Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff answers:

Wildflowers typically are self seeding perennials — they drop seeds in the fall, which germinate again the following spring.

You can put some container plants in now, and add more next spring, along with some seed.

Here’s a pretty nice article or two:

How-to: Planting a wild flower prairie garden

http://www.gardening-guides.com/specialty-gardens/wildflower-garden.php

GardenersCardiff answers:

I really hate slugs…
I heard that if you put pennies or copper anything around where they are that they will flee from it and maintain a 5 foot radius.
I also found this on a site and I believe it will help.

“Many insects, including ants, can be repelled from gardens by sprinkling hot chile powder (e.g., red pepper, cayenne powder ) around and on the plants. These powders will need to be renewed after a rain, however. The amount to use is mostly determined by trial and error. The ants usually will not walk across the powder, so putting a good amount on any paths will help, but a nice dusting everywhere in addition to that is usually the best approach.

For the most economic plan, grow your own hot chiles, dry*, and powder them with a mortar and pestle. The hottest varieties will provide the most potent powder, so some very good choices are any of the Chinense varietals such as Habanero. They are also thinner-walled chiles and, therefore, easier to dry quickly before they are able to mold.

*An easy and quick method of drying is to cut thin-walled chiles (such as Habanero) into small pieces and microwave until totally dry. Food dehydrators will also give directions on how to dry vegetables such as chiles.

Be very careful to avoid breathing or getting the dust on your body or in your eyes. It is best to do the grinding into powders outside, and the easiest method is to use an old coffee grinder dedicated for that use. (Add some plastic wrap under the lid to assure a good seal). But, you can purchase the powders from the spice sections at the grocery to do the same thing. The more you use, the better the repellent effect.

The chiles contain a substance called capsaicin which is an irritant to the ants and other insects. That is what the chile plant uses it for, too. NouGuard, a commercial repellent for ants, is made with capsaicin as a primary component.

A mixture can also be made using the powder mixed in water or in a solution of 1 ½ teaspoons of Dawn liquid detergent per one quart of water to spray on the plants. The “soap” (detergent) adds an extra insecticidal component, but is a safe alternative to more toxic chemical pesticides and works along with the repellent qualities of the capsaicin to take care of the problem. (Make a paste of chile powder and a small amount of water for use inside the house. Place a small dab of the paste at the points of entry and on obvious ant trails.)

A mixture of chile powders with other known ant repellents can add to the effectiveness (but also adds to the costs). Some of those other natural repellents include: mint (fresh or dried), cinnamon, and dill. If you grow your own mint and dill, their very presence in the garden will help, and, when needed, you can dry and sprinkle their powders along with the chiles’.”
Hope I helped 🙂
– Jackie

GardenersCardiff answers:

No.

Just make sure to buy the kind you WANT, and, no matter what, only spray the gravel.

It is only a hazard to the leaves, IF you buy the non-sterilizing type