What did you do in the garden today?

[Acre4Me]

@Sueby -glad your toe is feeling better! But, it sure does take awhile when a nail is injured or removed!

 

[Sueby]

They said it could be 12-18 months before it grows back.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Well no gardening got done yesterday and I don’t see much getting done today. Yesterday I took my mom to get her vaccine and while we were there we found out I didn’t have to sign up for second appointment like we thought so I was able to get mine too. It only took maybe an extra 15 minutes because of the paperwork. My arm is sore worse than a normal flu shot and I can’t lift it above the shoulder. It also seems slightly swollen. Glad I decided to get it in my non dominant hand. I may try to cut some more stakes today but I have feeling my arm won’t cooperate.

 

[Acre4Me]

How hardy are marigolds?

My starts look great, but need to be moved into something larger. So, hardy enough to go in the garden beds, or do they not handle frost? Of course, these would be young plants, so might not handle cold bc they are small/not established.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning gardeners. Glad your toe is feeling better @Sueby. I wouldn't think marigold seedlings are very cold hardy @Acre4Me. Although the temps are forecasted to be around 70F today, it was 37F when I got up this morning so I'm reluctant to put tiny starts out. I did get the pallet out of the garage and will be dragging it the "potato patch" later. The drama with the new weed whacker from Walmart is over. I cancelled the order because they couldn't determine what the delay was. I ordered one from HD and I'm really excited about this one because it is a combination weed trimmer and mini mower. Not having to use it leaning over and holding it just so will save my tired old back a little grief. It has already shipped and will arrive on Monday. It's also American made. Although not fully sprouted, I definitely see sprouting beginning in the bell peppers and a jalapeno. I thought I had lost the parts to my bird bath fountain in the last wind storm we had, but I found the nozzle and put it together and it's working. The bird bath itself developed some cracks over the winter that has created a slow leak, but I think I can fix that easily. I'm still not putting anything in the ground outside yet since the temperatures are forecasted to be back to the normal range next week with lows in the mid 30s. I may put the starts outside to soak up some sun this afternoon for just a little while, but that's all.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

@AmeliaBedelia I agree with pachysandra suggestion. No mowing, fills in slopes, attractive. In grad school (on west coast) the university used this in a lot of places - very attractive. Made everything look colorful (green) and lush. Likes some to a lot of shade.

Will definitely look into it! Will it take over the yard and/or smother other things out? I looked into ajuga, but people seemed to complain that it spreads too much and takes over the whole yard.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I've seen other people do the "tires filled with dirt" thing, but wasn't sure why...is it just an easy and affordable way to make a raised bed? Is it safe for food plants, or just for ornamentals?

Yes, it is an easy (and free) way to make a raised bed. It is completely safe for food plants. Any toxins in the tires are inert unless they are released, such as burning tires. Tires will take thousands of years to break down in the sun which is why there are landfills of tires that are enormous. People have found lots of new uses for tires to repurpose them on playgrounds, ground into asphalt, and more. Later today I can link to the web page of a homesteader who did extensive research on use of tires for gardening. She links to several studies and credible sources in her analysis.

I get my tires for free from local shops who have to pay to get rid of them so they are more than willing to give them to me for free. My daughter and I painted many of them (but not all) since we live in the South and anything black tends to get really hot in the sun in the late summer. I like that they hold water in the wheel wells but not too much. It also helps keep the water away from plants in the center of the tire while keeping water accessible to the plant. Lastly, I'm also stacking tires to make a tall raised bed. I fill the bottom tires with wood chips and the very top tires with soil. Works awesome...

The tires give me flexibility on self watering options too. You can bury containers in stacked tires. Sometimes I've drilled a hole in the side wall and put in a PVC pipe that will deliver water into the wheel well directly. I've also put old milk or juice jugs in the center of the tire and planted around the jug. I fill the jug from the top. It has holes in the bottom on all 4 sides to slow drain water at root level.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Yes, it is an easy (and free) way to make a raised bed. It is completely safe for food plants. Any toxins in the tires are inert unless they are released, such as burning tires. Tires will take thousands of years to break down in the sun which is why there are landfills of tires that are enormous. People have found lots of new uses for tires to repurpose them on playgrounds, ground into asphalt, and more. Later today I can link to the web page of a homesteader who did extensive research on use of tires for gardening. She links to several studies and credible sources in her analysis.

I get my tires for free from local shops who have to pay to get rid of them so they are more than willing to give them to me for free. My daughter and I painted many of them (but not all) since we live in the South and anything black tends to get really hot in the sun in the late summer. I like that they hold water in the wheel wells but not too much. It also helps keep the water away from plants in the center of the tire while keeping water accessible to the plant. Lastly, I'm also stacking tires to make a tall raised bed. I fill the bottom tires with wood chips and the very top tires with soil. Works awesome...

The tires give me flexibility on self watering options too. You can bury containers in stacked tires. Sometimes I've drilled a hole in the side wall and put in a PVC pipe that will deliver water into the wheel well directly. I've also put old milk or juice jugs in the center of the tire and planted around the jug. I fill the jug from the top. It has holes in the bottom on all 4 sides to slow drain water at root level.

I'd like to see some photos if you have them! I'm intrugued, and we do have a local tire shop I could source from. Would they be useful at all for planting on/terracing a slope?

 

[WthrLady]

I'd like to see some photos if you have them! I'm intrugued, and we do have a local tire shop I could source from. Would they be useful at all for planting on/terracing a slope?

YES! you cut the slope and set them in level like stonework and either leave the space for planting or overlap more to not.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Oh happy day..... my asparagus is starting to come up.