Alfalfa Pellets—Wonder Drug for Hosta?

Triacontanol has been called “the most potent growth hormone ever”. It can be extracted from alfalfa in one of the following ways:

1.     Soak 5 tablets (500-600 mg. of compressed alfalfa) in one gallon of water for 24 hours. Agitate and drench the plants with it as many as 5x during the growing season.

2.      Add 2-3 cupfuls of alfalfa meal (be sure it has not been denatured by high heat) to 1 yard of soil or compost.

3.      Use alfalfa meal or chopped alfalfa as a light mulch or top dress around plants and apply water.

4.      Put a couple of handfuls in an old sock, put the sock in a 5 gallon bucket and let it make alfalfa tea in about 48 hours. Use the water on your plants.

Beneficial results are as follows:

1.       Early breaking of dormancy.

2.       Doubling of weight of plants in one year.

3.       Up to three years of growth in one growing season.

4.       Root system greatly increases.

5.       Possible stimulation of mycorrhizal bacteria and reported inhibition of pathogens.

6.       Doubling of number and size of flower buds, flowers and seeds.

7.       Much improved quality of growth with increased number and thickness of leaves.

Source: Westside Hosta FAQ by Hosta folks.

How and When to Protect Viburnums

To help control the spread of the viburnum leaf beetle, Pyrrhalta viburni, be sure to check out your viburnums for the presence of its eggs which “need a prolonged cold period to complete their development” during the months of November and April.

Look for the easily missed first signs—the egg cases on the underside of one-year-old viburnum stems and use a sharp set of pruning shears to clip them off. You want to destroy the overwintering eggs so look for rough bumps on the young stems. During the summer and early fall, the adult females dig rows of cavities along young shoots to lay their eggs in. Each bump which is sealed shut with a mixture of chewed bark and excrement contains about 8 eggs. Given that each female lays about 500 eggs in one season, it is recommended that these eggs be disposed of in the trash before they hatch.

Source: “Are your Viburnums next? By Lori Bushway, Fine Gardening magazine, November-December 2005 issue, p.24.

2007 HERB OF THE YEAR: LEMON BALM

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is a strongly scented bushy herb that grows 3’ high and 2’ wide in a sunny location. Its small, white tubular flowers bloom from May to August, attracting bees and beneficial insects to the garden.

Hailing from the Mediterranean area, Lemon Balm has been said “to make the heart merry.” Known to be sedative and anti-depressant in its actions, herbalists often recommend aromatherapy oils containing lemon balm for those who are contending with mild forms of depression. It lessens respiratory infections, eases indigestion and nausea and is quite effective for repelling treating insects since it contains citronella oil.

It has many culinary uses because of its mild lemon flavor and fresh lemon smell. Fresh chopped leaves can be added to salads, fruit dishes, puddings, muffins and tea. Lemon balm is a wonderful additive to stuffing, roast chicken and fish dishes. Be sure to tear and not cut the leaves with a knife or they will discolor.

Add this wonderful recipe to your collection.

Recycled Containers

• Plant up a mixture of heathers, grasses and dwarf conifers in to a salvaged farm trough to provide color well into autumn.

• Use Oriental-themed tea tins to make amusing containers for Hens-and Chicks which don’t mind a limited root run. Aluminum cans  can be strung together on chains, one above the other, and also planted with succulents and sedums.

• Use large chunks of terra cotta to showcase succulent-leaved Echeverias and Sempervivums.

• Glue blue and green wine bottles secured together in a circle with silicon sealant to create funky raised planters. Bury their necks in the soil and edge them with red lettuce. Plant dwarf French beans in the center.

• Suspend three kitchen colanders beneath a tripod of poles with the smallest at the top, middle size next, then the largest at the bottom. Line with horticultural fleece and grow lettuce in them.

• Farm troughs make great focal points—some can even become mini gardens on stilts. Plant the upper storey with plants that like lots of sun and then tuck in shade lovers such as hostas, astilbes and ferns around the legs.  They make great water features as well.

• Plant drought-tolerant species in cast off kettles that are missing the lids. Be sure to drill holes in the bottom first for drainage.

• Brown-leaved sedges look wonderful in old copper pots and cylinders. Mount them on rusty car wheels for interest.

• Even burnt out vacuum cleaner canisters can be planted up into interesting arrangements if you pay attention to colors.

• Salvaged roof tiles can be wired together. Line with a plastic bag before filling with compost.

• Choose plants that thrive in specific containers and also look comfortable; shallow containers for fleshy leaved species, deep ones for moisture lovers, such as hostas. Herbs and vegetables look particularly good in kitchen pots, pans and vegetable racks.

• Use the stainless-steel drum of an old washing machine. Use skipping ropes to suspend it and plant it up with trailing nasturtiums and scaveola. Use Horticultural fleece to line it before adding compost.

Source: tips from Graham Strong’s article, “Recycled Containers”

LEE VALLEY TOOLS Magazine Tips

SLUGS:  Check out the compost thermometer and the copper mesh - you cut as you much as you need to wrap around plants providing an effective barrier to keep the slugs away. It seems to do the trick, especially with little Hostas.

Website: http://leevalley.com.

Site for Copper Leaf Garden Store: http://www.thecopperleaf.com/directions

Back to Timely Tips