Your All Things Plants weekly news: May 11, 2013

There were 7 new gardening ideas posted last week:

By flaflwrgrl
May 11, 2013 Hairpins for Seedlings
Use ordinary old fashioned hairpins (not bobby pins) to secure things like iris & daylily seedlings until they can stand on their own.
(no comments)

By Skiekitty
May 10, 2013 Help for Heavy Clay Soil
This method of dealing with heavy soil is easy, cheap, and effective. In early spring after the snow melts and/or the ground is workable, start breaking up the lumps of clay with a garden fork. Then add shredded paper to the soil, working it in as you go. The paper will break down, adding organic matter to the clay, and it is a lot cheaper than "clay buster"!
(8 comments)

By Xeramtheum
May 9, 2013 Get Rid of the Ants in Your Containers
A large part of my garden is in containers, so I am constantly battling ants that would like to take up residence. Here is how I get rid of them. When I find a pot crawling with ants, I sprinkle a little granular insecticide on the ground and a little on the surface of the soil in the pots, then water. Ants will vacate the premises in about 48 hours. I've also started sprinkling a little granular insecticide when I set out pots on the ground in the spring before the ants even have a chance to build a new home. It usually keeps the pots ant free for 2 months or so. This also works well for plants I keep in the greenhouse with saucers under them.
(15 comments)

By dave
May 8, 2013 ATP Podcast #17: An Introduction to Permaculture, featuring Terra Perma Design
In this special edition of the ATP podcast, we are so excited to be joined today by Jonathan Teller-Elsberg. Who's that? Well, he's a permaculture designer in Vermont, and he is a permaculture expert. What's permaculture? Well, it's hard to describe in a sentence or two, but I promise you're going to find it fascinating and educational. (55 words - Read the full article)
(3 comments)

By serse
May 7, 2013 Thrifty Containers
Containers can come from anywhere, not just your local garden center. Head out and get inspired with the selections in your local thrift stores and garage sales, and use your extra cash for more plants instead. (319 words - Read the full article)
(8 comments)

By goldfinch4
May 6, 2013 Don't Plant When Wet
Working with wet soil can compact air spaces. Wait until the soil dries out before attempting to work in it.
(4 comments)

By GigiPlumeria
May 5, 2013 Tips for Rooting Dehydrated Plumeria Cuttings
It is the time of the year when the weather is getting warmer, and it's a great time to start rooting those plumeria cuttings we hid during the winter. Some may be dehydrated, but a wet paper towel wrapped around the stem works well to re-hydrate the stem of the cuttings while rooting. (220 words - Read the full article)
(10 comments)

The most popular images last week from our plant database:

Photo of Iris (Iris 'Cinnamon Sentiment') by diggit:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Oriental Impressions') by spunky1:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Bit of Blue') by lyle627:

Photo of Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Ima Bigtimer') by Ladylovingdove:

Photo of Iris (Iris 'Power Center') by Calif_Sue:

Photo of Cutleaf Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon') by Patty:

The most active threads this week:
Subject OP Area Replies

Backyard Birds May 2013 Newyorkrita Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum 55

Defining what habitat view means in terms of photos flaflwrgrl Plant Database forum 40

My first little ones tveguy3 Irises forum 37

Making Plant List Private From Public Marilyn Site Talk forum 34

More Iris Bloom in My Utah Garden Paul2032 Irises forum 28

lyle627 seedling & intro talk #6 lyle627 Daylilies forum 24

May! Kathleen Farming forum 20

Bukiniczia cabulica CDsSister Sedum forum 17

Brand new Semperphile with a few questions. Moxie Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum 17

The most active threads this week:
Subject	OP	Area	Replies
Backyard Birds May 2013	Newyorkrita	Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum	55
Defining what habitat view means in terms of photos	flaflwrgrl	Plant Database forum	40
My first little ones	tveguy3	Irises forum	37
Making Plant List Private From Public	Marilyn	Site Talk forum	34
More Iris Bloom in My Utah Garden	Paul2032	Irises forum	28
lyle627 seedling & intro talk #6	lyle627	Daylilies forum	24
May!	Kathleen	Farming forum	20
Bukiniczia cabulica	CDsSister	Sedum forum	17
Brand new Semperphile with a few questions.	Moxie	Sempervivum and Jovibarba forum	17

Some new recommendations from our members:

ge1836 recommended Caladium Bulb Company and wrote:
I just received my Caladium order and find the bulbs large and sprouting.
This company is easy to work with. Customer service is pleasant and accommodating.

