MyCouponsBlog

Lovely Purple Mondardo....

mycoupons — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:00:09 -0400

Hi there gardening MyCouponers!

Our gardening question this week, was submitted by Jodi from Ohio.

Can I transplant my lovely purple monardo's now? The bee balm has taken over my azaleas. I have yet to cut them for winter and want to move them now but could wait til spring in order to not injure them.

Gardening in Ohio, Jodi.

Hi Jodi!

I can believe they've taken over your azaleas. Bee Balm (Monardo) is a very very invasive and prolific plant. They've taken over areas of my garden several times in the past.

As far as transplanting them, you could do it now, personally though I'd wait until spring to divide your Mondardo plants especially with chilly nights around the corner which may and can damage them.

A fact about Monardo is they multiply by two ways. One way is by re-seeding themselves. The other is, they multiply via underground roots. So if you want to try to "control" them a little bit, get rid of the dead blooms before they turn to seed, plus dead-heading them will also prolong their blooming. I would also dig up the ground around them a little bit in Spring , using a little hand shovel, to remove underground roots. This helps to stop the plant(s) from spreading .

Doing both of these things have let me "tame" my Monardo plants in my garden.

Thanks for the question!

Keep on gardening!

Annie~

Peonies....

mycoupons — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 06:00:44 -0400

Hi there gardening MyCouponers!

Our gardening question this week, was submitted by Joan I. from R.I

Hello Annie,

I would like to plant Peonies in my yard. Is it to late to plant Peonies? What is the procedure for planting?

Thanx!
Joan I.

I love Peonies. I think most gardeners do. They certainly are one of the most dearly loved perennials in gardens. They are loved not only for their beauty and fragrance but because there are trouble-free plants with longevity. Peonies also thrive almost anywhere in the country, some even survive a zone 2 winter BRRRR! A Peony if happy, can bloom for 100 years or more with very little attention.

The time to plant Peonies is actually now, but you probably won't see alot of blooms for up to 3 years after planting. A peony prefers a sunny location with well-drained soil. Good air circulation around the plant is also important. This helps peonies avoid their only serious fungal disease problem, Botrytis.

To plant the Peony(ies) dig a hole to a depth of between 12 to 18 inches. Using a garden fork loosen the sides of the planting hole as well. Than, add a shovelful of compost and a handful of an all-purpose granular fertilizer, to the bottom of the hole and then add another shovelful of the original soil. Build up a "cone" inside the planting hole and then position the peony root on top of the cone with its roots hanging down the sides. Be sure that the growth nodes or "eyes" found at the base of the old stem are no more than about 2 inches below the soil surface.

Every year apply a bit of all-purpose fertilizer and a top-dressing of compost to keep the peony(ies) feeling good. Also do not mulch around your Peony plant(s), this can cause the plant to "think" it has been planted too deeply and can result it in the plant not having very many blooms or none at all.

Good luck and thanks for the great question!

Keep on gardening!

Annie~

If you would like to see your gardening question featured here on the MyCoupons blog, simply submit to annie@mycoupons.com. One will be chosen from all submitted.

Fall Planting...

mycoupons — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 06:00:44 -0400

Hi there my gardening friends!

Alas, as the days get cooler and shorter you know the end of the garden's time, is nearing soon. However as gardeners, it seems that we are always forever looking ahead. Ahead to the next gardening season. With every Fall season, it always brings the thoughts and the expectation of what flowering blooms that we can enjoy this coming spring. Fall is knocking at our back gardening door, so right now is the time to start thinking and planting spring-blooming bulb gardens for this coming spring.

Here are some great tips for planning a spectacular bulb display for your garden this coming spring!

~~Sketch your garden bedding design on graph paper. Use colored pencils to get a better idea of what your color scheme will look like and what you want it to be.

~~Try a variety of shapes and colors based on your likings. I choose bulbs that bloom at different times to create season-long blooming.

~~Do not skimp on your bulb planting. The more bulbs the better it looks than planting a few sparse ones here and there.

~~Mix your bulbs in with summer-blooming perennials to help hide withering bulb flower foliage.

Here are some great online stores to order your spring bulbs for planting now.

