I am guilty of the last 3, but not the other invasives David mentions. Would have happily planted some purple loosestrife, too, but fortunately didn't.
Yardening late May 2015
Burning bush is invasive ? I've seem many of them in landscapings and they seem well contained. Mine need frequent pruning but they sure don't seem to spread.
I have pulled up hundreds of small seedlings up to 9" tall this spring alone. There are many, many much taller ones all throughout the yard, far afield from the original shrubs. Very easy to spot in the fall from the attractive foliage. I think they are spread from birds eating the berries. They are beautiful plants, but it was amazing to see them appearing in so many spots where they were not wanted. Had no idea.
It's not that it spreads in your own yard but travels to the woodlands around your area. It is interesting to see a landscaped yard with burning bush on one side of a country road and then notice it growing in the woodlands across the road or down the road from that landscaped yard.
I would say that my yard is mainly non-natives and many are aggressive growers and some like the BB bush would be invasive to the woodlands around us.
Got it... thanks for the clarification.
CAM, I guarantee that the idea of Burning Bush being "contained" is an illusion/delusion. Last fall when the foliage was bright like red flags I ventured into an ignored 50' x 75' corner of our property and pulled over 75 plants ranging from 2 inches to 4 feet. Every day when I am working in the yard I invariably pull numerous plants. Your Burning Bush berries are eaten by birds and spread to neighbors and nearby natural areas whether or not you are aware of it, guaranteed.
Years ago, at a location far away, I intentionally sowed Artemisia vulgaris, Mugwort. If we live long enough we can come to regret some of our choices in plants. Even if we don't, our neighbors and surrounding environment well may. Just saying that it is easier "not to strike the match" and not burn down the woods.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3082
I understand GT and appreciate your opinion. In your situation I would have to be more sensitive towards invasives. I don't have any forested area near me. Maybe a mile away but it's a small park/nature area and is already loaded with invasives.
Yeah, me either, Jeff. And maybe I've yanked up some babies already, thinking they were weeds.
Yeah well I remember last year seeing all these little seedlings popping up all over. I had no idea what they were but was certain they were from something I had. This year the light bulb went on and I realized they were E. alatus seedlings. They are far less an issue though than our Rose of Sharon. I've never seen so many babies from that thing. I probably have a hundred. Luckily, RU will make short work of them when I get to spraying around.
The point is it does not magically end at your property line.
Really hot and steamy out there. I have never really had a problem with my BB bushes propagating themselves until last year when I was so very late with the weeding, many beds never did get touched until the middle of summer. As a result I now have a ton of small BB bushes. Ric came out this morning as dug them up for me and I potted them so far there are 7 of them.
Yeah hopefully we get some storms. I have a few several inch tall seedlings that I'm choosing to ignore as a test to see how they do. I am surprised the deer don't eat them much in the woods. Rabbits certainly have a taste for them as I had to cage ours for a couple years until they were tall enough. Also, I assume it's a bird, but something eats many of the leaf buds off ours during the winter. The plant just pushes new ones out so it's no worries but I've always wondered what eats the buds.
Getting the veggie garden done, but the soil is dust. There is no moisture left in the ground. Even the weeds are wilted. It seems we are constantly watering something. We have been watering perennials for a couple of weeks now. We need a couple inches of rain at this point just to put a dent in the drought.
Yeah that's for sure. It looks like there are some storms directly to your west. They've been putting down about 3/4" so far. I am going to need to water some of the beds tonight if no moisture comes out of the sky.
It's funny Jeff, where we live I can see storms pass on both sides, but nothing here. The other week when we had flash flood warnings, we got damp little moisture.
Oh man, that is the pits. I just looked and Mechanicsburg is at 1.1" and Gardeners is at 1.43". Hopefully there's something in it for you guys.
We're getting a nice, soaking rain right now. Looks like it's moving SW to NE, not everyone in our area is going to get this one but there's some pop up storms coming late after and early evening. Good luck to those of you who really need it !
In York (where I work) we just had the storms roll through. The initial wind gusts were really high at the start. Probably 40mph. Hopefully my little tree doesn't blow down that I staked up last night.
It was pouring rain at work.
I get home, and not even a drop of water in the rain gauge.
:(
I guess I know what I'm doing tonight and tomorrow morning.
We got some rain but not much. I got about 1/2 of one bed weeded today. I wet it down this morning to make the weeding easier but it was just so hot and humid I had trouble staying at it. Then the rain came in and Ric and I played some cards. Just went out to see how much I could finish up. Getting those extra BB bushes out of there made a huge difference. Well I will be back out tomorrow morning to finish up. This is the last bed in the upper back that needs weeded. Then I will drop a few tropical potted plants in it and finish off with coleus.
No rain here either despite warnings. Even in the humidity, all that lovely breeze dried some things out.
Well I'm feeling comforted that everyone else got shafted on the rain too....we got 0.03"...woopdeedoo
Between 5 people working on the watering detail today--we got EVERYTHING
watered!
Everything In the yard...outside the yard...on all the umpteen tables with flowering stuff
on them----all the carts against the building wall--All the trees and shrubs--All the Bonnie's veggies and Herbs tables--All the Hanging Baskets everywhere--
and ALL the shrubs and carts-full of flowering stuff in the "coral" (the big section
on the parking Lot that they use every year as overflow displays). etc...etc....
