Corn gluten and flower seeds
 

Hi,

Last Tuesday, the lawn care company put corn gluten on our lawn. He put
it on the flowerbeds as well! Next week, I plan to plant Zinnia,
Larkspur, Clarkia and a few other flowers from seeds in some of the
beds. I have just learned that, since corn gluten prevents germination
of weeds, my seeds may not germinate. Apparently, it will not do any
harm to any rooted seedlings.

What can I do now? Should I remove a layer of earth (how much) and
replace it with some new earth then plant the seeds? Should I forget
about planting any seeds this year? Should I get lots of peat pots and
plant them inside under lights or outside?

I am annoyed at the company to have been so careless in applying the
corn gluten. It is the first year we have had this product on our lawn.

I would appreciate some answers especially from those who have had some
experience with it.

Françoise.

Corn gluten and flower seeds
 

"Françoise" wrote in message
.. .
Hi,

Last Tuesday, the lawn care company put corn gluten on our lawn. He put
it on the flowerbeds as well! Next week, I plan to plant Zinnia,
Larkspur, Clarkia and a few other flowers from seeds in some of the
beds. I have just learned that, since corn gluten prevents germination
of weeds, my seeds may not germinate. Apparently, it will not do any
harm to any rooted seedlings.

What can I do now? Should I remove a layer of earth (how much) and
replace it with some new earth then plant the seeds? Should I forget
about planting any seeds this year? Should I get lots of peat pots and
plant them inside under lights or outside?

I am annoyed at the company to have been so careless in applying the
corn gluten. It is the first year we have had this product on our lawn.

I would appreciate some answers especially from those who have had some
experience with it.

Françoise.

First, you should consider yourself very lucky indeed to have an
environmentally conscious lawn care company in the first place - they are
not easy to come by in this day and age of all too easy chemical garden
warfare.

Second, don't sweat it. Start your seeds outdoors (or in, if you haven't
passed your last frost date) in seed trays or peat pots. Much easier to
monitor germination and control pests and dieases than if you direct sow and
you can pick where exactly to plant the seedlings once they are large enough
to get planted out. Once they have developed their first set of true leaves,
there will be no impact to them from the CG.

pam - gardengal

Corn gluten and flower seeds
 

Pam - gardengal wrote:

"Françoise" wrote in message
.. .

Hi,

Last Tuesday, the lawn care company put corn gluten on our lawn. He put
it on the flowerbeds as well! Next week, I plan to plant Zinnia,
Larkspur, Clarkia and a few other flowers from seeds in some of the
beds. I have just learned that, since corn gluten prevents germination
of weeds, my seeds may not germinate. Apparently, it will not do any
harm to any rooted seedlings.

What can I do now? Should I remove a layer of earth (how much) and
replace it with some new earth then plant the seeds? Should I forget
about planting any seeds this year? Should I get lots of peat pots and
plant them inside under lights or outside?

I am annoyed at the company to have been so careless in applying the
corn gluten. It is the first year we have had this product on our lawn.

I would appreciate some answers especially from those who have had some
experience with it.

Françoise.


First, you should consider yourself very lucky indeed to have an
environmentally conscious lawn care company in the first place - they are
not easy to come by in this day and age of all too easy chemical garden
warfare.

Second, don't sweat it. Start your seeds outdoors (or in, if you haven't
passed your last frost date) in seed trays or peat pots. Much easier to
monitor germination and control pests and dieases than if you direct
sow and
you can pick where exactly to plant the seedlings once they are large
enough
to get planted out. Once they have developed their first set of true
leaves,
there will be no impact to them from the CG.

pam - gardengal

Pam,

Thank you for your answer. Yesterday, I planted my seeds in peat pots. I
am going to plant the pots after the germination had occurred. I also
removed, in some spots, some soil replace it with new black earth. I am
going to plant seeds directly into the soil among the pots and see if,
by doing this some seeds will germinate. I am dying to see it. At least
if they do not germinate, I will still get enough flowers in each area.

Thanks,

Françoise.