June 17, 2006

Composting Flower Wine Barrel

Nice! A container garden grown in a converted wine barrel (Bordeaux, solid oak) that functions as a first class composter. This is from a company called SunFrost (interesting name) that specializes in energy efficient refrigerators and freezers. They also carry several heliodons, in case you've been looking for a source. (If we don't know what a heliodon is, then undoubtedly we don't need one, do we?) Their product is aptly called a "Scrap Eater," and the website has a nice overview of composting with kitchen scraps and a great diagram of the way this one works. No price on the website, but you can call them or wait for me to do it and tell you what I've found. :-)
The Scrap Eating Composter

Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Container Gardening | Organic Gardening | Tips and Techniques

December 06, 2005

Update on Good Luck Brass Crickets

Remember our post not long ago on those cute little good luck brass hearth crickets? The ones we featured here were $6.95 as I recall, but the vendor I sent you to is out of stock, so I looked around for an alternate supplier and had a little exercise in caveat emptor. The identical crickets can still be found on the web from at least three vendors. One vendor is charging $9.79; a second vendor is charging $16.95; and a third says that the retail price is $34.99, but it is on sale for the supersavings price of $23.88!

Who are these people and why is there such a difference in price? The most expensive is from a brick and mortar garden store in Ohio that also sells online. The middle price is from an online retailer called Fireplace Mall. The cheapest is from an actual perennial nursery in Michigan called Hallson Gardens. Just goes to show that you have to do your homework if you want to get the best prices. You definitely can't rely on getting the best price from the online retailer, and when you do see a good price on something, better buy it right away, especially at Christmas.

$9.79
$16.99
$34.9 on sale for $23.88

Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to Tips and Techniques

November 01, 2005

November

Halloween is past, Thanksgiving coming up and Christmas not far behind. Groan...How could the year have gone by so fast? Do not fear. We here at LeafyLife are assembling a truly awesome list of gifts for the gardener in your life...or for yourself. Why not?

Here are some tips for your November garden courtesy of Tagawa Garden Center:

Continue planting your container-grown tees and shrubs as long as the ground can be worked and get all your bulbs in now.
Prune summer annuals by cutting back half the plant if you are wintering them inside. You'll get much bushier growth.
Prune dead wood from trees and shrubs, thinning and shaping them as you go.
Don't forget to deep water your young trees (up to six feet) and shrubs if the weather stays warm.
Feed the birds.
Use tree wrap on young fruit trees and lighter barked trees to prevent sunscald.
Finish raking leaves and cleaning up the garden to prevent mold and disease from overwintering. Spade your empty beds, leaving soil rough and chunky so the freeze-thaw cycle will break up the clods and hold snow moisture.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Posted to How-to Instruction | Tips and Techniques