AKA Ornamental Bamboo or Mexican Bamboo, this is one nasty invasive plant! A large (and ever-expanding) patch of it is growing on the farm property. Burning it down only seemed to fertilize it, and pulling it out was followed by rapid re-growth. Digging it out is not an option, since the roots can go down 9 feet or more.

So I'm going to try an organic solution on it soon that involves using vinegar and lemon juice. I'll post the results of this latest assault against it here. Keeping my fingers crossed...

hartless

We have been getting our afternoon showers the past three days and my plants are watered when I get home. It has even been raining at my house during the night and when I wake up the deck is wet so I know the plants are getting plenty of water. I have been watering because my plants were not established yet. Most were installed with the house in late November and it was very dry in April and May. So I was watering every night. I feel like I'm on vacation now that I don't have to water. Yeah, June and afternoon rain showers.

southeasttallytown

I am so excited about my new compost bin. I ordered a couple of weeks ago and I received it yesterday. It took all of 10 minutes to set up in the yard and the best part is that it collects the liquid for compost tea so I feel like I got a two for one. I can't wait to start using it.

southeasttallytown

Potato Patch Pests are usually six legged. Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)might be the worst ones.

CPB in my log book. These nasty beetles feast on potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and petunias. CPBs in adult and larval stage eat the leaves and stems of the plants, not the roots. This cuts down on how well the plant can photosynthesize and gives you reduced potato yields.

CPB adults are yellowish orange with black spots behind their heads and 10 black stripes on their wing covers. (Get out your magnifying glass, look close and count them!)

They spend the winter as pupae in the soil and emerge in late spring and WALK to host plants. CPBs lay clusters of yellow, oval-shaped eggs. The larvae hatch and feed for up to 3 weeks before they pupate in the soil. These prolific critters can have 3 generations per year in the South.

The easiest way to prevent damage to your potato crop is to make a barrier between...

Farmergal508

I planted 5 Bradford pears 4 years ago. Can anyone tell me why they have not bloomed like the other ornamental pear trees in the area? They get enough sunlight. I have not fertilized them, should I?

Fustrated in PA

buddabing