Useful gardening hints! (forum)

snottiegobble starts with ...
I thought it may be a good idea for us to share any useful tips, ideas & hints particularly with recycling & the environment in mind! Please try to include a photo!
I have started off with 2 really useful items from the rubbish tip. They are the protective cowlings that surround the chimney of a wood heater. These are very useful for protecting vegie seeds, seedlings from birds, wind,& hail, & also on hot days delicate plants like lettuce with shadecloth draped over the cowlings wont flatten them.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 22nd March 2012 6:04pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author snottiegobble
Bunno & Busso ( smack in the middle)
#UserID: 3468
Posts: 1458
View All snottiegobble's Edible Fruit Trees

amanda says...
Nice one SG! How handy are they! I am like a magpie with my treasure when I spot these at the recyclers...lol...they are the backs and bases of sofa beds...($2 each) I use them for gates, trellises, fences and plant racks...lightweight and practical...
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 22nd March 2012 8:52pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth.
#UserID: 2309
Posts: 4607
View All amanda19's Edible Fruit Trees

Nick says...
I've been using used toilet rolls around my young seedlings as protection from some insects and birds.

Time: 22nd March 2012 9:25pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Nick T
Altona, VIC
#UserID: 2663
Posts: 727
View All Nick T's Edible Fruit Trees

snottiegobble says...
For all you folk on hills trying to cope with rivulets of rain water gouging out your tracks, I found one answer in desperation having lived on the side of a large hill in the Otway Ranges, SW Vic.
By using plastic downpipes & varying sizes of plantpots within each other, I was able to redirect the water to more suitable directions. The pipes are inserted into the top plantpot & the others are adjusted to suit required course. If leaves are a problem the bottom of each pot can be removed to allow free flow. Also plastic dustpans can be effective by cutting off the handle & allowing water to be channelled into the top pipe.

Time: 24th March 2012 10:07pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author snottiegobble
Bunno & Busso ( smack in the middle)
#UserID: 3468
Posts: 1458
View All snottiegobble's Edible Fruit Trees

snottiegobble says...
I noticed ants climbing one of my frangipanis & attending a white scale that was distorting the edges of some of the leaves so being in a hurry to go out I decided to try something I wouldnt normally dream of! Previously my local IGA was selling ProChef Australian Olive Oil(garlic infused)spray cans for under $3 so I grabbed one! Yes I sprayed the affected leaves & stems & it seems to have worked, with no ants, no scale just
glossy leaves!

Time: 7th April 2012 6:57pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso
#UserID: 3468
Posts: 1458
View All snottiegobble's Edible Fruit Trees

MaryT says...
Yikes SG - just make sure you don't smother the leaves - they need to breathe too!

Time: 7th April 2012 7:58pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author MaryT
Sydney
#UserID: 5412
Posts: 2066
View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
sg, can you tell me more about the white scale? I am growing a frangipani for my DIL, but one side of the lower leaves has gone brown, and quite a few have fallen off.

I looked under the leaves and found small white dots - looked like white crystals. Dusted it with Yates tomato dust, as I didn't know what else to do, and I already had some.

A Google search was hopeless - all every site mentioned was rust. Definitely not that.

Time: 8th April 2012 9:44pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 182
Posts: 103
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

snottiegobble says...
Julie, from what I have seen on mine there can be white scale on the leaves, stems & flower stalks, but when any of these parts are pierced or slightly damaged, white latex also oozes out for a while until it sets then it can look like the scale also!
Please correct me if I am wrong anyone as I have only had frangis for 18 months.
It looks like yours has had damage done by a sucking bug or other mobile insect.
BTW, My frangis lose a brown leaf now & again & of course in the winter lose them all. Is this plant in shade?

Time: 9th April 2012 4:45pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso
#UserID: 3468
Posts: 1458
View All snottiegobble's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
No, sg, full sun. I find it odd that you can grow frangipani in the S.West, as they certainly don't like the cold nights in the hills! I have not seen one plant in Roleystone, though down the hill there are plenty.

The leaves are only brown on one side, and the scale or whatever is only under the leaves - nowhere else.

Looked through my 'What Pest or Disease is That' today,and it mentions hard and soft scales. This is very hard, so it might be a scale. I'll treat it with pest oil and see how it goes.



Time: 9th April 2012 7:18pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 9th April 2012 7:20pm
About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 182
Posts: 103
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

amanda says...
That's interesting guys....I have the "evergreen" frangipani's and they always looked like they had a white scale too SG...turned out they didn't - it was just the sap.
It also looked "crystal" like...have you recently purchased them Julie? Repotted?

I never treated mine with anything - and they are fine now...they are a really tough plant. Are yours the evergreens too..?

Time: 9th April 2012 7:44pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth
#UserID: 2309
Posts: 4607
View All amanda19's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
No, not evergreen. They were given to me last winter from a friend's mum's garden. She lives in a much warmer area than Roleystone, as the leaves promptly fell off! It didn't really grow new leaves until around Christmas.

