Raising Chickens…Backyard Fun

Chickens, that’s right, chickens are becoming America’s newest pet. People all over are raising chickens of all sizes and varieties right in their backyards. As the Green movement surges forward, consumers have been looking for ways to increase their sustainability level in their daily lives. Chickens are great for a number of reasons.
Chickens eat bugs! Lots and lots of bugs! Never again worry about fleas, ticks or mosquitoes! Chickens are also great for eggs, organic of course. They are inexpensive to purchase, baby chicks average $3.00 -5.00 a piece. And the chicken poo! What a great fertilizer for the lawn and gardens! Chicken manure is some of the best fertilizer, organic gardeners love it.
There are literally hundreds of varieties of chickens you can purchase. The Bantams are a smaller version of their original counterpart. Great if you have a smaller yard. To keep them from flying (yes chickens fly) just clip the end feathers of their wings, they won’t be able to take off. Chickens do need a Coop, and nesting boxes for laying eggs. You can buy chicken coops inexpensively or make a homemade one. They need shelter from the elements and a soft place to lay their eggs. Otherwise you will find them all over the yard, hidden under bushes, etc.
We let our chickens have the run of the yard. Free Range they call them. Chickens are much happier when they can run. And no bugs! We decided to get some chicks after several visits to my brother’s house. He lives on the water of a creek. His house has fabulous views, but at first it also had tons and tons of mosquitoes. His neighbor got 4 chickens and a pair of ducks. Since then, he has not had to spray chemicals to get rid of the bugs, put flea and tick chemicals on his 175 lb. Mastiff or spray himself. The chickens and the dog even coexist peacefully! The chickens have free run of the 2 neighboring properties, as they have no fences.
So now we have our own feathered friends. We have 5 kids, a dog and we live in the North East, so we chose a variety of Bantam that is friendly and can withstand the cold. Chickens are fun to have, the eggs are great and the benefit of all natural bug control is the best! Our neighbors don’t mind at all, because we have no Rooster. The chickens are generally quiet, unless they are alarmed by something. Much quieter in fact than my German Sheppard.
Keeping chickens is a great way to live Green and reduce our carbon footprint. Try it!

Indoor Gardening Basics

For many parts of the country, indoor gardening is about all we can do for the next several months. Indoor gardening can be fun and keeps your hands in the dirt.

Most of us think of the common houseplants such as Spiders, Pothos, and Philodendron. There are many, many types of beautiful and colorful plants for indoor gardens. For example, herbs can be grown indoors in the off season providing you have a sunny window to grow them in. Bromeliads also make great houseplants. Many Bromeliads are colorful, low maintenance and when they bloom, they bloom for a long period of time.

Ferns are a little more difficult to keep going indoors when the heat is on. Unless you have a good humidifier or mist them often, Ferns tend to dry and brown easily. A good spot in the house for a Fern is the bathroom. They love the extra moisture.

Whatever houseplants you do have in your home, they all need attention. A good water soluble organic fertilizer monthly will help to keep your indoor plants healthy and looking their best.

All plants have different watering needs. Plants can just as eaily be killed by over watering as under watering. Keeping a regular watering schedule is usually not a good idea. The best way to determine whether your plant needs watering is by checking the soil. If the first top 2 inches of soil is dry it needs to be watered. There are two basic ways to water your plants. If you water from the top, water until it drains out the bottom of the pot. You can also water from the bottom. Fill the saucer with water and allow the plant to absorb the water. The plant will have enough water when the surface of the soil is moist. Either way do not allow your plants to stand in a pot of water continuously. Don't wait for your plants to wilt between watering. This will put and keep the plant in a stressed condition and they will not perform well, not to mention look terrible.

A great way to keep your plants watered properly is to use plant minders. They are decorative or utilitarian stakes that push down into the soil that have a reservoir for water. This will release the water as the plant needs it. These plant minders are also great for when you are away from home for extended periods of time.

Pruning your houseplants from time to time may also be necessary. Any dead or dry, brown leaves should be removed. This will help to keep the plant healthy.

If you have an insect infestation on your plants, There are a few things you can do. Try a solution of soapy water sprayed on the foliage. This will control many pests. You may have to repeat if necessary. There are also chemical insect controls specifically for houseplants to eradicate those tough pests. There are sprays (I recommend you use them outside) and there are systemic granules you sprinkle on the soil and water in. The chemical is released into the soil and taken up by the roots. If your houseplants have been outside in the summer it is always good practice to treat them before you bring them in to their winter home.

