2001 June | You Grow Girl

June 29, 2001

Comments Off

Create Your Very Own Mood Garden

Guest post by Andrea Crisp

As everyone knows, each plant has its own unique smell. Scents can alter your mood in subtle ways, so when you plan your garden, why not let your nose decide the arrangements for you?

If you’re planning a quiet, private garden, a mix of mild-scented flowers like lily-of-the-valleys, lilacs, and roses might be just what the doctor ordered. Thinking about a vegetable garden too? Culinary herbs, like thyme, sage, and oregano will provide a tantalizing atmosphere, as well as top your salads!

Or you might want to specialize your garden, and have it cater to all your moods. Map out the sections of your gardening area and then separate your scents. Use flowers with rich, heavy fragrances like jasmine and honeysuckle to accent your laziest moods, and for when you need a pick-me-up, revive yourself with a patch of rosemary and lavender herbs. Here’s an idea! Some plants smell stronger when you stimulate them. Try spreading some chamomile over your garden path. It’s pretty to look at, and releases a nice smell when stepped across. Let aromatic herbs lead into all your “mood” patches. And, as you expand your garden, you can also expand your aromatic range.

Whoever said planting was boring? You can make your garden do more than just look attractive. Use your nose, and give it a rich personality all its own.

Andrea Crisp is a twenty three year old Aurora, Illinois native, working toward a degree in Horticulture. Her first and foremost love is gardening in all its many shapes and forms.

Comments Off

June 21, 2001

Comments Off

Pop Cloche

Turn your plastic bottles into miniature greenhouses.

The cloche or bell jar is a miniature greenhouse contraption designed to protect seedlings from cold, bleak, or windy weather in order to hasten their maturity.

Traditionally, it is a dome made of glass that can be completely sealed (such as the bell jar) or have a small opening at the top. The bell jar creates humidity and warmth but must be adjusted as the heat and light intensifies. The open cloche allows heat to escape on its own and allows water to trickle down into the soil during a heavy rain instead of drowning the seedling.

Cloches can be expensive. Homemade versions can be made using turned over mason jars or other thick-walled glass items. These are pretty to look at in the garden, but they must be watched intently to avoid scorching seedlings or promoting fungal diseases.

If you’re willing to sacrifice a little beauty for a fully functioning device that is not only as cheap as it gets (as in free), but will go the distance, then the plastic bottle cloche is the way to go. I can’t praise this contraption enough. It has prevented critters such as raccoons and squirrels from trampling or eating my seedlings, and provided warmth and humidity during an unseasonal frost spell. It prevents potted plants from becoming enveloped in mudcakes formed during torrential spring rains, and forms a barrier against insects and slugs.

To top it all off, my seedlings are growing faster, stronger and healthier than ever before.

There are two devices that can be made from a bottle. The first is a full cloche that can be used as described above. The second is more of a ring that forms a barrier around the plant but leaves it open to attack from the top. It creates humidity around small seedlings and to the stem and base of older seedlings. This is especially good for protecting older tomato plants from slug attacks and can be left on all year long.

To make a full cloche:

Remove the cap and all labels from a plastic pop or water bottle.
Use a serrated knife to cut about an inch off the bottom. Try to get as close to the bottom as possible to maximize your cloche height. Alternately you can cut it down more if you prefer a shorter cloche. Just be sure to add an extra inch for support underneath the soil.
Place the cloche over your seedling and bury it about an inch into the soil for support.
Once the plant becomes too large for the cloche simply cut it down into a ring and leave it around the plant indefinitely, or remove it and throw it into your recycling bin.

To make a protective ring:

Remove all labels from a plastic pop or water bottle.
Use a serrated knife to cut about an inch off the bottom. Try to get as close to the bottom as possible to maximize your ring height.
Cut the top off where the bottle begins to form a dome. You should be left with a cylinder of plastic. This can be cut in half to create two rings or cut down to reduce the height. Just be sure to leave an extra inch because this will be buried in the soil.
Place the ring around your plant and bury it into the soil for support (and to prevent critters from going underneath).
The ring can be left around the plant indefinitely to provide protection all season long.

Comments Off

June 8, 2001

Comments Off

Weed and Herbicide Free

Guest post by Nadia Gard(e)ner

Prevent the pollution of our water, soil and ultimately, animals (like us).

With summer our precious plants have returned, and with them the wicked weeds also arise. While some may be tempted by the seemingly simple solution, herbicides, their environmental effects outweigh any benefit. Herbicides are chemicals used to kill weeds in agriculture as well as household gardens. Many herbicides currently on the market are selective: meaning they kill only specific weeds. However, this does not make them any safer than the non-specific types that kill virtually every plant in their path.

Herbicides are toxic to most mammals (that means you, me, your dog, and your kids) as well as to the beneficial insects that you want to encourage in your garden to keep away harmful pests. Sometimes herbicides seep into the ground water; causing contamination of which the long term effects are not known.

Recent polls have shown that US residents see pollution as the result of boardroom decisions of large companies. In fact, agriculture is the top non-source polluter nationwide. Household chemical use also has a significant impact.

Phasing out the use of chemical herbicides at home can make a significant impact on our pollution problem.

Non-Toxic Weed Control

Herbicides are marketed as quick and easy solutions to weed problems. However, their use does not fix the problem, it only stalls the weeds for a time. If they are used as the sole “solution”, they will need to be used again and again. Preventative methods are a better solution. Weeds need a certain environment to thrive. If that environment is uncomfortable for them, they will be less likely to grow. Working from this simple premise not only saves time and money, but also prevents dangerous chemicals from being released into our environment.

Weed control can be a daunting task. However, with regular maintenance and a few preventative tools, weeding can be manageable, even easy.

During the growing season, make a commitment to weed 20 minutes every week. Grab a hoe and disturb the little guys before they have the opportunity to grow big and tough. Circle hoes and asparagus knives/weeders are great weeding investments.
Mulch, mulch, mulch! Weed bare earth thoroughly and place 3 inches or more of wood chips, grass clippings, straw, and/ or leaves over it. This will also help your plants conserve water and provide them nutrients. For pathways and other unplanted spots, place black landscaping cloth (or newspapers) under the mulch.
Plant beds closely and evenly, leaving little room for weeds to grow. As your plants grow, they will crowd weeds out as they drink all water and shade the bare ground.
Do not let weeds set seed. If nothing else, clip those weed flowers and seed heads as you see them.
For concrete cracks, kill weeds with a good clipping and boiling water.
In the off-season, use cover crops or mulch to prevent weed growth.
Rotate crops from year to year. Weeds hate that, as do pests.
Your weeds make a great addition to a hot compost pile. However, if your compost pile is not regularly maintained, i.e. turned and watered, keep out seeds and invasive weed roots.

Environmentally Safe Weed Prevention Products

If you choose to use herbicides, consider non-toxic alternatives. Several companies have come out with more environmentally sound herbicides, including: Bioganic and Safer. Corn gluten spread on bare earth has been shown to prevent weed growth. A handful of companies are providing gluten products. If your local nurseries do not carry these items, the Internet is a good resource.

Homemade Herbicides

Vinegar and salt is great for places where you won’t be growing anything in the near future. Spray directly on plants.
To remove young plants, pour boiling water directly on them. This is the simplest, yet safest herbicide there is. Just be careful to avoid plants that you don’t want to damage.
Pour Coca-Cola on the cracks in the sidewalk to kill weeds. It’s sticky, but within a week the weeds will be dead.
Spray some Gin mixed with a bit of apple cider vinegar and water on your weeds being careful to avoid other plants.

Comments Off