FORTRESS: BACK YARD

Sweet Tomato and I added a new member to our family in November.  We got a puppy we named Dax.  If you are a Star Trek aficionado, you will recall the character from Deep Space Nine.  Dax has been a great puppy, well-mannered and affectionate.  He is a real love bug.

 

 

However, he will munch on anything in the back yard that doesn’t move.  He eats dirt like kibble. He has munched on leafs, twigs, rocks, grass, cymbidiums, herbs and even the flowers off my protea.  He really likes lettuce, and will munch on it with abandon.  With the prospect of tomato season beginning, I was getting nervous.  You see, tomato plants (leafs) are poisonous to a dog, and with Dax’s munching proclivities; I had to assume that he would probably find tomato leafs to his liking. 

I tried to train him not to munch on everything with some success, but not to the point that I wanted to risk poisoning Dax with my tomato plants.  I searched for a number of remedies on different blog sites.  I tried orange peels that are supposed to repel dogs.  Dax munched on them like they were bones.  I looked into a collar that would provide a mild shock when Dax crossed a certain point.  After talking to some dog owners that tried the collars, they said that the collars worked great, however, their dogs were smart enough to learn that if the collar was off, they could cross the barrier with impunity.   Sometimes I think Dax is smarter than I am, and I was pretty certain he would figure out the collar thing.

I finally decided to try fencing.  I did not want a permanent fence, just something to use during the tomato growing season.  I tried a number of different fencing options and finally settled on some green, temporary fencing material I found at Home Depot.  The fencing is approximately 40” high and comes in 10 to 20 foot lengths.  I was able to cut the fencing in half and extend the range I could cover with one roll.  I used pepper/vegetable supports for bracing with zip ties to attach the fencing to the supports.  It turned out to be inexpensive, easy and cheap.  This is what my back yard looks like now.

 

 

 

I would be interested in hearing about anyone’s experiences with dogs and tomato plants.  So far this is working, but as you can see, now Dax is big enough to jump the fence if he was inclined to. 

 

Watering primer--when, how often, how much?

Watering in the morning is best. Morning watering allows less water to evaporate as you water and allows plant leaves to dry out which can help avoid diseases.

Watering more thoroughly is better than watering more frequently. A thorough watering helps plants to establish deeper, stronger roots.

An overall rule of thumb is to give your plants 1 inch of water per week. The amount of water depends on the soil type, air temperature, wind, type of plants, age of the plants, in-ground vs. in containers, including type and size of containers.

Watering in the morning allows less water to evaporate as you water
and allows plant leaves to dry out which can help avoid diseases.

Take precautions if gardening in the summer sun and heat

Dan Dill at the Louisiana Ag Center advises gardeners who spend long periods of time outside in their gardens should take precautions to protect themselves from the summer sun and heat. He recommends that gardeners drink plenty of fluids before, during and after they work in their gardens, apply sunscreen, try to garden during cooler temperature periods and garden in the shade rather than in the direct sun.

Gardeners who spend long periods of time in
their gardens should take precautions to protect
themselves from the summer sun and heat.

 

Cajun hibiscus can make your garden sizzle

Cajun hibiscus, bred and released by the Dupont Nursery in Louisiana, feature flower colors ranging from bright yellows to pinks, reds and whites. Some of the more spectacular flowers offer color blends and bright red eyes.

Some flowers are wider than 9 inches in diameter. One of the most interesting flower features is the arrangement of stamens and pistil, which are unusually prominent and colorful.

Cajun hibiscus need cold-weather protection. Plants grown in containers can be moved more easily indoors before temperatures drop below freezing.


Cajun hibiscus, like 'High Definition,' offer gardeners plenty of color
choices, including bright yellows, pinks, reds, whites and color blends.
Photo by Gary Bachman, Mississippi State University 

 

Add a touch of the tropics to your garden

As summer temperatures start to rise and early spring annuals start to fade, it's a good time to replace spent plants with ones that thrive in hot weather. Tropical plants that can be used on patios or in garden beds include cannas, bananas, hibiscus, dwarf citrus trees, mandevilla, blue potato tree(Lycianthus rantonnei), agapanthus, bougainvillea and elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta). They might not quite reach jungle-like size in moderate climates, but they will provide a great show of color throughout the summer and into the fall.

Tropical plants like mandevilla can be used in patio
containers and landscape beds to add  a touch of
the tropics to summer gardens.

 

Seek feedback from community garden members

Asking for feedback from community garden members can help to guide future successes by taking the time to review and evaluate community garden program efforts. Evaluating the progress of specific projects is important because it helps measure factors important to the organization, including value or worth, effectiveness and participation rates. Evaluations can help to demonstrate the value of a community garden to the neighborhood, local officials, financial supporters and the greater community.

Feedback from community garden members can help to guide
future successes.

  

Wondering who spit on your plants?

Spittlebugs are likely the culprit of globs of bubbly froth found on trees, shrubs and plants during late spring. This small, true bug goes by several other common names, including frog hopper or spit bug. The small insect responsible for this spit is the nymph or immature spittlebug.

Control is often not necessary for spittlebugs. Spittlebugs and their foam can be removed from plants by washing them off with a stream of water that does not damage the plants.

The spittlebug and its foam can be removed from
a plant by washing them off with a stream of water.