The old sayings that distance lend enchantment and familiarity breed contempt were never more applicable than to that lowly but all-important garden commodity — barnyard manure. When it was to be had almost for the asking, we avoided reference to it when among gentle people. If it became necessary to mention it, we used the … Read more
So many times during my recent stay in the United States, gardeners asked me if I knew Maye Bruce and what she is like. I was happy to answer then that I know her, and nothing gives me greater pleasure now than to pay tribute to this great enthusiast who is one of our pioneers … Read more
For thousands of years, gardeners have been piling organic wastes—weeds, leaves, grass clippings, manures —in heaps to decompose into soil-enriching compost. In a compost heap, dead materials are transformed into substances that nourish new life. Compost increases the fertility of the soil and improves its physical structure. It loosens hard-packed clays, binds sandy soil, aids … Read more
As you put the fallen tree leaves on the compost pile be sure they are thoroughly watered down. Otherwise, you will find dry undecomposed areas next fall when you start to use them. Let the sprinkler run 15 to 30 minutes on them after each day’s addition to the pile. Destroying Earthworms To keep out … Read more
Garden clean-up is the big chore for now. All vegetation killed by frost should be cut away from the plant as soon as possible. Toxic materials are often formed in cell sap as the plant is in the process of moving stored food to the roots, some of the toxic matter may also reach the roots. … Read more
I’ve been an armchair gardener for a long time. That’s why I can’t help but snicker when I hear some of you guys worrying out loud about all those leaves you’ve got piled up and the hard job ahead of composting them. Easy Way of Composting Maybe it’s all in knowing how to do it … Read more
Don’t burn those leaves. They are nature’s golden gift of autumn. Leaves made into leaf mold make one of the best fertilizers known. It can be used for potting or setting plants, gardens, and flower beds. As a mulch, leaves are especially valuable around acid-loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias. Or, dig them … Read more
You don’t have to look far at this time of the year to find the makings for a lot of compost. Some leaves are already beginning to fall and there are vegetable plants that have yielded their crop and are now ready to go back and replenish the soil. Compost making, you might say, isn’t … Read more
The making of compost is not new. Composts have been made for thousands of years by the Chinese, Japanese, Indians, and the people of many European nations. While the methods employed in the various parts of the world have varied considerably, the principle is essentially the same. The procedure involved in building your own fertilizer … Read more
Making and using compost all to the exclusion of all chemical fertilizers is not new. Longtime gardeners highly recommend using composts and organic matter in the garden. For thousands of years the Chinese, Japanese, Indians, and the people of many European nations all made and used composts. Using compost in the garden or on the lawn … Read more