Brecks.com - Shop now while their Big Bulb Sale is on. Save on tons of bulbs and then save more at checkout by getting $25 Off Orders $50 or More. Discount is automatic through link.

Gurneys.com - $20 Off $40 or more order! Discount is automatic through link.

JacksonandPerkins - Save up to 25% on premium bulbs now and then take 10% off your purchase with coupon code JSE at checkout!

Michiganbulb.com - Buy 1, get 1 FREE! Discount is automatic.

SpringHillNursery.com - Save $25 Off $50 or more order! Discount is automatic through this link.

BloomingBulb.com - Take 20% off your purchase with coupon code MCMYC202 at checkout!

Keep on gardening!

Annie~

A Mezmerizing Weekend....

mycoupons — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:28:04 -0400

Hi there my gardening friends!

Normally on Mondays I answer gardening questions submitted by members. However, today I want to share with you a wonderful experience I had over the weekend and it does pertain to gardening.

When one thinks of gardening it usually generates thoughts of growing vegetables and herbs. To me at least, gardening is much more than that. Gardening is about life. Whether it is the plant life you've created by planting that seed in the soil or the life that God has created in the form of insects, specifically butterflies or our feathered friends that visit our gardens.

My weekend began late Friday night with a trip to our friend's home in a small town in Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay.

Our friends decided to move away and trade the hustle & bustle of city life and a small home and neighbors only 15 feet away for a 4,000 square foot home on 5 acres in quaint and quiet surroundings about 2 years ago. Though our children have gone back and forth to see each other, we had never made the trek to their new home due to busy life. After being asked the ump-teenth time, we had decided this past weekend to get away and visit our friends.

When we arrived, I could see a world so different from what I had just left a few hours ago, even in the dark of night.

In the morning, I arose to the smell of delicious coffee and a scrumptious big breakfast. After eating, I excused myself and proceeded to then open the sliding glass door onto a wrap-around deck, that surrounded half the house. On this deck my eyes now see a world of a true garden.

There's a small handmade pond that our friends created containing large goldfish and frogs. The yard itself surrounded by woods and in the yard, a vegetable garden, peach trees, fig trees, apple trees, tons of different flowers and birdhouses

In this yard my friend also had a chain attached from her deck that ran a good length down her property. This chain had bird feeders of every kind and suet hanging.

My eyes could not stop taking in the sightings of many different kinds of birds this chain of feeders was attracting. Cowbirds, Chickadees, Gold Finches so yellow it was like seeing spots of gold. There were also Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, woodpeckers and many more that I can't name.

All of a sudden I hear a hummmmmmm and feel a whiz go by me. What was that? Thinking it may have been a gigantic bee, I now notice that my friend, we call her Me-Maw, has not one but several hummingbird feeders. These feeders are spaced about 5 feet away from each other going around the whole length of this wrap-around deck.

This hummmmm I had heard was the amazing ruby-throated hummingbird. Something I have not seen in many, many years. I was ecstatic just to see one of these tiny creatures, but there was not just one hummingbird, Me-maw's yard was full of them! As we sat on the deck surrounded by these feeders, I was mesmerized by the tons of hummingbirds zipping by us. These tiny feathered friends, not only captured my attention but my heart. I didn't care it was 108 degrees outside, I sat there in a chair for several hours captivated by them.

One female hummingbird even hovered in front of my DH and I. She was only a hand-width away from our faces. She hovered in front of us as though she was looking into our eyes and saying "Hi, you're new here". I could do nothing but shed tears of happiness as it was nothing that I had ever experienced before.

At one point Me-maw's hubby Be-Pop gets up out of his chair and runs inside and quickly returns with a pair of binoculars. Handing us the binoculars, he says "Quick, look into the sky through the binoculars at that pair of big birds up there". Ok, "why I ask, what kind of birds are they?" Be-pop tells us they are American Bald eagles. We look through the binoculars and see the most majestic birds ever.

I could go on about my visit, but there is just not enough time or space. All I can say is that after being there and spending time there, I did not want to come back home. I didn't want to leave my hummingbird friends who had captured my heart. I had seen a garden that to me was truly a garden in my definition of it.

We returned home late last night. As we are unpacking the trunk, there underneath our belongings, we find hummingbird feeders that Me-maw put in there with us not knowing. Attached, a note saying "Here's to starting another garden, a garden of feathered friends"!

