I have five cats, so I go through a lot of cat litter. I began getting the 28 pound buckets when I realized the uses they had. (There's no way I can lift a 40 pound bucket.) Two of them are now housing tomatoes, and one is home to a bell pepper. What I'd love to do is turn them into self-watering containers, but the reservoir thingies I see for sale are for round pots, not for square ones. I have a massively huge tomato plant in a self-watering "square foot success kit" that I got from Gardener's Supply. Be nice to make a homemade one.

After repotting I did smell slight urine smell in the old soil but right now my allergies are raising havoc with my nose. It could have been over whelming and I would not have noticed due to poor sniffer right now. George is the reason I went to New Orleans. Well.. rather.. My grandpa George. Most ppl knew him by his middle name though so when I say George even my mom didn't realize it was in honor of her father. My Grandpa died in the middle of January just a few days after my birthday. My mother and I went to Louisiana for his funeral. It was my first trip to Louisiana. Mom and I were just driving around seeing sites. I didn't realize I was in a turning lane till it was too late. and had to turn as there was a cop directly across from me... I took the turn and drove down the road deciding we were in no big hurry and it looked like a lovely street. I figured I'd just make a big circle to see some of the town and there was George sitting out by the road begging me to take him home.. I stopped and turned around to get a better look. Mom told me I should make sure that was the one.. I looked at ALL of the many Kumquats. George was not the biggest but.. there was something about it. I just had to have him.. After a few days.. of having him home.. I gave him the name.. because if it weren't for grandpa I wouldn't have it.. I believe in planting trees to honor loved ones. I've had to plant 4 trees this year. all my life I've only ever planted 4 trees to honor loved ones. this has been a heck of a year. I also have a Magnolia in the front yard for other grandpa. and a few trees out at my mom's farm for others. Heh I sit here thinking of Grandpa George and.. well.. Miewa Kumquat fits him. Sour at first impression and sweet once ya get to the heart of matters.. I really hope George makes it.. If not.. I have the grafted tree... I have considered getting more cuttings but am worried that would add more shock to it's system. The cutting I have growing is doing beautifully. But then again.. maybe cutting it back so the roots won't have to work so hard to provide for the top? and it could concentrate on healing the roots? Yesterday I "treated" George for root rot. formula I found here 80% water to 20% bleach. I did the in the pot treatment as I didn't think repotting again would due it any good.. I let it sit in the bleach formula for about an hr. then flushed the pot with clear water 4 times. I don't know that it has root rot.. but I figure couldn't hurt. I have noticed the remaining leaves have darkened. a very deep green more like it was when I first brought it home. The brown... I scraped the bark and there is no green under it... The brown is still continuing to move down the tree but seems at a slower pace. HOPE?? I guess only thing left now is to wait and hope.. Unless anyone else can make any more suggestions? Thanks!!! Gina *BabyBlue*

Good luck asking her to keep them home...if it works, please come ask my neighbors to keep their dogs home- they poop in the yard, drag stuff out of its place in the barn, bit my dog and myself.... Anyway- there is a product that you put in the soil- I'm sure someone here will know the name- it is supposed to repel dogs and cats also, I think. I'd hate to use mothballs, as they stink to us and I do not know if mothballs really work. Can you temporarily put rocks/shells- something like that so the cat can't dig in the dirt to 'cover-up'? If it can't 'cover', it might not want to use it as a litterbox??? Spray the cat with a waterhose if you are able to...might make it think twice..

I think he has a low opinion of women, hence the bullying. I finally found a friend who would allow me to transplant my poor Nelly Moser clematis into his yard. It has been growing like gangbusters in my delicious amended-to-loamy soil. My friend's yard is pure clay junk. I hastily transplanted my Nelly right before the Sabbath (you aren't allowed to plant on the Sabbath), purchasing a lovely wrought iron trellis for it, and bringing one bucket with alfalfa cubes and Osmocote in it, another filled with water, and my trusty shovel. I hate the fact that the previously cosseted clematis is now in crummy clay soil and right next to an azalea, but that was the only spot in his yard not covered in gravel. The rest of the yard is part of a multi-colored decorative gravel arrangement with railroad ties between the different colors. I am strongly leaning toward returning with a lovely pot of perfect soil and replanting the clematis into that, so that it has good soil and no competition from the azalea.