Category: container gardening

To Do in the Garden: October 2024

On By durhammastergardenersIn Accidental Cottage Garden, azalea lace bugs, bees, beneficial insects, bulbs, cankerworm mitigation, cankerworms, composting, container gardening, cover crops, dealing with fall leaves on lawn, fall cover crops, fall gardening, fall vegetable gardening, forcing bulbs indoors, native bee habitat, nesting bees, nesting insects, soil samples Durham NC extension, sustainable fall pruning for insects and wildlife, sustainable fall pruning for wildlife, tree banding in the fall, tulips, Uncategorized

By Gary Crispell, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County

While the Accidental Cottage Garden (ACG) took a hit from all the rain, the blooms of the zinnia (Z. elegans) and gaillarda (G. pulchella) still delight with punches of color. Scene from the late-season and very soggy ACG. (Image credit: Melinda Heigel and Gary Crispell)

And suddenly it’s October. When and how did that happen? Although, I’m pretty sure I got here by boat. Hopefully, the three-month monsoon season is over, but we could still get another gift from the tropics. (Someone needs to do something about the butterflies in West Africa.) 

The rain gauge indicated 12 inches for September. The last time I remember anywhere near that amount was in 1996, when our dear, yet very angry friend, Fran, visited for a harrowing overnight stay. 

The Accidental Cottage Garden is bowed but not broken. Everything is beaten down and bent over. Kinda looks like myriad ground covers gone berserk. However, in the tangles, one can find an assortment of delightful blooms. Zinnias (Z. elegans), African marigolds (Tagetes erecta), mock vervain (Glandularia bipinnatifida), plucky gaillardia (G. pulchella), evening primrose (Oenothera lamarckiana), Autumn Joy sedum (S. ‘Herbstfreude’), hardy ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum), and two volunteer cosmos (C. bipinnata) are doing their best to overcome the odds and keep the neighbors smiling. 

So, what’s going on in your garden? Perhaps you’ll find something useful or amusing (or amusingly useful) in here this month (or not). Either way, let’s garden. 

LAWN CARE

Attempt to prevent leaf accumulation on lawns, especially newly seeded or overseeded ones. And be sure those receive adequate moisture. (Yeah, I know. Really?!?) About those leaves, please compost them or put them into a natural area. They do not belong in the landfill. Continue mowing cool-season grasses (tall fescue, bluegrass, perennial rye) at 3 ½” to 4.”

FERTILIZING

Not much to see (or do) here, folks. Drop some fertilizer on the spring-flowering bulb beds. 10-10-10 or equivalent will do just fine. Work it into the soil where possible. Store any leftover fertilizer in sealed containers in a dry location until next season. 

PLANTING

(Left to right) Pansies brighten up the shorter autumn days. Tulip and pansy pot planted in the fall. The pansies were joyous for 3 long seasons: fall, winter, as well as in the spring when the tulips also came into their own. (Image credit: Melinda Heigel and Marcia Kirinus)

“FALL IS FOR PLANTING,” repeated…again. Things planted now will have most of the winter to put down roots and get established so they’ll be ready for another Sonoran June. Consider planting a cover crop on any part of the veggie garden not growing a fall crop. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) or winter rye (Secale cereale) will keep the soil intact and add nutrients to it.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs (tulips, daffodils, narcissus, etc.) this month. Plant salad greens and short-season root crops (carrots, radishes) in a cold frame. Do something nice for yourself and plant pansies. A pot full of their smiling faces can do a lot to lift the gloom of a day when it’s 34 degrees and raining. Caveat: deer LOVE them.

PRUNING

Wait until it gets cold (post-killing frost) and intends to remain that way for a bit. The goal is to avoid any new growth attempting an emergence until spring. Cutting back everything in the perennial garden is something your grandmother did but is no longer considered “best practices.” Apparently, there are solitary native bees that lay eggs on or overwinter in the stems of said perennials. Your grandmother didn’t tell you because she didn’t know. Somebody with a great deal of intellect, curiosity, and, quite frankly, an amazing amount of time on their hands figured this out in the not-too-distant past (post-grandma period). So, DON’T cut back your perennials unless the HOA is fixin’ to put a lien on your house. Chances are an HOA wouldn’t let you plant perennials (aka, weeds) in your yard to begin with. They—the stems, not the HOA—are better left until spring. Root prune any trees or shrubs you plan on moving in the spring. Have you noticed that most of fall is spent preparing for spring? That’s what the plant kingdom does. Those of us in the animal world get ready for winter. Plants have their eyes on the future. 

