The Organic Gardening Club of Garland and the Lakeside Communities

The monthly meeting of the Lakeside Organic Garden Club takes place on the first Sunday of each month at 2:00 pm in the little red schoolhouse at Rohde's Nursery in Garland, TX.

Topic: Mineral Supplements for Improved Soils by Gregory Rohde.

Location: Rohde's Nursery at 1651 Wall Street, Garland, TX 75041

Next meeting: Sunday, April 4, 2004 at 2:00 pm in Rohde's little red schoolhouse.

Free and open to the public.

Sue Brown, PR & Marketing
Lakeside Organic Garden Club
Phone: 972.203.9170
susan_c_brown@hotmail.com

Garland Native Plant Society

"April 18^th at 2:30 pm.

Contact Brigette Vinton at 972-348-5295 or bvinton@alldata.net for details.

Things To Do In April

Have you noticed that some plants are not thriving as they used to? Are there fungal problems or have you noticed more insect infestations than last season? Is the shade of nearby trees so heavy that the plants that once grew in this area are not leafing out as much as they used to or are they stretching to find sunlight?

One of the main causes for plant disease and insect infestation can be the soil that they are planted in. Other problems can be improper placement of plants.

Most soils consist of a mixture of clay or sand, organic matter, air, water, and living organisms. If the soil is depleted of organic matter then these soils cannot sustain microorganisms or plants. If the microorganisms no longer find food in the soil then they will quit working the soil, and the soil may become compacted, depleting oxygen and not allowing water to penetrate into the soil.

What happens when soils become dead? The plants die too. But, Mother Nature has a way playing sick tricks on homeowners and at major landscapes. Her trick is to allow weeds to grow where nothing else grows. This is her way of preventing soil erosion.

Have you ever noticed that a plant in a well-prepared bed may be pulled out of the ground easier than a weed in compacted soil? And have you noticed that you never can pull the weed’s roots entirely out of the ground? Weeds have deeper roots that enable them to find needed minerals and nutrients locked in soils that are deeper than landscape plants or lawn grasses can find.

Last year several customers complained about the following problems in their landscape:

• Ongoing battles with brown patch, black spot and powdery mildew.
• Die back of lawns and plants.
• Poor drainage.
• Invasion of weeds.

Upon inspection of some of the mentioned problems I noticed that most of the lawns that had brown patch had very tightly compacted soils. I was able to determine this visually, but also by the use of a Penetrometer. This device allows you to determine the amount of compaction in the soil and helps determine the need for aeration. After we aerated some of these lawns we added thin layers of organic matter on top of some of these lawns on a regular basis. By applying a quarter inch of compost every month for three months we were able to see a decrease in brown patch in three out of 4 lawns. By adding organic matter to the soil we were able to increase water percolation, which meant that water penetrated the soil quicker and did not remain on leaf blades for long periods. By increasing organic matter, the soil retained water for a longer time and more time between watering was achieved.

We were able to get the same results in rose beds, on landscape plants such as Indian Hawthorn and Cleyera. We did, however, add more mulch to many of these same beds to help conserve moisture and avoid water splash back onto plant leaves. This really worked well with tomatoes that were being watered by hose or overhead watering.

In some cases where spacing of plants was not proper we transplanted or removed some of the less healthy plants, improving air circulation. As soon as air was able to flow between the plants that were covered with black spot or powdery mildew, these symptoms disappeared with only a few applications of a fungicide. My fungicide of choice is Potassium Bicarbonate. By applying as little as 2 tablespoons per gallon of water mixed with Aunt Rohde’s Compost Tea many of your fungal problems can be controlled quickly and safely while feeding your plants at the same time.

It really does not make sense to apply fungicides, even organic fungicides, with out correcting the main problem. Black spot, brown patch or algae are symptoms of a major problem and will only go away once the major problem is fixed. Determine what that major problem is.

Poor Drainage

Years of soil movement can really screw up a once perfect landscape. It is surprising the amount of dust that can accumulate on rooftops and concrete surfaces and can easily flow with water during even a brief spring shower. As these soils move with the water flow they may accumulate in an area where they may prevent water from draining from an area quickly.

