How to effectively scare grape enthusiasts?
P:I always have competition for my grapes. Not only neighbors, but also insects and birds are eager to eat them! And damaged balls are unappetizing and not suitable for preserves. How to discourage pests?
O:Neighbors are easily scared off with a tall fence and a dangerous dog, while insects and birds can be treated in a simple, though somewhat tedious way. Grape bunches are not attacked until they are ripe. Before that, there aren't many lovers of sour fruit.
As soon as they start to blush, please put the grapes in paper bags.The breakfast type is best, because they are thin, permeable to air and light and can be easily formed The opened bag should be precisely tied with a garden wire, right above the bunch.
The smallest hole or accidental tearing of the paper will cause insects attracted by the smell to get inside the bag, but will not be able to get out of it.
The same method can be used for other fruits, e.g. pears or apples.
Is comfrey fertilizer?
P:I heard from a friend that it is worth growing comfrey in flowerbeds. Apparently it enriches the soil. Is it true?
O:The soil is enriched not so much by the cultivation of the comfrey itself, but by the fertilizer it produces.Please remember, however, that it is not universal - not suitable for use on alkaline (calcareous) soils. The cultivation of comfrey alone - although it provides material for compost and liquid fertilizer - is quite risky.
This plant has long roots that penetrate deep layers of the earth and take up potassium.This has its downsides - it may be difficult to remove in the future. In addition, comfrey gives off a rather unpleasant odor.So, when planning a discount, I advise you to plant it in a place where it will be able to grow for a minimum of 20 years without disturbing anyone with its smell.
In the first year after sowing, it is worth removing flower buds. This procedure will make the plant spend all its energy on the growth of shoots and leaves, not flowers, and then seeds.
How to get rid of couch grass?
P:In the spring, my husband and I bought a plot of land - an old, neglected field. Before sowing the grass and flowers, we weeded and nourished the substrate. Nevertheless, couch grass is the dominant plant here. How do I get rid of this weed?
O:The fight against couch grass really leaves many gardeners awake at night.The simplest solution is to sow lupine and spray monocotyledonous weeds, that is, inter alia couch grass, but also grass! Lupine is a dicotyledonous plant, so this treatment will not harm it.The plant also has other benefits:
- protects the soil from drying out,
- enriches the soil with nitrogen,
- gives the plot an aesthetic appearance.
To get rid of couch grass, choose the right preparation. It is best to choose a cloudy, windless and dry day for the treatment. Prepare the solution according to the instructions on the package.
Spraying should be done twice, 2 weeks apart. After about 3 weeksthe couch grass should start to dry outPlease remember to put on rubber gloves and a mask before spraying, and inform the household members not to use this part of the plot for 2- 3 days.
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Opieńki miodowe Armillaria mellea (Photo: Fotolia.com) |
What are these mushrooms?
P:When I felled a tree, a mushroom colony developed on its trunk. Now I observe similar small specimens appear around the cherry tree trunk. I wonder if they are not parasites and will harm the trees in the orchard.
O:These are honey fungi - edible mushrooms with many flavors. However, they pose a threat to trees, which is why cherries, left to themselves, will surely start to die. Since the fungus has attacked fruit trees, it is important to get rid of it without the use of chemical pesticides.
If the fruiting bodies are small and occur in small numbers, it is worth using a natural method, i.e. sprinkle the base of the trunk with potato flour quite generously.Starch contained in it is a breeding ground for the competition fungus for armillery, as well as other fungi causing tree diseases (e.g. silvery leaves). Sprinkle the flour regularly, especially in the event of frequent rainfall.
How do I dry the flowers?
P:There are lots of beautiful flowers in my garden. How to properly dry them so that they will be pleasing to the eyes for a long time?
O:Collect the flowers for drying in full sun, when they are most beautifully developed.The easiest way to dry Helichrysum, lavender and grass , mussels and black cumin. They contain little water, so they do not mold and set quickly. We tie the collected flowers into rare bouquets and hang them on a rope or a hook in a warm, airy but shaded place. Plants dried in the sun will fade and become unattractive.
Plants containing more water, such as delphiniums and hydrangeas, can be dried in a sand-borax mixture or in silica gel.Place the flowers in a punched box with the stems sticking out through the holes outside it, and at the bottom of the package there were only heads. Then gently sprinkle the flowers with the mixture mentioned above.
