Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...


...upcycle, repurpose, reclaim ~
whatever term you use,
I am putting 'it' into practice
in my garden!

Recently, I planted out my cabbage,
cauliflower, and broccoli.
Upon inspection the following day,
I discovered many chewed leaves
and even had to replace a few that
had been completely devoured.
I have been saving my TP tubes
to use as collars for the plants
but was a little surprised that I needed
to do it as I planted!
Lesson learned!

Collared brassica using
toilet paper tubes cut in half
and placed around the
plant, pushing it down into
the soil about 1/2 inch.

The collars will break down and become
compost right in the garden.

I am happy to report,
after several days with the collars
there are no more chewed plants.

[Do you know what might be chewing them?
I am thinking cabbage worms or
slugs!(WA State mascot!)
If the collars didn't work, I was going
to try a trick from my gardening friend
Clint at The Redeemed Gardener
who suggested using Epsom Salt ~
sprinkle a line around the plant or row.
As you know, slugs don't like salt
and won't cross it
and Epsom salt is good for the soil!
I am going to do with around my Hosta's ~
the slugs really love them!]



I also like to put the grass clippings between the
rows and plants to act as mulch as soon as possible
after planting to suppress the weeds!
It breaks down into compost right
in the garden. No need to handle it twice.
When the entire garden is covered, the
extra clippings go into the compost bin.
(I never use chemical fertilizers on my grass
so it is safe for the garden and compost.)



Half of the Spring garden mulched with grass clippings.

Here is a little rambling rose that I just
planted next to the greenhouse. It was a
wee start given to me by my daughter
a couple of years ago. It has been
in it's pot too long.
It is staked with reclaimed mahogany
wood slats
from Gentleman Farmer's work,
and some cheap trim molding
for the cross pieces. More molding will be
added as the plant grows up!
Just barely showing on the left
are recycled bricks at the
doorway to the greenhouse.
In the little bed against the chicken house,
(also made with recycled brick)
is another little rescued rose bush.
I can hardly wait to have the pretty little
pink roses climbing over the
Happy Hens Haus!

The planter boxes were made from
recycled lumber and trim molding
as well.

Now, to wash those chicken house windows
and I think I may make some little curtains,
from left over fabric, of course!


Joining these fun blog parties~



6 comments:

Athena at Minervas Garden said...

I just love the window boxes with the fancy trim--so pretty!

Kelly said...

That is a good idea with the paper rolls! When mine get eaten like that, I assume it is rabbits, but don't know for sure.

Lady Farmer said...

Hi Kelley~
Hmmm ~ I'm pretty sure it isn't rabbits. I have never seen any here except for the pet ones we used to have. They don't survive here because of predation by the coyotes. (I have to really watch my cats and chickens!)It could be mice or rats, though, since it is so close to the chicken house and the compost bin. I have seen a couple of 'runs' under the soil. Hope it's not rats! Hubby trapped 40 one summer! He has other things to do this season! :~}
Thanks for visiting!

tom | tall clover farm said...

What a great message: The 3 Rs. Your garden looks great and I too am a big advocate of grass clippings as mulch. If it dries out enough today I'm on the mower to collect some of my favorite free weed suppressor. Love the place and your blog. Cheers, Tom

Anonymous said...

Raeann, I LOVE these tips. I am so going to start saving our tp rolls and collar our plants. What a wonderful idea! Thank you!

Alexandra said...

We have cabbage worms...little white butterflies hover all over the broccoli laying their eggs. They are hard to beat. I've tried diluted Murphy's oil soap with some success, and diatomaceous earth(DE). Those parasitic wasps like to eat those worms, I think. Our onions and carrots are blooming, and it seems to be attracting the "good" bugs. I catch the white nuisance butterflies and feed them to the turtle. :)

I threw in the towel with kitchen remedies for slug and snail control, and now use Sluggo with great success.