Unless you've experienced this personally, you will never know what it feels like to plant an apple tree and take care of it for each season for four years, only to discover that some rodent debarked it under the snow over the last winter...
My 5 in one apple tree planted in 2006 was "Girdled" probably by a mole, 100% around the trunk. If an apple tree is girdled more than 40% it will die in the 2nd year thereafter.
The only way to save a Girdled tree is to do what is called a Bridge Graft around the trunk with many cuttings from the same tree's branches. Bridge Grafting is pretty intense work. The most important tool is a freshly sharpened jack knife to cut into the bark - many times...
Custom-cut angles are needed to make each end of the graft fit into the peeled-back bark cuts. Copper tacks are used to hold the grafts in place.
Finally, you must seal all of the wounded area with tree wound dressing compound. The only compound I had luck finding was from a company called Treekote. the black gooppy tree compound is painted on the entire area.
My fingers are crossed and I hope that the grafts will work.
My fingers are crossed and I hope that the grafts will work.
On May 1st, I planted 2 quarts of Red Pontiac Potatoes and 1 quart each of red, white and yellow onion sets. In my opinion, onions and potatoes are the easiest to plant.
And now we venture back indoors to see the tomatoes and peppers under the fluorescent lights. It's time to do some transplanting...
Here is hard evidence of what tomato roots actually do. They don't grow downward, they want to radiate outward. For now, I will transplant them into a 4 inch peat pot, which is simple...
Okay, I may look silly here, but this is a handy tip for anyone who works with potting soil while starting seeds or transplanting; Wear A Dust Mask!!!
The fine particles in potting mixes can clog your sinuses and cause a nasal infection, resulting in an unpleasant odor within your nose for a week or more. A simple trick to get the blockage cleared-up is to pinch your nose closed and try to blow out (kinda like popping your ears on an airplane ride). Repeat every hour or so until the sinuses are cleared.
The fine particles in potting mixes can clog your sinuses and cause a nasal infection, resulting in an unpleasant odor within your nose for a week or more. A simple trick to get the blockage cleared-up is to pinch your nose closed and try to blow out (kinda like popping your ears on an airplane ride). Repeat every hour or so until the sinuses are cleared.
Speaking of handy tips (no pun intended) let's talk about Sharpie® permanent markers. I learned the hard way... It's neater to use an "Ultra-Fine" tip to write on plastic plant markers, however once they're placed outside in the garden, the fine print will fade away to nothing. Suddenly the permanent marker isn't so "permanent!"
It may seem clumsy and harder to read, but the larger "Fine" tip is the one to go with. It won't fade as much and will remain throughout the season.
☺
It may seem clumsy and harder to read, but the larger "Fine" tip is the one to go with. It won't fade as much and will remain throughout the season.
☺
