In depth gardening advice from an expert gardener
Pain by Ingorrr
TheGardenLady hopes everyone is enjoying the springtime out in your beautiful gardens. A friend wrote a great article on how to garden if you have pain or difficulty moving. The article is published at How to Cope with Pain, and has some wonderful tips.
TheGardenLady just received this email from a Katie Kiefer who works for Lands’ End:
I wanted to share some news with you about how Lands’ End is growing education through “Way to Grow: Plant a Seed, Make a Difference.†As we approach the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, this initiative connects kids, parents and schools through gardening and teaches that even the smallest steps can make a difference to help the environment.
“Way to Grow: Plant a Seed, Make a Difference†details:
- The “Way to Grow†sweepstakes gives schools the chance to win up to $2,500 for gardening and science projects.
- Now through May 14, 2010, parents and teacher can visit www.landsend.com/thehub to enter and vote for their schools. The schools with the most votes win!
“Way to Grow†Twitter Party
As part of the campaign Lands’ End is hosting a Twitter party with Seeds of Change on Wednesday, April 14th from 7 to 9 p.m. CDT. Seeds of Change is an organization that promotes the use of sustainable organic agricultural practices and preserves biodiversity through their extensive line of 100% organic seeds.
The event will feature 20 fun giveaways ranging from 100-percent organic seed collections from Seeds of Change, gardening totes, gardening books and Lands’ End gift cards. More details are included below:
Lands’ End “Way to Grow†Twitter Event
Date: Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CDT
Location: #landsend
Join the fun and follow:
@LEprMichele, @LEprMolly, @LEprLibby, @LandsEndChat, @Seeds of Change1
First 50 Pre-Event Garden Blog Posts Win!
Want to win a Lands’ End $50 gift card? Here’s how in three easy steps:
Step 1: Share Information about Lands’ End “Way to Grow†Sweepstakes with Followers – Simply visit Lands’ End’s The Hub at www.landsend.com/thehub and enter to win. Discover fun facts, activites and a chance for schools to win up to $2,500 for gardening or science programs.
Step 2: Promote the Twitter Event – Don’t forget to promote the Twitter Event to your followers. Please be sure to disclose that you are participating in the Lands’ End “Way to Grow†blog promotion.
Step 3: Send a Link – To be entered for a chance to win, you must send a link of your post to katie@feddorukinc.com.
The first 50 to post and send a copy of their link with contact information to the email above will receive a $50 Lands’ End gift card.
If you have any questions about the “Way to Grow†sweepstakes or Twitter event, please be in touch. I look forward to working with you!
Best regards,
Katie Kiefer
For Lands’ End
(612) 886-1767
Serious rose thorns by Martin LaBar
TheGardenLady received this question from Donna:
My sister-in-law was stuck by a thorn from a Knock Out Rose. The area is very red and swollen. Are the thorns poisonous? What to do?
When gardening, it is always advisable to USE gloves.
One can get an infection from any cut. However, in all the reading and lectures on plants, TheGardenLady has never heard that rose thorns in Knock Out Roses or any other roses are poisonous. But rose thorns can give a nasty cut. Because one can get cut when out in the garden and any cut can become infected, it is best to do any type of gardening – even cutting flowers – with gardening gloves on. And then after gardening you should always wash your hands. See here.
Besides cuts, thorns can give what are called “puncture wounds.” A puncture wound goes deeper into the skin and can push dirt and bacteria into the skin. Because it’s not on the surface and not an open cut, washing doesn’t clean out the wound as well, so it can become infected more easily. As well, when you’re gardening outside, you’re exposed to all the dirt and bacteria out in nature, so there’s a wide range of what could be causing an infection. Read this.
If an area is still red and swollen after getting a cut, one should consult a physician. Tell the physician how the area became infected so that one can get the best treatment to remove the infection.
the avocado tree next door by emdot
TheGardenLady received this question from Greg from Vientiane, Laos.
I am living in Vientiane, in Laos and we have a well established avocado tree in the front yard. This January, it began it’s typical loss of 30% of leaves, but now it is going into massive over-production of fruit. Small fruits are dropping off the tree every day and the leaves seem constantly droopy. It is watered regularly and has been fertilised. Should some of the excess fruit be pruned off the tree?
We are in the dry season in Laos with almost no rain for almost five months. Temperatures are generally in the early to mid 30’s (celsius) but lately they have climbed and a typical day will peak at about 38 – 40 degrees. Please indicate if you need more information. I’ve only been at the house for one year so I don’t know much and the seasons and growing in Laos are very different from New Zealand.
Dear Greg, How exciting to learn that TheGardenLady.org has a reader in Laos.
Avocado trees are not really grown in the part of the states where TheGardenLady lives other than as an indoor decorative plant. So to answer your question, I went to one of the main Avocado growing regions in the US to get some answers for you and to give you some resources for future questions.
I contacted the Master Gardeners of San Diego in California and spoke to someone who had raised avocados. The San Diego area has had drought situations, so in that case there is a similarity with your locale.
Avocado Tree by joeysplanting
Azaleas & Rhododendrons by Stones 55
Spring is a great time to plant azaleas and rhododendron. If you can’t plant them in the spring, early Fall planting is also recommended.
When you buy rhododendrons or azaleas, make sure you give them a good drink. They can remain in the pot or burlap for a long time if you give them a drink every couple of days or as the need exists.
RHODODENDRON BUSHES by m.m b
Choose the site carefully.
“Rhododendrons and azaleas are healthiest in light shade, especially under oaks and pines with the lower branches trimmed up. Do not choose a location near maples, elms, ashes or other trees with shallow competitive root systems. Some varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons may survive in full sun, but avoid planting them in a south, southwest or west exposure, especially if heat and light are reflected on the plants from a nearby building. In dense shade the plants tend to grow spindly and do not bloom profusely. Protection from winter’s cold drying winds is also desirable.
Planting soil should be acid with pH between 4.0 and 6.0. Avoid areas with old builder’s debris, particularly mortar which can raise the soil pH above the desirable range. Rhododendrons and azaleas require a well drained soil, free of any standing water. Do not plant rhododendrons under down spouts or at the edges of sidewalks and driveways because poor drainage, lime or salts may kill them. Do not plant in places where other rhododendrons have wilted and died because the site may still be contaminated with disease organisms. ” See here.
If you are planting a balled and burlapped plant, remove the wrappings. They used to say that you can leave the burlap on the root when planting, because the burlap will rot. But to really give your plant a good start, remove any wrappings, especially plastic or wiring. If you buy container-grown plants be sure to make several vertical slits about 1/2 ” deep cuts from top to bottom, evenly spaced around the root mass. This encourages new root growth.