Yardening June 2014 #3 into July

thanks, Viburnum! Since my weeping cherry is dying, maybe I can dig up the pear tree from the rose bed and move it to the old cherry spot? I love Bradford pears and although I understand they can be invasive, I think I could keep it in check in my backyard. And it's a free flowering tree!!

I'm beginning to think I should get some kind of composting machine.

I'm planning to turn more of my lawn area into garden space, and so I have cardboard down and have been piling trimmings etc on top of it--including the leftovers of the old rose bush I lopped down. But I think some kind of composter would help turn this rough pile into something more usable. I know nothing about composters. Any suggestions of what might work?



This message was edited Jun 29, 2014 8:45 AM

I am thinking about putting out those JB bug bags. I know that they attract JB and you don't want them in your yard to get a snack before they crawl into the bag. But I have been thinking of putting them back in the pasture area. Nothing back there that they can damage, hopefully it would pull them out of my yard. I wonder how far that attractant reaches and how far from my garden I would want to place them. I certainly don't want to attract more JB from other areas. Have any of you used them in any way? Any thoughts on this idea?

Holly, I have not heard of the JB bug bags, but I would be willing to try them! There are already some JB bugs in my backyard.

They are plastic bags on a pole with an attractant. I have been told that you don't want them in your yard because they pull in the JB, where they eat their last meal. I was always told that it was great when your neighbor put them in their yard because it would pull them out of your yard. But I really haven't tried them before or have I done any research on them to see how they really work. We don't seem to have a lot of JB or seeing damage yet, but I am finding some floating in the pool so I would like to do something before I start to see a lot of damage.
Something like this
http://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Attractant-JBTD-SF16-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B000BPEZUK#

thanks, Holly. I'm going to try one out. Maybe I'll leave it as a gift for my neighbor? ;-) Just kidding! I'll let you know how it works!

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! DO NOT save that pear tree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KILL KILL IT MUST DIE

Lol Catmint, that pear is considered a huge nuisance tree. It grows so fast that it shades out and out-competes native plants in the wild. It's also weak and one day will just kind of fall apart and land on your house or nearby plants.

Holly, since you can place it far, I would try one. Report back, please!.

Catmint. Dear Catmint. Do you remember in spring when we first saw white trees blooming along the highway? Those were ALL invasive callery pears. Same time Mark and I were driving to the cherry blossom insanity in DC, we passed huge stretches of Rt 50 with thousands of callery pears filling the entire shoulder and banks along the road. Thousands, everywhere.

Besides that, your mutt tree may not even have the genes that gave the originals that lollipop shape- which might be good because the lollipops self destruct when they get big enough....

On your composter, there are really good discussion sin the Soil and Compostng forum about different styles of composter and what is needed to actually make them work. Gita has an earth machine she'll give you for free, I bet...

http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/callery-pear-bradford-pear

All of the streets on the major portion of my paper route WERE lined with Bradford/Callory pear trees. One by one they have fallen or splite in half or dropped branches. As a street tree they have closed streets down a number of times while waiting for tree services to remove, These trees are maintained by the Home Owners Association and a team of tree trkimmers from the community two of whom are retired arborists. There are only a handfull of the originals left after 15 years and no one parks ubder them!

They are not native!

Holly, I tried the bettle lures and traps. Yes, they do attract from far and wide and the bags and traps can fill up quickly (like over one or two days! I like that they drown in the pool and don't stink like stink bugs.Wonder if chickens eat them?

LOL you guys! Ok, I think I feel my arm twisting! twist...twist...twist--ow! :-)

So my poor little Bradford Pear must die. No execution date set but I'll keep you all posted! :-)

To make up for the pear's anticipated sad and untimely demise, I found this growing as a volunteer in my front bed near the azaleas. Someone on the plant ID forum has suggested it is Goodyera pubescens (?) or Rattlesnake Plantain, which would be really cool if it were true. What do you all think?



