What are you doing to get ready for winter in November?

I'd like to know what people do to get ready for winter .. might find a few tips that would make my life easier. I have a greenhouse, so here is what I do in November before the first freeze.

In the middle of October I put granular ant killer underneath all pots sitting on dirt outside. For the last week I have been checking those pots to make sure the ants have left the premises. If they haven't, I stick the pots in a bucket with about 2 inches of water in it and some of the granulated ant killer and sprinkle a bit on top and lightly water. Usually by the next day they are dead/gone

I use trays to sit plants on in the greenhouse so plants won't be tempted to send roots into the ground. I sprinkle ant killer on the trays before I set the pots on it. I also cut back any vines in pots, like mandevilla, to about 3 inches. Since I use 2 ltr bottles painted black and filled with water for passive solar heating, I sit plants on top of them that are tender extra tropicals like my congo cockatoo impatien, vanilla orchid and tacca aka bat flower. Sitting on the bottles keeps the soil a bit warmer.

In about a week or so I will drench most of my plants with Bayers All In One. It's good for 6 weeks and discourages insects and diseases. I use plastic knives stuck in the pot to let me know which plants have had this treatment since I don't use it on all the plants.

Tomorrow I'll check the box fan, heater and the portable thermostat. It will go in the gh once everything that needs to go in is in there.

What do you do?

X

Might want to use this in your green house. http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/boric_acid.html
It safe for humans pets and works until it gets washed away. Also cheap.

It is not good for plants according to what I've been reading.

X

If you spread on the floor of the green house any bug that walks through it will die, problem solved. You don't have to put it in the pots.

I have successfully used boric acid in the past during periods when I didn't have young children or pets around but nowadays I would be wary of a kitty cat walking though it and getting it on their paws and possibly licking it off.

I might use it around the outside perimeter of the greenhouse, but I'm wary about putting it on the ground because plants not on the trays tend to send roots down into the ground and I'm also thinking of all the anoles in there - they actually are a big help with bugs. I've read that boric acid can last for years if it hasn't gotten wet. The ant granules I use only lasts a few weeks.

X

...and if it is Amdro you are using I can assure you my dog eats that stuff all the time. I know, I know, he is not supposed to, but they mix the chemical with sugar and my dog is as bad as I am where sugar is concerned.

I'm using spectricide.

X

I'm off to Lowes and Office Depot now to get a few more insulating supplies to seal up the GH, and had a novel idea this morning to attach it to my greenhouse as well as any corner seams -- binder clips!

I've actually used those pink plastic curlers on a pvc cold frame. The caps are ready to go .. all you have to do cut the solid one .. they work quite well actually and cheaper!

X

Get a box of 20 Mule Team Borax, it does the job.

Lavina

great idea, Lavina! and easy, too, if you can find it.

20 mule can be found at the grocery store in the laundry detergent aisle.

X

Is that 20 Mule Borax just to control ants or for other gardening uses?

I have read where a teaspoon of 20 Mule team Borax provides boron for plants like tropical hibiscus.

I found this. http://shalompest.homestead.com/Common_pesticide_toxicities.pdf

I found this:

Borate is toxic to plants

While boric acid is a necessary plant micronutrient, high soil levels of elemental boron are toxic to plants. Therefore, take care not to contaminate landscape soil with boric acid.

http://www.livingwithbugs.com/boric.html

wow. now we know!

What I've done/will do:
1) bought a solar panel for the GH
2) worked on the leaks in the GH
3) bought a good light for over my orchids, which are overwintering on top of my freshwater aquarium
4) painting plastic bottles black to fill with water - X's great idea for passive solar heat
5) checking my tropical hibiscus daily for ripening seed pods. I finally pulled two ripe ones of two different plants within the last three weeks.
6) Waiting...waiting...'til the last possible moment to pick tomatoes before the cold comes a' callin', which is suppose to happen on Friday.
7) MOST important - enjoying the last rose, hibiscus and salvia blooms.....

Barb

Be very careful with the Bayer products; one of them (and I don't remember which) clearly says NOT to use in containers.

I know the one i use can be used in containers as I did it last year.

X