Marilyn recommended Select Seeds and wrote:
I ordered for the first time this spring and I am so glad I did! I ordered 3 different varieties of Agastache plants. They arrived today in great shape! I'll be ordering again from them!

I think the only reason I never ordered from them before was that I thought they only sold seeds.

Very pleased! Recommended!

critterologist recommended The Sempervivum Patch and wrote:
I was lucky enough to win a gift certificate Chris donated to our not-a-raffle during "semp week," and I ordered a "few" more while I was at it. LOL Her plants and packaging are absolutely pristine. She was generous with the semps, including extras of most and giving me two at half price because she didn't feel they were big enough. She included a lovely fairy garden lantern as a gift for my daughter, and I ordered yet another of her stunning intarsia pieces (a sweet little cardinal this time). Be sure to check out her other cubit stores, Timber Treasures and Garden Buddies. This lady's talent is just unlimited, and she's such a pleasure to deal with.

virginiarose recommended Abundant Daylilies and wrote:
I ordered about 14 daylilies over the winter on the LA and just got them a few days ago, and wow! These fans are enormous and there are also plenty of extra bonus fans. Mine had grown 3 inches while they were in the box. They were very happy and so was I. The tag thing did not take too long. I do my own tags anyway, but I do make mine ahead of time, as a friend in the forum does. It makes sense to do them ahead of time so you can get right to soaking and/or planting. The bags keep them nice and moist, but not too moist. You can order with confidence. I will recommend Sattelmeier to everybody and I will definitely order from them again. Thank you!

Emquinn recommended Valley of the Daylilies and wrote:
I have ordered several times from Valley of the Daylilies in the last two years. He helped me finish my Stout Medal bed. Plants arrived healthy and with a minimum of two to three fans. He is so generous. Ordered several of his daylilies and have been so pleased.

Some new recommendations from our members:
ge1836 recommended Caladium Bulb Company and wrote: I just received my Caladium order and find the bulbs large and sprouting. This company is easy to work with. Customer service is pleasant and accommodating.
Marilyn recommended Select Seeds and wrote: I ordered for the first time this spring and I am so glad I did! I ordered 3 different varieties of Agastache plants. They arrived today in great shape! I'll be ordering again from them! I think the only reason I never ordered from them before was that I thought they only sold seeds. Very pleased! Recommended!
critterologist recommended The Sempervivum Patch and wrote: I was lucky enough to win a gift certificate Chris donated to our not-a-raffle during "semp week," and I ordered a "few" more while I was at it. LOL Her plants and packaging are absolutely pristine. She was generous with the semps, including extras of most and giving me two at half price because she didn't feel they were big enough. She included a lovely fairy garden lantern as a gift for my daughter, and I ordered yet another of her stunning intarsia pieces (a sweet little cardinal this time). Be sure to check out her other cubit stores, Timber Treasures and Garden Buddies. This lady's talent is just unlimited, and she's such a pleasure to deal with.
virginiarose recommended Abundant Daylilies and wrote: I ordered about 14 daylilies over the winter on the LA and just got them a few days ago, and wow! These fans are enormous and there are also plenty of extra bonus fans. Mine had grown 3 inches while they were in the box. They were very happy and so was I. The tag thing did not take too long. I do my own tags anyway, but I do make mine ahead of time, as a friend in the forum does. It makes sense to do them ahead of time so you can get right to soaking and/or planting. The bags keep them nice and moist, but not too moist. You can order with confidence. I will recommend Sattelmeier to everybody and I will definitely order from them again. Thank you!
Emquinn recommended Valley of the Daylilies and wrote: I have ordered several times from Valley of the Daylilies in the last two years. He helped me finish my Stout Medal bed. Plants arrived healthy and with a minimum of two to three fans. He is so generous. Ordered several of his daylilies and have been so pleased.

Some numbers from last week:

63 new members.
136 new threads.
3,922 new posts.
1,114 new images to the plant database.
113 new comments in the plant database.