This message was edited Jun 29, 2014 11:13 AM

Goodyera pubescens (Rattlesnake Plantain) looks like a spot-on plant ID to me. Check out how the new leaf is spiraling up just like on this photo: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/284027/

Lest you harbor any lingering thoughts of saving the Bradford Pear, let me tell you my BP story: I had a very big one. One sunny day, my c. 5 year old DD came running to say that she saw something fall outside her window. It was a very large limb 6-7" in diameter. All it did was crush a shrub and my fence. I shuddered to think of what would have happened if one of my DDs had been under it. Oh, and the leaves fall weeks after you've finished raking up all the other ones.

thanks, Muddy! Okay, I'll lose the BP but welcome my new Rattlesnake Plantain. :-)

Judy, I HATE the thought that you know about how those pesky things (pear trees) can possibly harm our beloved newspaper carriers!! Don't tell, I might cry!!!! =(

Gita, was thinking about you and your watering today, so I took a couple pics of my wand that I use here at home... bought it at a HD about 7 or 8 years ago...

1- there's this very helpful little ring strategically placed to slip over the end of the trigger and hold it in place, saving wrist and hand pain/strain.

2- When not in use, there's a little clippy-thingy that it snugs onto, holding it out of the way when you don't want water squirting out at someone accidentally! < =D

3- The label is still on it, and readable... barely. Hope this is of some help... maybe someone could order a couple for you? =)

Think of how many rattlesnake plantains you can have in the space of one callery pear. ! Excellent find!

Here are some photos of my backyard, taken from my patio, so you all can have an idea of where some of the swap plants are going and see where I've been slaving away: 1) the pond bed; 2) the rock garden; 3) a view towards the shrub graveyard (no swap plants going there!) and 4) the new bed, which is in the area formerly occupied by a Silver Maple and its surface roots.

This message was edited Jun 29, 2014 6:26 PM

Photos of the pond area. One shows the electrical post that was just put in. I'm trying to figure out what (very short) plant to use to cover it up; suggestions welcome. I'll probably use Liriope for now, but plan to replace it with an evergreen fern.

You can see the 3 new Rhodies I put in to replace the 4 Cherry Laurels in the background.

Finally, some pics of the few plants blooming in my backyard: Texas Bluebonnet, Swamp Milkweed, Coreopsis, Purple Coneflower and a NOID Sunflower. At least, I think it's a Sunflower. I grew it from seeds collected in DD1's back yard in Utah. She assured me that it's a "weed" that grows all over Utah.

WOW Muddy, That is just beautiful. I love the long shots so we can see your lovely gardens. Then the closer look at the different areas. I looks like such a secluded area to relax in.

Muddy, the color of that Texas Bluebonnet is gorgeous, makes me want to get some....

Muddy, I can't believe how much work you have done in the yard! It looks *beautiful*!

Wow, everyone's been so busy! Muddy, I love the new rhododendrons. They're going to look gorgeous in full bloom next spring.

Coleup, some of the oak leaves are left in place as mulch but the rest need to be shredded so they take up less space. The large compost bin was filled 50/50 with grass clippings and leaves so I figured there was enough "greens" to eat up the leaves. Well, the grass clippings are composting nicely, but the leaves are staying put! I think a part of the problem was that I didn't turn the pile enough, so there wasn't enough air to get it cooking. I'm going to dump some Starbucks coffee grounds in there if I can't get the leaves to break down before this year's leaves drop.

Speedie---

That little Ring/clip on the handle is a JOKE! It does not hold very well---
as soon as your hand touches the handle-it pops right off.
Honestly---If I use it--I will be placing it back on the handle 99 times an hour.
If the manufacturer wants this function--than they should make one that is strong
and REALLY does clip and hold. That would be a blessing.....

I use the Velcro tie, but when they get wet, they stop sticking to itself.
I need to find a 1" wide Velcro that is made like the green ties we sell and i use.
The "trick" is to find something else that has the loops on one side and the
sticky part on the other...most Velcro comes in 2 separate strips.
One the sticky side--and the other the "hooks and grab" side.

G.


We just use wands we sell. I like the adjustments on the type of spray you want
on the head. usually--we all use the "shower" spray.
I can look--but they are, probably. made bu Melnor.