Thanks Me-Maw and Be-Pop for a weekend that taught and gave me so much. It will live with me forever!

Annie~

Ornamental Onions....

mycoupons — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:00:44 -0400

Hi there gardening MyCouponers!

Our gardening question this week, was submitted by Martha L. from Mass.

Hello Annie,

I've just started planning my garden for next year. Someone mentioned growing Alliums in my flower garden that gets alot of sun. Do you know anything about Alliums and is it an easy to grow plant?

Thanks for any help
Martha L.

Hi there Martha!

Oh yes, I love alliums. Alliums is one perennial that is a must have in the flower garden to ensure continuing color and beauty after the spring-flowering bulbs have faded. They provide great color during those late spring months. Flowering from May to July.

Alliums come in all shapes and colors and are so very easy to grow. They are great if you do fresh cut flower arrangements with flowers from your garden.

Alliums will grow well in any sunny location with well-drained soil. Plant them in September or October about 8 to 10 inches deep and make sure you plant multiples for a great effect.

I have white, purple and blue Alliums planted in one of my flower gardens with summer bloomers such as bachelor's buttons, coreopsis, sweet William, foxglove, baby's breath and red hot poker.

You can find Alliums either in your local garden center or online at such places as DutchGardens.com , HenryFields.com , Gurneys.com or MichiganBulb.com

Good luck and thanks for the great question!

Keep on gardening!

Annie~

If you would like to see your gardening question featured here on the MyCoupons blog, simply submit to annie@mycoupons.com. One will be chosen from all submitted.

Daylilies....

mycoupons — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 06:00:58 -0400

Hi there gardening MyCouponers!

Our gardening question this week, was submitted by Gennine W from MD.

Hi Annie,

I enjoy your gardening blog. About 2-1/2 years ago I planted some daylilies in my yard. Since then they have multiplied so much. When is the best time to divide and transplant daylilies and how do I go about doing it?

Thanks for your help,
Gennine W.

Oh I love daylilies. I think they are a gardener’s dream come true. Even though the individual flower lasts only one day, the large number of flowers on each stem provide a three week period of bloom for most varieties, but some can bloom all season long.. They are also so easy to grow anywhere, even in some of the most difficult to garden areas in a yard. Not to mention they are pretty much naturally disease, pest and deer resistant too.

Daylilies can be divided and transplanted spring or fall. The best time to divide your daylilies is late summer around the fourth week of August t0 the first week of September, shortly after they have finished flowering . Doing it no later than that, the roots will surely have time to grow before winter sets in.

Prepare the area by gently raking the mulch away from the plant. Cut back the long outer leaves to about 6 inches, to make it easier to handle. Use a garden fork to lift the clump from the ground about 6 to 12 inches away from the base of the daylily plant. Gently push down to pry the clump up from the soil. Work around the root ball several times to free as many of the roots from the soil as possible. Daylilies develop very large root systems, so it may be necessary to dig down 10 inches or so.

Wash off the excess soil from the roots with a garden hose so you can see the individual fans. Then rolling the clump back and forth until the individual divisions separate or you can separate the clumps by hand or pry apart with a garden trowel/knife.

Keep 2 to 3 fans per clump when re-planting. Space your divisions about 24 inches apart, and set each plant at its original depth. The number of flowers will be less the first year after dividing but will return to normal blooming until the plants need to be divided again, usually in 3 years.

Thanks for the question!

Keep on gardening!

Annie~

If you would like to see your gardening question featured here on the MyCoupons blog, simply submit to annie@mycoupons.com. One submittal from all will be chosen.

Woodchuck Crazy!!

mycoupons — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:00:30 -0400

The woodchuck, or otherwise known as a groundhog has decided to set up it's summer residence one more time under my shed! A rodent that is a member of the Squirrel Family.

I have lived in my home and have had a garden in this backyard for over 20 years . For many years my garden was allowed to flourish with no threat of animal, except for maybe an occasional squirrel, but never one single woodchuck.

So my friends, my story begins about 4 years ago.

My next door neighbor decided he wanted a wood-burning stove in his home. Of course we all know you need wood for a wood-burning stove. There in his backyard he decided to make a HUGE pile of wood for his lovely wood-burning stove. This my friends is where my problem started.

