Innholdsfortegnelse for September/October 2024 i Garden Gate

My problems with rabbits started right away. At my first house I was excited to plant vegetables in the only sunny spot in the backyard, a bed along the side of the garage. When bunnies started eating the green beans, I bought a cute little wire edging fence at the home improvement store and stuck it into the soil around the garden to keep them out. The next morning as I ate my breakfast, I watched a rabbit hop through the fence from inside the bed, where it had apparently been having its morning meal too. Since then, I’ve learned a lot about rabbits’ resourcefulness (and sacrificed many, many more plants). While I didn’t waste much money or time on that first one, a fence is usually a big commitment…

Sunflower spittlebug Clastoptera xanthocephala Appearance Even if you don’t see the actual insects, you’ll notice the “spittle” that surrounds them. It’s a white foamy substance on stems and leaves that looks like soap bubbles and measures about an inch across. The tiny insects are barely ⅛ inch long and have blunt round heads and wings, which are almost black on the males and lighter brown on the females. Damage Nearly white, red-eyed nymphs pierce the stems, suck the plant sap and hide in the spittle. Sunflower spittlebug larvae feed on the stems of sunflowers, goldenrod and asters. As adults, females lay eggs in leaf litter at the base of the plants. The eggs hatch the following spring, and nymphs crawl up the plants. Fortunately, these pests don’t cause much harm…

Whether you garden in the nutrient-poor red clay of the Southeast, the calcium-combined-with-clay caliche of the West or something in between, the common denominator is that clay soil is difficult to grow in. Why? Tiny particles of clay hold tightly together, slowing drainage and limiting the amount of oxygen that can reach plant roots. You’ve seen the results—anemic-looking or rotting plants. AMEND OR NOT? While you can improve clay soil by amending with organic matter, such as compost, it’s not usually a practical solution for a large area. But it might help in a smaller spot, such as around your home’s foundation, where clay has sometimes been brought to the surface and compacted during construction. The old recommendation of tilling in sand will often result in an even harder, denser…

White mulberry Morus alba What it looks like Along with lots of birds and animals, you might think of white mulberry as a 20- to 60-foot-tall tree with tasty fruit. But its rampant seeding makes this non-native an invasive pest that squeezes out native species. Leaves on young plants are heart shaped with toothed margins, but as the plant matures, the leaves can be deeply lobed or mitten shaped. Unlike the native red mulberry (Morus rubra), the leaves of white mulberry have a soft gloss on top and are smooth on the underside. Pale green spring catkins are followed by red to dark purple blackberry-shaped fruit in early summer. The root system is shallow and bright yellow to orange. Break a twig and it oozes milky sap. Older bark is…

Autumn Allure GardenGateMagazine.com Favorite Fall Flowers Want beautiful blooms as long as possible? Try these 10 late-blooming plants. 9 Plants with Multiseason Interest Give your garden all-year appeal with these plants with beautiful blooms, foliage and berries. Find the Best Daffodils for Your Region Make sure you’re choosing the daffodil that thrives in your area. How to Overwinter Geraniums Save money every spring when you overwinter geraniums using this simple method. Fall Garden Checklist Here’s what to do now to ensure a healthy and beautiful garden next year. How to Buy the Best Flower Bulbs A healthy bulb means a healthy plant! Use our shopping guide to ensure you’re buying the best ones. Fiery Fall Container Garden This beautiful, warm-colored autumn planting features cool-weather-loving annuals and perennials. GardenGateMagazine.com/articles/container-gardening/…

As days grow shorter and temperatures cool, chlorophyll production decreases and nitrogen and phosphorus are slowly withdrawn to be stored in twigs and branches for winter. As a result, the green starts to fade, and other colors take center stage. Every tree species has a different recipe made up of these pigments: Trees with yellow fall foliage Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba Hackberry Celtis occidentalis Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides River birch Betula nigra City Slicker® Shagbark hickory Carya ovata Trees with red fall foliage American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Native Flame® Northern red oak Quercus rubra Red maple Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’ Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina Sweet gum Liquidambar styraciflua Trees with a mix of orange, red and yellow fall foliage Downey serviceberry Amelanchier arborea ‘Autumn Brilliance’ Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra Early Glow™ Persian ironwood Parrotia persica Sugar…

Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida Black-eyed Susan’s daisylike flowers splash vibrant yellow color across gardens from midsummer to late fall. And if you leave the distinctive brown-purple seedheads to ripen on the plants, birds will enjoy them long after the colors fade. In addition, its evergreen basal leaves provide an attractive ground cover through the winter. If all of these great qualities aren’t enough to recommend it, this North American native perennial is also deer resistant! WHERE IT WORKS BEST Standing 2 to 3 feet tall, black-eyed Susan is perfect for the front or middle of a perennial bed or pollinator garden border. It also makes an excellent cut flower, with a vase life of 8 to 10 days. HOW TO GROW IT Plants grow best in full sun in dry…

If you’re one of those gardeners who can’t wait to get started in spring and hates to throw in the trowel in fall, spinach is the perfect “shoulder season” crop. This mild, earthy-flavored green comes in many varieties, ranging from crinkly-leafed savoys to slightly textured semi-savoys and the flat, smooth-leafed types. Colors can be dark green, light green and even red-veined. Here’s how to get the most of it every year. GETTING STARTED Plant seeds directly in the garden ½ inch deep and 2 inches apart. When seedlings are 2 inches tall, thin to 4 to 6 inches apart with scissors to prevent disturbing the young shallow roots. Seeds germinate best in soil temperatures between 45 and 68 degrees F and plants grow best when air temperatures are between 50…

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG! Be sure to have the utility companies locate underground lines at your site before you break ground on any project. Call the North America One Referral Service at 888-258-0808 (or just dial 811) to have them come out and mark the lines. In Canada, each province has its own one-call number, listed in the phone book and online. This free service sends a worker to mark electric, gas, communications, water and sewer lines. Some states require that you call at least 48 hours before digging. In addition, check with your local planning and zoning department to learn about any ordinances that might determine the materials and height of fence you’re allowed to build, and get building permits before you start. The one thing you don’t want…

Did you know that a single monarch butterfly can migrate up to 3,000 miles? That’s a lot of ground to cover! This amazing insect makes a fascinating journey, unlike any other butterfly. Adult monarchs that hatch in late summer or early fall do not mate or lay eggs—their only job is to migrate south to roosting grounds where they will overwinter. The map below left shows the paths they take. Southbound monarchs stop to feed along the way, storing fat that will sustain them for the flight and throughout the winter in their abdomens. In spring, these same monarchs begin the trip back north, laying eggs on milkweed plants in the southern United States before dying. Newly hatched caterpillars feed on the milkweed. When they reach adulthood, they continue the…

1 | EarthLifter Tool Use leverage, not your back, to dig plants! The design of this sturdy, 47-inch-long carbon steel garden fork enables you to work more with less effort. Its C-shaped fulcrum uses leverage to lift a load easily, with less twisting, bending and muscle-power that can cause injuries and chronic pain over time. Dig potatoes and tender bulbs, remove rocks or weeds, and lift perennials to transplant, even with one hand. Its bright red powder-coated finish helps you find it easily in the tool shed or garden. ($165.00) EarthLifter, earthlifter.com 2 | Precise Granule Spreader Need to sow some grass seed this fall? This spreader is simple to use — fill the nylon bag, zip it shut, sling it across your back and start spreading seed. Hold the…

The Perfect Container Tree Japanese maples’ size is easily limited by the size of the container, and they come in a variety of colors and shapes, such as the weeping form at left. They will overwinter in containers outside in zones 6 and warmer and thrive in part shade. Their nonaggressive root systems allow for underplanting with annuals and rarely become pot-bound. To keep the plant healthy, every seven or eight years, slide the tree out of the pot in early spring and shear a quarter of the roots off, then replant in the same pot with fresh potting mix. PLANT LIST (number to plant) A Weeping Japanese maple Acer palmatum (1)B Petunia Petunia hybrid (2)C Petunia Petunia hybrid (2)D Sweet potato vine Ipomoea batatas (2)E Bacopa Sutera cordata (2) Container is 30 inches…

