Gardening

[X]

What do you all know about putting dead leaves in a garden bed?

I live in an area w/ several trees...and the majority of my yard is covered w/ leaves. I tilled up my garden yesterday and today...but will need to again.

Would it be beneficial to cover the garden bed w/ a cpl inches of dead leaves before I till again?

bump?

 

[Run the ball]

How about a tarp before the leaves start falling? I have a couple Maple's on my property and those ******* make a damn mess in the fall.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Off topic I know, but I live near Gaelic. I swear I saw him at a gas station over the weekend and he quickly cut off a very old lady who was trying to get in line to buy scratch off lottery tickets.

 

[malcore]

What do you all know about putting dead leaves in a garden bed?

I live in an area w/ several trees...and the majority of my yard is covered w/ leaves. I tilled up my garden yesterday and today...but will need to again.

Would it be beneficial to cover the garden bed w/ a cpl inches of dead leaves before I till again?

Leaves can take a while to completely break down, but are beneficial. It really depends on your garden purpose and also what type of trees. For instance, magnolia leaves take a very long time to break down and are not the best for tilling into a garden. Leaving leaves on a garden bed over winter is a great idea. Mulching prior will help them break down more quickly. Lots of good insect activity with a layer of leaf mulch.

Mulching leaves under hedges or large shrubs will likely be more beneficial than mulching too many leaves into a veggie garden.

 

[Run the ball]

Hey malcore, I somehow remember you being an actual "gardener". Am I wrong or thinking of the wrong poster?

 

[malcore]

I design and install landscapes, small garden structures (gates, gazebos, pagodas, hothouses, etc), and gardens, so yes, gardening knowledge is required.

 

[Run the ball]

I didn't mean that in a bad way or anything, I think that's a great living/job as I love the outdoors.

Anyways, I had squirrel issues last year and someone suggested to spread some onions around my garden as they hate the smell. Do you have any thoughts about that?

 

[malcore]

Lol, didn`t take it as a shot RTB. I love my work.

Onions in the garden to keep squirrels out. Onions would smell too much, especially if you use your garden, and I doubt it would be effective for very long.

Pepper sprays, predator urine (yes, this can be bought), or if they are causing damage to the house etc, call a wildlife control company who have humane removal tactics.


Orrrr...... (not really recommending this)

[video=youtube;rIQ9A28XapQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIQ9A28XapQ[/video]

 

[X]

Lol, didn`t take it as a shot RTB. I love my work.

Onions in the garden to keep squirrels out. Onions would smell too much, especially if you use your garden, and I doubt it would be effective for very long.

Pepper sprays, predator urine (yes, this can be bought), or if they are causing damage to the house etc, call a wildlife control company who have humane removal tactics.


Orrrr...... (not really recommending this)

[video=youtube;rIQ9A28XapQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIQ9A28XapQ[/video]

LOL

I live in a pretty wooded area, and several of my neighbors had problems w/ squirrels and rabbits eating their vegetation last year.

I went to the $1 Store, and bought several containers of Red Pepper Powder (the spice, nothing more). Once a week or so (and typically after it rained), I'd walk around the perimeter of my garden with it. I can't say it kept everything out, but you'd be surprised how many animals find gardens with their noses, and a snort full of red pepper is a pretty solid deterrent.

 

[X]

Planted some spring stuff today. Broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, red and white onions.

Sent from my phone...in my pocket...with my mind.

 

[X]

Planted some spring stuff today. Broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, red and white onions.

Sent from my phone...in my pocket...with my mind.

oh...my cat snuck into the picture. Dat Kaner...

 

[Scoot26]

Alright, what do I need to get started in this? I'd like to go out and get some things Sunday.

 

[Crystallas]

Alright, what do I need to get started in this? I'd like to go out and get some things Sunday.

Get started?

Well, you could start small, like a hanging garden, or a vertical garden. Some pots, wood boxes, stuff like that. To actually plot land for a garden is a labor of love. You need to know the land a bit, the plants and what they like, also knowing what spots get good sunlight, which plants like shade. Unfortunately gardening is not easy unless you grow easy plants like strawberries, tomatoes, and petunias.

 

[X]

Alright, what do I need to get started in this? I'd like to go out and get some things Sunday.

Get started?

Well, you could start small, like a hanging garden, or a vertical garden. Some pots, wood boxes, stuff like that. To actually plot land for a garden is a labor of love. You need to know the land a bit, the plants and what they like, also knowing what spots get good sunlight, which plants like shade. Unfortunately gardening is not easy unless you grow easy plants like strawberries, tomatoes, and petunias.

I'll add - that if there's a local extension office from an agriculture dept of a local university (we have all kinds of UK extension offices in KY), they will often give you a free soil test if you ask for it -- which tells you what minerals your soil is lacking, and give you info on how to correct it.

Start small. If it's ridiculously hot during the summer in your area, stick w/ strawberries and peppers and other heat-tolerant plants primarily - and experiment w/ others on a smaller scale. That way you can see what works and what doesn't for next year.

It's all about experimentation and time commitment. If you really want your garden to succeed, you'll find a way to make it succeed.

 

[Scoot26]

I'll add - that if there's a local extension office from an agriculture dept of a local university (we have all kinds of UK extension offices in KY), they will often give you a free soil test if you ask for it -- which tells you what minerals your soil is lacking, and give you info on how to correct it.

Start small. If it's ridiculously hot during the summer in your area, stick w/ strawberries and peppers and other heat-tolerant plants primarily - and experiment w/ others on a smaller scale. That way you can see what works and what doesn't for next year.

It's all about experimentation and time commitment. If you really want your garden to succeed, you'll find a way to make it succeed.

I only have a small area of dirt in front of my deck that I can play with (live in a townhouse)... It faces the south so it'll get a ton of sun. We have lots of squirrels though, so I've read past posts here to know how to hopefully get rid of squirrels, I'm also probably looking to grow some herbs.

 

[malcore]

I only have a small area of dirt in front of my deck that I can play with (live in a townhouse)... It faces the south so it'll get a ton of sun. We have lots of squirrels though, so I've read past posts here to know how to hopefully get rid of squirrels, I'm also probably looking to grow some herbs.

Do you have a kitchen window? Growing herbs in a window planter with easy access from the kitchen window is awesome, and you can chicken wire it to keep the vermin out.

 

[Scoot26]

Do you have a kitchen window? Growing herbs in a window planter with easy access from the kitchen window is awesome, and you can chicken wire it to keep the vermin out.

Nope. Just a lot of southern exposure to light.

 

[Crystallas]

Just jump right in. You know, green thumbing vets have oodles of advise, but really experience is most of what you need when you get into gardening. Decide what you want to grow, and how. K-I-S-S, keep it simple scoot

 

[malcore]

Agree with Crys. Even if one were to read a dozen gardening books, gardening is very empirical.

 

[X]

First broccoli bloom! Sad this excites me this much, lol

Sent from my phone...in my pocket...with my mind.