Close up of the rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), an example of a hollow-stemmed plant that provides valuable over-winter habitat for nesting insects. This photo shows the stems after cutting in the spring once insects may have emerged. Other plants with hollow stems include anise hyssop, bluestar, milkweed, tall tickseed, and pink muhly grass, among others. Pithy-stemmed plants like purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) provide habitat for some bees who use pith to build their nests. (Image credit: Debbie Roos)

SPRAYING

Most of the pesky little &*@$# have gone to sleep for the winter. There are two notable exceptions: lace bugs on azaleas (especially those in full or mostly sun) and scale on euonymus and camellias. Both can be treated with horticultural oil. It smothers the adults and their eggs. 

Damage caused by azalea lace bug, Stephanitis pyrioides (Scott). (Image credit: James. L. Castner, University of Florida)

PROPAGATION

Some of you are starting plants from cuttings. Maybe even in a cold frame that doesn’t have veggies planted in it. Be sure to monitor it at least bi-weekly for health and vigor. Water as necessary. 

Other amazingly fun stuff to fill whatever “perfect October days” we may be granted by whomever is in charge of such things:

Take soil samples while they are FREE through November. Sample collection boxes and instructions are available from the Durham County Extension office at 721 Foster St. or from the NCDOACS.

Repeating: compost any leaves you gather up. Sending them to the landfill is a definite no-no.

Cleanse the bird feeder(s), fill ‘em up, and put ‘em out. Sit back and watch. It’s therapeutic.

Prepare all your lawn and garden equipment for its long winter’s nap.

if you band your trees to mitigate the number of insect larvae that might feed on your trees in the summer (and whose digestive tracts are highly inefficient, causing copious quantities of worm feces to accumulate on whatever is under said trees—a friend told me about this), now is the time to do this (if you remember what “this” is after the mid-paragraph digression).

Sticky bands capture female moths who will begin crawling up tree trunks in the fall to mate and lay eggs that will hatch into the small caterpillars we call Cankerworms. In the spring, these hungry caterpillars emerge and eat the leaves of hardwood trees in urban areas and can be a threat to tree health and mortality. Some experts recommend waiting until all the leaves have fallen before banding. (Image credit: William A. Carothers, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.)

For a glimpse of spring in the bleak midwinter, try forcing spring-flowering bulbs. Daffodils and narcissus are good candidates for this exercise. Plant the bulbs in pots early in October and put them in the refrigerator. This assumes that you have a huge refrigerator and no teenagers in the house. In 12 weeks (Happy New Year!), remove them and set them in a sunny window where you can watch them grow and bloom. Fun! Kids get a kick out of it.

Paperwhite narcissus bulbs forced for indoor bloom. (Image credit: University of Florida/IFAS Extension and Cornell Cooperative Extension)

Bask in the beauty of the season when the leaves show off their true colors without the chlorophyll mask they have worn all summer. We may have to do that close to home this year. The mountains are closed until further notice. Sad. It’s the beginning of fire pit season. ‘Nuff said. Enjoy it, y’all! 

Resources and Additional Information

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-558

Purposeful Art in the Demo Garden

On By durhammastergardenersIn art in the landscape, birds, container gardening, Durham NC, garden design, gardening, Gardening information, sustainable garden art, Uncategorized

by Martha Keehner Engelke NC State Extension Master Gardener SM volunteer of Durham County

(Special thanks and recognition to Deborah Pilkington, Joan Barber, and Lisa Nadler, Extension Master GardenersSM in Durham, NC, who contributed to this article.)

When you decide to add art to your garden do you make choices based on what is on sale or readily available at the local nursery ? Or, do you add art based on a goal that you hope to achieve? For example, you might want to add dimension to your garden space or provide a welcoming environment for birds and other critters. The mission of the Durham County Extension Master Gardener SM Demonstration Garden, located at 721 Foster Street, is to teach and demonstrate practical research-based gardening techniques for a variety of urban spaces. Since the garden began, art installations have been thoughtfully chosen to advance this mission. This article highlights the goals that have been advanced through the placement of specific art installations. Some potential projects for the future are also discussed.