Layer up the trunk Jim Childs, IA Like many of us, Jim spreads a large scrap of plastic in the back of his car when hauling plants. But he adds an old flannel bed sheet on top to absorb excess water. Just don’t forget to hang the sheet to dry—it can quickly mildew and create a stinky situation in a hot car. Gloria nestles medium-sized empty clay pots within the borders and along the pathways of her garden. That way when she pulls a weed here and there, she can immediately drop it into a pot and continue on with free hands. Gloria Bonde, SD Eye-catching veggies Cathy Costa, ME When you’re planting your vegetable garden in the spring, save a few corn and bush bean seeds…

The garden season may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean your borders are done. When you grow long-lasting annuals along with late-blooming shrubs and perennials, color and interest keep going until first frost—even through winter if you leave foliage and seedheads in place. Fall border palettes are often filled with warm jewel-toned hues—orange, red, purple and burgundy—deep shades that create a rich, moody atmosphere. But the combinations here have a softer feel. Pastel shades, such as peach, lavender, cream and silvery gray green, lighten up the shorter days and provide a mellow ambiance for your patio or seating area. Let’s take a closer look. Peaches & Cream When you’re in the market for plants that can tolerate a hot, dry summer and still look good, this grouping is just…

Once a major player in native tall-grass prairies east of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico, switchgrass can adapt to sandy soil, dry slopes, open woodlands, salty marshes and even under walnut trees with nary a care in the world. This warm-season grass blooms as days lengthen in the summer. The airy flower panicles develop yellow, pink or purple seedheads, depending on the cultivar. As fall arrives with cooler temperatures and shorter days, many switchgrass varieties’ leaf blades transform from green or blue-green to gold, red or burgundy. GRASSES WITH BENEFITS Switchgrass is a great alternative to non-native ornamental grasses, such as maiden grass. Songbirds, ducks and gamebirds eat the seeds, and the dried foliage provides cover and nesting material. Massed plantings of switchgrass also create a protective habitat…

Knock on the front door of Jim and Rachel Light’s Ohio home and you probably won’t get an answer—they’ll be in the garden! But wander around to the back door at left and you’ll find Rachel nearby pulling weeds or swapping out her seasonal displays and Jim working on his latest construction project. This industrious couple has been gardening here for all 49 years of their marriage, and they have no plans to slow down. The 4½-acre property is where Rachel spent her childhood—that’s her at age 5 in the garden above—and she’s seen lots of changes. Her parents grew vegetables and a few flowers, but she and Jim have transformed the yard around the home into a shady oasis. Jim built a new home a few years into their…

TO KEEP OUT DEER If you live where deer are a problem, a fence can help. Here are a few tips: • Build it tall A fence should be at least 8 feet tall (check if your municipality allows one that height) to deter deer, but a hungry deer may still be able to leap it. • Build it solid Deer won’t jump over a solid fence because they can’t see what is on the other side, so a shorter fence will work as long as they can’t look over the top. • Double it up Deer have poor depth perception and can be deceived by two fences spaced 3 to 4 feet apart. They may not think they will clear both fences and won’t want to jump into a…

Q Other than price, what’s the difference between fish emulsion and hydrolyzed fish fertilizer? Nicole Hoover, WA A Fish emulsion is most often made from fish byproducts left over from other sources and is cooked. Hydrolyzed fish fertilizer, which is usually more expensive, can be made from the whole fish or byproducts, but it’s cold pressed. More nutrients and beneficial oils are retained in the cold-pressed method. You will also notice a difference in smell. Emulsions often have a strong, lingering fishy smell. Hydrolyzed fertilizers still smell like fish, but the odor isn’t as strong and doesn’t last as long. However, note that wild animals and pets might smell all fish fertilizers in the soil and dig where it’s been applied. Q My plants sometimes drop leaves when I bring…

Saving flower seeds is a great way to get more plants with almost no investment. It’s easy to do. Here’s how to save seeds from some of your favorite annuals as the growing season winds down. To start, let blooms fade without deadheading. Young seeds are usually green and need to ripen before harvesting. This can take several days or weeks, depending on the plant. You’ll know the seeds are ready to collect when they feel hard and turn dark brown or black. The seed pod may be yellow, brown or just a paler green. HARVEST Gather seeds with your hands or tap them into a plastic container or paper bag. Remove as much debris as you can and set your seeds out on a paper towel to dry for…