|
|
July
|
"Clippings"
With all the rain the East has had, the garden is
about two weeks later then usual. But, it's in full
summer bloom now and looking great. I have been growing cabbages
this year and nursed them through caterpillars and slug invasion
during the rainy season. They were looking real good. Mr.
Groundhog thought so too. Well, I will have to try next year.
Picnicking, gardening or doing most any summer outdoor activity
means having to endure pesky mosquitoes and bothersome gnats.
Spraying on a bug repellent containing DEET protects against
those itchy bug bites. But in today's eco-friendly consumer
market, greener alternatives have joined chemical-based
repellents on store shelves. Take a look at the article below for
green alternatives.
Happy Gardening!
Barbara
Flower of the Month
Do you know what it is?
Flowering shrubs that are easy to grow, easy to prune, are
rarely attacked by pests or diseases and display long-lasting
fabulous color all summer. Their huge, attractive flowers come
in a range of colors from white to pink to blue to red and take
the shape of a mophead, lacecap, or panicle. They need little
attention beyond a good layer of mulch year-round and an
occasional feeding of a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer every
spring. They do prefer moist roots, so water them regularly if
there has been little rainfall.
There are two pruning methods: Method 1 (only in summer) is
for hydrangea types that bloom on old wood, such as oakleaf,
mophead ad lacecap; Method 11 (fall, winter, spring) is for
those that bloom on new wood such as paniculata. Hydrangeas of
course.
Planning Your Organic Gardening
Mid
Summer
Check out the garden planner that shows you at a glance what
jobs need to be done and when.
This is a lovely time in the garden, when every time you step
outdoors you are greeted by masses of fresh flowers and foliage,
the first results of all the hard work you put in over the
spring. A little extra attention now will keep that freshness
going throughout the summer season. Learn how...
Mid Summer
The Good, Bad, and Buggy
Shoo bugs away with eco-friendly bug repellants
Local health store owners say customers can't get enough of
these organic bug-repelling solutions. The market for green bug
repellents has evolved into products that come in a variety of
forms - from patches you wear on your skin to towelettes you
wipe on in a flash. There are even organic bug repellent sprays
made for your home and garden.
So what makes these products so sought after?
The sprays use the power of flowers to ward off insects. Plants
such as citronella are Mother Nature's bug repellents and have
worked for centuries to shoo away the critters. The plants give
off odors that insects don't like.
The sprays work just as well as the standard bug sprays without
the potential hazards. The natural bug repellents are made by
using extracts from plants and are then blended with other
natural oils. A lot of the green bug spray brands contain many
of the same ingredients such as beeswax, citronella, rosemary
and lemon grass.
You can even mix your own bug repellents by blending the
essential oils into lotions or with water and putting them in a
spray bottle.
Natural bug sprays don't carry the same chemical smell as sprays
that contain DEET. But, "It's not an odor-free product. It
usually smells lemony or like citrus. When you put it on, you
smell it for a little while and it dissipates."
Natural Bug Sprays
The following is a sampling of some of the DEET-free bug sprays
on the market.
Quantum Health's Buzz Away Extreme: This product lasts up to 4
hours. The company says the formula repels mosquitoes, black
flies and ticks. The brand also makes wipes. Active ingredients
in the repellent are soybean, geranium, castor, cedarwood,
citronella, peppermint and lemongrass oils. $8.49 for a 4-ounce
spray bottle at the Apple Crate on Raeford Road.
Bite Blocker Sport Sun & Insect Repellent Lotion: This product
gives you four to eight hours of bug fighting defense, according
to its Web site. The lotion contains SPF 20 sunscreen with both
UVA and UVB protection. $8.99 for a 3.5-ounce bottle at
www.biteblocker.com.
Badger Anti-Bug Balm: This product uses citronella, cedar,
lemongrass, rosemary and geranium oils to fend off bugs. As a
bonus, the balm soothes dry skin while protecting you against
pests, the company's Web site says. $10 for a 1.5-ounce pushup
stick at www.badgerbalm.com.
Bug Ban by Now: This product claims to provide "sound,
long-lasting protection" against insects that is safe for users
of all ages. The formula is quick drying and non-sticky,
according to the bottle. Active ingredients in the repellent
include citronella, lemongrass, rosemary and thyme oils. $5.99
for a 4-ounce bottle at the Apple Crate.
Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent: This product has a blend of
rosemary, lemongrass, and citronella and five other oils that
bugs shun, the company says on its Web site. It's safe for
children and pets. $8 for a 4-ounce bottle at www.burtsbees.com.
|
|
Tips- If your area experiences a prolonged hot or dry
spell, refrain from fertilizing. Fertilizer is most
effective when plants are well hydrated and their soil is
damp; otherwise, the food never reaches the roots or can
"burn" them. Also, freshly fed plants tend to put on a flush
of new growth, which would be instantly stressed by the
blazing weather. |
|
|
|
|