Thanks, everyone! Fortunately, I find working in the backyard relaxing, although I will be glad when the planting is mostly over so I can do more puttering.

Gita, what about one of those velcro luggage handle covers; would that work?

Muddy---I am not sure what you are talking about.....

I travel SO seldom--so any Luggage handles Covers are not familiar to me.

Could you dig up a picture? Thanks--g.,

Sure Gita. Here you go: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aluggage%20handle%20wraps

Better yet, there are velcro straps like what I think you have in mind: http://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Strap/dp/B003GDQGFQ
Scroll down on this view to see other types of velcro straps.

Maybe HD sells this or something like it: http://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Wrap-Straps-Black-90700/dp/B000H5OKI6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_op_17?ie=UTF8&refRID=0A2N5185AZ4V6BQEYMPV

This message was edited Jun 29, 2014 9:40 PM

we had pretty god germination of those seeds without the treatment- but mine failed to thrive and have now died. Partly my fault, I doubted they would do well in my acid soil.

WOW Muddy, your yard is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm with Holly, I love the long-shots as they give a nice "feel" for the area, along with the close-up shots showing each plant's individual beauty. Just beautiful!!

G, I've been using that wand for about 7 or 8 years now, and I've never had any problems with the trigger slipping out of the ring accidentally. Hmmmm...

a hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! bad typing.......or the truth?????

Lol...God germination...nice!

Catmint, I'm with everyone else on that pear tree. Super invasive and weak trees. Not to mention the blossoms smell terrible. Definitely a waste of a tree (in the yard anyways).

Muddy, your yard is absolutely gorgeous, I love it!

Muddy, let me add, your yard looks super!

Ok people, I am removing my Mahonia bealei this year. Invasive in some southern states to date. I like it a lot but my conscience is getting to me. I'm reading about its cousin, Japanese barberry, and it seems it can take decades for the invasive potential to become reality.

It's not gonna be fun to deal with- super prickly!

Oh Sally, I really detest Barberry. From a distance I will admit that they can be pretty. When I was young Barberry were commonly used in the yards around the city (especially useful for keeping kids from cutting across your yard). A few years ago when I was working at Lowes there was a particularly pretty Barberry and I almost changed my mind until I accidently backed into one when working on a nearby table. So Ric comes home a month ago and says I bought a few new plants and I don't think you will be too happy about it. I just couldn't think what plant he could bring home that I wouldn't like......... Barberry. LOL

I love spiky plants! We have a bunch of different ones. In fact, a plant I just recently planted, Sophora Davidii, is thorny. I didn't know it and I was so excited when I found out.

In regards to the Mahonia, I love our mahonia and will be bummed if it doesn't make it. I moved it in the fall last year and this is definitely a plant that doesn't like to be moved. We had two but the one was about 4' and the other 2'. I put them in the same hole and between that and last winter, it's looking pretty pathetic. I am encouraged slightly though that the smaller one just sprouted a new shoot. I got no flowers this spring and no new shoots on it until now. If it doesn't make it I might get another because I really do like it. The birds LOVE the berries.

Oh no Holly LOL

what kind of Mahonia, Seq? There are american natives. M bealei might not be hardy up there. and Mahonia Soft Caress, oh how pretty that is!

A few years ago, I was at National arboretum and their small visitor center (the place that looks like, and I think used to be, somebody's suburban house) was surrounded by mature M bealei. I'm sure budget is very tight and this is only a potential problem in MD so far, but I think they should come out.

It's M. bealei. Should be hardy for my zone. It's made it through every winter since I planted it in '10 and it's prior location was on the NE side or our house with 0 protection from the NW winter winds. I just think it is one of those deep rooted plants that doesn't like to be transplanted. If it lives in it's current location, it's welcome to stay there forever.

Thanks, Sally, Speedie and Seq.

Mahonia aquifolium is a very easy shrub; mine hasn't had any insect or disease problems. It did just fine during the winter even though it was exposed to plenty of winter sun and cold wind. It doesn't grow quickly, so I have never had to prune it, although I really should so it fills out.