Author Archives: Ashland Garden Club

Fertilizing Roses

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When and How
By: Jill Barnard, American Rose Society

WHEN
Fertile established rose bushes immediately after pruning by incorporating organic amendments into the soil.

A.R.S. basic recipe, per bush:

·1 cup bone meal or superphosphate (0-20-0)

·1 cup cottonseed meal

·1/2 cup blood meal

·1/2 cup fish meal

·1/2 cup epsom salts (magnesium sulphate)

Water thoroughly first, then spread the ingredients evenly around the bush, under the drip-line (outer perimeter) of the bush. Scratch lightly into the top 1-2″ of soil and water well again. In warm climates with long growing seasons (January-February pruning and blooms through November-December), a second application is beneficial in early September for fall bloom cycles. About two to three weeks after spring pruning and adding organic amendments, new growth will appear. Chemical fertilizers, whether liquid or dry, can be applied at this time, and will provide an instant food source for this heavy feeding period. How often to apply is a subjective decision, based on the amount of time and devotion you have, but once a month should be the minimum.

HOW Often

How often you fertilize your roses is determined by your rose growing style. Are you a Casual Rose Grower, a Dedicated Rose Grower, or an Exhibitor? Read the American Rose Society’s full article for the details.

Read Article here: http://www.ars.org/pdfs/fertilizer_when_how.pdf

 

 

EPSOM SALT

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The following information is from www.epsomsaltcouncil.org

Epsom salt is also known by magnesium sulfate, a mineral plants need to survive and grow.

Feeding your lawn with it can increase the chlorophyll content and improve its ability to synthesize food leading to lush, healthy lawns.

For vibrant plants and vegetables- Plants suffer if they lack nutrients. By adding just a spoonful of epsom salt you can prevent weak stalks and yellow leaves. Sprinkling epsom salt around the base of a plant will lead to big healthy vegetables.

The council claims by sprinkling a few tablespoonfuls around your garden and garbage cans raccoons and woodchucks will stay away and not harm the animals.

The council recommends the following applications:

Houseplants:
·Mix one teaspoon per gallon of water and feed plants monthly.

Garden Startup:
·Sprinkle approximately one cup per 100 square feet. (10’x10’) and mix into soil before planting.

Peppers:
·Apply 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt with a gallon of water as a foliar spray at bloom time and again 10 days later.

Tomatoes:
·Apply one tablespoon per foot of height for each plant every two weeks.

Roses:
· Apply one teaspoon per foot of height for each plant every two weeks.
· Add a tablespoon of Epsom Salt to each hole at planting time.
· Spray with Epsom Salt solution weekly (1 TBSP per gallon of water) to help discourage pests.
· Soak unplanted bushes in 1/2 cup of Epsom Salt per gallon of water to help roots recover.

Evergreens, Azaleas, Rhododendrons
· Apply one tablespoon per nine square feet (3’x3’) over the root zone every 2-4 weeks.

Lawns
·Apply three pounds per 1250 square feet (25’x 50’) or dilute in water and apply with a sprayer. ·Apply six pounds per 2500 square feet (50’x 50’)
·Apply twelve pounds per 5000 square feet (50’x 100’)

Trees
·Apply two tablespoons per nine square feet (3’x 3’) over root zone every four months.

Do Not use on Sage!This herb is one of the few plants that doesn’t like Epsom Salt.

A.G.C. Book Club February 2011 Reading

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Down the Garden Path

Author: John Beverley Nichols (Sept. 9, 1898 Bristol, England – Sept. 15, 1983, London, England),

Beverly Nichols was an author, playwright, journalist, composer, and public speaker. Nichols wrote more than 60 books and plays, but he is now best remembered for his gardening books, the first of which was Down the Garden Path.

Down the Garden Path has stood the test of time. With 32 editions, it has been in print almost continuously since it was first published in 1932. This book is a semiautobiographical story of Nichols’ first bumbling efforts at transforming a neglected property into a garden. This was the first book of his trilogy about “Allways”, his Tudor thatched cottage in Glatton, Cambridgeshire. Nichols writes about his gardening obsessions, his failures, his successes, and his love of flowers. In among his gardening experiences is a cast of family, friends, and neighbors creating delightful memorable characters throughout the book. Nichol’s writing is very poetic, rich with creative language and wickedly humorous with a touch of irony. Down the Garden Path reminds us of why we garden!

RE-Think: “TRASH TRIVIA”

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February 2011

 

An Information Source for Reducing/Reusing/Recycling & Beyond


Have you been with friends or at a party and the once-lively conversation seems to slow down and experience a lull? Here is some “trash trivia’ that just might get the dialogue moving along again. You might even test your “garbage knowledge” and see if you know some of these trash facts.

