Garden at waist level

As a lot of you know I am on a mission to help residents raise organic food with restored nutrients though fresh food...I am working on the Garden Kart (basically a portable version of the Garden Inn) but if you have a good spot for it, the Garden Inn shown here is a great start and this is the best price I've seen for it.

GARDEN INN

I believe we have to make gardening easier on our bodies. A majority of our population is in their sixties now and these folks have the time to garden but bodies that really do hurt with the old way of gardening.

These raised beds are so nice to use and so much easier on our bodies. However we do have to fertilizer them every few weeks with an organic feed.

You can use miracle grow but check the label for added nutrients. The main reason we are gardening is to get those nutrients into our bodies for better health. So the plant must be able to get what we need in iron, magnesium, potassium and other micro-nutrients.

This kind of raised bed works well with vertical garden ideas. All of this is easier to manage insect control, bird issues and fungal disease in that it is not on the ground where there is access to the plant.

I spray the bottom of the unit or you can use organic methods like egg shells around the bottom to stop critters from climbing up.

Watering is important but because it is small and at waist level it is easier to do.

WHAT IS THAT BUG!!!

I get calls about a small annoying little bug getting into homes that looks like a small Box Elder bug, stinks when crushed and swarms though every small crack or conduit opening into the house.
Especially in West Emmett, Payette and Ontario this probably is the Elm Seed Bug

I can spray them directly but the next batch coming in will need to be sprayed again. It's important to "bug proof" your home - see the latest info on these new intruders(click here)

Tips for the heat

Raise your mower as high as you can now so grass can retain water, shade the root and survive the heat.

Use a water probe to see just how wet your trees and shrubs are - too much water is as bad as too little so on the off days the water saturation should lower.

Very inexpensive

Time for fruit tree spray

Timing

It is a tough year to be exact but even with those terrible winds in the Treasure Valley it looked like petal drop was ten days ago which brings us to about the time to start the spray schedule for fruit trees.

If you have any questions
(existing clients we've done past work for only please)
contact me at
tedasmith001@gmail.com

Tree Well

A trees number one enemy is that lawn mower or line trimmer damaging the cambium layer just below the bark. This is the area that carries nutrients and water. The second enemy is the grass growing around the roots competing for water and nutrients.
Simple solution is to use Glyphosate

(Round-up type product) to create a tree well -  simply spray it and let it die back (you can use the line trimmer to get rid of the dry dead grass look and get down to the thatch brown look)

Idea for Wasp Traps

A new thing I'm doing for Wasp control customers this year that I thought I'd share the do it yourselfer is using Paper Lanterns over those ugly looking Wasp Trap bottles and bags.

I looks more attractive and the Wasp naturally want to use it.
I do use darker colors like black because they also gravitate to heat.

If you want me to do it for you I include it in my $39 service 3x a year.

Fruit Tree Spray Schedule

This up and down weather is slowing some of the problems we saw last year in Fire Blight and insects but we are getting near time to be ready to spray your fruit trees or set out traps.

D&B is carrying the Codling Moth traps which I would suggest getting on your fruit trees if you are trying to go organic as possible. If you have had serious pest issues in the past you'll probably need to spray to get a-head of the problem.

 Codling Moth Traps on Amazon

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Here is a link for timing Fruit Tree Spray Timing

This is a link really for February Organic Copper and Lime Sulfur work but I like how it shows home owners spraying fruit trees and how simple it is Home Owners Back Yard Spraying

Link for products and timing Timing and Products

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This product I have used; it's inexpensive and is available at Crop Production Services on Hwy 20/26 just before Caldwell; ask for Tom Gritzmacher or at Amazon Gordons Fruit Tree at Amazon

  Fruit Tree Spray