One day a hefty woodchuck decided to take residence within this large wood pile belonging to my neighbor. That summer my lovely green beans and assorted plantings of fresh lettuce was nibbled to an untimely death! I can remember it vividly as if it were yesterday. The horror to go out into my garden to check on my green beans and lettuce that were about a week away from harvesting... destroyed. Eaten to the ground.

At that point of time, I wasn't quite sure what it was that had eaten my veggies. At first I thought it was a rabbit. I couldn't think of what else could possibly get into my yard never mind the garden with my yard being all fenced in with stockade fencing.

Then one early morning, there it was, Mr. Hefty Woodchuck himself or maybe Mrs. Hefty Woodchuck. Soaking in the rays and nibbling on my lawn, like it had not a care in a world. I ran out of my backdoor into my backyard like lighting hitting a pole. It ran back to it's burrow under the wood pile next door and I had spotted the hole it came through in my fence. It had dug underneath a section of fence, right near where that wood pile was.

I proceeded to block up that hole with some hefty boulders and made sure any other possible entrances where as well. That was the last of seeing that woodchuck that season.

The following season I proceeded to plant my green beans and lettuce again but was quite hesitant. Still fearful of that woodchuck returning. It was now late July and no woodchuck spottings. I had figured it gave up trying to get into my garden and decided to attack another yard.

Now, the neighbor's wife decided she was tired of looking at the wood pile and had her hubby get rid of it. This is when the woodchuck decided to now invade my yard once again, but this time it was here to stay or so it thought! It made itself a nice summer burrow under my shed. This time it decided to attack a couple of my tomato plants and ate two of my favorite flower's foliage, the Monardo and the Rudbeckia!

I was livid! That woodchuck has to go! I don't mind sharing a little of my garden but this woodchuck was a piggy! My DH decided to take advice from a farmer we know and try a smoke bomb. Did it work? Nope! It didn't even faze it one bit. Our farmer friend then suggested trying a wire-mesh box trap.

DH sets the trap, puts some lettuce, apple slices and green beans in it. Everyday we anxiously awaited to see if it took the bait. Several days went by without success. Then it happened! There it was in the trap. HUGE, HUGE, HUGE is all I can say. It obviously was an older woodchuck telling by it's size. DH picked up the trap and took it for a drive about 2 miles away to a nature reserve and let it go. Finally peace was restored to my garden for over 1 year!

UNTIL>>>>>>>>>>> NOW!

When I had told a friend who is into gardening about trapping this woodchuck and relocating it elsewhere, the friend had asked "how far away"? I answered, "Oh, about 2 miles". The friend then informs me, that it wasn't far enough. That it had to be at least 10 miles away. I said "we will see". I did not believe at that time, that 10 miles was needed. There had been no woodchuck last year at all, and thought it was gone for good. Boy, was I WRONG!

The other day, I'm out in my garden as I'm usually am everyday. As I'm walking in my yard toward the veggie garden, I notice a deposit left and it was not of my dog's persuasion. I said "hmmmm" odd, thinking ok maybe a cat?

The next day out to the veggie garden I go and stop at the gate. I notice some nibbling on the Monardo plants. Oh please this can't be! I start feeling like Nancy Drew in a mystery, trying to solve a mystery. I proceed into the garden. I notice no green beans touched so I'm hoping that it's a coincidence and nothing more. WRONG! I head toward the tomatoes now, checking on them as I have quite a few almost ready for it's first picking. (We had a late start this season due to an unusual cold snap). My precious almost ready to pick tomatoes.... EATEN!!!

My heart is beating rapidly and I can feel my blood pressure starting to soar. Oh please, oh please, oh please this can't be.

I turn toward the peppers, fryers that are about a week away from picking. Several EATEN!

These would be normally all signs of a Woodchuck pigging out again, but yet have not seen one.

Next morning around 7 a.m., DH proclaims, "guess what I had seen this morning in the yard". "OH PLEASE I just got up", my mind is silently screaming out loud. Could you not give me the bad news until I had my first cup of coffee!. I respond to my DH "I know, the woodchuck right'? He says "How did you know"? I answered, "I've been playing Nancy Drew for the last 2 days". Had all these clues but no visual proof.

