trtlcrzy
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Post by trtlcrzy on Mar 20, 2019 14:46:25 GMT -6
Happy first day of spring! What’s happening in your garden?
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trtlcrzy
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Post by trtlcrzy on Mar 20, 2019 14:52:46 GMT -6
We have snow melting up here in zone 4. It’s been in the high 30s to 40s this week. I can’t wait for it to get a little warmer, but it’s on the way. No bulbs or anything popping up outside. As soon as it dries up a bit I need to get out and start prepping the ground for new plants. I got some poppy seeds and it says to direct sow them 4-6 weeks before last frost, which is mid May here, so I have a week or so to get the area they are going ready. I fertilized all of my perennials yesterday that were not snow covered. I need to get some tree spikes to fertilize my trees.
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trtlcrzy
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Post by trtlcrzy on Mar 20, 2019 14:55:42 GMT -6
Oh, I am a little mad though. I forgot to protect my azalea (that I just got last year) and the rabbits ate all the buds. No spring blooms for me
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Lakes
Sapphire
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Post by Lakes on Mar 20, 2019 15:55:04 GMT -6
Zone 7a over here. Getting close! I think they say April 15 for late frost but my mil always says plant on mother’s day. I always jump the gun and do it early. I have so many ideas but haven’t worked towards any of them. I haven’t started any seeds yet this year either and I haven’t decided what veggies to put in my two raised beds. My flower bed goal is to increase my native plants for birds and pollinators. My chives and daffodils are starting to pop up but no buds yet.
I’ve seen lots of snowdrops and winter aconite popping up on my walks.
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AmyG
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Post by AmyG on Mar 20, 2019 16:08:19 GMT -6
pulling weeds....
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Post by Dramaphile on Mar 21, 2019 14:59:22 GMT -6
I just checked on my raised beds, which I abandoned at the end of the season last year due to having a baby in october and apparently I am growing onions! Need to go through sometime this next couple of weeks and weed out all the dead plants and fertilize and figure out what I'm growing. At least it's finally still light out when I get home from work. Also need to figure out what I'm doing about my fence. I really want to replace the plastic fencing that's not doing a very good job of keeping my dogs out with a metal fence they can't tear.
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AmyG
Ruby
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Post by AmyG on Mar 22, 2019 23:48:45 GMT -6
I'm feeding the cow and goat next door all of the weeds I've pulled. Like 20 garbage bags full. Mostly it's actually winter pasture grass seed but there is also a lot of flowering weeds. The winters have been kind of dry last few years, so all the seed kind of waited til this year when we had a lot of rain, so it made up for it. I pulled the stuff on half the acre , but dh decided to mow the other half and just cut the grass, not bag it. so half the yard MAY have less weeds and the other half will likely have twice as many weeds next year.
Have to finish digging up the long garden bed. We have cottonwood trees and the roots are horrendous to try to keep out of the garden. Every year or 2 have to dig it up and put weed stop, barrier of any kind and put all the dirt back. The roots grow so thick it's like peat moss, but not as nice to garden plants.
Dh started a bunch of peppers and tomatoes that are ready to plant in the ground. And he drug over the extra straw the kids were using to shoot bow and arrows, and stuck them in my new raised beds that need dirt. Then he read about all this stuff to do to plant IN the straw bales. I just wanted to line the bottom 6 inches or so of the raised bed with straw, like I always do, but he's turning it into some other thing...
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trtlcrzy
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Post by trtlcrzy on Mar 23, 2019 0:08:03 GMT -6
Zone 7a over here. Getting close! I think they say April 15 for late frost but my mil always says plant on mother’s day. I always jump the gun and do it early. I have so many ideas but haven’t worked towards any of them. I haven’t started any seeds yet this year either and I haven’t decided what veggies to put in my two raised beds. My flower bed goal is to increase my native plants for birds and pollinators. My chives and daffodils are starting to pop up but no buds yet. I’ve seen lots of snowdrops and winter aconite popping up on my walks. That’s crazy that she says Mother’s Day for zone 7. That pretty much is our last average frost date here in 4.
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Post by sepiamoon on Mar 23, 2019 19:50:35 GMT -6
I'm in 8b here...so far south. I'm at a new rental house and there are some beds already in that need some maintenence and weeding. I picked up some seeds (kind of on a whim with DS asking) and might plant a small batch of vegetables like carrots, cilantro, and lettuce. I also got some sunflowers. I've only gardened a little bit in the past and it's really REALLY hard with the heat here.
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Post by Dramaphile on Mar 26, 2019 9:38:51 GMT -6
So I finally went out to check on my raised beds this weekend and discovered that if you abandon your garden in late october after having a baby, you may discover in March that you have perfectly good carrots that have grown over the winter. The texture was a little off from the freeze/thaw, but they tasted good, nice and sweet!
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trtlcrzy
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Post by trtlcrzy on Mar 26, 2019 23:16:00 GMT -6
So I finally went out to check on my raised beds this weekend and discovered that if you abandon your garden in late october after having a baby, you may discover in March that you have perfectly good carrots that have grown over the winter. The texture was a little off from the freeze/thaw, but they tasted good, nice and sweet! Nice!
