Comments on: my august garden chores http://awaytogarden.com/my-august-garden-chores Organic gardening inspiration from Margaret Roach Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:46:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Margaret http://awaytogarden.com/my-august-garden-chores/comment-page-1#comment-10987 Margaret Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:48:31 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/?p=5821#comment-10987 Welcome, Liz. I have read studies at both West Virginia University and Ohio State, among others, and seen those quoted in Organic Gardening magazine as well, that state that newsprint is safe for animal bedding and garden use, but to avoid glossy inserts and other sections that use substantial colored inks. I am not a soil scientist or chemist or anything, obviously, so I try to keep up with sources I believe are ethical and unbiased and go from there, and do recycle my newsprint and cardboard for this purpose in the garden. However, just as a preference, I will say that I like chopped straw for use around my vegetables...rather than paper...just because I can move it around easily as the crops come and go. I pull the mulch back and remove spent crops, and tuck in new ones, and so on. Very flexible, literally. Welcome, Liz. I have read studies at both West Virginia University and Ohio State, among others, and seen those quoted in Organic Gardening magazine as well, that state that newsprint is safe for animal bedding and garden use, but to avoid glossy inserts and other sections that use substantial colored inks. I am not a soil scientist or chemist or anything, obviously, so I try to keep up with sources I believe are ethical and unbiased and go from there, and do recycle my newsprint and cardboard for this purpose in the garden.

However, just as a preference, I will say that I like chopped straw for use around my vegetables…rather than paper…just because I can move it around easily as the crops come and go. I pull the mulch back and remove spent crops, and tuck in new ones, and so on. Very flexible, literally.

]]> By: liz http://awaytogarden.com/my-august-garden-chores/comment-page-1#comment-10985 liz Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:30:10 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/?p=5821#comment-10985 Many writers suggest newspaper as a mulch but is all that ink really OK to put into the soil? I have just "inherited" my parents little house in Brooklyn and had the soil tested. I have always been a bit doubtful about the soil despite the fact my father had harvested many pounds of fruit and vegetables over the years from the small backyard. Anyways, the soil has some lead and heavy metals in it. So, it's raised garden beds from now on and I hate the idea of adding any more suspect ingredients to the soil. Many writers suggest newspaper as a mulch but is all that ink really OK to put into the soil? I have just “inherited” my parents little house in Brooklyn and had the soil tested. I have always been a bit doubtful about the soil despite the fact my father had harvested many pounds of fruit and vegetables over the years from the small backyard.
Anyways, the soil has some lead and heavy metals in it. So, it’s raised garden beds from now on and I hate the idea of adding any more suspect ingredients to the soil.

]]> By: Fred from Loudonville, NY http://awaytogarden.com/my-august-garden-chores/comment-page-1#comment-10905 Fred from Loudonville, NY Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:28:10 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/?p=5821#comment-10905 Lauren Starkey... The best time to move a hydrangea, or any kind of bush, or tree is when it has dropped it's leaves, (when it is still asleep) late winter, or REALLY early in the spring. BEFORE it has leafed out! The main thing, when planting , or moving any shrub, bush, or tree, is to first dig a good hole, then fill the hole with water. Wait for the water to go into the soil. After that plant the bush, shrub, etc. Take your foot and step around the bush, to compress the dirt, so as to push out any air pockets. Then water again. When you water a new plant, you want to NOT just sprinkle the water, but let it soak in for a while. Think about it, you want the water to make it down to the bottom of the whole root mass, NOT be just on top. ALSO water every day, or two for at least two weeks. When a plant is moved it is like a person after an operation. I have moved lilac bushes WHILE they were blooming, and they lived. My aunt was going to a home, and wanted me to have them, and that was the only time to take them. My neighbor has moved hydrangeas at all times of the year. She has taken pieces off of the big white ones, and placed them wherever she wants. Being that they are free to her , she does not care, it they don't make it. ALSO, if the hydrangea was just planted this spring, and the root ball is intact, it PROBABLY did not send out to many new roots. Always try to move things on cloudy- cool days, if at all possible. Lauren Starkey… The best time to move a hydrangea, or any kind of bush, or tree is when it has dropped it’s leaves, (when it is still asleep) late winter, or REALLY early in the spring. BEFORE it has leafed out! The main thing, when planting , or moving any shrub, bush, or tree, is to first dig a good hole, then fill the hole with water. Wait for the water to go into the soil. After that plant the bush, shrub, etc. Take your foot and step around the bush, to compress the dirt, so as to push out any air pockets. Then water again. When you water a new plant, you want to NOT just sprinkle the water, but let it soak in for a while. Think about it, you want the water to make it down to the bottom of the whole root mass, NOT be just on top. ALSO water every day, or two for at least two weeks. When a plant is moved it is like a person after an operation. I have moved lilac bushes WHILE they were blooming, and they lived. My aunt was going to a home, and wanted me to have them, and that was the only time to take them. My neighbor has moved hydrangeas at all times of the year. She has taken pieces off of the big white ones, and placed them wherever she wants. Being that they are free to her , she does not care, it they don’t make it. ALSO, if the hydrangea was just planted this spring, and the root ball is intact, it PROBABLY did not send out to many new roots. Always try to move things on cloudy- cool days, if at all possible.

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