So there you have it, Woodchuck crazy I am! ARGHHHH! Today it ate 7 tomatoes and 3 more peppers. Funniest thing it hasn't touched the green beans, which is usually it's favorite.

I couldn't understand how it came back, until we called a friend, who knows someone in the pest control business. It happens to be true, that the woodchuck needs to be relocated at least 10 miles away. It leaves a scent that it can find it's way back or it's offspring. This woodchuck it not the original one, so we believe an offspring as it's size is very small.

So once again, the trap is set. The wire mesh cage, deliciously appealing having been lined with green beans, lettuce and apple slices. There I will be each day, anxiously awaiting to see if it took the bait. But THIS time, DH is driving that thing not 10 but 20 miles away!

Woodchucks - Bah Hum Bug!!

Keep on gardening!

Annie~

Spud Growing...

mycoupons — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 06:00:43 -0400

Our gardening question chosen this week was submitted by Tori S. from Mass. Here's her question:

Hello Annie,

I live in Mass. A friend of mine told me, that she has heard of growing potatoes in a container. I would love to grow potatoes in a container if I could, as I really don't have the space for them anywhere else. Is this true and how would I go about doing this?

TY!
Tori S.

Hi there Tori!

Yes it's true, you can indeed grow potatoes in a container. I've been doing it successfully for the last 2 years. There is nothing like the taste of fresh home-grown potatoes. Of course, with container growing potatoes you will not get a high yield, but enough to enjoy for a few meals.

To grow potatoes in a container, you need to purchase certified seed potatoes. These can be found in your local nursery or garden center usually around January or February. They also can purchased online at sites such as Burpee.com, Gardeners.com or JohnnySeeds.com. Make sure the seed potatoes you purchase at a local nursery or garden center have at least 3 to 4 "eyes". You can try using potatoes that you bought from a grocery store that you have in the house, that do have eyes and either have started to sprout or have sprouted, however they are not as disease resistant as seed potatoes and also many not do as well as certified seed.

Potatoes like cool weather, so the general rule of thumb is to plant three to four weeks before your last expected frost date for your area, or to plant when the soil has warmed to 55 degrees.

Before planting you need to get the seed potatoes ready by placing them in a warm spot and letting them sprout. The smaller seed potatoes may be planted as whole, and the larger potatoes should be cut into two or three pieces and set them aside to cure for a couple of days. Each piece of seed potato must contain at least one eye or sprout. Once the sprouts are about one inch long, you can transplant them into their main containers.

For a container, you can use a 10 or 15 gallon container such as a plastic trash can or use a whiskey barrel or a large plastic storage bin that you can find in stores such as Wal-Mart.

Next you want to drill several holes around 1/2 inch in the bottom and a few in the side, about half-inch up from the bottom of the container.

Now fill your container with a mixture of half soil and half compost or use a good potting soil and add about one shovel-full of peat moss that's been moistened to each 1 cubic foot bag of potting soil you use and mix very well. To this mixture add a timed-release fertilizer such as Osmocote granules. Follow instructions on the fertilizer box and mix into your soil mixture. There should be about six inches of soil to the bottom. Now plant a layer of seed potatoes – five or six. Cover with an additional inch or so of soil and firm the surface and water.

Be sure to water the potato container two or three times a week during the entire growing period.

When the potatoes vines have reached 4 - 5 inches, cover all but the top 1 inch (three-quarters of the stems) with compost or straw, if you don't have compost then straw. Repeat this again every time the vine grows another 4- 5 inches. It is wise to insert a few wood stakes so you can tie the vines to the stake so they don't break.

You can begin to harvest the potatoes about 10 - 14 days after your potato vines bloom. Harvest them by just reaching down and picking up the potatoes. These are new potatoes and must be used soon as you have harvested them. You can also choose to just let the potatoes grow until the tops have yellowed and died down. These potatoes will have reached full size and can be stored as long as you store in a cool and dark place, these are storage potatoes.

I grow Yukon gold variety in my potato containers, but the Superior variety is another excellent one for container growing and if you love red skinned, then try Norland variety.

Good Luck and keep on gardening!

Annie~

Butterflies & Hummingbirds....

mycoupons — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 06:00:39 -0400

Our gardening question for this week was submitted by Amber D. of Long Island N.Y.

