Posted by Erica Williams on Tue, Aug 03, 2010 @ 11:05 AM
Gasp! I didn't know such a plant existed. I'm new to this whole "green thumb" thing, anyway. In fact, my thumb isn't even green, it’s sort of a pale shade of yellow right now. I'm improving and that's what all that matters right?
While surfing the net, I came across this article, a list, of plants that you can't kill. Surely there must be some fine print written at the bottom. I mean, that’s a pretty bold statement. I CAN’T kill them? The author clearly hasn’t met me yet. I’m almost tempted to prove them wrong. But I won’t.
These plants can survive in the worst conditions. Forgot to water them for a few days? No problem. Little to no sunlight? It's ok. They'll survive. Why can't all plants be this resilient? Sure would've saved me a lot of potting soil. LOL
I thought the only plants you really couldn't kill were cacti. I have been proven wrong and I am not surprised-at all. For those other " pale yellow" thumbs out there, here's a list of plants that you can’t kill.
- Golden Pothos Vine
- Spider plants
- Snake plants and mother in laws tongue (funny name)
- Dracaena species
- Succulents and Cacti
- Bromeliads
- Lucky Bamboo
For a more in depth discussion of the plants..check this out.
Posted by Sean Kennedy on Wed, Dec 02, 2009 @ 10:16 AM
A couple of weeks ago I forwarded some advice on fall mulching, now with the occurance of the first major frost in the Metro Atlanta area I figured I had better find out what to do for my roses come cold weather. This is the best advice I found.......
OLATHE, Kan. - Many gardeners find the concept hard to accept: You shouldn't protect most perennial plants from each year's late-season decline into freezing weather.
"With few exceptions, plants need to go through the transition on their own, so they enter winter dormancy on time. You only apply winter mulch after that, because its sole purpose is to hold in the soil's cold. That way, it can buffer any air temperature changes that come later on, during winter's freeze-thaw cycles," said Dennis Patton, horticulturist with Kansas State University Research and Extension.
In general, plants become fully dormant after two to three hard freezes in the mid to low twenties, he said.
Winter mulch protection is particularly important for any limited- or shallow-rooted plants, Patton said. In Kansas, they include such "semi-hardy" plants as mums and strawberries, as well as all trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs that have been in the landscape for less than a year.
Winter mulch is vital to the survival of grafted roses, too, he added, which typically mean all hybrid teas.
"Winter's repeated pattern of freezing and thawing kills more plants in the Midwest than sub-zero temperatures do," Patton warned. "In unmulched landscapes, the shifts can heave some plants from the ground, exposing roots to air. Plus, they can expose plant grafts and crowns - the places where stems and roots meet -- to hard, killing freezes."
In late winter or early spring, the mulch's role can gain even more importance, he said. The insulating cover can hold in soil's cold so that unseasonably warm weather doesn't cue plants to break dormancy.
"If these periods are long enough for unmulched perennials to lose some winter hardiness, the plants are open for major, even fatal damage when the weather turns cold again," Patton said.
Because winter mulch also can moderate soil moisture loss, however, it can benefit any landscape plant. Freeze-thaw cycles tend to dry out the soil, creating plant stress, the horticulturist said. Mulching also protects the soil from the compaction and erosion that winter rains and snowmelt can cause.
For perennial gardens, Patton recommends a 2- to 3-inch-deep layer of a light, airy mulch material, such as straw, shredded leaves or pine needles. (One bail of straw can cover about 100 square feet 3 inches deep.) Deeper layers can suffocate plants over winter.
Plants with woody stems or trunks will need an inch or two of "air space" between mulch and wood - "as if their trunk is inside the hole of a mulch doughnut," he said. "As they decompose, mulch ‘volcanoes' that touch the main stem can cause the same damage as placing a woody plant too deep in the ground."
Grafted roses are the exception to the doughnut rule, Patton warned. The best protection for their crown and graft is a mound of garden soil, gathered from elsewhere in the landscape. The soil cone should be about 6 inches deep. A top layer of straw or leaves will help prevent erosion.
"You should periodically inspect roses and other low-branching shrubs until spring growth begins and you remove winter's mulch," he said. "You may have to institute other protective measures if varmints are using the mulch as cover or climbing on top of snow-covered mulch to gnaw on branches."
Thanks to Kansas State and Dennis Patton. Happy Holidays everyone and I hope your roses appreciate the extra care. Looking forward to your comments.
Posted by Sean Kennedy on Tue, Sep 22, 2009 @ 11:19 AM
Mulch Madness
What is mulch? Mulch is a product used to cover the soil. It is often composed of tree bark, needles, wood, leaves, or grass. Sometimes mulch is made from gravel or pebbles or other inorganic materials such as recycled tires. Spreading mulch over planting beds helps conserve water and provides a beautiful uniform texture and color. Mulch is an essential component of any Florida-Friendly Landscape.
Why Use Mulch?
Mulch not only beautifies a garden, it benefits your plants and soil. Mulch protects plants' roots from extremes of heat and cold, by creating a buffer between the soil and the air. It keeps soil moist longer after irrigation, giving roots extra time to soak up the water. This saves you water and money.
In areas of deep shade, where turf and ornamentals won't thrive, consider mulch as a Florida-Friendly alternative to leaving the ground bare. Mulch can also be used as an attractive groundcover where it's difficult to mow or irrigate. And mulch doesn't just help your plants: it can add nutrients to the soil as its organic components decompose, increasing soil's fertility and improving its aeration, structure, and drainage. Mulch can even help reduce erosion and protect plants from certain diseases.
mulch_madness.shtml
Posted by Sean Kennedy on Mon, Sep 21, 2009 @ 12:21 PM
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