By Andy Crossland, ACMG You have pruned, fertilized, watered, sprayed, and weeded since spring. Your efforts have been rewarded with blossoms that no artist can do justice. Most gardeners “do not go easily into that dark night” of winter but try to prolong the growing season. Do your neighbors look out the window to see what that “crazy gardener next door” is doing in the yard covering the plants on the first few nights that frost is predicted? Eventually we all give in to the futility of trying to keep winter at bay. We need a rest, and so do our roses. If we do not want to treat our roses as annuals, we have some work to do before we settle down with the catalogs that bring dreams of next year’s triumphs. Just as we deadhead to prevent the rose from setting hips (seeds) we can now send a…
Rainwater Collection System
The rainwater collection system is comprised of one, 250-gallon tank, two 350-gallon tanks, one 1100-gallon tank, and three rain barrel collection stations. The tanks are all connected and drain downhill. Each tank can be opened and closed depending on how the water collection progresses. The whole system can be drained if necessary. Each of the tanks has a filter and is easy to clean. A well pump powers three faucets that can be used on the front, side, and back areas of the yard. The whole system is connected to the sprinkler system and can adequately water all areas if tanks are full. The sprinkler system uses pop-up heads. There are five zones. Hopefully in the future a drip system can be installed and more efficient use of the water will be made. A great deal of water can be collected at the rain barrel stations by using the extra…
Birdscaping in the Home Garden
– By Steve Pettis Turning one’s yard into a suitable habitat for birds requires designing landscapes that provide birds with their five essential needs: food, shelter, water, cover, and nesting sites. Birdscaping is a term used to describe the act of creating suitable habitat for avian species through landscaping. By planning landscape designs with birds in mind, gardeners can provide birds with the things they need to survive and birds can provide gardeners with hours of enjoyment. Planning a landscape that is suitable for birds is easy. Start by sketching the existing landscape. Make note of all structures, plantings, and topographical features. Make notes on your drawing of the plants to leave, to remove, or add keeping in mind that birds like edges such as forest and planting borders. Choose areas to plant trees and shrubs that birds can utilize. Mix in plantings of annuals and perennials that flower throughout…