Comments on: Live and let live http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/live-and-let-live/ a garden journal about public garden maintenance, seasonal tasks, garden events, stories about gardening, volunteers, flowers, bugs and wildlife Sun, 19 May 2013 12:25:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Maria http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/live-and-let-live/comment-page-1/#comment-18015 Maria Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:51:48 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=7028#comment-18015 Love your post! :) <em>Thanks, Maria! -kris</em> Love your post! :)

Thanks, Maria! -kris

]]> By: Dee Nash (@reddirtramblin) http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/live-and-let-live/comment-page-1/#comment-17862 Dee Nash (@reddirtramblin) Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:59:06 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=7028#comment-17862 Lovely. I do virtually the same thing. I mostly squish here and there. Love your photos and such.~~Dee <em>Hey Dee! Thanks for kind words! and squishing is SO much easier than staking. -kris</em> Lovely. I do virtually the same thing. I mostly squish here and there. Love your photos and such.~~Dee

Hey Dee! Thanks for kind words! and squishing is SO much easier than staking. -kris

]]> By: Reed Pugh http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/live-and-let-live/comment-page-1/#comment-17670 Reed Pugh Sun, 22 Jul 2012 01:07:18 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=7028#comment-17670 I agree wholeheartedly with your approach. So many companies/people take the defensive approach and respond to outbreaks of insects and disease, when in fact if you proactively provide the correct environment (as you mention) the plants aren't prone to disease and infestation. Some pests you just have to deal with... <em>Reed, I'm afraid the bunnies are in that last category. The hawks just aren't eating enough of them and we're having trouble growing beans. If only they ate purslane... -kris</em> I agree wholeheartedly with your approach. So many companies/people take the defensive approach and respond to outbreaks of insects and disease, when in fact if you proactively provide the correct environment (as you mention) the plants aren’t prone to disease and infestation. Some pests you just have to deal with…

Reed, I’m afraid the bunnies are in that last category. The hawks just aren’t eating enough of them and we’re having trouble growing beans. If only they ate purslane… -kris

]]> By: kathy tracey http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/live-and-let-live/comment-page-1/#comment-17655 kathy tracey Sat, 21 Jul 2012 11:16:09 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=7028#comment-17655 Kris, I'm so glad you shared this. It's all about balance in the garden. You need "bad bugs" to sacrifice for the "good bugs" sake. Folks get so freaked out about insects unnecessarily. A few weeks I noticed a smattering of aphids on a few plants around the nursery, nothing horrible really, but at the same time we noticed a few baby praying mantis in the garden. I knew there would be more as we had egg sacs everywhere it seemed. Now, no matter where I look there is a praying mantis going to work, grooming plants meticulously for me. They are our best pest control, along with spiders and birds for the summer. <em>Kathy, I love that you have a praying mantis workforce. I hope you point them out to customers! (Could be a good promotion - Buy five plants, get an omnivore for free?) -kris</em> Kris, I’m so glad you shared this. It’s all about balance in the garden. You need “bad bugs” to sacrifice for the “good bugs” sake. Folks get so freaked out about insects unnecessarily.

A few weeks I noticed a smattering of aphids on a few plants around the nursery, nothing horrible really, but at the same time we noticed a few baby praying mantis in the garden. I knew there would be more as we had egg sacs everywhere it seemed. Now, no matter where I look there is a praying mantis going to work, grooming plants meticulously for me. They are our best pest control, along with spiders and birds for the summer.

Kathy, I love that you have a praying mantis workforce. I hope you point them out to customers! (Could be a good promotion – Buy five plants, get an omnivore for free?) -kris

]]> By: Blackswampgirl Kim http://blog.blithewold.org/roses/live-and-let-live/comment-page-1/#comment-17646 Blackswampgirl Kim Sat, 21 Jul 2012 05:10:28 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=7028#comment-17646 Did you really mean to say that you use Espoma Bulb-Tone (instead of Rose-Tone) on your roses? If so... why? I'd love to know more about that... <em>Kim, It's true! We started using that when we couldn't get Electra anymore. We like the ratio (3-5-3) because of the higher phosphorus content (which - I know you know this - promotes root and flower production) and have decided to keep it simple by using that one for everything. And by everything I mean we also mix it into our potting soil, and give some of our annuals and tender perennials a little sprinkling when we plant them. -kris</em> Did you really mean to say that you use Espoma Bulb-Tone (instead of Rose-Tone) on your roses? If so… why? I’d love to know more about that…

Kim, It’s true! We started using that when we couldn’t get Electra anymore. We like the ratio (3-5-3) because of the higher phosphorus content (which – I know you know this – promotes root and flower production) and have decided to keep it simple by using that one for everything. And by everything I mean we also mix it into our potting soil, and give some of our annuals and tender perennials a little sprinkling when we plant them. -kris

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