About two weeks ago I was browsing through my Garden Gate magazines and I saw a project for clay pots. You were to build a base (out of wood?), secure a dowel (?) in the center, and stack clay pots to the top of the dowel. You could then put a plant in each pot for a beautiful raised display.

I have spent the last two days searching for this article to no avail. I have used the online index, I have looked at numerous magazines going back to the articles I had been researching two weeks ago and I just cannot find it!

I have been a subscriber to Garden Gate since the first issue, so I have a lot of magazines to look through! Does anyone remember this project? If so, please let me know!

Thank you! Thank you!

I start a lot of my own plants as time allows. This year my job and kids have kept me a lot busier than usual, so I may end up buying more as starts next month rather than starting as much from seed. As far as the activity on the boards goes, it waxes and wanes. Right now I think winter has been hanging on in a lot of areas (we're a few weeks behind normal where I live) and also all the crazy weather (storms, tornadoes, etc.) have been keeping people busy with other things and not so much in their gardens yet. Don't worry, things always turn around sooner or later. Just keep posting! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

What wonderful sons! Most seeds can be kept from year to year if they're just stored in a cool (not necessarily cold), dry place, out of direct sunlight. Germination rates will become less from year to year, but I've successfully planted even 5-year old tomato seeds that still had at least a 50% germination rate. Another option would be to donate some of them to a local community garden or children's garden. You can check with your local garden club, master gardeners association, or County Extension agent to find out what organizations are in your area and who to contact. Enjoy your blessing of riches -- both your plants and your sons! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

What's everyone planting in their veggie garden this season?

For us, we're planting:
green bush beans
Roma tomatoes
grape tomatoes
beefsteak tomatoes
celebrity tomatoes
cucumbers
potatoes (probably reds and golds?)
green, yellow, red, and orange bell peppers
jalapeno peppers
Serrano peppers (possibly)

We'll see what kind of room we have left after that. And then there's our herb garden... but that's for another post. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Hello, and thank you for this forum. I've been scanning the posts and have already found some great information.

I've recently 'inherited' from my aging in-laws a very long/narrow side yard (39' x 9') that is edged on two short sides and one of the long sides by hedges that have been poorly pruned. (The fourth side is the house.)

There are three varieties of hedges, all of which were present when the home was purchased in 1984. I suspect one was planted right after WWII when the home was built, and the others arrived over time. The latter two look alike, but are not the same, and don't look like the original hedge at all.

The original hedge is very aggressive, in that it throws up 6-9 inch lengths and then grows up to them. It bears resemblance to Rose of Sharon but isn't. The others grow more slowly and evenly.

They all have long limbs that leaf out very nicely on the sunny side of the hedge (the street side). On the shade side, they have sparse brachts at the top of their long limbs. This has been accentuated by using the electric pruners to give them a flattop. It's ugly.

Because they have been competing for soil and sun for so long, the younger varieties lean far out over the sidewalk, obstructing passersby. There was thick ivy growing along the hedge base that grew onto the sidewalk in search of sun, trapping dirt and providing a matrix for hedge roots. I was thinking this further encouraged hedge growth toward the sun and over the sidewalk.

I removed the ivy/root matter last year and was also thinking that I might try bracing the individual hedges back into position. (My mother did this successfully over several years with a small tree and a bungee cord.) However, I can't get much purchase on these skinny limbs and the hedges are just too strong.

If I prune off the portion over the sidewalk, which is the thick and leafy side, there will only be about a quarter of the individual hedges left. I could trim the remaining limbs down and see what happens.

I haven't any idea what the hedges are. I might kill them, which has serious expense, drainage and soil consequences.

The soil is loamy and almost certainly nutrient deficient given the neglect. Drainage is good, although somewhat damp down the middle. Cold and heat zones are 7a and 5.

Anyone have other ideas?

Hello, I am new to this site and am looking forward to learning from some experts! I purchased my house almost 3 years ago and after having a baby I am now ready to tackle my pre-existing flower beds. The previous owner had planted beds with mostly hosta and I am looking to add some color. Also, there is black weed guard ripped up and coming through the rocks. So my project for the spring is to remove all of the cover rocks and dig up any existing plants that I don't want. My question is, should I replace the black weed guard? Is there a better option for preventing weeds? Also, I would rather not put the rocks back as a cover, but to use mulch instead. Can anyone recommend a mulch that holds its color the best?
Thank You

Poking around online, it seems like pygmy palms should be able to handle temps a little bit below freezing, so I think it mostly just depends on exactly how cold it got (30-degrees F? 25-degrees F?), and how long the temp stayed below freezing. If you just got down to 30F for a few hours each time, my guess is they'll likely be OK. It it was down to 25F for most of the overnight each time, then maybe not so much OK. My guess is that, if it did survive, it probably will take a little bit longer to come back this spring, so try to be patient. Just keep it watered (soil moist but not soggy), and maybe give it a little slow release fertilizer (but don't over-fertilize!), and, as I already mentioned, be patient! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Hello,

I have just registered and would like to say hello to all forum users .

Danny.

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My www page business page

Hi,

Welcome to the forum. I am bit excited to participate here.
See you on the other thread. Threading will be nice for both of us.