Has the soil grade changed due to erosion, growth of a tree’s trunk or its roots coming to the surface? Again, has the soil become so compacted that water sits in a poorly drained area for long periods?

Even though it is not easy, backbreaking labor may be necessary to re-grade poorly drained areas, and yes sometimes consulting a Landscape Architect maybe necessary.

Die Back of Lawns and Plants

What causes die back of lawns and plants? Many factors can be the cause. Determine these causes by first knowing the plants’ cultural requirements, such as sun or shade tolerance, type of soil and drainage they like, and exposure to elements such as freezing winds and/or extreme heat.

One of the main problems that I run into is the growth of trees and the shade that they produce years after the initial installation of the original landscape. Many people forget that as the trees grow the shade produced by the enlarging canopy may become more than certain plants can handle. If plants are healthy relocate these to other areas even if that means creating more beds. Do not trim a tree to allow more sunlight into an area thinking that this will cure the problem. When a tree is trimmed you are removing the tree’s stored energy and the tree will try to replace those branches quickly. This means more trimming and more damage to the tree.

The best cure is to rethink the landscape and find plants that are suitable for these areas.

Grass died? Replace it with a groundcover or a bed of shade loving perennials.

Perennials died? Find more suitable perennials that require shade to prosper.

Now, what happens when mature trees die and the shade is no longer there for those plants that are burning up quickly? Again just find more suitable areas for those plants and re-landscape with proper plants for the area.

Has the lawn died back because of overuse? Shade is not the only reason for grass to die back. Dogs and children that run over the same area and compact the soil are major culprits for lawns’ decline.

Aeration, organic matter and the use of microbes can help resurrect a lawn and also help lessen the chance of injury due to a bad fall on the ground. If the soil is loose and springy it may help soften the impact of a child, or one doing childlike activities.

GreenSense Lawn & Garden Microbial Treatment will help loosen the soil by adding seven species of microbes to your soil. As these microscopic critters work under surface soils digesting carbon matter they will help aerate the soil and improve water percolation.

Find out a lot more about these microbes by visiting Advanced Microbial Solutions.

Invasion of Weeds

As mentioned earlier, Mother Nature has developed plants to help control erosion. Where many plants can no longer grow many weeds can take their place.

What about weeds in flowerbeds? How many of you have three inches of mulch over the entire bed area. How many of you replenish your mulch on a regular basis?

Big Mistake

Funny thing happened to me the other day. I was at the nursery when I received a call from Carol Feldman, my landscape architect of choice. She asked me if I could meet her at a customer’s house for a consultation concerning a drainage problem caused by improper installation of a landscape by another company. I got the address and left immediately to meet her. When I arrived at the customers address I called Carol again to get access to the front gate. A combination was given to me and after punching in the numbers I went through the gate and up the winding road to the house.

When I arrived about two minutes later I saw Carol’s truck parked in front. Since I did not see her or the customer I started to walk towards the front door, but noticed that the gate to the back yard was open and headed back there. Big Mistake!!

As I passed by the garage a Chow started barking at me and coming my way. A little frightened by the dog I quickly walked away from it knowing how feisty these dogs can be.

As I proceeded towards the back end of the house I noticed a Great Dane come around the corner. Glad to be away from the Chow, and relieved to see what I consider one of the calmest dogs around, I walked towards the Great Dane. It started to bark ferociously and run towards me. I still was not scared, since I’ve never had a reason to fear a Great Dane. Big Mistake!!!

As the dog approached I put my hand out to pet it, and faster then I could say “Big Mistake,” his massive jaw clamped down on my arm just above my wrist. I could see that he tore through my sweatshirt and I could feel pressure around my arm. Somehow I remained calm and let him keep my arm in his mouth. When he let go my first thought was to run, which I knew would also be a big mistake!! I took one step towards the gate and safety when the dog clamped on my arm again. This time he did not bite as hard as the first time and let go quickly. I knew I was not going to move again even though his ferocious growl was scaring the heck out of me. To make matters worse I could see blood on the sides of the dog’s mouth, and even though I was afraid to look I felt my warm blood running down my arm. My first thought was that he tore an artery. My second thought was that the taste and the smell of my blood and my sense of fear was going to send this dog into a feeding frenzy, I was really afraid and at the same time wondering where the heck the homeowner was and if she would be able to pull this dog off me. I saw some movement towards the front of the house and noticed that Carol was looking at me from the gate. Even though I stood there frozen in fear I realized that I smiled at her as if saying: “Boy, I really screwed up this time!”

