Rain barrels

Is your rain barrel working for you?  Don’t have one?  Why not?  Residential consumption of  water accounts for 40% of the water usage.   They are a great and easy way to save a little money not to mention the other help it can provide to the environment such as:

• Reduces the volume of water flowing to the sewer treatment facility
• Lowers the percentage of roof top rainfall as a component of urban runoff
• Backup source of water during times of drought or between rain showers
• Helps to keep our creeks and beaches clean
• Naturally softened water – great for delicate houseplants, auto cleaning and window washing
• Saves money by lowering your water bill
• Reduces the need for additional tax dollars earmarked for sewer expansion
• Chlorine-free water helps maintain a healthy biotic community in the soil

 Most commercial rain barrels go for $50 or more,  If you do not want to pay that much for one you can always get a trash can with a lid.  If placing it under a downspout cut a hole for the downspout to go direct into the can.  You can dip out the water.  Not perfect but it works.  If you decide to make your own rain barrel try the plans at   OSU extension   or just type in rain barrel plans in google search. I have used my saved water for multiple container gardens and some of the plants in my landscape.   It is a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle!

Mulch and lack of planning

I have a bed in my front yard that is mostly mulch.   Why you ask ?  Because I did not plan well.  In landscaping as well as garden design there are the best times to plant and okay time to plant and then you must be crazy time.  Planting roses now is not the best time so I will wait until the end of the summer and get more then and plant.  In the meantime what do I do?   I mulch.   What is mulch?  Glad you asked. 

Mulch -It is a covering that is used to reduce compaction(especially in garden beds), conserve moisture,  prevent erosion, stop weed growth.  It can also help prevent temperature fluctuation in soil (especially important in raised beds). There is organic and non-organic covers .

Mulches vary greatly in price.  Some are suitable to be used by themselves and others need to be paired with something to make an effective cover.   Chopped leaves are an example of organic mulch, some other examples are below. 

 Shredded wood- is the most popular and has some variety within it from cypress to cedar to .   Note on shredded wood if you are thinking well I can just shred the tree I just cut down and use it STOP!   Shredded wood need a certain down time before they can be utilized as a mulch, otherwise they end up leaching nutrients from your soil.  

Grass clippings-  Also handy but need some downtime before being used.  Allow them to dry to straw colored mulch before using them.   Also do not use if the grass was treated with weed killer.  

Cocoa hulls -  I have not seen these myself and would probably pay a lovely mint for them just to have the smell around I mean gardening and chocolate can life get better?   Truth, they only have a slight smell of chocolate.   However they do decompose quickly which means you will need to replace them more often.   They are great for small containers and low growing items.

Pine Straw-  or pine needles are great for those plants like azaleas and camellias that would like a little acid with their mulch. 

Bark Nuggets  made from pine or fir trees these are available in red , brown or black .  As they are large they are fairly resistant to decomposing. 

Inorganic coverage would include rocks, plastic or rubber mulch, landscape fabric or plastic.    Rocks will need some backing such as landscape fabric laid down first to be a reliable mulch.  Rubber mulch is made from recycled tires.  Some people saying it is great and some saying no not so much.   I would suggest just using it for under  your childs’ play area.

Another mulch I like is newspaper.  Lay it out 4-5 layers thick (just the newspaper not the glossy ads) then water well and put some shredded mulch over it.  The newspaper  actually does enrich the soil as it decomposes.   This is actually what I did in the rose bed newspaper with shredded wood on top until I can get it all done. 

   Well you know your options go forth and cover.   Until next time always progressing..

A few gardening tips…

Coffee Grounds – can be put into the soil for a great amendment. It helps with the nitrogen content of the soil. They can help lower the ph of soil if applied in a heavy manner. Your trees and shrubs will enjoy this treat.

Sawdust-  mix with your compost this will give it time to mellow.   Do not add more than 2 inches per year. Do not use sawdust from treated woods.

Egg shells- wash them out, let them dry then crumble them up. Add them to your tomato soil,  the shells will add the calcuim that your plant will need when in starts to fruit.

Flat Club Soda – use on your houseplants as a pick them up.

Human hair- next time you trim your hair toss it in your compost or garden for a boost of nitrogen.

Gardening is a work in progress

 

I have come to that conclusion.   My front yard was in total disarray and as people stop by or I am talking with neighbors I get the question how is it going ?  Followed by,  almost done (thus the reason I have been focusing on my front yard so much)?  We have downsized significantly what we were going to do in the front yard due to time  and money constraints( overdoing it for the house/neighborhood).   So now what is left is to undo what was started and to finish the adjusted garden design/landscaping plans.   This is the goal for this month, to complete the front yard. 

  The other morning I did make myself a list for the outdoors what I wanted to get done.  I had a wonderfully productive day stayed in yard for at least 4 hours and yet looking at the list I only got to mark off 1 thing.  This weekend the whole family was outside, with my husband and I working on the yard,  for at least 4 hours and once again I only got to mark of 1 thing.  I feel productive, I know we were productive, but my list seems to be taunting me.   I do not put on the list mowing the yard or trimming the yard as those are not projects just natural homeowner tasks, for most of us.  If those were on the list we would have been able to cross off two more items. 

Somewhere, sometime it hit me.  Gardening is a work in progress.  I do not need to be in a rush to get everything 

 done.  I like to garden.  I like to landscape.   I like being outside.   It has become a very relaxing time for me.  So even if I do not get to everything on my list, even if I do not have the perfect yard on the street.   I am happy.   I think all gardens should be  works  in progress. 

Always Progressing…

Activities for the kids

Kids bowl free is a program at certain bowling allies where children,  under 15,  receive 2 free games a day (must print your coupons).  You do have to rent the bowling  shoes  but still sounds like a bargain to me.   Don’t want to sit there while they have all the fun well jump in for an additional 20-30 dollars you can add the family fun pass.   This pass allows children older than 15 and/or up to 4 adults to bowl 2 games a day with the children.  Sounds like a good solid family time to me! 

For more information check out  Kids Bowl Free   And if you want to go back and add a family pass you sign in and pay on the Family Fun Pass page.  Enjoy!  

A few other summer activities with the children.

• free book once your child has read 8 books for more details check out   Barnes and Noble  
• discounted or free admission to museums
• discounted to free movies thanks to Cinemark or AMC.
• kids workshops at Home Depot or Lowe’s usually one weekend a month. 
• local libraries often have summer reading programs with a coupon book full of freebies or discounts for the kids.
• and check out the internet public library fun section for the kids. 

I will add to the list as I remember or become aware of more awesome ideals for the kids and parents.

Always Progressing…

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