ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
Posts: 373
Joined: Sep 27, 2018
Gardening and outdoors?
Sort of new to this group, there may be a sub-group I don’t know about. I love to garden – not all aspects of it, of course. But mostly it’s fun. Growing raspberries ( a true challenge in SC), blackberries, blueberries, currants, figs, many vegetables, and lots and lots of fragrant shrubs, flowers, clematis varieties, etc. After initial arthroscopic knee surgery (useless), followed by TKR almost a year ago, I am hoping to hear from other equally engaged gardeners how to best deal with/ work around the knee issue. I’m over-stressing my back, but so far I’m more concerned with all the plants I need to either dig up and toss, or dig up and move, this fall. Both knee surgeries were Oct/Sep. of previous years, so I’m 2 years behind the curve.
Basically hoping for any suggestions for the best way to deal with the limitation. Knee pads are often not an option due to dense plantings. Would love to hear from other back yard grubbers.
ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
Posts: 373
Joined: Sep 27, 2018
That was 1 day’s worth of berries. Repeat every day for about 3 weeks in late May/early June.
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor
@gingerw
@gingerw
Posts: 3600
Joined: Jul 26, 2018
That was 1 day’s worth of berries. Repeat every day for about 3 weeks in late May/early June.
@ellerbracke Yummy yummy yummy. I spy toppings for yogurt, granola, ice cream. Or a cobbler!
Ginger
tennbee
@tennbee
@tennbee
Posts: 23
Joined: Mar 11, 2019
Gardening is just good for you all the way around….and you have the bonus of fresh vegetables. Of course, there's always challenges to overcome whether it be from the weather or insects.
tennbee
@tennbee
@tennbee
Posts: 23
Joined: Mar 11, 2019
Thanks for all suggestions. For pots: do not use styrofoam peanuts. Eventually you will have to dump the old soil, and then it’s a mess. I use either empty plastic bottles, or just take one or more of those generic black pots that the plants come in and put it upside down in my planter. Regarding raised beds: perhaps at some point, strictly for the vegetables. I have way too many in-ground flowers and shrubs (and the unavoidable weeds cropping up in spite of mulch and Preen and Roundup) – to make that practical. Semi-tended or untended yards on either side of my backyard provide tons of wind-blown or bird-dropped seeds, so the supply is endless. As mentioned, THIS fall my knee should be in good enough shape to dig up the finicky plants, and scale down. But in spite of all the challenges, gardening gets me outdoors, and it does have its benefits. I.e. where in SC (or even NC, I think) could I buy red currants, early season raspberries, pink blueberries, or ground cherries?
I wouldn't use anything plastic in the bottom of beds or pots but stick with something natural. I don't know what that might be for beds but for my pots, I just pick up a few small rocks or used pieces of broken terra-cotta pots. Never been a huge fan of Roundup and have used it very sparingly but this year I decided to try the vinegar, salt , dish soap mixture and am surprised at just how well it works.
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor
@hopeful33250
@hopeful33250
Posts: 10745
Joined: Mar 28, 2016
Wanted to share my Day Lilies from my garden. They place a smile upon my heart.
@parus, Your picture of the day lilies put a smile in my heart as well. Thanks!
Liked by Becky, Volunteer Mentor
lioness
@lioness
@lioness
Posts: 7626
Joined: Jan 09, 2018
I wouldn't use anything plastic in the bottom of beds or pots but stick with something natural. I don't know what that might be for beds but for my pots, I just pick up a few small rocks or used pieces of broken terra-cotta pots. Never been a huge fan of Roundup and have used it very sparingly but this year I decided to try the vinegar, salt , dish soap mixture and am surprised at just how well it works.
@tennbee I use to have a big garden and canned all my vegies,fruits , Our son was allergic to dyes,preservatives . I had an assortment of things to keep the pest away. Snail-a saucer of beer ,Dried blood ,animals wont go over this to get to garden, Lyme on leaves ,Hair ,deer wont go near it . The soap mixture is good also to spray on leaves don't forget the underside . Just a few tips I used in my garden. Hope some of this helps
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Jen, Alumna Mentor
@sandytoes14
@sandytoes14
Posts: 623
Joined: Mar 22, 2016
I wouldn't use anything plastic in the bottom of beds or pots but stick with something natural. I don't know what that might be for beds but for my pots, I just pick up a few small rocks or used pieces of broken terra-cotta pots. Never been a huge fan of Roundup and have used it very sparingly but this year I decided to try the vinegar, salt , dish soap mixture and am surprised at just how well it works.
@tennbee The idea of using plastic bottles, foam blocks, packing peanuts is primarily to make the pot lighter and use less soil. (You know how heavy a extra large pot can get when filled with soil, plants and water) Years ago I took a class at a garden center on flower arranging and a master gardener showed us how to use milk jugs and 20 oz. soda bottles and foam peanuts. Put the filler material of your choice in the bottom of the pot.Cut a piece of landscape fabric or fine screen, fit in place, add soil and plants.
My next project is to make a fountain out of a jumbo planter I have in my garage. It's a beautiful turquoise blue planter fountain kit I bought at Lowes for under $40. I can't wait to relax on my lanai to the sound of bubbling water!
ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
Posts: 373
Joined: Sep 27, 2018
I wouldn't use anything plastic in the bottom of beds or pots but stick with something natural. I don't know what that might be for beds but for my pots, I just pick up a few small rocks or used pieces of broken terra-cotta pots. Never been a huge fan of Roundup and have used it very sparingly but this year I decided to try the vinegar, salt , dish soap mixture and am surprised at just how well it works.
