Propagation: part X based on my own experience

Good morning Dave!! You are sounding much better. Glad you're back. Your big plans don't sound like you are taking it easy.

You are going to grow these cels in your garage? So you want plastic walls inside the garage. Only thing I can suggesst is cattle panels. I am a real fan of those. Very easy to work with. The biggest drawback is shelving. If you have that solved then I would say you are 75% of the way.

Jeanette

Hi Jeanette:
well easy for the next few weeks while I heal. I have the shelves. I am thinking of using pvc to frame and thick poly to cover the pannels. We are throwing, donating and giving away a ton of JUNK... have not used it in 7 years so it needs to go. I will have 2 plastic sheling units 24 x 48 (I think) along with the propagation cart I got last fall.I just need to get more lights and heat mats with controlls. I don't know if it might be best to grow everyone on the propagation cart and then put them on the unheated shelves to slow them dow for spring. I may just do what I can in seeds and run with that ... I have some time to wait before I have to make my mindes up. My one fear is if I go south for a couple of weeks I will be all worried about my babies getting enough water. Oh well.
Its time to ice down the shoulder... have a great day
Dave

Welcome back Dave. Hope your shoulder soon stops giving you grief. I went to the chiropractor yesterday to have mine adusted. I do that every week since I was at PT. I hate to exercise, so I am just taking the line of least resistance. Hugs. JB

Dave, glad to hear your doing better. Had to look up your muhly grass as I've never heard of it before. I so love the grasses, they are the easiest plants to have in the garden and give so much in return. this is very interesting. When you get ready to sell, please contact me as I have a place out front that would look great with them, but I would be looking for about 25 of them for a mass planting.

Janet

Hi all: thank you for the encouragement. the muhley grass is up and growing in cells butway too small to plant out. I am going to put them on the bottom shelf of my garage grow area. I will have 100 cells if they continue to grow like they are now.
I too love the grasses. I am also looking at pennisetium 'fireworks' not hardy except in southern florida and risky in the southern states so I am reading. but its too kool to pass on.
http://www.perennialresource.com/encyclopedia/view/?plant=1966

I am also looking at one of the new switch grasses that will replace the pennisetium and be hardy. it gets too expensive to replace them every year

http://www.perennialresource.com/encyclopedia/view/?plant=1764

at this point they are just ideas and I am not sure how available they will be as they are new for 2010. any specific plant groups you are interested in I can see what I can find as to whats new, just let me know.

Anyone wondering how the winter is going to pan out???? Its been way to wet this year for my likeing. I am a bit scared that we will either get a ton of snow or another ice storm from hell. At least we are ready this year. Gas heat generator to run the appliances we need to survive and a wood fireplace so I thing short of stocking the pantry we are good to go.
Its been a finemist for about a week or it seems like it. I truely hate the gray cold days. it makes my bones ache.
Dave

/those are pretty Dave. This summer I bought quite a few grass seeds too. I really enjoy them. I don't know what I will do with them, but I got mostly perennials in this area. I try to get down to zone 4.

You know Dave, now that you got the generator your power will never go out again. That is what happened to us. Got it after the power was out over the holidays several years ago. Haven't lost power for more than a couple hours since. I figure the whole county owes me money for the thing. LOL

lol... I kind of figuire its going to happen that way. of course if I sell it then I will loose power again.

Or if you forget to keep gas for it. Just don't let it sit with gas in it in the summer. Gums up the carb.

J.

Those are really pretty. I amstill just basically working on the daylily and hosta and canna issues, Our temps are dropping into the 40's at night beginning next week so I have a lot to do to get planting. I hope everyone is doing ok.
Linda

Hi: I can get abit overwhelming. I know I started with just a few DL's, hostas and crepe myrtle. Its been really fun jest watching the plants grow and ship out I don't know why but its just a personal gratitude I enjoy. and its my way to give back to help beautify the world...one plant at a time
Dave

Linda, haven't heard from you for quite a while. How is your mom? Good I hope. Winter is coming so it is time for a rest. Or, aren't you in a position to rest?

