Is it Spring yet? What r u doing in the garden?

A couple of weeks ago, I saw that my neighbor had put out her corn gluten, so I did the same. I don't need those pesky weeds getting started.

Speaking of weeds, there is an area in the back bed where the bermuda was starting to get a hold so since yesterday was such a beautiful warm day, I started working on that. Gosh, I hate bermuda! Nut grass too! There's another area where the nut grass has gained a foothold and I've put off weeding that area too long.

While I was weeding, I decided to go ahead and cut back the Mexican Heather and other perennials. I was excited to see some of them had already started blooming! Particularly the pincushions and the white candytuft look like they decided it is Spring already. I saw some bulbs starting to push their way up too. There are some I had forgotten about. I don't remember what they are. Muscari, maybe? They were covered by the bermuda. I also noticed my daffies are poking their leaves up. Gotta love those bulbs!

I cut the big Duranta down yesterday too. I can't believe how HUGE it got last year! We had just moved to this house and I had dug it up from my other house where it had been in the ground for a good 4 years or so. I guess it wasn't getting enough sun or something at the old house because it just shot up here, and still had blooms on it until that last freeze a couple weeks ago. Can't wait to see what it does this year, although I think I'm a little scared of it, lol. I'm attaching a picture of the area I was working, but the picture is from November. You can see the Duranta behind the big rock. That window above and to the right of it is at least 6 1/2 feet above the ground. In the foreground, you can see some of pincushions (lower right, by the Mex. Heath.) and candytuft (to the right of the log) that is now blooming and the Mexican Heather and skullcap I just trimmed back, and in the bottom right corner, you can see that the dratted Bermuda has been there since at least November!

I'm pretty new at some of this so here is a newbie question...What is the corn gluten for and where do you get it?

It's what is left over after, the bran, starch and germ has been removed from corn. It can be used as a pre-emergent to keep seeds from germinating. Use it before the weeds you are trying to suppress germinate.
http://www.harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort/pubs/pubs/corn%20gluten%20meal.pdf

Can't find the server on your link... is it on my end?

I am also curious where it can be purchased as well as application. I have sticker grass I need to eliminate.

I found it. If you go to this page and click on the corn gluten pdf file it has the info. Thanks bettydee.

http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort/pubs/pests.htm

I buy it at most any feed store. Be careful. It will keep any and all seeds from germinating.
If you are a seed freak like I am, it could backfire on you.

At this particular time I am using alfalfa pellets and dried molasses as my spring fertilizer.
Also adding expanded shale on this clay.

Christi

Oh wow, I did not know you could get dried molasses!!!! thanks for that tidbit.

Kyla

This is my third year for organic. Oh My!!! The earth worms absolutely love it.

Yes, well, I've been hearing about molasses as a worm magnet so planned to try it, dried would sure make it easier!!!!

anyways, no, not spring here yet, but I have faith! LOL!

Neat thing about alfalfa and molasses....they know no season. Just whenever it is convenient to you, it works.

It's not really spring here, either, but we like to think it is and are always so sad when a "late" cold front comes along and ruins our spring work. LOL

Ann

Not-Dumb question # 763: How do you apply the expanded shale? And for that matter, the alfalfa and dried molasses? Don't know where there is a feed store around here but I might be able to find one. One just closed here in Katy.

Ann

Ann, Lowe's has horticultural molasses, but it's the liquid. I wish they carried the powder. I haven't seen the alfalfa there, but they might have it and I just haven't noticed. They have a separate little garden area with ecologically friendly products, like Sluggo, Garret Juice, Molasses, etc. If you have one near you, check there. The one I go to is Royal Oaks on Westheimer.

Crow

Yes, Crow. we have a Lowes on the other side of I-10 (south side) just east of Fry. I found the stuff to kill slugs and snails there as you said. I'll look for the molasses there. Maybe HGC has the dry molasses. I'm always surprised when they have something I'm looking for. Usually it's the same ol', same ol'. Thanks for the tip.

Ann

Alfalfa pellets are the same as rabbit food or even for horses. Any feed store should carry it. I just spread the alfalfa and dried molasses on the tops of my beds, or if you are digging and amending stir it in then. The expanded shale is actually the inside of a piece of sheetrock. It keeps the soil from compacting forever. Currently I am buying it in a specialty soil mix from Letco. They have dirt yards all over Houston. They often have their retail bags at Lowe's. Especially the Lava Sand and Texas Green Sand. Used that last year and my beds looked like Jack and the Beanstalk. Try: www.Letco.com for a location near you. I am fortunate that they have a Dallas location about 5 miles from me fronting 35E. We are the second ton today. Pickup truck will haul 1/2 ton at a time and we are working on the third truck load.

Well, the link didn't work. Will try to find it for you.

Thanks. Don't need the link. I remember now what someone said in another thread about the insides of sheet rock. I have some alfalfa pellets, too. Forgot about that..... Jim has asked me at least a dozen times "why did you buy rabbit food" and I had to answer him. He thinks I am nuts but that's ok. I'm as well adjusted as anyone nowadays can be so what people think is really not up there on my list of things to be worried about. I'm set to go to get these beds up and running, so to speak.

Ann

My friends and DH know that I am nuts but thought I had really jumped off my rocker when I started using the above. That is, until my flower garden took off. If you go to RJudd-Harrison's journal you will see where I began to really learn. I even printed most of it off and put in my Randy's file. You will find him on Tropical Plants and Tropical Zone Gardening. That's another part of DG where I hang out a lot. Quite a trick to have a tropical garden in zone 8. Lots and lots of work.


Didn't intend to attach this picture and the software won't let me delete it now.
Just for grabs, it was taken on 2/11/08

Thanks for all the replies. I know it's not Spring yet and I know better than to plant something that won't be able to take that late frost that we would be sure to get if I was foolish enough to do it, lol. The title of the post was more of a wishful thinking comment.

I'm glad you all mentioned the molasses and how the earthworms love it. Sunday I planted a rose that I had just planted inside the pot last year. I dug a really enormous hole for it that it took 4 bags of Rose soil and 6 bags of Compost (Gardenville) to fill! I had some blackstrap molasses in my garden box, but wouldn't have thought of using it if it hadn't come up on here. I'll be glad to have lots of earthworms in there. :o)

Now I'll have to go find some rabbit food to scatter around. Wait, I've already got rabbits eating my plants. I wonder if they'll decide to snack on the alfalfa instead of my plants?! We can always hope.

This message was edited Feb 17, 2009 10:20 AM

Peeper, be sure to give your roses Epsom Salt and banana peels.