Everything About Gardening

Is it okay for the ants in my landscape beds? A few?

I realized that I was brushing back padding and the floor in my bed to paint the blocks of my foundation walls, which have a considerable number of ants. It also recently lost two smaller plants near this area? I think the ants that help aerate the soil, but Im not sure.

I had the same problem. I read over and over again that the ants not a problem as you said help aerate the soil. Finally I found something that said that the ants can tunnel of land too far around the roots of smaller plants, killing them. Ive also read that termites ants tunnels are used, it would be a concern that are its foundation. I sugar mixed with 5% borax (a pot plant mouth down over the top with a brick in it, to keep pets away). In about three weeks the ants were gone. I do not go around killing every ant in my garden, the ants have their place in the ecosystem.

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Designer Shelly Leer loved an Anthropologie sling chair, but not its $268 price tag. Instead, she created her own version for about $30. Impressive.

Anthropologie seems to be the place where dreams are made…then quickly die with a reveal of a price tag. Shelly Leer felt that pang of wallet envy when she came upon a not-so-typical beach chair sold by the retailer of all things pretty for a cool $268.

The chair in question had a canvas sling emblazoned with a bold, colorful pattern. Since the main selling point of the chair was the fancy sling, Shelly decided to try her hand at crafting her own seat. Starting with a $20 chair frame, she created a sling from remnant fabric. That was the easy part. The hardest part was actually removing the original sling, which was anchored to the frame with staples. Read more…

McCalls has just released their Early Autumn Collection. The Collection features numerous patterns in many categories. I especially like some of their children’s costumes. Look at this lovely tiered outfit that can make your little lady look like a southern belle, a flamenco dancer, a gypsy, a pirate, or a princess. Here is a pattern for a princess or a witch. These sweet dresses would look beautiful with tulle. Go retro with these fabulous 1950s skirts; in addition to the traditional poodle applique, these skirts include a cat applique. The applique can be done in felt and the skirt pattern is suitable for several different fabrics, including corduroy.

Pick of the Week

• Tough ‘sweet talker’ Nicotiana makes a statement 06.12.11
• Pineapple lilies perk up oasis as foliage accent 05.26.11
• Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ 05.19.11
• Oregano variety adds colorful blooms for months 05.12.11

If you’re like many gardeners, you’re keeping your eyes open for interesting but tough ground covers to handle a particularly problematic spot. And you’re no doubt ready to tear your hair out if another nursery worker recommends thyme. Look no further than the wonderful genus helianthemum.

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From Brad Gurr, ?Branch Manager, ?SavATree SavaLawn:

Tree Fertilization

The topic of tree fertilization can be a controversial one. I personally have been on both sides of the fence on this debate which tends to have two primary views.

One view is , Trees do well in the woods and fertilization in your yard isnt needed. The other view is that, Trees in their natural environment recycle nutrients and your yard the soils and nutrient recycling are far from ideal.

The first view is one that I held before I spent many years studying trees and their responses to supplemental fertilization. I have developed an understanding for the second position after years of careful observation.

Your yard is a harsh place for trees, the soil has been compacted and modified to such an extent that it no longer bears much resemblance to the loamy duff of the forest floor.

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STOW, Ohio — Some people might call this a sentence of hard labor.

Digging. Hauling dirt. Moving mulch.

But to the men who were working in 90-degree heat on a recent afternoon, this was opportunity.

They’re participants in the Community Service Gardening Program operated by Stow Municipal Court. All are low-level Ohio offenders who were sentenced to community service and are working off those sentences by raising food for needy people on the courthouse grounds off Steels Corners Road.

Nineteen-year-old Cody Mertz’s gray shirt was damp with sweat and dirty with soil, but the Tallmadge, Ohio, resident wasn’t complaining.

The gardening program, he said, was teaching him responsibility and the value of a day’s work. “

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