Jeanette

Grasses are my all time favorite..... Our speaker for our garden club meeting next month is speaking on ornamental grasses in the landscape.... with slide show. Can't wait for that one.

Winter is arriving way too early here as well, we have a cold rain that might have a mix of snow by morning for us. But then really nothing to complain about since just a short distance to the east in PA they are getting S_ _ W.....

Here is one row of my grasses that I was out taking some quick photos of. Several of them ended up not being the same kind. I got these 4 years ago from the next door neighbor who was digging his out after he moved in. All of these came from just 3 clumps of his. Next year will be the chore as I am going to have to separate and divide them out. Not looking forward to that..... Anyone got an easy way to do it?

Janet

here are my sweet collie crew who never miss where I'm at when we are in the yard.....LOL
Sarah, 12, her kids out of two litters, Saul and Saint 6 (otherwise know as the S & S boys) and Gracie 5
Janet

Janet, they are beautiful. You kept the whole litter? I'll bet you really enjoy them. They are gorgeous.

Jeanette

Beautiful dogs. Well groomed too. Must take you awhile to keep those babies brushed.
I love animals. Hugs.

Janet: beautiful dogs... I always love the blue's I think they are called that.
The grass is best cut down to ground level or slightly above. next either dig the entire clump or split as you dig.... dealers choice. I like a sharp shovel when dealing with grasses. I have also used a sharp machete on a sturdy surface and divide them up. looks like at least 10 divisions per clump. I would like to get a start are you selling or trading them?
Dave

do you know which miscanthus they are?
Dave

Dave:

I don't know which one they are, but I would be more than happy to send you some for the cost of shipping. How many would you like? I could ship you some this year, as I think we have just a little more time before freezing sets in. I've got several smaller ones that are the same and I've got another large one that needs division. So next weekend if it isn't raining I would be happy to go out and try and get some taken off for ya and drop them in the mail. Let me know.

I'll get some more up close pictures and maybe you can figure out which one they are. I just love them, no maintenance except when its time to divide but for the most part, just put them in and leave them alone.

Janet

Better yet, cheaper on postage, I could just send ya some seed heads for ya to give them a try and if they don't then next spring I can divide out and send you some.

Janet

Hi Janet:
I would love some seeds. I do know its miscanthus sinensis but which one I am not sure. I took some seeds from a variegated miscanthus. the seeds were there before the plumes filled out. Its kind of strange. I would have thought the seed would be distributed by the fluffy stuff on the plumes.
If you can I would like to get some divisions in the spring.
Dave

For Dave, not a problem. I've already written it in my garden book.

Janet

You can also use a ginsu knife to split the rootballs. that works wonders for me.
Janet your dogs are beautiful. I do not however envy you all the grooming they require.
Jeanette, my mom is doing much better thank you for asking. I keep popping in saying I will be back soon, so I hope this is my grand re-entrance. I am planning to get back to normal very soon. I have missed everyone.
It's time for me to start daylily seeds...

I bought one of those really nice knives for that and it goes thru the roots like butter. 'course I haven't tried it yet on really thick ones. I mean like woody roots. (just heavily matted) It has a nice sharp serrated side so it should be good there too. It is stainless steel. I got that one so it wouldn't rust. And with a sheath.

Maybe in the spring I can get some of those lantana starts we started on this fall Linda. That would be nice. Maybe you will have more time.

How are the birds doing?

Nice to hear from you again.

Jeanette

ibartoo, the grooming is the soothing part of it all, nice down time for me and the collie, they just lay and fall asleep on my grooming table while I brush away my frustrations of my day job....LOL

Janet

howdy:
I think a shrp edge is key to any division. we used to use a 4" angle grinder to shapen all blades and shovels.
Dave

Dave:

Funny you should talk about sharp angle as I was just looking for a tool to purchase that I could use to sharpen some of my tools??? got any favorite tools you would like to share that do a good job of sharpening.

Janet

My mom had a whet stone that she carried in a sheath on her belt for her garden tools. I sure would like to have it. One of these days. maybe when my stainless steel knife needs it.

