Len's Garden Page

Down to earth Gardening Advice from Down Under

clipped from www.lensgarden.com.au

MOSQUITO REPELANT

MOSQUITO REPELANT

clipped from www.lensgarden.com.au MOSQUITO REPELANT Start out by roasting garlic in the microwave, squeezing the pulp out and spinning it in the blender with a little oil. Then add water and some blue food coloring, and put the concoction in the fertilizer dispenser that hooks to the hose.(the color was so you know when it was done dispensing) Mixing garlic powder with water works just as well and is less trouble. Just spray it all over the grass, vegetation and everything. It will be effective immediately and the smell does go away quickly. It lasts for me about 2 weeks or until we have a hard rain. The stuff is pure magic. It also keeps the gnats and "no see 'ems" away, and even deters the yellowflies.

COMFREY TEA FOR DOG SKIN ALLERGIES

COMFREY TEA FOR DOG SKIN ALLERGIES

clipped from www.lensgarden.com.au COMFREY TEA FOR DOG SKIN ALLERGIES - Cook a mess Comfry Geens, dilute the cool pot liquid down to iced tea color, and pour into the dog's fur. It's VERY POWERFUL so don't use more than ONCE A MONTH and ONLY when needed.

SNAIL & SLUG CONTROL

SNAIL & SLUG CONTROL

clipped from www.lensgarden.com.au SNAIL & SLUG CONTROL Use beer set out in shallow containers eg.,. jar lids, sardine cans etc.,. place the beer traps so that the top rim of the trap is accessible by the slug/snail. They crawl in alive and stay there dead, empty traps and renew beer daily. Coffee as a slug/snail control method: We used an El-Cheepo instant coffee mixed at a rate of approximately 5 teaspoons to 400 mil's of water. So far it seems to be working for us there are certainly noticable less slugs in our garden. We just liberally sprayed the solution all over the plants and around the ground near the plants, needs to be renewed after watering or rain.

More Info Re SNAIL & SLUG CONTROL

More Info Re SNAIL & SLUG CONTROL

clipped from www.lensgarden.com.au Using leaf-dip bioassays, we discovered that slugs tended to avoid feeding on plant material treated with caffeine solutions 0.1%, and caffeine solutions as low as 0.01% significantly reduced overall feeding by slugs. Due to concerns about chemical residues, available molluscicides generally cannot be applied directly to food crops for control of slug and snail pests. Caffeine is a natural product which is approved as a food additive. Therefore, caffeine may prove useful for protecting food crops from slugs and snails." End copy.

More Info Re SNAIL & SLUG CONTROL

More Info Re SNAIL & SLUG CONTROL

clipped from www.lensgarden.com.au Following is a copy from another Internet Site Using leaf-dip bioassays, we discovered that slugs tended to avoid feeding on plant material treated with caffeine solutions 0.1%, and caffeine solutions as low as 0.01% significantly reduced overall feeding by slugs. Due to concerns about chemical residues, available molluscicides generally cannot be applied directly to food crops for control of slug and snail pests. Caffeine is a natural product which is approved as a food additive. Therefore, caffeine may prove useful for protecting food crops from slugs and snails." End copy.

Weed Killers

Weed Killers

clipped from www.lensgarden.com.au WEED KILLERS Mix 1 gallon white vinegar, 1 cup table salt, and 1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid together and spray on weeds. To do so, remove approximately 2 cups of vinegar from the jug, pour in the salt and dishwashing liquid, then return the 2 cups of vinegar to the jug. Close the lid and shake to mix. Transfer to a spray bottle (after shaking to mix the ingredients) as needed. It works as well, if not better, than Chemicals, but is much cheaper. Be careful, it will kill whatever you spray it on! If you go purchase vinegar, 10% acidity, 20% acid would be better, and spray it on the weeds in the heat of the full sun, you will have an effective weed killer.

SNAIL & SLUG CONTROL

SNAIL & SLUG CONTROL

clipped from www.lensgarden.com.au SNAIL & SLUG CONTROL Use beer set out in shallow containers eg.,. jar lids, sardine cans etc.,. place the beer traps so that the top rim of the trap is accessible by the slug/snail. They crawl in alive and stay there dead, empty traps and renew beer daily. Coffee as a slug/snail control method: We used an El-Cheepo instant coffee mixed at a rate of approximately 5 teaspoons to 400 mil's of water. So far it seems to be working for us there are certainly noticable less slugs in our garden. We just liberally sprayed the solution all over the plants and around the ground near the plants, needs to be renewed after watering or rain.

Grape Hyacinth

clipped from www.gardensablaze.com Once the spring is over, I put the container in a shady place and forget about it until once again in the fall the leaves emerge.  All in all, this is probably the easiest container and naturalizing plant I have ever found, so if you haven't tried Grape Hyacinths, don't discount them because of their small size.  Try some this year - and you will be rewarded for a lifetime.