Goal 1: Provide a permanent home for seasonal plantings

Whether you garden at home or in a public space, it is nice to have a permanent place where flowers and small shrubs can be displayed and changed based on the season. Many gardeners use pots or make a raised bed from wood or stone. Since the Demo Garden is in a very public and open space, we wanted to develop something more permanent and secure. Enter the idea of a gabion. A gabion (from the Italian gabbione meaning “big cage”) is a metal cage, cylinder, or box filled with rocks, concrete, or sometimes sand and soil. It is used in civil engineering for building dams, foundations, or roads. In the military, a gabion is used for protection of infantry from enemy fire, and in landscaping a gabion might be used for erosion control.

(Left to right) Gabion walls surround a hanging garden; a gabion is filled with books. (Image credit: Deborah Pilkington)

After extensive research, the gabions were ordered from an online supplier. They were assembled, and inner cages were created. The gabions were placed at an angle to the walkway for visual interest. Large rocks were inserted between the outer and inner cages; then the inner cages were lined with weed barrier fabric to allow for drainage while also separating the potting mix from the rocks. Then the gabions were planted.

Peter Gilmer, Master GardenerSM volunteer, provided the rocks for the gabions and led the effort to construct and line the them. The picture on the left shows the base and framework of the gabion, and the picture on the right demonstrates how the constructed gabion appears before planting. (Image credit: Deborah Pilkington)

As seen in the pictures below, we plant the gabions at least twice a year to demonstrate seasonal approaches to container gardening.

(Left to right) Examples of seasonal plantings in the gabions. (Image credit: L- Deborah Pilkington; R- Allie Mullin)

Goal 2: Demonstrate approaches that provide a welcoming environment for birds to thrive

Part of the mission of the Demo Garden was to obtain Bird Friendly Habitat Certification from New Hope Audubon (now New Hope Bird Alliance). This designation recognizes that a garden includes native plants (at least 70%); is free of invasive species; and provides a haven for birds. There are two bird houses in the garden. One, in particular, is unique, handcrafted, and colorful.

Lisa Nadler built this colorful birdhouse. It includes a “stovepipe” baffle to ward off predators such as snakes, squirrels, and raccoons. (Image credit: Martha Engelke)

Another art installation that welcomes the birds is a bird bath made by local artist Bob Simchock. He and his wife Jenny started their company doing residential stonework but now limit their work to benches, tables, birdbaths, lights, and garden art.1 The birdbath was installed in July, 2022.

(Left to right) The artistically made bird bath. (Image credit: Lisa Nadler); Recognition plaque of Bird Friendly Habitat Certification (Image credit: Martha Engelke)

There were several problems related to the birdbath that we addressed. First, it sits on a stone pedestal which rocks a bit causing the water to drain out. This has been corrected with shims between the top and the base. Second, the bird bath must be cleaned with a brush on a regular basis since you cannot pick it up to wash it. A brush is now part of our demo garden toolkit. Third, because the birdbath is shallow, it does not hold much water and was drying out on a daily basis. Filling it required dragging the hose between multiple plants, resulting in it being dry more often than it was filled. This has been corrected by having the irrigation system which waters the garden fill the bird bath. This allows water to be in the birdbath most of the time.

Goal 3: Add a vertical dimension to the garden to highlight plants and vines that climb

Having a vertical section of the garden was always a part of the master plan. Deborah Pilkington, the lead of the “vertical” team, had taken a welding class, and as her final project built a tall artistic garden trellis inspired by a picture in Handy magazine.2 The size, dimensions, and the artistry made this a perfect choice for the vertical section of the Demo Garden. With volunteer Jackie MacLeod’s metal expertise and tools3, Jackie, Deborah, and Lisa Nadler cut, bent, welded and painted the pieces to replicate what Deborah had previously made. Peter Gilmer helped with the installation.