Dear Annie,

My flowers beds are mostly in the sun. What flowering plants are good to plant and easy to grow that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds?

Thanks!
Amber D.

Hi Amber!

Thanks for the question!

Actually a garden that gets full sun for the better portion of the day is a plus because both butterflies and hummingbirds like the warmth from the sun.

I love going out to the garden and watching butterflies, hummingbirds or other birds and I think it's one of the many fun things about gardening. Early in the morning, before work, I usually have my first cup of coffee of the day sitting out in one of my flower gardens that I specifically planted to attract butterflies. It's a great way to start a day!

There are many flower species you can plant to attract them, but if you have the room, there are also shrubs that can attract them as well.

Butterflies are guided by scents and smells. The stronger the scent the more it will attract butterflies. Whereas, hummingbirds are guided by sight and are especially attracted to certain shades of red.

Here's a list of some shrubs and flowers that attract either, or and both and all do great in a mostly sunny garden bed. I grow all of these myself in my gardens, and they all are very easy to grow.

As far as shrubs, one of the better in attracting butterflies and appropiately named .....Butterfly Bush. Every year I get tons of butterflies of all types on this shrub in my yard. If you don't mind some growth and pruning, it is one I recommend.

Perennial plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies include: Astilbe, Beebalm or otherwise know as Monarda , Blue Queen Salvia,
Canna, Coreopsis, Daylilies, Delphinium, Hollyhock, Lantana,
Phlox, Purple Coneflower or also known as Echinacea, Scabiosa and Red Coral Bells.

There are even several annual flowers that will attract hummingbirds and butterfiles as well. These include: Impatiens, Zinnia, Nicotiana or also known as Flowering Tobacco and Nasturtiums.

As a side note, Nasturtiums are also a great flower to include in your vegetables gardens. Aside from attracting hummingirds and butterflies, they also are a natural pest deterrent to the bad bugs you don't want. I usually plant these along with marigolds, another natural pest deterrent in medium sized clay pots and place them within my veggie garden.

Aside from the flowers and shrub varities I've mentioned above for attracting hummingbirds, you will want to hang up a hummingbird feeder in your yard. This will also help to attract and keep the hummingbirds closeby. Be sure to fill the feeder with the proper solution, being one part sugar and four parts water.

Keep on gardening!

Annie~

If you have a qardening question you would like to see featured here on the MyCoupons Blog, then simply submit to annie@mycoupons.com. Only one question will be chosen from all sent.

Help! White Spots!

mycoupons — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 06:00:46 -0400

Our gardening question this week was submitted by Antoinette G. of N.C.

Hello Annie,

My cucumber plants look like they have some kind of white growth on some of the leaves. Is this what they call powdery mildew and what can I do?

Thanks for any help,

Antoinette G.

Hi Antoinette!

Thanks for the question. I will try to help if I can.

It surely sounds to me that it's powdery mildew affecting your plants.

Powdery mildew causes a white powdery growth on the leaves and stems of your cucumber plants. As the disease progresses, the infected parts will turn yellow, shrivel and lose their foliage.

This disease is more prevalent in humid weather with frequent dew and temperatures between 70 and 90 degree

Stating in your email that you've seen white spots on only the some of the leaves, it appears to me that the disease is in it's early stages. You may be able to save them by using a fungicide treatment purchased at your local garden center, or you can may make one yourself, by using a couple of teaspoons of baking soda per gallon of water. Apply the home-made solution with a watering can, during the day.

If this doesn't help, you will then have pull out and destroy the cucumber plants. You may have enough time in your region to replant some new seeds, but do so in a different location.

When planting cucumbers make sure you have enough of the proper spacing, air circulation, correct watering and alot of sun, which helps to alleviate disease problems.

Also, vining cucumbers varieties do perform better when growing on trellises than they do growing across the ground. They get better air circulation and this leads to fewer disease and insect problems, and more production.

In the future, you may want to try to plant disease resistant cucumber varieties such as Burpless Tasty Green F1, Slice King F1, Media F1, Salad Bush or Marketmore 76. Marketmore 76 variety is what I grow in my garden.

Hope that helps!

Keep on gardening!

Annie~