Grape Hyacinth

clipped from www.gardensablaze.com In my own garden, I was fortunate enough to already have some Grape Hyacinths growing when I moved in.  They were in the middle of the lawn, so I moved some of them to a rocky area that gets little sun and has rather poor soil.  They have done extremely well under these circumstances, completely covering the area within just a few years, with basically no interference from me.  I also put a few in a container with some other bulbs years ago.  That container is now completely filled with the Grape Hyacinths.  It is a beautiful sight when it blooms in the spring, and I get a lot of comments on that particular container planting.

Grape Hyacinth

clipped from www.gardensablaze.com Grape Hyacinths come to life just as everything else is dying down.  Bulbs should be planted in the fall.  In established plantings, the leaves will emerge in late summer and persist through the winter, making a nice looking winter border along paths, etc.  They will tolerate very cold weather, down to at least zero, but may experience some damage in extreme weather.  They flower in early to mid-spring, and after flowering, as with most bulbs, the leaves should be left intact until they die back.   They are propagated by seed or by separating their bulb offsets, which is the more common way.

Grape Hyacinth

clipped from www.gardensablaze.com Grape Hyacinths do well from zone 3 to zone 9, so they are a viable option for most of us.  They are also one of the plants to choose if deer are a problem in your area.  Planted at the bases of shrubs, or left to naturalize under trees, they can have a stunning effect.  They make good companions to Daffodils, Tulips, alyssum, candytuft, and just about any other spring plant you can think of, adding a beautiful shade of blue that is otherwise hard to come by at that time of year.  They will tolerate most soils, except areas that don't drain well.  They have grass-like, gracefully arching leaves, and make good border and container plants.  They will do well in full sun to part shade.

Grape Hyacinth

Growing Grape Hyacinth

clipped from www.gardensablaze.com Grape Hyacinth Who would have thought it possible that a tiny little flower could preoccupy a person so completely that there simply wasn't room for any other thought....Sophie Scholl Grape Hyacinth, otherwise known as Muscari, are actually not Hyacinths at all.  They are members of the Lily family, and are native to the Mediterranean area and Asia Minor.   They are small plants, usually not much more than 10 inches tall, and produce blue or purple petals that are fused together and have small white tips, giving them a balloon-like or, well.....grape like appearance, and they have sort of a musky-grassy smell.  One grape hyacinth plant doesn't look like much, but in a mass planting, these small bulbs can be a total knockout.

Hyacinth

Growing Hyacinth

clipped from www.gardenexpress.com.au HYACINTH Hyacinths flower easily and have the added bonus of fragrance. They need sun, well drained soil and are best in cool districts, or grown in containers so you can move them indoors to appreciate their flowers and perfume. Watering - Normal watering is required during dry weather. Fertilising - Animal manure, blood and bone, or a complete fertiliser should be worked through the soil before planting. Lifting and storage - Bulbs should be dug when the leaves have turned yellow. Dry and clean the bulbs and store in a warm, airy position. Pests - Bait snails and slugs. Tips - Hyacinth grow particularly well in pots.

Tulips

Growing Tulips

clipped from www.gardenexpress.com.au TULIPS Watering - Tulips like a cool, moist soil that is not too wet. Continue watering after flowering, until foliage begins to turn yellow. Fertilising - Complete organic fertiliser should be worked through the soil before planting. Lifting and storage - Dig when foliage turns yellow. Dry off bulbs and keep in a warm airy position. (16-23 degrees is best). Pests - Watch for aphids and spray with an insecticide if necessary. Tips - Plant in cool weather; late April or May. Place bulbs in fridge crisper for 4-8 weeks before planting. Keep soil moist and cool after planting.

Fressias

Growing Fressias

clipped from www.gardenexpress.com.au FREESIAS Freesias grow well from Tasmania to Queensland. Freesias do not need heavy fertilising and seem to perform well in all soil types. One dislike is boggy poorly drained ground (a common complaint for most bulbs). Grow Freesias for their beautiful perfume, vibrant colour and excellent cut flowers. Overall one of the easiest growing bulbs. Watering - Only necessary if soil begins to dry due to insufficient rainfall. Fertilising - Prefers addition of slow release granules to soil prior to planting or fertilise top dressing 6 weeks after shoots appear. Lifting and storage -Digging only necessary when clumps become too thick. Dig up after foliage yellows. Pests - Spray for insects and bait snails when buds appear. Tips - Point of bulb faces upwards.

Hyacinth in a glass vase

How to grow Hyacinth in a glass vase

clipped from www.gardenexpress.com.au Filled them up with water just below the bulb and put them in a dark well ventilated spot (the cupboard)

Dietes

Designs of Dietes

clipped from hellohello.com.au lowering borders Butterfly Grass® Dietes used in low flowering borders, roadside and commercial plantings lowering borders ommercial plantings oadside plantings