Page 1 of 1

Gardening question

PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:25 am
by phillyidol
Ok, so I am putting down some weed and feed and a little got near my flowers. Are they doomed?




Worlds GREATEST Photographer!

PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:27 am
by abacab66
According to my green thumbed wife -
"As long as it was just a little bit they'll be OK."

PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:50 am
by phillyidol
I sure hope so. I have been growing these awesome flowers for 2 years and this year they really popped. As soon as I saw the grains near the flowers, I watered them a ton. I'm kind of freaking out. If I killed them I will flip!




Worlds GREATEST Photographer!

PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:55 pm
by phillyidol
MORE brain damage? hmmmmmmmm.




Worlds GREATEST Photographer!

PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2008 8:16 pm
by WolverineSyr
If they haven't started to turn yellow or brownish by now, I wouldn't worry. Weed & Feed is usually specific to certain types of plants - like dandelions, etc.

PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 2:22 am
by KYYX4ever
[quote][i]Originally posted by WolverineSyr[/i]
<br>If they haven't started to turn yellow or brownish by now, I wouldn't worry. Weed & Feed is usually specific to certain types of plants - like dandelions, etc.

[/quote]

yes.

How necessary is it for you to use this stuff ? I've never had to, myself--I just pull weeds by hand. Or are there too many in Brooklyn to pull by hand ?

PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 3:20 am
by phillyidol
So far so good. Nothing dying yet but these flowers look very close to dandy lions. They are called coryopsys. I asked a pro today and she said I might get lucky if there wasn't much on them. There was very little. I really hope wolverine is right.

I usually don't use chemicals but this year I was trying to give my lawn a boost after a full year of squirrel abuse. When I finally decide what kind of border I will get (either brick or small picket fence) I will get rid of the grass and go with small plants and bushes. Cross your fingers!




Worlds GREATEST Photographer!

PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 3:54 am
by BigBri
Once your lawn is fairly well-established weed-and-feeds become unneccessary, and the few weeds you'll find could be hand-pulled. Early in the Spring I target anything that doesn't look right with my spray jug of Weed B Gone. After that I weed by hand. Thankfully I don't have a large lawn.

Philly: I'm just curious how you keep the squirrels off your flowers (no, really!). I don't want to usurp your personal nemesis for myself, but my local squirrels have managed to make it near-impossible to grow geraniums and impatiens over the past couple of years. They regularly decapitate tulips. They've already destroyed a few begonias, and then trashed a veggie plant a few days ago-- that was the last straw. I since bought "hot pepper wax" spray and have sprayed the hell out of everything.

I hope squirrels don't like Buffalo wings.

PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 5:59 am
by WolverineSyr
I've used cayanne pepper to deter the squirrels & woodchuck in my gardens. It's effective until it rains & then I have to put more down. It's a cheap alternative.

Honestly though, I have kind of given up on my war with the squirrels because I'm never going to win it. They dig holes in the yard & it eventually takes care of itself. I stopped planting things they like to eat. In fact, they seem to really avoid coleus & never dig in the planters I have it in....

I think the damn woodchuck is way more destructive than the squirrels anyways & I wish that fat bastard would get run over soon.

PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 9:52 am
by phillyidol
My squirrels don't go for the flowers. Only the grass. They pick a spot and come back all season long. It starts to look so stupid I am going for the bushes and small plants in the next year or two. They do love tulips and geraniums. They chew the heads off. I used the wolverine method. I bought 8 bottles of the pepper powder. I found the squirrel digging in the same spot with red pepper all over his face. He just kept going. All I did was season the lawn for him. So go for plants they don't like. coryopsys is really pretty and comes back every year. Daylilies are nice too.




Worlds GREATEST Photographer!

PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:02 am
by WolverineSyr
Your Brooklyn Squirrels are weird. My cultured and refined Syracuse squirrels hate the pepper!

They apparently love Sweet Potato Vine though....

PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2008 11:04 pm
by shovelbum
Wow, Philly, I'm impressed with your squirrels. They must be mutants. Cayenne pepper has always worked for me- especially for the deer who like to eat my hibiscus bushes down to sticks.

I will pray for you... LOL!

"There's safety in numbers when we learn to divide, how can we be in when there is no outside?" ~Peter Gabriel