They were in quite a large pot, so didn't need to repot them.

It is flowering at the moment - pink. If it's not scale, I have no idea aout the brown patches all down one side of the leaf. They get worse then fall off. Hasn't been cool enough to blame the weather for that.

Time: 10th April 2012 8:01pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 182
Posts: 103
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

amanda says...
Isn't hasn't really been cool enough has it Julie...Must say that mine are looking pretty tatty - with blemishes, dry powdery stuff etc...and...the plant in full all-day sun has leaves that are brown only on one half of the leaf too..?

This is a pic of what mine are looking like...is it the same?
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 12th April 2012 9:39am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth
#UserID: 2309
Posts: 4607
View All amanda19's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
Yep, that looks like it. I sprayed it with pest oil (noticed some white spots on the trunk too) a few days ago, so waiting to see if it improves.

It is still growing healthy new leaves, so isn't sick in any other way.

Time: 15th April 2012 8:31pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 15th April 2012 8:33pm
About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 182
Posts: 103
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

amanda says...
I think this is sunburn Julie...? Mine aren't sick either - but the summer was a bit fierce for them this year (most of my burnt leaves are on the western side of the plants too....maybe the hot afternoon sun was too much?)

It can be hard to tell if the white spots are pests or not can't it? Damn latex. Maybe a magnifying glass might help?

Time: 16th April 2012 10:57am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth
#UserID: 2309
Posts: 4607
View All amanda19's Edible Fruit Trees

snottiegobble says...
Most new Venetian blinds & roller blinds are supplied in clear plastic containers, & the heavier wooden blinds warrant containers with fancy end stoppers that can be re-applied to suit other purposes! This added bonus has allowed me to cut away one side of a container, drill a few holes along it & place it over seeds for fast germination & protection. In the winter I feel it will be very useful. It is held down with short lengths of old aluminium blind louvres. You may be able to pick the whole blinds up at the tip, & incidently the the louvres also make exc. plant tags, & easy to cut with scissors & you will get hundreds of tags from one blind.
BTW, its worth remembering that if it wasnt for Venetians it would be curtains for all of us!! :-)

Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 26th April 2012 3:22pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso
#UserID: 3468
Posts: 1458
View All snottiegobble's Edible Fruit Trees

John Mc says...
I never thought to cut up an old venetian blind for plant tags what an excellent idea SG. I'd imagine the plastic ones would be durable enough as well. That's the best idea I've heard of in a long time.

Time: 26th April 2012 5:22pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
#UserID: 2743
Posts: 2043
View All JohnMc1's Edible Fruit Trees

JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
I love reading this thread.

Time: 27th April 2012 9:46am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author JUJUBE FOR SALE
 
#UserID: 2706
Posts: 715
View All JUJUBE FOR SALE's Edible Fruit Trees

snottiegobble says...
Everyone has little deft ways of doing things to either save money, time, plants or just recycle something so lets see them! No matter how paltry they may seem to you there are others who may not have thought of the idea!

Time: 27th April 2012 11:26am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso
#UserID: 3468
Posts: 1458
View All snottiegobble's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
I have been collecting wire baskets for a friend from the annual rubbish clean up. Lots out there!

She has chooks and bantams roaming everywhere, so she puts these over seed trays to stop them digging around.

I make plant tags from cut up ice cream containers. The best marker I have tried which doesn't fade is either a 2B pencil or a kids thick black pencil.

Time: 27th April 2012 8:16pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 154
Posts: 1842
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

snottiegobble says...
Good one Julie, but did you know 2B pencils are quite hard to find? Well, they are down our way. I ended up with a fine permanent marker, but I think they are enclined to fade in the sun.

Time: 27th April 2012 10:23pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso
#UserID: 3468
Posts: 1458
View All snottiegobble's Edible Fruit Trees

Xiem says...
Speaking of markers, and I think it is consistent with this thread to ask the question, what do members use for identifying trees long after they have been planted?? The trees that is, not the members, but both could apply because tags/name-plates can be very interesting and useful to those who come after us.
The most permanent markers I have seen are copper strips that can be "engraved" into the soft metal with a sharp implement. Other things like plastic tags, dymo tape, etc deteriorate over time. I would imagine that there are many gardeners who wish they had kept information on their plantings.

Time: 28th April 2012 1:06pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Diego
 
#UserID: 4715
Posts: 283
View All Diego's Edible Fruit Trees

Julie says...
I have seen aluminium strips used for the same purpose, but can't remember where.

sg, I will look out for 2B pencils - they can't be that hard to find!

Time: 28th April 2012 6:30pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
#UserID: 154
Posts: 1842
View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees

snottiegobble says...
Thanks Julie. Yes Xiem even in botanic gardens there are faded & shattered labels which can be very frustrating if you dont know the plant/tree already! One day I believe they will provide us with a I-phone that tells you what they are when you point it at them! Handy hey?

Time: 28th April 2012 8:20pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso
#UserID: 3468
Posts: 1458
View All snottiegobble's Edible Fruit Trees