Whatever type of houseplants you have, proper care is essential. If you are not sure how to care for a specific plant, the plant tag that came with the plant is a good place to start. For more detailed information or if you are not sure what type of plant you have, a good book or a search on the internet will give you all the information you need to be a successful Indoor Gardener.

Fall Plantings

Soon it will be time for fall gardening. Removing the spent annuals, pulling the endless weeds, cultivating mulch and planting fall flowers.

Just because mums are available now (in August), does not necessarily mean you should start today. Growers push an early batch because the retailers have been sitting idle for most of July and August. There are early blooming varieties of Mums and Asters, but generally not this early.

Fall gardening is just that. It feels great to get outside when the temperatures are in the mid 70’s instead of the high 90’s. Fall is the best time to do many, many things in your garden.

Mulch - Fall is a great time to cultivate all the mulch in your beds. Over the season the mulch has a tendency to become compacted. The necessary water and air cannot get to the roots of the plants where it is needed. Use a 3 or 4 tined garden Hoe to turn the mulch.

Fertilizer and weed preventer - Once you have cultivated your mulch, a good organic fertilizer and a weed preventer, such as Cockadoodle-doo organic fertilizer and Cockadoodle-Doo corn gluten weed preventer is a great fertilizer for your plants and shrubs and a natural weed preventer to keep those winter weeds away.

Plantings - The fall season is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. As the temperatures are in a cooling pattern, trees and shrubs are less likely to go into shock after transplanting. They take root more easily, because the plant is not working so hard to keep the foliage from becoming stressed due to the heat. Many trees are dug in the fall. To get trees that have been freshly dug, go to your local nursery (not big box store) in October. Ask the nursery salesperson if they are getting any fresh trees for the fall. On the East Coast, trees normally get dug in October, depending on the weather. If all you can find are trees that were dug in the spring, ask for a discount if they are already not on sale. No Nursery wants to keep too much stock over the winter. There is too much loss. When you do plant shrubs and trees in the fall they still require water, mulch and TLC. Plant your fall flowers in mid to late September so the color lasts well into the fall. Plant your bulbs late in the fall, so they don’t start to grow. Tulips and Daffodils not to mention the dozens of other spring blooming bulbs will do best planted in early November once the temps are going to stay cold.

The Lawn - Fall is the absolute best time of year to overhaul the lawn. Get a soil test to check the Ph of the soil. Lime if necessary. Aerating and or thatching are best done in the fall. Aerating is the process of making holes in the lawn, about 2 inches deep, so water and air can get to the roots of the turf. Thatching is the process of getting rid of the “thatch” or dead build up that can choke out the good turf and prevent water and fertilizer from reaching the roots of the turf. Once you aerate or thatch the lawn, I would recommend over seeding and fertilizing. Thatching the lawn will leave bare or thin areas in the lawn, if you do not over seed, the weeds will just take over. Once you have over seeded and fertilized it is a good idea to get that seed covered, to keep it from drying out between watering and from becoming bird food. Straw is a good cover, except you need to pull it up. Peat moss is a good cover and you don’t have to pull it up. A reusable grass germinating mat is also great. The grass germinates faster because it generates warmth and allows water to flow through, yet still protecting it from critters. A good organic fertilizer will get the turf through the winter without becoming stressed.

Fall is also a great time to prune your trees and shrubs. Give them a good haircut so they keep their shape. When they flush out in the spring they will be nice and dense, not stringy.

Take time to enjoy your fall gardening. Working in the yard this time of year will ensure you of a beautiful and lush spring season.

Summer Gardening

By this time of year most people have had enough of the Maintenance part of Gardening. It is very exciting in the spring planting new flowers and bulbs, cleaning out the beds to see what new is popping up and that fresh layer of mulch always look great. The fun of spring is long over and now it seems all we do is pull weeds and water to keep things going.

It is officially August and in New Jersey it is hot and humid. The lawns are stressed from lack of water, and some annuals have stretched out and look weedy from the heat.

Now is actually a great time to rejuvenate the garden. A good dose of TerraCycle Lawn Food is a great pick me up for a stressed out lawn. It contains worm castings and other all natural ingredients that can be applied anytime of year. (I would not recommend this with a chemical based fertilizer) TerraCycle also has a product for Gardens and an All purpose Food that is great for houseplants and hanging baskets. It will get your lawn looking great again and perk up your plants.

This time of year is also a great time to get fantastic deals at your local garden center. The garden center is now trying to get rid of their late spring stock to make room for Fall Mums and Asters. The discounts are pretty amazing. I just picked up some flats of Impatiens for $1.00 each. They have been pretty well cared for , but need to get out of those flats. Once you get them into larger pots, hanging baskets or the ground they will grow like crazy. Give them a good shot of organic fertilizer when you put them in and have fresh looking color well into late September. This is an inexpensive way to replace the annuals that are looking shabby.

