Garden Nook For April 1, 2005

 

            Hi everybody and welcome! The winter season is finally behind us and the 2005 spring season is here! It’s time to spruce up the yard, recharge those old mulch beds and add more plants to create the tropical paradise you always craved.

            One of the most common tasks people undertake in their yards during the spring season is to mulch their yards. Every year new ground covers are introduced in all colors from natural to black. Many ground covers, especially pine bark, tend to attract wood destroying pests such as carpenter ants and termites and if they are applied near the home you can bring these pests much closer to your structure then you would like. Cypress mulch has always been and still is the best overall ground cover if you are going to use it near a structure. Cypress has a natural tendency to deter pests. The mulch that is labeled as red mulch is actually a regular ground cover, usually cypress that is treated with a red dye to give it the rich red color that many homeowners love to use in their landscape.

            One of the most innovative ground covers that I have come across is a product called Term-A-Rid. This is actually premium grade cypress mulch that is treated with boron so it actually kills termites when they try to eat it. As with any ground cover, you should apply it about 2 inches thick to keep weeds from popping through it and also to take advantage of the termite killing properties of the product. I m using it around a wooden deck that I have attached to the back of my house. Keep in mind that this is not a total termite control program but rather it should be a supplement to one. The product is available at K Mart and Lowe’s garden centers.

            As a general rule for all ground covers, you should use about eight to nine 2 cubic foot bags per every 10 by 10 square foot area. That would leave you with the minimum 2 inch recommended depth.

            When planning gardens, many people want to attract butterflies to their garden. Milkweed is one such plant and in addition to attracting butterflies, it is also very colorful. Milkweed is noted for its ability to attract the Monarch butterfly. I have planted several in my yard and they will add a very exotic charm to your yard. These delicate plants grow from 2 to 5 feet high and they grow well in any kind of soil. They also require a minimal amount of water but I find I need to water mine about every other day to prevent a “droopy” look they sometimes get. The plants also have large seedpods that if left on the plant will spread the plant to other areas of the garden. If you do not want the plan to spread, you need to cut the pods off before they dry and open. Te silk in the seedpods was actually used during World War 2 as filler for life jackets. That’s a lot of milkweed!

            You can find milkweed at some local garden centers and also at Pinder’s Nursery on highway 714 in Stuart.

            Another common plant that is very colorful and is a butterfly attractant is the pentas. They are available at almost all local garden centers and do very well in both sun and partial shade. They do like soil that retains moisture and they can be propagated from cuttings during the spring. They also make great container plants. I have several of these beauties scattered around the garden and they really offer a great color spectrum.

            By planting these and other butterfly friendly plants, you can add the beautiful color of these delicate creatures to your yard.

            That’s all for this weeks Garden Nook. I hope you found the information informative, entertaining and useful Next week, add humming birds to your garden! See you then!