As the vertical team fashioned the trellises they developed, a secondary goal evolved: having the trellises pay homage to the building where we’d install them. The original Agriculture Extension Building was erected in 1948 in a Moderne architectural style, and it served as a “curb market” (what we would typically think of as a farmer’s market) until the mid 1960s. In 2004, the building was rehabilitated and the larger windows above the three main block entrances were replaced with black metal frames with a central circular motif. To tie the trellises artistically to the building, a similar circular element was added to the original trellis design recognizing the historical significance of the building.

(Left to right) The circular window of the building was added in 2004, and it is reflected in the structure of the trellis. (Image credit: Martha Engelke)

The corners of the trellis have colorful and beautiful fused glass squares created by Ali Rosenberg which are attached by a single wire at the top and bottom allowing them to have some
movement in the wind.

The trellises have fused glass at each corner which adds a pop of color. (Image credit: Martha Engelke)

The trellises were installed in April 2024, and additional work is being completed to level and stabilize them. A lively discussion has ensued about whether these are “art” or “trellises.” The outcome of that discussion will determine what if any vine-type plants are added. Possible options are moonflower vine (Ipomoea alba) or an annual such as black-eyed Susan vine, (Thunbergia alata).

The Future: Can a dead tree by turned into art with a purpose?

One of the issues that has recently emerged in the Demo Garden is that a large crabapple tree (Malus coronaria) has died. It will be a challenge to reevaluate the plants in this area given that it was the central feature of the shady bed.

After many years of beauty and shade, our beloved crabapple tree has died. (Image credit: Martha Engelke)

The chair of the demo garden team, Joan Barber, has already started to generate ideas for how this tree could be turned into a work of art. Here are a few thoughts that were generated during a recent workday:

  • Directional Signpost: Attach directional signs to the branches to guide visitors through the garden.
  • Carved Sculpture: Transform the dead tree into a beautiful carved sculpture, adding an artistic focal point to the garden.
  • Educational Display: Use the tree as an educational tool by adding plaques or signs with information about the tree’s species, history, and the wildlife it supports.
  • Art Installation: Decorate the tree with various artistic elements, such as hanging ornaments, wind chimes, or mosaic tiles. 
  • Birdhouse: Install birdhouses on the tree to provide shelter for wildlife.
  • Planter: Hollow out sections of the tree to create unique planters for flowers, succulents, or herbs.
  • Insect Habitat: Turn the tree into a habitat for beneficial insects, such as bees or ladybugs, by drilling holes or adding natural materials.

Stay tuned! As the plan for the dead tree materializes we will keep you up to date through this blog. Until then, come to the garden and enjoy the plants, art, and people that you will find there.

The Moon Gate Arbor was chosen by Mary Hanlon and assembled by Peter Gilmer. One of Durham’s senior citizens enjoys a rest on a recent visit to the Demonstration Garden. (Image credit: Martha Engelke)

Notes

1. Additional information and pictures of Mr. Simchok’s work can be found at https://www.simchockstone.com/.

2. Additional information on the inspiration for the trellises can be found in Handy magazine, Legwold, Gary: Artistic Trellis: Weld Your Way to a Transformed Garden, May – June, 2007, pp. 44-48.

3. To see examples of Jackie MacLeod’s work go to: http://jackiemacleod.com/

Resources and Additional Information

To read more about the history of the Durham County Extension Building which was a curb market at one time go to: https://www.opendurham.org/buildings/durham-county-agricultural-building-curb-market-extension.

From September 15th – December 8, 2024 the 36th annual Sculpture in the Garden exhibit will be open. This event unites the work of local artists with the native plant landscapes of the North Carolina Botanical Garden. More information can be found at: https://ncbg.unc.edu/visit/exhibits/sculpture-in-the-garden/.

The Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has developed a project called Dig Art! Cultivating Creativity in the Garden. The program is for educators interested in strengthening the relationship between gardening and a variety of the arts.  The activities in the guide help to teach ecological literacy and inspire new enthusiasm for garden-based learning.  To learn more about this program visit: https://gardening.cals.cornell.edu/lessons/dig-art-cultivating-creativity-in-the-garden/.

If you want more information on how to construct a birdhouse that birds will really enjoy, take a look at this posting from the Cornell lab of Ornithology: https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/features-of-a-good-birdhouse/.

To learn more about how to use art in your own garden, visit one of our previous blogs written by volunteer Wendy Diaz for tips and design principles. See it here at: https://wp.me/2nIr1-46H.


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