The big box stores already have in their mums. For me it is way too early. Getting Mums and Asters that are in bloom now, when Fall actually gets here they will be long done blooming. These plants love the cool weather and will hold their blooms longer later in the season.

Try to keep from working during the hottest time of the day. Work in the yard early in the morning, before 10:00 or late in the day, after 4:00. And drink plenty of water, it is easy to get overheated working outside when it is over 90 degrees.

Your lawn will thank you for this burst of nutrients and you can enjoy some fresh new plants.
Put the fun back into your summer gardening.

Just How Dangerous are Pesticides?

Pesticide is a general term for Weed, Insect and Disease Controls. The following is a true story.

A good friend of mine, from my landscaping days is a Pesticide Applicator. He is licensed by the state. Last June, he was applying an Insecticide in granular form. He was wearing a respirator to keep the dust out of his lungs, short sleeves and pants, but it was hot. It was over 90 degrees that day and he was sweating. The dust stuck to his sweaty clothes and absorbed into his skin through his open pores. Before he knew it he was unconscious on a customer's front lawn and was rushed to the hospital. Thank goodness they were home. He spent the day in the hospital on IV, having fluids pumped into him to flush out the poison in his system.

This year, it was time to apply insect control again. He took the same precautions, and wore long sleeves to cover his skin. It was not quite so hot this year, in the low to mid 80's. It just happened to be time for his regular check up, and his Blood work came back irregular. High Blood Sugar. The doctor sent him for more tests. His pancreas was not processing insulin fast enough. This left him with periods of high blood sugar. He was of course very upset. This is a guy who is in generally good shape, a healthy weight and diabetes does not run in his family. At only 40 it was quite a shock.

The doctor just wanted to monitor him for a few weeks before putting him on any kind of medicine. He went for regular Blood Sugar Testing. After he had been done applying the insecticide for a few weeks, his blood sugars were back to normal. The insecticide had caused the problem. When the body is sick, whether it be from a virus or a toxin, the rest of the body slows down so it can eradicate the illness. This is what happened to my friend.

Think of all the chemicals we put on our lawn and plants, all the cleaning supplies we pour down the drains that ends up in our own bodies and our waterways. Overexposure to one chemical for a few weeks, almost poisoned my friend, just think what those chemicals constantly being applied all around us can do to fish and wildlife. Not to mention our children and pets.

How many of us have applicator's come apply 6 or 8 chemical treatments to our lawns annually? Usually a little flag is left on our front lawns. If we are not aware, it is easy to let the dog out after work, or tell our kids to go out and play, not realizing the potential danger that lurks in our own backyards.

Or maybe you apply your own chemicals. Most of us don't own respirators or even wear dust masks when applying fertilizers or control products.

Chemicals are generally not good. They cause disease in the body. Whether it is chemicals in our foods, cleaning products, or pesticides and fertilizers they can all cause problems with our health. A hundred years ago, people ate what they grew, there were no growth hormones for livestock and farmers used natural products like manure and compost to feed their plants. There were not nearly as many diseases as there are today. This is why living an organic lifestyle is so important. Get back to basics, simplify and teach your children to do the same. Our health, our planet and our future depend on it.

Low Maintenance Gardens

Gardening consumers are always looking for low maintenance. Plants and shrubs they can just put in the ground and forget about. That process does not exist. There are plants and shrubs that require less care than others, however. What makes a garden low maintenance?

Creating low maintenance gardens first takes some thought. What may be a chore to you may be a joy to another. Think of the things you enjoy doing in your garden and expand from there. If you don't enjoy raking leaves, plant evergreens. If you don't like pruning, plant slow growing shrub material. If you don't like planting annual flowers every year, plant perennials.

Researching plants growth habits is very important for a low maintenance garden. You'll want to choose plants that grow slowly and require little pruning. A formal garden is not a good choice for low maintenance. Perennials are a great way to add color to your garden. They come back bigger and better each year with little effort on your part.

Another way to make your garden low maintenance is the way you fertilize. A good organic fertilizer usually gets applied less frequently than a chemical fertilizer. For example, the famous liquid blue fertilizer recommends feeding once per week throughout the growing season. Definitely not low maintenance! Organic fertilizers can be applied as little as twice per season. Once in spring and once in fall (depending on variety). They generally have a slow release and last much longer with better nutrient quality and uptake.

Using good quality garden tools can also make your garden less work. Good, sharp tools will make your jobs easier and take less time.