@tennbee : Pebbles / rocks / potting shards work for small or medium pots. I am talking about 5 to 10 gallon patio pots, with annual plants in them. Putting rocks in them defeats the purpose of making them lightweight, and movable. And I have not yet found an organic material that simulates the efficient use of plastic bottles or similar for ANNUAL, ORNAMENTAL, plants grown in pots on the patio, e.g. I save my environmental and natural pesticide approach for edibles.
Liked by ellerbracke, Becky, Volunteer Mentor
ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
Posts: 373
Joined: Sep 27, 2018
@tennbee The idea of using plastic bottles, foam blocks, packing peanuts is primarily to make the pot lighter and use less soil. (You know how heavy a extra large pot can get when filled with soil, plants and water) Years ago I took a class at a garden center on flower arranging and a master gardener showed us how to use milk jugs and 20 oz. soda bottles and foam peanuts. Put the filler material of your choice in the bottom of the pot.Cut a piece of landscape fabric or fine screen, fit in place, add soil and plants.
My next project is to make a fountain out of a jumbo planter I have in my garage. It's a beautiful turquoise blue planter fountain kit I bought at Lowes for under $40. I can't wait to relax on my lanai to the sound of bubbling water!
Looks great. Have tried similar. After a full season of growing plants in the pot, the layers have shifted, peanuts in the soil, roots in the soil and the peanuts…. nice for medium to small pots, perhaps.
Liked by Becky, Volunteer Mentor
Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor
@debbraw
@debbraw
Posts: 1210
Joined: Dec 04, 2017
2nd attempt….
Wow! @ellerbracke I'm impressed! Actually, I'm hungry for those berries! Great gardening there. I envy your green thumb!
Liked by Becky, Volunteer Mentor
tennbee
@tennbee
@tennbee
Posts: 23
Joined: Mar 11, 2019
@tennbee I use to have a big garden and canned all my vegies,fruits , Our son was allergic to dyes,preservatives . I had an assortment of things to keep the pest away. Snail-a saucer of beer ,Dried blood ,animals wont go over this to get to garden, Lyme on leaves ,Hair ,deer wont go near it . The soap mixture is good also to spray on leaves don't forget the underside . Just a few tips I used in my garden. Hope some of this helps
lioness, looks like you used all the tricks to try and keep the pesky insects away.
lioness
@lioness
@lioness
Posts: 7626
Joined: Jan 09, 2018
@tennebee Yes had to everything people would tell me I tried some worked some didn't but those that did saved a lot of our crops. At the end of the season Id make vegetable soup and can it . Then had a lady come in and clean up the garden from what was left. I enjoyed it .
Liked by Becky, Volunteer Mentor
ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
Posts: 373
Joined: Sep 27, 2018
@lioness : Not sure which area/temperate zone of the US you used to garden in. I’m impressed by the organic/natural deterrents you found to minimize damage by pests or animals. Some (proven) negative: today – meaning, these past few years – you can put whatever hair you want onto any plant, and the deer will just east the next one in line. That old remedy has come and gone. At least here. My main fiend are raccoons. The love figs. But only once the fruit is perfectly ripe. So I check the figs in the evening, thinking 12 more hours would make it perfect, and the ‘coons jump the gun. Morning comes, figs are halfway gnawed. I don’t begrudge the occasional snack, but it is really frustrating to lose 3/4 of your fruit harvest, being chewed on and then left on the ground, or even on the branch. For anyone suggesting netting: Been there, done that. Overlaps joined with clothe pins. FYI: raccoons can open them. Tried wrapping almost – ripe figs with alu-foil. Next morning I had silver balls under the fig tree. So there’s a challenge: other than getting another dog (and keeping it outdoors, which we never did) , any ideas? NO, I really don’t think the motion animated water sprays, light-up things, or music/noise (really? we also want to sleep) work. Still, perhaps something interesting comes of this post.
Liked by Becky, Volunteer Mentor
ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
@ellerbracke
Posts: 373
Joined: Sep 27, 2018
@lioness : Not sure which area/temperate zone of the US you used to garden in. I’m impressed by the organic/natural deterrents you found to minimize damage by pests or animals. Some (proven) negative: today – meaning, these past few years – you can put whatever hair you want onto any plant, and the deer will just east the next one in line. That old remedy has come and gone. At least here. My main fiend are raccoons. The love figs. But only once the fruit is perfectly ripe. So I check the figs in the evening, thinking 12 more hours would make it perfect, and the ‘coons jump the gun. Morning comes, figs are halfway gnawed. I don’t begrudge the occasional snack, but it is really frustrating to lose 3/4 of your fruit harvest, being chewed on and then left on the ground, or even on the branch. For anyone suggesting netting: Been there, done that. Overlaps joined with clothe pins. FYI: raccoons can open them. Tried wrapping almost – ripe figs with alu-foil. Next morning I had silver balls under the fig tree. So there’s a challenge: other than getting another dog (and keeping it outdoors, which we never did) , any ideas? NO, I really don’t think the motion animated water sprays, light-up things, or music/noise (really? we also want to sleep) work. Still, perhaps something interesting comes of this post.
Several corrections, but most pressing: motion “activated”, of course. Sometimes my fingers get ahead of my spelling brain, and lapses result.
Liked by Jen, Alumna Mentor, Becky, Volunteer Mentor
@ellerbracke
2nd attempt….
Liked by Colleen Young, Connect Director, Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, JK, Alumna Mentor, Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor ... see all