As i was watering--I kept thinking---"Should i water this table? or--That table?
After all--we have T-Showers predicted with some serious rain!"
But--I kept on doing it--just the hose and me--in an "Argentine tango" of who
will win what. Those hoses can, and do, a number on my arms and wrists--
as they have a mind of their own. That is what I hate the most about watering!
We never got any rain either!!!......Glad we all watered everything.
"Bell" should be happy--but I am sure Mary Lou (the Bell lady) will find something
to complain about.
The GOOD part----I am off until Sunday--and I hope to put a dent in a lot of
container planting (under roof-if it rains), weeding, and gardening....(if it does not )...
Happy dance---I can sleep in tomorrow! g.
We got loads of roars of thunder here last evening, and I believe I saw THREE raindrops fall on the deck, and that is all. All was dry when I looked out at bedtime, and all is still dry this morning. Good thing I gave everyone a good watering yesterday.
I mentioned this in another thread, but I'll briefly touch on it here (as I've just realized that *this* is the correct thread where it was discussed): Gita, it's the WHEN of moving Irises, not the HOW that I needed help with, thank you Sweetheart. Now I see I'll wait 'til later in the Summer, thank you Sally and Ric.
Lol...nice G, an Argentine Tango...do you lead or does the hose?
I actually know what that is since my wife and I are big Dancing with the Stars fans. Season 20 just ended.
I saw a guy in my neighborhood watering a small bed with a watering can and I laughed to myself thinking it will take a lot more than that!
Nah, Jeff... a watering can will do the job. Just has to fill it up about 3,000 times. :)
We got 1 shower, just 0,25", penetration on loose garden soil just about 3"s, on the turf it barely reached the root zone. On the roads and walks it quelled the dust. They were dry 2 hours later. So I'll be deep watering another section today. It's funny that just 10-12 miles away they got an inch. The need to water is hurting our efforts to get everything planted.
We got about about 3/8 inch yesterday but when I woke up this morning, everthing was wet again, must have gotten a small shower over night. More on the way, best chance appears to be Sunday/Monday/Tuesday.
Lol...3000 times. It's ok, I'm pretty sure that was all they needed to water. They aren't gardeners. That was their only bed with flowers blooming and they were annuals.
Isn't it amazing Ric how different rain amounts can be with little change in direction? We got .03" yesterday but 2 miles to our west, east, and north got a 1/4". What's up with that?
I put the sprayer on the front yard garden last night for about 3 hours. Tonight, it will be the honeylocust bed that gets the water. Perhaps I'll put some water down on the annuals in the backyard as well.
Jeff--
I would NEVER miss an episode of "Dancing With The stars"--My fave show!
I am glad Rumer (Demi Moore and Bruce Willis' daughter)and Val won.
She was fabulous! HE--was as sexy and demanding as always...
As far as hoses go--the stiff, red, rubber ones that are on the big reels overhead,
are definite "leaders"...For my arm to feel comfortable while watering, the loop has to be
to the left and supported by the free arm.
Of course--when I move further down the table--or change sides--this all changes...
Then I have to re-position the hose. It is an ongoing battle or power-struggle (a "Tango").
Watering is also done throughout the day while customers are actively in these areas.
One has to always be mindful of where the hose is and IF it is laying nice and flat.
When a Dude comes by with 30 cinder blocks, or 20 bags of concrete in his cart--
the only way he can pass over a a hose in use is for me to lift it over the loaded cart
vigilance....awareness....consideration is always at the forefront when watering.
The actual act of watering is not too hard.....it is a mindless, pleasant activity--
It is dealing with the 100' heavy hoses that kills me. The torque can be a killer...
I was bummed that Riker didn't win, I liked him better than Rumor. They were both really good though and equally talented I think. My wife and I started watching it season 18 and have been hooked since. I was really bummed when Willow got voted off because Mark is such a good choreographer and I enjoy watching his creative dances.
Riker...Rumor...Willow...gawd I feel old......and unhip. I don't grok these names.
GROK?
Are you using words now that only older generations know? LOL
I think they are great names. The standard names are out Sally; no longer cool. Like Jeff, no one names their kids that anymore...
Sally, do all these odd names make you feel like "A Stranger in a Strange Land"? LOL Let them figure that out. LOL You may also be dating yourself. I was a teen for that experience.
I think both Riker and Rumer should have won. That final was spectacular.
Our hoses are rather heavy but very durable, I'll have to look and see what they are.
Yeah Ric, I had to Google that one. At first I thought it was a typo because I've never heard of anyone saying that before. Then I was like, what's a Stranger in a Strange Land?
For Si-Fi nerds only.
Oh man, I've never been into SCI-FI. I honestly couldn't tell you the differences between the oringinal 3 Star Wars movies. Nor could I tell you how many sequels/prequels there are.
Do you know how many times I have to google things to figure out what you guys are talking about lol? Everything is over my head, in more ways that one since I am vertically challenged as well as clueless. Always learning something in the process though, so I think you goofballs rock :-)
I am PLENTY geezer-like and I had to look up "Grok" as well. Guess I never got into "Strangers in a Strange Land". (thank you for that cool link David!) Odd, 'cause I'm really into sci-fi; we own every season of the whole Twilight Zone show (a really nice boxed set) on dvd and I've seen every last one of 'em. =)