I am getting a grip on my new garden

[marlasmom]

I had a cataract in my left eye operated on three weeks ago as a result of having failed my driver's license test because I was legally blind in that eye. I am going to have the other eye operated on in April and then they say I will only need glasses for reading. It's been a miracle.

In the meantime I have had overnight guests every day forever. My daugher and son-in-law and St. Bernard puppy are here now. The puppy just tore up my ready to bloom amarylis.

I have planted flowers all along both fences and they are doing quite well. The lawn is so full of weeds I am not sure what to do. My neighbor who works for Disney in their horticulture department says its because the former "loved the lawn to death" and overwatered. It seems our grass does not like a lot of water but the weeds do. He tells me to sprinkle baking soda on the crab grass on a very hot day and it will kill it. The crab grass is different than it is up north - very low to the ground and really just creeps and creeps. I pulled out a lot of weeds by hand and ended up with so many fire ant bites I look like I have a terrible disease.

Planning on more overnight guests until mid-=May. The datura seeds I planted are doing very well and I will have seeds to shre this fall. Keep it in mind if you want some.

Basically just wanted to check in and say hi.

 

[gina2000]

Hi, Marlasmom! I was wondering where life had taken you!

I'm very glad that the surgery went well and it's given you a new LEAF on life!

I can remember when you were sooooo excited to have house guests! Are you ready to get back to normal for a bit???

Hope you're having wonderful weather. We certainly aren't. Between the snow, the rain and the cold....yucko!

 

[olena]

Thanks for the update.

I'm sorry about the vision thing. I'm legally blind and I hate ants and weeds with a passion. I go overboard on the ants. I don't wait for a hill to appear. I put Amdro in the spreader and treat the yard a few times a year. That takes care of almost all the ants. Now the weeds? They've been nearly impossible the past two weeks. It's not warm enough for my weed control stuff to work, so I've been pulling them up by hand. Today I pulled up 3 bags full. I had to be on my hands and knees just to see the little ones that haven't sprouted flowers and seeds. My palms are red, but I figure it's worth it. I'm doing more damage to them, than they're inflicting on me.

I'm also biting the bullet and getting a lawn service to treat weeds and fertilize. I'm tired of fighting the neighbor's weeds.

I also have a suggestion on the weed problem. Bayer Advanced Weed killer works very well on Bermuda. I don't know what lawn you have, check the bottle before you buy. A good pre-emergent 3 times a year also helps. I just mix up what I need in my tank sprayer and off I go.

The Bayer really works on the crab grass. A lawn fertilizer with crabgrass control also works well.

Good luck....

 

[crazyforpooh]

Well Marla's Mom, Barbara, you are lucky you don't have the snow we still have in our yards up here in good old NH. I think I still have 2 1/2 feet of snow in the yard. I don't think I'll be gardening for sometime to come.

Although we are to reach maybe 50 tomorrow first time since November. It will seem like a heat wave after the cold winter we have had.


Glad to hear you are doing well and starting to enjoy your Florida gardening.

I'll let you know how your babies you gave me are doing once the snow leaves.

Laura

 

[DixieDreamer]

Hi Marlasmom!!! Glad to hear your vision surgery went well. It sounds like it is making a real difference for you.

I love to read about your gardening challenges in Florida. It is such a different environment from what I deal with. I am seriously thinking of retiring there someday... and of course... I would want to garden like crazy!!! Knowing how you resolve the problems you face... just arms me with info for the future.

Keep us posted on how the lawn remedies go.

 

[marlasmom]

Just applied something called Weed and Feed to the back yard. I don't know whether it will lwork on the crabgrass. My neighbor who works in horticulture at Disney told me to apply baking soda to the crab grass on a very hot day. I'll be at Sams Club for a 10 pound box or more.

The only rose that is not doing well is the one with the proper rootstock. It's full and green but no buds. The other ones from Walmart and Lowes are doing quite well.

In the meantime i am dealing with week 2 1/2 of my 4 week houseguest marathon. Right now I have my daughter and son-in-law and their 90 pound St. Bernard puppy (she has a way to grow). She is without a doubt a very sweet dog, but the dumbest dog I have ever met and she has very little training. I wish they would leave her with me for a little while. So far she has uprooted two amaraylis that were ready to bloom, stolen a half pound of ham, a large hunk of very expensive cheese, a 1/2 pound of butter, has dug numerous holes in the yard, insisted on prancing around in the downpour we had yesterday and then walking all over my (formerly) white carpet and smelling as only a large wet dog can smell. She has napped on my leather couch and on my new comforter. I love dogs - but oh my.

I bought a lot of vines at Walmart (very cheap) and once they take off I think it will be very pretty.

Olena I don't know if Off will help keep the fire ants away but I am going to try it. Benadryl spray does help the itch. I used the Amador too, but the hills keep cropping up.

Okay, I am tired of cooking huge breakfasts and dinners. But all in all I am having fun.

 

[Snowwark]

A 90lb. puppy, Marlasmom!! She's certainly eating well, all those snacks she helps herself too...lol.

You certainly have your hands full these days!

I'm glad to hear that your cataract surgery went well.

Good luck with your lawn! Baking soda, eh?

 

[olena]

Amdro rocks! It's on sale in huge bags at Wal-Mart. To treat hills, you pour some on individual hills. Like I said, I fill my spreader with stuff and walk it around the yard a few times a year. It takes a few days to kill the queen, but it is the best stuff out there. The bonus is that it helps control other ants, too.

More on Amdro

 

[Ranatra]

LOL, Marlasmom, you are such a trooper!!
I don't know many mothers or mother in laws that would take on a St. Bernard as a houseguest, myself included!

Glad your surgery went well. My mom had this done some years back and I keep wondering if I will take after her.

Good Luck with your lawn