What have you done today in the Garden?

Went to the dirt place and bought some dirt. OK, a load of actual topsoil. I've bought from them before. It was good dirt LOL. Hour drive in heavy heavy traffic.

I tried buying some bagged topsoil at the store, it turned out to be ground up and supposedly composted forest something. I'm not sure. But they claim your plants will grow in it without mixing in soil. I think it dries out way too fast. I mixed about 3 parts actual soil to one part of the bagged stuff, plus some perlite. The consistency seems OK and it's time to get planting so it will have to do.



It's getting too hot to maintain plants in little flower pots, so I planted the first six pepper plants in the new mix. There is also slug bait on top of the soil.

Will they grow?

I hope so.

So now, I've filled 2 of the 8 fabric containers that needed replacement. There will also be eight in the new planter. I think I can prepare four to six per day.

 

@Melody Mc. you are an amazing gardener! I'm awestruck!

 

Yes Mel, my lottie is fenced thanks to the last big wave of rabbits. Peoples fences are beginning to rust away now. We were even contemplating removing our fences, but now…??

 

I enjoyed seeing your planting foto’s, Daniel.
I have never thought of buying dirt like that. It is an interesting idea. I know that one can buy it here and it is mandatory for the sellers to check it and verify that is free of harmful elements.

I have to say your soil in the bags look very good.

BTW, how’s your new eye coming along?

 

Sjoerd, is dried blood available to you? It repels rabbits since they scent out food, and the smell of dried blood is repellent to them. It is the only thing that saved our lettuce patch last year--bunnies moved in and were having a picnic until we spread some dried blood around.

 

Jane, we do have blood meal. Do you think that would work?

 

Feral bunny pulled out a transplanted black-eyed Susan so I planted it inside the fence to give it a second try. Got another blueberry plant so did some musical chairs with plants. A hosta got a more favorable place and the blueberry plant took its place at the base of the hill.

@Sjoerd i do most to all of the yard work and gardening myself. Communicating what I want done as my ideas are evolving makes this much better for all concerned



My pick matlock is what is needed to dig and I rather like swinging it for digging and path creation. Much easier than using a shovel, not that I could here because of the rocks.

Heavy rocks are left to others to move only if they follow directions explicitly. Guess, I just don’t like redoing others ideas when something is heavy.

Age and wisdom has also taught me the benefits of leverage, a dolly/handtruck and the use of a powered yard cart.

 

Well meid, pace yourself is all I can say.

 

Oh sorry bunny’s are taking your newly planted ,, major irritation.. bloodmeal or plantskyyd with help deter them. Age wisdom and especially leverage is an important technique. I call it ‘mindfulness’ planning ahead to think thru garden tasks = saves the joints… I have often used my horse to help move heavy tree trunks. He will do anything I ask of him. Such an amazing horse.

 

Sjoerd, blood meal is about the same as dried blood when used as a pest deterrent. Just don't water it in--it adds nitrogen to the soil, but loses its efficacy as a deterrent when in the soil instead of on top of it.

 

@Sjoerd i am basically a lazy gardener so puttering is my style. Things will never be manicured but I like living in the wilds I wish I had some of those lovely bee trees. We have only big leafed maples and Douglas Firs in the yard, except for a huge larch with multiple tops that is fortunately well away from the house.

@Pacnorwest so lucky to have a horse to help out. My little electric cart is all I have room for.

@marlingardener blood meal is a great deterrent

 

Thanks for the advice, Jane. I had never thought of that. I will give this some serious thought. My immediate worty is the effect that the blood-meal will have on the weeds that are already situated in the fencing. I may still try it because explosive weed growth is nit as bad as nibbled crops. Knowwadahmean, Vern?

 

@Sjoerd have you tried the homemade weed killer of white vinegar, Epsom salt, dish soap? It works great on the blackberries the try to trespass along the fence line. It has to be reapplied occasionally but find it doesn’t hurt the environment and is safe for you and the bunnies. https://myheavenlyrecipes.com/3-ingredient-weed-killer-recipe/
A dog also helps keep the bunnies at bay.

 

Started sowing the wallflower seeds done 105 of Fire King and 105 of cloth of gold.
Put 10 tomato plants out into the small greenhouse to harden off. Put away the 3 propergators upstairs on top of the wardrobe.

 

Speaking of homemade weed killer… horticulture vinegar is great at snuffing out weeds in pathways , concrete , and areas not suitable for any plants. Even rock salt in some areas and the ole torch get poison I’ve, sumac and those nuisance perennial weeds that blow in from the winter wind currents . alsothe major weed killer I use is an organic liquid. It works well but takes a bit longer than roundup. Don’t use roundup . Planned on loading up the 50 gallon weed sprayer to spray all the weed today but it’s too windy. Usually have to spray around 5-6am for no wind .
Will prepare the sprayer tonite and spray tomorrow morn.