Mulching your garden in the spring is a must. It is work, however, once it is done it will save you time and money. You will save time weeding because the mulch will keep the weed seeds from germinating and you will save money on your water bill because the mulch helps to retain moisture around the plants.

All gardens need food and water to survive. There are many plants that are drought tolerant once established. This does not mean they never need watering. It means they can tolerate dryer conditions.

Planning is the key to a good low maintenance garden. Once your garden is planted, using the proper tools and fertilizers will minimize work.

Caring For Your Roses

Roses are one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden. They can also be the most difficult to grow. Caring for roses may take some time, but the rewards are worth it. There are many, many different types of Roses. Tea, Grandiflora, Floribunda, Old English, Ramblers, Climbers, Miniature, etc. Many of the newer hybrid varieties will bloom off and on throughout the growing season, while others have one spectacular show, with intermittent flowers later on.

Roses have very particular needs. Roses need a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day. They also like light, well drained soil. The soil around their roots should be kept loose by cultivating often. This brings necessary oxygen to the roots of the plants. They also like to be fed a good organic fertilizer regularly and mulched around the base of the plant to help keep the roots cool in the heat of summer and warm in winter.

Roses also need regular care to keep insects and disease at bay. An insecticidal soap spray will keep away Aphids and Whiteflies. An organic fungicide spray will keep away Black spot, a disease very common to roses. Watering the soil around the Rose rather than the foliage is also a good prevention against Black Spot. If you keep a scheduled maintenance for insect and disease prevention, the care seems very easy. If one waits until there is an infestation of one sort or another, it is much more difficult to eradicate the problem. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure definitely applies.

When pruning your Roses, or simply clipping some for a vase, be sure to use good sharp pruning shears. Dull shears can tear the stems, leaving ugly dark marks. It also leaves a larger open wound for disease and insects to feast on. It can even inhibit new growth. When pruning a Rose, prune just above a leaf. This will encourage the plant to grow bushy and thick. Leaving long stems will make the plant lanky. It is also important to prune out any old dead canes. Depending on the type of Rose, how they are pruned and cut back for the winter will vary. Check the instructions that come with the plant.

Roses have been revered by many generations of gardeners and non-gardeners alike. The beauty of Roses will enhance the look of your home year after year.

Herbs in the Garden

Herbs planted in the garden are not just for cooking. Herbs are beautiful, scented plants that open up the sense of smell to add another dimension to the garden.

Rather than just the sweet smells of roses and flowers, herbs lend another dimension of smell to the garden. Spicy, musky, heavy or light, each herb having a distinctly different scent.

Planting, Rosemary, Thyme and Oregano along a garden path will give off a gorgeous aroma as you pass by.
Mint makes a fabulous perennial (in most areas) groundcover, that can take foot traffic. Mint comes in many varieties, each with its own fantastic smell.
Sage is a lovely plant, and comes in different colors, the Tricolor Sage is a perennial favorite. Variegated green and white foliage with just a hint of red on the edges of the leaves.
Lavender, one can never have enough Lavender in the garden. Beautiful grey/green foliage with prolific lavender, purple or even pink (depending on variety) blooms. They smell fantastic and are great for drying.
Dill, Basil and Parsley are great foliage fillers for containers. Mixed with annuals they make a lovely display. Keep these planters near the house for easy access during cooking.
Nasturtiums are a free flowering herb that look great in planters, along the edge of the garden and are also great in salads.

Herbs generally like a sunny, well drained location and are easy to grow. They are not easily susceptible to insects and diseases. Many herbs are perennial, and will grow and spread quickly.
Tender herbs can be brought into the house and wintered over in a warm sunny window. Spray with a solution of soapy water before bringing inside and occasionally through the winter to keep insects away.

If you are going to be cooking with your herbs be sure to use a good organic fertilizer and an all natural insecticidal soap (if necessary).

Herbs like Echinacea and Scented Geranium have long been enjoyed as perennial flowers in the garden. Oregano and Thyme between your roses are breathtaking. Mint and Creeping Rosemary in planters adds a scented dimension that will delight you. Try a few in your garden, you will be surprised and pleased with the performance, smell and look of herbs.

Create a Butterfly Garden

Having a beautiful backyard to enjoy and relax in isn't just about plants, flowers and nice grass. For me, it includes birds, butterflies, dragonflies and even bats. These creatures put on a show, and give us many hours of enjoyment. Watching birds bathing and bats flitting about at night are great fun, but its the butterflies that are truly spectacular.

Butterflies are one of nature's most beautiful and delicate creatures. Creating a habitat for them will bring a variety of Butterflies to your yard for your viewing pleasure and it creates a safe haven for them to breed.