Jeanette

A good long file with both a course and fine side. look for a wholesale tool store, pawn shop, garage sales and estate sales. If you don't have or don't want to wait to find it orjust have to have it now home depot, lowes, kmart or sears should have it. funny kmart is in the mix as sears bought them.
For under $50.00 you can get a 4" angle grinder. Its a hand held tool that spins a grinding wheel. be carefull though it can give you a wierd edge on the tool really fast, also wear glasses for flying metal scaps. I think a file gives more controll for starting out and $50.00 is a lot to spend just to sharpen tools.
another handy hint from the mass planting side of things. Post hole diggers make a perfect hole for gallon (6") containerized plants. I realize it goes against everything we are taught on how to prep the hole for planting but for the real tough, agressive and easy to root out plants its great. we planted over 1000 6" heather in a flower bed next to a pond behind the clubhouse and resturaunt (spelling). what a show we got from it.
well its of to therapy for the shoulder. last week. more later today
Dave

Hi Dave!! How is the shoulder doing? Do you exercise it every day? How often to therapy?

I'll bet that many heathers would be gorgeous. I miss the heathers. There were so many in Seattle but it is too cold here for most of them. But they are gorgeous in a mass planting.

Well, t's that time of year when it is mostly clean up. ugh.

Hi Jeanette:
Yes it was a sight to behold and we recieved many compliments. they were the tropical heather Cuphea. not the perrienial ones. I am trying to get into the more hardy ones but its been slow because of so many other things pulling me in every which dirrection.
ahh therapy.... its 3 times a week till next week as transport becomes an issue. I am doing quite a bit at home as well. It looks like we are in good shape as I am close to having full range of motion. I have one rotation that is really a tough one. the one where you are putting your hand behind the back. still a bit tight but I have a new exercise to work on as well as lots of stuff to work with it.
Yes clean up is a nasty necessity. we did a lot of that on saturday. It was georgous outside mid 70's light breeze. DW got all the old azaleas pulled out and all the pieces of landscape timber pulled out. leveled the ground from whaere the tree was cut down and stum was ground up. Its funny how fast it turns to black organic matter almost a soil. by next spring it will be a soil.
We found 3 gallon red tip photinnia on sale $5.00 each nice base just need to be trimmed up and cuttings stuck (grins). red tips are a bread and butter plant here. they use it for hedges, screens and tree form on occasion. Its real cool in a tree form. The house has a mow strip in a semi circle about 6 feet from the front walk and the front has a secluded entry.we are planning to do a tummbled stone out off the walk from the arch to the front door. then on the other side of the mow strip we will plant photinia keeping it sheared followed by a mid height azalea and then a lower plant and possibly the new orleans creape myrtle.
I am not sure what we are doing in front of the house itself but its a work in progress. I am thinking it will be a group of different ornamental grasses on the corner of the house where the marron colored norway maple is at the moment. Behind the grass on the southside is a 3 ft wide daylily bed that has been planted for a couple of months so I am looking forward to seeing all my stock - beeding DL's.
Here is a pic of the front after this weekend.
wow did not intend to wright a book
Dave

That reallly looks great Dave. A lot of work. Very nice house. A lot you could do with it now. Should be fun.

Jeanette

Hi Everyone,. just checking in to say hello and make sure you are all behaving. Especially Dave.
I had to cancel another Market Place sale. I have had about 6 sales and only 1 paid and completed the transaction. I get so annoyed when people come in DG , buy something and leave. They never seem to get the invoices and there is no correspondence so you sit and wait for 10 days then I just cancel the darn order. Time wasted and no money. Grumble Grumble.
It is raining here again today and I had errands to do this morning. This afternoon I have ads to prepare for the Christmas Tree Farm opening.
Sales on eBay are picking up and it seems more money is passing hands. I am worried about this November Election here in NJ. The present Gov. is a reject from Wall Street and has so much money he forgets the rest of us are middle class. He keeps raising the taxes and more and more people are moving to NC, VA and MD.
My SIL got lucky and got a job at theVeterans Cemetery on the grounds crew. The job is a State Job and the pay is less than his Unemployment but he wants to be employed and so he took it hoping something better will come along. He is in his middle 50's so he feels any job is better than none.
Stay well, get your flu and pnemonia shots and don't forget me since I am getting into our busy season and may not have time to stop in. Love and Hugs to all. JB