Finally I heard a voice come from behind me as the customer called for the dog. But, the dog did not want to leave my side. After several calls this massive dog walked away. I still did not move until I heard the garage door close. I quickly walked towards Carol and as I did I looked down at my arm. I really felt no pain, but I saw a three-inch long gash on the top of my arm and wondered if I had the same results on the lower side.

Finally, I looked, and to my relief I only had teeth marks on the low side of my arm near my wrist. I took a better look at the cut and saw red and white and realized that it had to be a pretty deep wound in order to see the white flesh.

I finally made it to Carol and noticed that when she saw the wound her face turned white. Not a good sign, I thought. The customer came out with a wet towel and some Lanacane. She acted as though she was going to try to clean my arm, but when she saw the wound her face also turned white and she started to shake. The first thing she said to me was: “What where you doing in my back yard?”

“I called at the door you gave me the combination to come in I thought that since the gate was open you were in the back yard”, my voice shook out the words.

Carol asked me if I wanted to be driven to the hospital. My response was that I was going to go, but to her surprise I wanted to see the drainage problem before I left. As it turns out Carol came up with an easy solution not liking my suggestion.

After about five minutes of discussing the problem I left and headed towards Plano Medical Center, mainly because it was near my house and Sandra would be able to meet me there. While driving with one arm clamping my wound and driving with my knees I called Sandra’s cell phone only to get her recorded message. I left a brief message and called the nursery. Karen answered the phone. “ Karen I just got bit by a Great Dane and… ”.

She interrupted me to say: “ I have always told you that animals have a great sense of character.”

“That’s funny,” I said, “but I am on the way to the hospital, I am pretty sure I need stitches and I do not think I will be able to come back to the nursery for a while.”

Now, her voice showed a little bit of concern but I thought that I could hear her lips crack a smile. I am always bothering Karen about her arms that are constantly covered in scars from cats that she tries to rescue. Now she was not going to let this one incident pass by with just a little ribbing.

When I was driving up to the emergency room of the hospital Sandra called me and told me that she would meet me there.

I walked into the admission area and they asked me if I had insurance. I reached for my wallet only to realize that in my hurry to leave the nursery and meet Carol I forgot my wallet. The secretary said that she could not admit me until I brought financial proof and a form of ID. I just thought that I would wait for Sandra to arrive until I noticed that my arm was no longer bleeding and that there was an ambulance outside with a paramedic inside waiting for his partner to come out so they could leave. I asked him if he thought that I should get stitches. He asked me to pull the wound open, and then stated that he could not offer medical advice, but that since the bleeding had stopped and the gash was a strait line tear, if it were him he would wash it well and keep it clean. I was already mad at the hospital for not admitting me, and did not really want them to make any money off of my misfortune so, I took the paramedic’s “not advice” and left.

I called Sandra and asked her to meet me at home. She made sure that I had cleaned the wound properly and helped me bandage it.

I was back at work around noon when Carol called to see how I was doing and to tell me that we had gotten the job. “I am glad to know that through my spilled blood we are able to get a landscape job, but I am not sure that I am willing to make this sacrifice again,” I said. I could hear Carol laugh as she assured me that she would not require any future bloodshed.

Later that evening the guys started to come back from their landscape jobs. One of the guys noticed my bandaged arm and asked me what had happened.

As I was recounting the day’s events, Karen stuck her head out the window and said, “Greg, your customer just called and told me that the Chihuhua that attacked you broke a tooth and that the rose bush that you jumped into has a broken branch and would like to have it replaced!”

That put an end to my story. The guys started laughing and making further hilarious comments. Knowing that I was not going to get any sympathy from these guys I left for home.