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Bill[_13_] · 18-03-2009, 03:50 PM posted to rec.gardens

In article ,
wrote:

On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:33:15 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Mar 17, 5:34*pm, wrote:
Greetings all....

Time to start planting bulbs and some suggestions are needed on
repelling squirrels. * *I've heard of *Ropel (haven't used it).

Does a natural... mix it yourself remedy exist ?? *Something
low cost but effective. * (Drink instant coffee, *so no usablecoffee
grounds.)

Just lost a whole winters collection of potted bulbs to those tree rats
I can always set up a trap to discourage the pests from
coming around, *however I'd like to try something more
humane first *as I have a new assortment of tubers going in shortly.

A note *for general information... returned a whole bunch of encore
azaleas *to Lowes and Home Depot. * I purchased 8 last year,
sinking 6 in the ground and overwintering two. *Purchased another
8 on sale this year. * *The ones in the ground didn't fare well over the
winter *nor did
the mulched ones.

Started asking questions..... *the answer is.... *encore azaleas do well
in zones 7 - 10 *however they are not recommended for zone 6 where
they need to be treated as annuals *or tender perennials. * I'm at the
very northernmost part of zone 7.. about 40 miles from zone 6... so
either 6 *or marginal 7 depending upon how the wind blows.

The tag *did not have ANY hardiness zones listed whereas
many of the other shrubs had. * *I had to search the encore site and look
for the FINE PRINT *to discover the recommended zones. *

Kinda ****ed off about this as *I started looking at encore azaleas
several years ago, *observed growing habits and selected the types
of plants most suitable for the growing location in terms of size, growth
rate, *sunshine, *color and moisture. * Looked like a really nice plant.

A lot of research done, and a lot of garden center browsing done,
for a plant which is marginally acclimated for this climate. *Wish I
had all the knowledge up front... it would have saved me a lot
of time better spent elsewhere.

You would think *the big box garden centers would actually
THINK about what they sell. * Instead, *I'm finding tropical
plants in the middle of January *and *Wal Mart is selling
Day Lillies and Peonies, * already sprouting in the
middle of February when they can't be planted till
May. * * Isn't anyone using their brains ???

Aargh, * my gardening education continues...

end of rant...

Thanks !!!

Peter

I suggest you try laying a layer of chicken wire over the top surface
of the soil, covered by a thin layer of soil or mulch.
Blood meal sprinkled on the soil is also helpful, but has to be
replaced every time it rains.
Dora

Thanks Dora.... it's helpful but may not work under the circumstances.

One project is planting on an HOA property. All volunteer work.... I've
gotta get in a bunch of tubers, and summer bulbs.

The tubers are 1" below top of root, some bulbs are 4" deep, others
are 6" deep. I'll be using bulb booster and potting soil to finish the
holes and retain moisture.

This will be done over several fairly large 20' x 40' areas. Too large
for chicken wire.

Another project is a container garden..... I've got a lot of plants that
I'm looking to try out before sinking them into the ground.

And finally, a lot of areas on the property where I'd like to sink
a few bulb, but not a mass planting. i.e. some ferns under
a shrub, a few daff's in a field, couple of peonies in a space.

Bone meal might work in these circumstances... I'll try that !!

Thanks !!

Peter

Try not to plant in a straight line. A naturalist scattering of
plants helps to make it harder for the rats with tails to find your
plants.

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA