the
larger weeds that you can grab--and rototill the area so it
works it up about 8 inches deep. Water the area VERY
well, and place clear plastic over the entire area--tack it
down with stakes (tent stakes work great) or large rocks.
You can leave this on and remove it next spring OR to
really get it going, remove it in a month, and rototill again.
Place the plastic on again and keep it there till spring.
I tried this two years ago and for the most part it worked
pretty well. I also had fairly good luck with placing layers
of newspaper and cardboard down, watering it til it was
very soggy, then putting on a layer of hay. You could use
grass clippings or straw as well.
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T O D A Y ' S O F L R E S O U R C E
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I've posted a new blog on my rock garden with
tips on moss rose, ice plant, hens-and-chickens
and stonecrop. I've included pictures as well.
Read it here:
grace-whimsy.blogspot.com/