Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff answers:

=== everything you need is at Lowe’s or the HoDepot == go and shop ===== what you are looking to find is called “””grape stakes””” and they are made of red&cedar wood ==== you could hide metal fence posts behind those trellis frames to add good support to the vines and the trellises ….

GardenersCardiff answers:

Ella Fitzgerald–
A tisket a tasket
How high the moon
The man I love
Dream a little dream
More than you know

Carpenters—
Sing
Top of the world
Superstar
Rainy days and Mondays
Close to you
For all we know
I just fall in love again
Only Yesterday
I won’t last a day without you
This Masquerade
When I fall in love
Yesterday once more
Hurting each other
You’re the one

Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound machine—
Here we are
I need your love
Words get in the way
You made a fool of me
I need a Man
Love me

Acid queen–Tommy
Smash the mirror–Tommy
If I loved you—Carousel
Love Changes everything—Aspects of love
Making Whoopee (Whoopee & Fabulous Baker Boys)
My Funny Valentine (Babes in arms & Fabulous Baker Boys)
Que Sera Sera (whatever will be will be)—Doris Day (The Man who know too much)
Getting to know you—The King and I
Hello, Young lovers—The King and I
I could have danced all night—My Fair Lady
I dreamed a dream—Les Miserables
Summertime—Porgy & Bess
Bali Hai—South Pacific
Happy Talk—South Pacific
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair—South Pacific
Children will listen—Into the woods
Castle on a cloud—Les Miserables
There are worse things I could do—Grease
Hopelessly devoted to you—Grease
It’s raining on prom night–Grease
I’d give my life for you—Miss Saigon
Lost in your Eyes-Debbie Gibson
Foolish Beat—Debbie Gibson
Saving all my love for you—Whitney Houston
Love take time—Mariah Carey
Vision of love—Mariah Carey
Music Box—Mariah Carey
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps—Doris Day (from Strictly ballroom)
Take my breath away—Thompson Twins (Top Gun)
The Rose—Bette Midler
A dream worth keeping –Sheena Easton (Fern Gully)
I can’t make you love me—Bonnie Raitt
I turn to you—Christina Aguilera
Son of a preacher man—Dusty Springfield
Gypsies, tramps and thieves—Cher
You were meant for me—Jewel
Rose garden—Lynn Anderson
White Rabbit—Jefferson Airplane
Whatever Lola Wants—Sarah Vaughn
Save the best for last—Vanessa Williams
Accentuate the postitive—Andrews Sisters
Embraceable you—Billie Holiday
Stormy weather—Billie Holiday
Nice work if you can get it—Billie Holiday
Ten cents a dance—Ruth Etting
Honeysuckle rose—Anita O’Day
Stop the wedding—Etta James
This kiss—Faith Hill
Breathe—Faith Hill
Cry—Faith Hill
I could fall in love—Selena
I honestly love you—Olivia Newton-John
Gypsy—Fleetwood Mac
Rhiannon—Fleetwood Mac
The Chain—Fleetwood Mac

GardenersCardiff answers:

Since you live in a hot climate and have clay soil, you’ll probably want to first think about amending the soil–meaning add in some things to break up the clay and allow water to drain. The good thing about clay soil is it’s got great water-holding capacity and is a very solid support system for plants.

The bad news is it can be like concrete for your plants to grow in, so there needs to be some other stuff in the soil to loosen the clay up and allow the water to drain. That way when you water or it rains, the roots don’t sit in the collected water–then you’ll get root rot, fungi diseases and all sorts of bad things will happen!

A good idea is to get your soil tested–take it (for a very low fee) to your extension service and they’ll tell you just what you need to add to make a balanced soil. Alternatively, any local nursery is likely used to dealing with this soil and they can also advise you.

Since you also said you live in a hot climate but have clay soil, I’m thinking you’re not in a region like Arizona or Florida which generally aren’t associated with heavy clay soils. If so, you might have a hard time with fruit and palm trees since they need soils and temperatures not generally associated with regions with soil such as you’ve described (but you might try them in large garden planters).

So I assume you likely have a good long growing season where it gets hot, but perhaps it gets cold enough in the winter to plant some bulbs and have perennials that need the cold season for their dormant cycle.

Bulbs are fun to plant in fall, since you anticipate them coming up in spring and they’re pretty easy for a beginner–try online ordering sources such as John Scheepers. The good thing about bulbs is when they’re shipped, there are very clear and specific directions included for planting.

Container gardening is also a really good choice–try

http://www.container-gardening-made-easy.com/Beginner-Gardening.html

Have a great time with your garden!

Virginia