sources for leaf mulch/mold in southern california? And a whine...
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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Southern Highbush Blueberry Seeds
Comments (10)Hey, I'm not sure if the seeds you plant will grow true if you plant them but I can try and find you some in July but they will be wild Southern Highbush and I have to be lucky to find them with dried blueberries on the bush. Birds here like them very much: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccinium_darrowii Most 'Southern High Bush Blueberries' from the nurseries are a hybrid between 'Southern Highbush' and 'Northern Highbush'. I will check to see if my mom's ever set any blueberries this year and if so pick you a few. I will also visit the nearby nursery and ask if I can get any blueberries off his bushes. He sells many pints every summer. Have you heard of B & T World Seeds? The have seeds for the 'Northern Highbush Blueberry' http://b-and-t-world-seeds.com/carth.asp?species=Vaccinium corymbosum&sref=27195 which is more or less what the Highbush Blueberries in the nurseries have written on the Species label so they probably grow in Brazil. If you have trouble ordering let me know & I can order some in July and sent to you. I have some of these in my yard I can see if any berries are left: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowbush_blueberry that came from the wild in Zone 6b USA that are sometimes cross bred with the Northern Highbush Blueberries. The seeds of these can also be bought at B & T: http://b-and-t-world-seeds.com/carth.asp?species=Vaccinium angustifolium&sref=450548 All Blueberry seeds by B & T: http://b-and-t-world-seeds.com/comm.asp?searchFor=Blueberry Here is a link that might be useful: Nothern Highbush Blueberry Seeds...See MoreProblems With My Mulch
Comments (13)Oh you wonderful people, you have no idea how relieved I am. Rosefolly, I saw what I now know to be be slime mold last years in just a small area and was totally grossed out. Nice to know that it too is not harmful although I don't care if I never see it again. Jeri, I wonder if the toxins may break down if the leaves have been decomposing for several years since in many instances the roses have put out new growth very quickly after applying the mulch. It's so broken down that you can't discern at all that these were once leaves. When the pepper trees are blooming, as they are now, you can hear the buzz of thousands of bees and for me that's enough reason to keep them, plus the fact that they require no water whatsoever, and grow rather quickly in spite of that. Thank you all so much for the prompt responses; it meant a lot to me since I was really worried. Ingrid...See MoreRethinking Feeding Alfalfa to Roses in Southern California
Comments (13)Hi Jeri, Well there are many variables that could influence our results. Such as what is your soil ph in comparison to mine and is your water more or less acid than mine. I know even in my city the soil varies quite a lot (as the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens even mentions their differing soils on their website, and the RSABG is fairly close to me). The combination of soil and water differences may produce varying results with plants fed alfalfa. Also the origin of the alfalfa in your tea (where was *it* grown) as well as how strong the tea is. Are there components to your soil that would mitigate the ph raising effects of alfalfa? Just things to ponder. Also the individual roses that we each grow and their tolerances to ph ranges. I'd be curious how Reine des Violettes in particular did for you. Here is my Reine des Violettes (photo taken July 19, 2011), purchased from Greenmantle in February 2011 and planted in the ground right away (note alfalfa pellets on ground in background under other plants): From Reine des Violettes In fact I bought 3 plants at the same time from Greenmantle--Reine des Violettes (not fed alfalfa), Tipsy Imperial Concubine (given a very small amount of alfalfa), Duchesse de Rohan (given a moderate amount of alfalfa). All planted on the same day, adjacent each other, mulched with shredded redwood bark, watered on the same days by hand, same hose. All were growing nicely looked about equally green. Then I fed the alfalfa. One shut down growing and turned the same sickly color as Jenny Duval. That was Duchesse de Rohan. I haven't removed the alfalfa and her color has not improved. Then I have a species rose of which I have three, R. alabukensis. You might know this rose, Kim. I put one (15 gallon size) in the ground using Edna's Best and mulched with the redwood bark. Foliage a lovely dark green. I put one in a 15 gallon pot with only Edna's Best and mulched with the redwood bark. Number 3 I put in a 15 gallon pot in plain garden soil, and mulched with the redwood bark. Then I fed the plant in the ground with alfalfa pellets, the others I fed nothing. Continued watering all 3 plants on the same day, by hand with a hose. Plant in ground quickly became chlorotic. The other 2 not a trace, both still dark green leaves. I removed the alfalfa from around the plant in the ground. It's leaves are back to being dark green. Another experiment was an accidental one with an old butterfly bush. It was way too big, and I needed the space for all the incoming roses this year. So I chopped it way, way back, hacked out some roots. Added roses + bark mulch. No problem. Butterfly bush starts leafing out in multiple locations (hey, it had spread it was so happy!). Added the alfalfa. All new growth DIED. I am not saying alfalfa should never be fed to roses, but for my growing conditions, it is not advisable. It depends on the conditions in your gardens as to how well it may do for your plants. It is also worth considering the why behind the effects. Perhaps some are seeing reduced performance in roses due to this being fed. On the other hand in the right conditions of soil ph and/or water ph, feeding alfalfa may produce spectacular results. For me that would have been great as I have such easy access to it. Melissa...See MoreBest mulch for tomatoes?
Comments (54)homegardenpa...that looks just like my open area where i grow zuks, melon, fall squash, pumpkins... I lay down a thick run of newspaper, then hay. I do get a seeding clump or six but not at all like actually weeding. It is also a good soft protective bed for the fruit. We tend to have more rain than drought here in the NEast. Mulch needs seem to be regional and what is available. My tomatoes are in a raised bed and i use straw. It is expensive here but clean and only need one bale. It is a large compressed bag sold like peat. Straw is the dried stalks of cereal plants, like wheat. ItâÂÂs a by-product of harvest. If any seeds remain on the stalks, itâÂÂs by accident. Therefore, straw is nutritionally void, and is not animal feed. However, that lack of seeds makes it a fine mulch. The expense is that it is free of pesticides. Wood chips don't work in my garden. They might for some. I do use a dump load to path the way to the compost piles. Free here by handing off my address to the road crew when trimming tree branches from power lines. I'll have a big pile within an hour or two. No more mud in the back yard as i have it about one and a half foot thick now. I tried it once around the perimeter of my garden and was good for a year but soon started to break down and was hard to keep up with the weed growth. Hay bales are usually fresh and sweet smelling green and used for feed and can be expensive. Lesser quality hay bales from a later harvest are dry and useless and i suppose for animal bedding. Both can be full of seed so i keep it out of my raised beds. Once again a regional thing...dry crispy hay bales are free here....See MoreRelated Professionals
Kapaa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Aloha Landscape Contractors · Coeur d'Alene Landscape Contractors · Deerfield Landscape Contractors · Gloucester Landscape Contractors · Maywood Landscape Contractors · Pleasant Hill Landscape Contractors · Salmon Creek Landscape Contractors · Whitehall Landscape Contractors · Austin Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Clermont Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Gladstone Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Grain Valley Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Parlier Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Roanoke Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures- 5 years ago
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