Hi again,
Jeanette, I have promised Dave in another email that if I can''t get the lantanas to him and you too before it is too late this season, I will root some over the winter for you and have them ready for the spring.
The doctors have diagnosed my problem as allergy related adult onset asthma and you guessed it, it is the birds that are irritating it. It has been completely debilatating for the vast majority of this summer ( mid june- now). Anyway the birds have to have a new home, I cannot work with them any more. I hate to give them up, but I know I can't care for them. I have someone who is interested and may buy them all. Please pray that it goes through.
If it goes the way I hope, I will turn the aviary into a green house and will be able to have more plant room than I have ever dreamed of. ( can anyone say " Santa, can I have lights and heat mats please?" LOL) Then I will just have to regain my strength to be able to work at it. 4 months of lethargy takes its toll on a body.
In the mean time, I am filling the cold frame with my winter sown daylilies and dogwood seeds. I am trying to catch up on some organizing trading that I haven't done and I am collecting the last of summer's bounty.
Life is good. Hope all is good for you all too.
Have a great day, Linda

Hello everyone,

Linda, I feel for you having to give them up, will keep fingers that your buyer comes through and gives them a great home.

JB sorry to hear you are experiencing so much trouble with the marketplace. I've really enjoyed my time on it and only had a few minor problems but the sellers worked it out fast. Only had one seller that was difficult. Heres to hoping it improves for ya.

Dave great start, like the foundation that you have to work with.

Janet

Linda, were you the one that wanted a start of the blue Florabunda Thunbergia? I got it in before the really cold weather hit and think I can probably just cut the plant down the middle of the root and have another plant. It is starting to leaf out again 'cause I cut it all off at the pot. All the vines. That was the only way I could bring it in. Which is just fine because they go crazy inside.

Jeanette

Ibartoo, I know how you feel about giving up the birds. I did that when I moved and it is so difficult. It took me along time to get adjusted to only 6. I did keep 12 but I am down to 6 now. I do hope you can get some good prices for them. Good luck. JB

Good afternoon:
JB: I have noticed the market place can be that way. I typically don't pull anything untill I have $$$ in hand. I did better than you did. I had a few cancel for a few good reasons and some just rude..Like you said order and then its crickets. I just let it sit no harm no foul.
Linda: Sounds like you are ready for shop lights and lots of shelves and supplies to get a move on. Its been nice here the last couple of days but the ole back is screaming so its going to rain soon and a big one. I have been doing PT and just trying to do some winter prep.
Dave

Thanks everyone. I am having a really hard time giving up the birds, especially those that I have hand raised from just hatched babies. I know though that it best for all concerned and I will do what is best for them.

Jeanette, Yes, I would love the blue florabunda thunbergia I have been searching for one for some time. I will gladly send postage or plants.

JB and Dave, I did ok at the market place with my buyers, but I think the main issue was with buyers who didn't understand the invoicing issues. There are so many who depend on the constant reminders such as they receive from other sites and they join this one buy something and then think that nothing went through because there weren't 3 follow up emails sent directly to their home email box.I missed out on this whole passed year due to mom's illness and then mine through the summer, so I will be starting over in the spring, but we will see how it goes.
Anyway, Dave I hope your therapy isn't too painful and the rain doesn't last long.

Hope everyone else has a great day,
I think I will go breath in some salty air.

I can sure imagine how hard it is to give them up Linda. How old are the ones you hatched? What kind are they? Are they all Cockatoos?

I haven't tried to divide the plant because I wasn't sure you still wanted it. I will do that now, just cut thru the root but leave it for a week or so to make sure it will live and then take it out of the pot. It isn't a big plant because I cut it off the stafford's hook it was growing on but it is starting to get shoots on the stem that is left so I would like to get it sent before it becomes a big vine and I have to cut it off again to mail it.

So, it will be a week or 2.

It is snowing this morning guys. First time this year, but it had to do it before the end of October.

Jeanette

Jeanette...................cut that out, don't be talking about that white stuff...... it is still too early in my book for that darn stuff to show up.......LOL

Janet