Weed remedies that use no poison

Dandelion (Photo credit: Dawn Gagnon)

If you're like me, you really hate to use any chemical in your yard. You never know what kind of an impact it can have on your lawn, other plants, pets or even ground water. If there are gentler ways to rid ourselves of weeds, I am all for it. Here's a few suggestions:

1. Pour hot - near boiling water on the weed- This is an effective way to kill single isolated instances of weeds in your yard.

2. Pour a mixture of 1 part lemon juice to one part hot water on the weed.

3. Use salt mixed with hot water. Once cooled and salt has become diluted add to a spray bottle and spray entire weed with the solution. The ratio is 1/2 cup salt to 3 cups water.

4. Fill spray bottle with ordinary white household vinegar and spray weeds thoroughly.

5. As a weed preventative, some have had success using corn gluten meal. It is supposed to stop the weed seeds from germinating.

6. For really difficult weeds try a stronger vinegar solution currently called Weed Pharm. See Amazon link below. It actually has 20% more acetic acid than your regular household vinegar and is still safe for use.

Spring time in the South

How to correctly prune your rose bushes

Photography by Dawn Gagnon

Roses are a beautiful addition to any garden but they do require some maintenance to keep them looking beautiful. Proper pruning and dead heading your roses is one part of the maintenance that must be done every season.

1. Prune your rose in early spring and once all danger of frost has past.

2. Make sure you have clean, sharp by-pass pruners and thick gloves. Some roses like the Joseph Coat are extremely thorny and can really cause a lot of damage to your hands and arms.

3. During the growing season, prune roses by looking for the first set of five leaves where you'll see a leaf bud. Prune just above this bud at a 45 degree angle that will assure the new growth will grow outward from the plant and not inward. This can be done as you dead head your roses.

4. Remove all dead and dying wood and any spindly canes that are less than the diameter of a pencil. Also look for sucker growth. These are canes that shoot out from the base of your plant under the main bud union. The main bud union is where all the main canes of the rose bush emerge from. Anything growing and shooting out from under this is a sucker and should be removed completely.

5. If you have a problem with cane borers, it is suggested that you can cover fresh pruning cuts with basic white school glue to prevent infestation.

6. Once roses go dormant for the year and have been exposed to several hard frosts, cut the rose down to one third of its original size and only leave three to four healthy canes for best results. Add a thick layer of fresh mulch.

DIY network's newest “Dirtiest Landscaping” sweepstakes is here

If you love watching any of the great shows on the DIY network, be sure to enter their latest sweepstakes. The details of this latest sweepstakes are the winner receives $50,000.00 cash to create the backyard of your fantasies. With a grand prize of $50,000.00 and other giveaways, it is hard to resist entering this sweepstakes.

If you have a landscape that is in dire need of help, this sweepstakes can be the chance of a lifetime to finally get everything you ever dreamed of for a back yard oasis. Your own little slice of paradise. Just think of what you can do with the sum of $50,000.00 to create your perfect yard. Maybe all your yard is missing is a swimming pool, or perhaps you have one that would be beautiful flanked with palm trees and gorgeous tropical flowers and landscaping. The possibilities are endless.

Those who enter will also be eligible for six additional prizes of Sears gift cards in the amount of $1000.00. The Sears gift cards will be given away weekly so if you want to enter you may enter once a day through May 4^th, at 5 pm eastern standard time.

To enter simply click on this link: DIY Network Dirtiest Landscape Sweepstakes Entry Form
For more on home improvements see: Dawns Decorating Solutions.
For more on gardening see: The Southern Garden

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How to grow and care for Dogwood trees

If you have been bitten by spring fever, you have probably made a trip to your local nursery and or hardware store that sells gardening supplies and flowers. One tree you may have wondered about is the ever present southern bloomer, the Dogwood trees. Lining many streets, and prominently blooming in yards all over the south, the Dogwood tree is a favorite for many homeowner.

Dogwoods can be found throughout the south eastern portion of the United States growing under a thick canopy of taller trees in forests. Dogwoods can be a fickle tree if it isn't happy with its growing conditions so there are a few things that need to do to insure that this tree will thrive in your landscape.

Soil
The soil should be acidic and when planting be sure to plant the root ball slightly above ground level. Replace the soil from the hole dug with a prepared garden soil specifically for acid loving plants,shrubs and trees.

Light
Remember many flowering Dogwoods can be found growing in shady forest locations, so they like a shady environment in your yard too. Try to find a spot that has dappled sunlight, and if you plant them among other trees, try to make sure these trees produce natural mulch on the ground since this will keep the soil moist and provide lots of leaf mold for the Dogwood tree.

Watering
Newly planted Dogwoods should be watered on a weekly basis and during dry periods water regularly.
When first planted be sure to water, wait until absorbed, and water again. Repeat this.

Fertilizing
Dogwoods need a good start in order to thrive in your landscape. Be sure to give new plants a slow release fertilizer to ensure the best possible start.

Pruning
Dogwoods require very little pruning. You can prune them after they have flowered using good quality pruners if you want to manage their overall shape, but too much pruning can invite disease to your new plant and if its not necessary avoid doing any pruning until your Dogwood is well established, one or two years after planting. Be sure to prune damaged and dead branches on your Dogwood. Keep an eye out for disease and pests and be sure to remove any of these beforehand.

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Growing Camellias in your southern garden

Pink Camellia (photo credit: Dawn Gagnon)

One shrub you will find beloved by many a southerner is the lovely Camellia bush. Camellias are sturdy small shrubs that produce vivid blossoms appearing October-March. They have thick dark green glossy leaves and the flower heads are similar in size to a rose. Camellia blossoms can come in a myriad of colors from white, soft pinks, vivid reds and in Southern parts of China yellow.

Growing conditions:
Camellias can be grown in full sun, partial or even full shade. Dappled shade is perhaps ideal especially for white flowering forms. Camellia shrubs are known to thrive quite well underneath Pine and Oak trees due to the naturally acidic soil around these types of trees. Basically, a Camellia will grow well wherever a n Azalea will thrive. When planting a Camellia bush, dig a hole twice the size of the root ball and once the bush is centered in the middle of the hole be sure to fill in the hole with compost, and a good prepared soil mix.

Zone hardiness:
Camellias can grow in zones 7-9. Many new cultivators have developed varieties that can tolerate zones further north.

Pruning:
Camellias can be pruned almost any time of the year but ideally can be pruned lightly after it is done blooming.

Watering:
Newly planted Camellias do well with regular watering that keeps the soil moist. Do not over water or keep the plant soggy. Normal annual rainfall is well tolerated, however, when there is extremely hot and dry weather a Camellia should be watered during those times to keep it healthy.

Pests and diseases:
Camellias are prone to tea scale. Tea scale are small insects that have cotton like masses underneath the leaves and the presence of yellow blotches on the top side of leaves. If left untreated the bush will not thrive. Use of a systemic insecticide is preferred. Camellias can become subjected to root rot as well if it is grown in soil that is too damp or is over watered.

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Weeds in your garden

If you have been dismayed by the presence of weeds in your garden, there are some things you can do to eliminate their taking over.
1. Use pre emergent herbicide
2. Make sure your lawn is completely dry between waterings to slow weed growth
3. Don't cut your grass too short, weeds germinate in the top most layer of your garden soil. Grass that is allowed to grow to 2 to 3 inches will inhibit weeds from thriving.
4, When establishing your lawn, use weed free seed.
5.  A healthy lawn is one of the best defenses against weeds, Use Root Maximizer, Kelp Meal and EM-1 for best results with your lawn.

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