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trtlcrzy
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Post by trtlcrzy on Mar 26, 2019 23:18:09 GMT -6
I have lots of bulbs popping up now. Mostly just tulips, but also my globemaster allium has broken the earth. I planted some tulips and crocus in a pot but I think maybe it got too cold or something because the crocus haven’t come up yet so I think they froze. I’m waiting a little longer for the soil to dry to start removing sod to start creating my deep beds along my fence line.
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Lakes
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Post by Lakes on Apr 7, 2019 14:21:38 GMT -6
I started cleaning out my garden corner today. The weather is beautiful! It feels great to finally be outside. Mh requested cucumbers again this year but I have no idea what else. I grabbed two tomato seedlings today because I’ve been slacking and haven’t started any seeds. This week I hope to get the tomatoe patch clean up as well as my herb/flower garden. Once those are done I’ll make some decisions about my side garden. That’s the one I want to switch over to native plants for pollinators or ferns.
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Post by Dramaphile on Apr 11, 2019 13:10:45 GMT -6
I need to find time to get into my garden! Maybe this weekend. I still haven't cleaned out anything or put new compost in or gotten any seedlings. My plans for starting seeds went out the window, too. Great start so far lol.
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trtlcrzy
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Post by trtlcrzy on Apr 12, 2019 8:54:34 GMT -6
I was getting so excited for spring and all my bulbs popping up...and now we have snow. Boo. Hopefully it melts quickly.
I started my tomato seeds way too early. The plant is huge and I can’t plant it outside for another month. My seedlings are mostly doing well, just biding their time until they can go outside.
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Lakes
Sapphire
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Post by Lakes on Apr 12, 2019 13:36:10 GMT -6
I’m playing a fun game of weed or wildflower in the flower garden. I threw some wildflower and sunflower seeds down. I also got to cleaning out the tomato patch and planted the ones I bought the other day. A very productive afternoon while the kids napped!
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Lakes
Sapphire
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Post by Lakes on Apr 23, 2019 12:22:56 GMT -6
Chipping away at things over here! My dad came for an unexpected visit last week so I got all the gardens cleaned out plus the last hedge row I’ve been working on. It was all overgrown with English ivy and half dead azaleas. (yaaaaay 1950s neighborhood). Every time I started working on it, I got pregnant and never finished. It’s been on my to do list for four years. At the moment there is currently no visible ivy on my property! It will be so much easier to just do spot checks and deal with it when it pops up.
One of my big urns is all filled with shade plants. Now to decide what goes in the other. Planted some lettuce today. I’ll have he kids help transplant some herbs after nap. I think I’m going to keep all the herbs in pots this year.
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Post by catspajamas on Apr 29, 2019 13:54:40 GMT -6
Quick question for you all - anyone use the Garden Answers app? Or have any better suggestions on how to identify plants/weeds? We bought a house last year, the former owners were avid gardeners (this is an understatement), and there are more plants than I know what to do with! Trees, bushes, flowers, ornamental grasses, fruit trees, ferns, ground covers, you name it, it's there. It's super overwhelming, in part because I have no idea what is what. We had landscapers come out last year and get things under control (the house had sat empty for over a year and the yard was a jungle), the landscapers pointed out a few things and others I recognize, but I don't really know 90% of it. I am looking forward to learning about what's there, deciding what to keep and learning how to maintain it. But I have no idea what is what. Any advice? I do know that we have tons and tons of wild onion
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Post by Dramaphile on Apr 30, 2019 8:24:41 GMT -6
Got my garden finally squared away on Sunday - cleared out my weed-and-dead-plant-filled raised beds, added new topsoil, and planted a bunch of seedlings - tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, eggplant, marigolds, watermelon, and also put some carrot, bean and pea seeds into the ground.
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Post by saltypearl on Apr 30, 2019 8:42:55 GMT -6
ZOne 3, it's snowing today, hard. I am hoping to get some stuff planted in 2-3 weeks
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Lakes
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Post by Lakes on May 4, 2019 5:49:14 GMT -6
catspajamas I’ve never tried an app but check out a local fb gardening group maybe? I joined a native plant group for my state and lots of people get help identifying things. The other thing that has helped me is looking on plant websites. If I’m looking at something I know I have or want, I will look at the suggestions for what other people looked at or bought with that plant. So I’m getting better at recognizing things that way. And just pursuing my local plant sales. I’m still playing weed or wildflower in one of my gardens though 😂
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Lakes
Sapphire
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Post by Lakes on May 4, 2019 5:50:11 GMT -6
ZOne 3, it's snowing today, hard. I am hoping to get some stuff planted in 2-3 weeks Boooo. My parents got snow last week too. Sometimes I miss home but not when the weather does something like that! I hope the sunshine and mild weather comes your way soon.
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Lakes
Sapphire
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Post by Lakes on May 4, 2019 5:55:41 GMT -6
I hit up my arboretum’s plant sale yesterday and am going to the local gardening club one today. I got a Witch Hazel! I’m so excited and had been hoping to find one for a reasonable price. They are my favorite in the off season because their blooms are so unique and eye catching. Now I have to decide where to plant it.