* As Americans, we are at the top of the ‘ol garbage pile, so to speak.The average American generates 4.62 pounds of garbage every day vs. Sweden with a mere 2 pounds per day.Oregonians are no exception.We produce 5.3 million tons of refuse every year.

*Around 500 B.C Athens, Greece issued a first-known law about not dumping garbage in the streets.Garbage was then hauled to rural areas where it became necessary to develop a more-controlled and organized site.Hence, the “invention” of the first municipal garbage dump; or as we like to call them ‘waste disposal sites.’

*Guess what comprises the largest percentage of material in an average landfill?Plastic? Paper? Glass?

Many folks think that plastic tops the list but contrary to popular belief, plastic only contributes 7% whereas paper comes up #1 with a whopping 37% !

*To make an aluminum can from recycled material take 92% less energy than by using virgin material.

*Jackson County was at 37% recovery of waste and in 2010 achieved 43% recovery – exceeding the set goal of 40% for 2009!This involved practices of waste prevention, smart shopping, reducing/reusing and recycling.

*Statistics for 2006 show that Jackson County alone recycled enough paper to save almost 500,000 trees!

* Did you know that curbside collection is required in Oregon for communities with a population of 4,000 or more?

*At present, in the US almost 60% of all newspaper is recovered, with about 15% containing recycled fiber.The Oregonian outdoes the US average with 57% of the Oregonian’s newspaper having 44% recycled content.

*Most of the recycled glass collected in Jackson County stays right here.It is crushed and used in DEQ-approved projects such as roadbeds, back-fill or drainage material in place of sand or gravel.It not only keeps recycled glass here at home but saves money in transportation costs.

* Here are some alternatives to chemical products used around the home, which helps reduce toxins in our environment and keep our air (and lungs) much cleaner:

Drain Cleaner-
Physical Alternative: A Plunger or Mechanical Snake
Less Toxic Alternative : Put Baking Soda Down Drain/ Add Vinegar/Let Bubble/Flush
with Boiling Water

Mildew Remover –
Physical Alternative: Use a Stiff Brush
Less Toxic Alternative : Vinegar & Salt Scrub

Tile Cleaner –
Physical Alternative : Tooth Brush
Less Toxic Alternative: Scrub with a Baking Soda & Vinegar Paste

Rust Remover –
Physical Alternative: Steel Wool
Less Toxic Alternative: Lemon Juice & Cream of Tartar / Scrub with Brush

Vinyl Cleaner-
Physical Alternative: Damp Mop
Less Toxic Alternative: Vinegar & Water Solution

This is just a sprinkling of conversation starters of “trash trivia.” Share this information with your friends and you might just encourage them to reduce/reuse/recycle and re-think their choices and practices.

Enough “trash talk” until next month.
Carla DiFabion,
Master Recycler

IT’S WHITE FLY SEASON! AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!

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Greg at Ashland Greenhouses has kindly responded with a remedy to an AGC member’s white fly problem in her new greenhouse!

White flies are extremely challenging especially if you are trying to be organic. There are some pesticides that are very ‘soft’ that work pretty well. We use an IGR (insect growth regulator) which disrupts their molting. It is called Enstar II and it does not kill the adults, so you must spray a couple, three times to stop. The advantage is that is very specific to the white fly family so it does not kill beneficals, and it is not very harsh.

We have also used imidacloprid with good results and it is registered for use on tomatoes.

Finally there is beauveria bassina which is a naturally occuring fungus that does a fairly good job, but is slow reacting.

RE-THINK – An Information Source for Reducing/Reusing/Recycling and Beyond

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As we welcome in the New Year, some of us are also resolving to organize and clean out items that we no longer use or need. To find the Jackson County Recycling Directory go to www.jcrecyclingdirectory.org.  You’ll find a list of over 50 various local recycling outlets that go beyond curbside collection service.  You can drop off unwanted items from clothing to computers and will give other folks the opportunity to utilize things that you no longer need.
Are you interested in learning more about recycling and the local waste industry and having the opportunity to share that knowledge with others in our communities?  Then consider becoming a Master Recycler!  This comprehensive program involves classroom studies, field trips, community service hours and lots of FUN!
I am including contact and class registration information for your consideration.
Have a Happy New Year and celebrate a year in which we will Re-Think our product and packaging choices, consider our waste reduction, and be mindful of conserving our natural resources.
Carla
Master Recycler
sibiris@hotmail.com