Incorporating plants that Butterflies are attracted to is easy to do. There are many types of shrubs and trees that Butterflies like, and even more perennials. When planting perennials in your garden for Butterflies to enjoy, plant them in groupings or clusters. Butterflies will be drawn to a large show of flowers more easily than just one or two plants.

Butterflies also like a rock or two out in the sun for them to warm their wings before flying in the early morning hours. They also are attracted to damp areas of the garden where they can suck fluid and salts from the soil. Shrubs and Butterfly Houses will protect them from wind and predators (mainly birds) Placing a Butterfly house in the center of a group of flowering perennials, they will be more likely to find and use it. Minimize the amount of chemical insecticides and herbicides you use, as these delicate creatures are very susceptible to their residue. Yet another reason to go organic!

Here is a listing of plants Butterflies are attracted to:

Shrubs/Trees:

Abelia
Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
Blueberry
Hawthorne
Mock Orange
Pear
Plum
Privet
Redbud
Rose of Sharon
Spiraea
Summersweet (Clethra)
Viburnum
All of these shrubs/trees come in numerous varieties. They flower at different times of the season. Planting more than one variety will prolong your Butterfly season.

Perennials:
Althea
Ajuga
Asclepsias (Butterfly weed)
Aster
Centaurea
Coneflower
Coreopsis
Lantana
Lobelia (Cardinal Flower)
Mint
Monarda (Bee Balm)
Phlox
Rudbeckia (Black eyed Susan)
Sedum
Shasta Daisy
Verbena
Yarrow

Planting some of these varieties of shrubs and flowers in your yard will enhance its beauty, bring lots of Butterflies to your yard and give you a great reason to want to stay home.

Perennials, repeat pleasures

Perennials are one of my favorite types of plants to have in my garden.

Perennials are flowering plants that go dormant in the winter and return each spring. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of different types of perennials. Perennials have as many different blooming seasons, colors, textures and sizes as there are types. This is what makes perennials so fabulous.

By planting different types of perennials in your gardens you can have color from the first of spring until a hard frost in the fall. If you are lucky enough to live in Planting Zones 8-10 you get to have color all year long!

Some perennials are grown for their striking and beautiful foliage. Others for their flower. Some perennials will only bloom once per season, but the show is spectacular! Many perennials will bloom repeatedly throughout the growing season. Dead-heading the spent flowers will encourage more to bloom. Use a good, sharp pair of pruning shears or garden scissors to remove the spent foliage.

Adding compost or organic fertilizer twice per season (spring and fall) your perennials will be lush and beautiful. After a few seasons you will be able to spread them around in your own yard and share them with friends. Another added benefit of perennials, they multiply!

Planting perennials for the best show...plant them in groups. By planting a few (or more) in the same area you will end up with waves of color in your garden. This is striking. For a more informal look spread them out, so you have color here and there.

I even use perennials in my planters. They make an interesting and unusual look in pots and even hanging baskets. I only use annuals as an accent tucked here or there in my planters.
You will get many compliments on your planters, because they are not the same old Impatiens or Petunias.

Using perennials will allow you to use your creativity and your imagination to create the garden of your dreams.

Lawn Maintenance

Maintaining a nice green yard can be a chore. Cutting, fertilizing, weed,insect and disease control, where does it end?

Maintaining your yard can be simple... Go Organic!

The use of organic products on the lawn take all the guess work out. By using natural products that come from the earth, you don't need a chemistry degree. Organic fertilizers are naturally balanced, easily absorbed and leave no residual chemicals that are harmful to people, pets, water or wildlife.

Compost is also another great way to keep your lawn healthy naturally. By spreading a thin layer of compost over the yard, you are putting back valuable, natural nutrients into the ground.

Using natural products on your lawn, the turf will become healthier and stronger, thereby becoming disease and insect resistant naturally. The healthier the turf the easier it is for the lawn to resist infestations. The lawn will also have less weeds. A strong thick turf will choke out weeds. If the grass is thick, the sun can't reach the weeds seeds, and they simply don't germinate.

Using a mulching lawn mower or a push reel mower is actually healthier for the lawn than bagging the grass. By leaving clippings (not when the grass is long) on the lawn, it acts as a natural fertilizer as the grass decomposes.

Turf that is strong and healthy will also be more drought resistant than weak, stressed turf.

Organic fertilizers generally need to be used less frequently than traditional chemical fertilizers and most can be applied anytime of the season, even in summer.

So, with that said, I've just cut down your lawn chores by about half. By using organic products, not only are you going to have a beautiful, lush lawn naturally...you will have the time to enjoy it!