I also got a rosemary and mint to round out my herbs this year. The kids each picked out some strawberry plants. And I got a Rudbeckia laciniata to start my bird and pollinator low maintenance side garden. Plus a freebie baby fern so I’m starting my dream fern garden too. I had a new one shoot up from the ones I transplanted from my grandma’s house two or three years ago so that’s exciting.
I started some lettuce that’s come up and the chives are blooming. The tomato seedlings I purchased are doing well too. I need to stop slacking and plant my other stuff soon.
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Post by catspajamas on May 4, 2019 6:47:46 GMT -6
catspajamas I’ve never tried an app but check out a local fb gardening group maybe? I joined a native plant group for my state and lots of people get help identifying things. The other thing that has helped me is looking on plant websites. If I’m looking at something I know I have or want, I will look at the suggestions for what other people looked at or bought with that plant. So I’m getting better at recognizing things that way. And just pursuing my local plant sales. I’m still playing weed or wildflower in one of my gardens though 😂 This is a good idea, thank you! I did actually join a local FB gardening group recently, but haven’t really checked it out yet. Thanks!
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trtlcrzy
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Post by trtlcrzy on May 4, 2019 7:43:17 GMT -6
catspajamas I have used the PlantSnap app to identify flowers. If there is a local master gardener you might be able to reach out to them and ask them to come to your house and look with you.
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trtlcrzy
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Post by trtlcrzy on May 4, 2019 13:00:23 GMT -6
I am getting into outdoor gardening full swing. We are removing the sod from one section of our yard to make a mixed border with shrubs, perennials, annuals and some food crops. We rented a sod cutter this morning to start the project but because I have so many things planted in that area already I am going to have to remove quite a bit by hand. It will all be worth it in the end! I have quite a few things ready to go in there once the last frost passes us by.
Yesterday I got a shipping notification from David Austin that my bare root roses are on their way. I am so stoked! They should be here Wednesday. Those are going up in front of my house as part of a foundation planting.
I am so over taking care of seedlings inside my house. I am ready to plant them all outside.
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AmyG
Ruby
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Post by AmyG on May 4, 2019 22:04:27 GMT -6
I think I just sold my last lemons off the tree. $5 a bag of about 20 in a bag and I sold like $300 worth. Well there is a dozen or two on the tree for me still. Grapefruit just doesn't sell as well, cause everyone is on cholesterol medicine that says don't eat grapefruit. I have several hundred grapefruit on the tree.
I have apricots starting to get ripe, remind me to check them tomorrow. baby apples on the tree, they need to be thinned so the apples will get bigger and not stay crabapple size. they'l be ripe in June ish.
I have baby eggplant on my eggplant that's seen two winters. baby basil, leeks, no onions yet, rosemary bush going strong. I have peppers on a couple of young pepper plants, no tomatoes yet, but have some flowers. baby radishes and I think some lettuce is coming in, but no spinach has started. may be too hot for them already. raised beds and straw bales have corn, squash, okra and beans, but one raised bed nothing has grown yet. so I'm replanting that bed with peppers from home depot and not sure what else.
the baby cukes keep dying, so they don't like where I planted them at all. they usually like where the eggplant is, but it's too big and taking up all the room, and is growing up like the cukes do on the trellis.
I will either have too many veggies or everything will die when it gets too hot and I'm tired of a high water bill. We have irrigation, but the property is covered in so much bermuda grass that is a bitch to keep out of gardens. neighbors roto till twice a year and still can't keep it out.
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trtlcrzy
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Post by trtlcrzy on May 12, 2019 7:21:58 GMT -6
I got 3 of my bare root roses planted on Friday! I also set them (and the rest of that bed) on drip irrigation so they should hopefully grow and thrive. I still need to remove the sod in the back to get the other 3 BR roses planted, but it needs to stop raining for a few days. This week it's supposed to be in the low 80s for the highs and 50s for the lows so I am going to be planting out all of my plants. My salvia is close to blooming, I bet it does after a couple days of warm weather.
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Lakes
Sapphire
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Post by Lakes on May 12, 2019 8:06:02 GMT -6
My in-laws got me four trilliums for Mother’s Day to add to my woodland flower and fern garden. I’m excited! Two yellow and two purple. I hope they do well. I went out and prepped a spot for them before the rain started. They also got me a buttonbush so I’ll have to find a spot for that. I planted a fern and two daisies that I could for super cheap on the clearance rack. I wish it wasn’t raining so I could finish things up today. I feel so close but so far away from getting everything set up.
Yesterday I totally redid my side garden. The semi-shady one that I want to convert into a native pollinator garden. It looks soooo nice right now. I moved around some of the stuff that was already in there and added my plant sale purchases. I think the buttonbush might do well over there. My witch hazel went in there. It’s the highlight of my garden season so far. I’m excited to see in bloom this fall/winter.
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Lakes
Sapphire
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Post by Lakes on May 13, 2019 16:22:06 GMT -6
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