Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / April 2007

Portland Oregon area
Suddenly  have an urge to grow garlic.
Soil is well drained and loamy, has 3/4 day sun.
Plant from sets?

   I have been trying to grow minintures for the past 10 years.  If I
see something cute at the grocery store or Home Depot I pick it up,
take it home then it dies in about 9 months or so.
   I am willing to spend a few bucks on something nice that will last

I'm involved in a new West Australian website called Loconut
http://www.loconut.com.au
Our focus is on local news, stories, people, clubs, groups and interests.
We're seeking contributors for our gardening area so if you're -

Last year I had great success with runner beans grown in large tubs.
This year I was thinking of using horse manure 6 months old in the base of
the containers with garden compost filling up the remaining 2 thirds.
Any thoughts?

I'm replacing the solid HDPE drain pipes in my back yard because they
are full of ficus roots, and I have several questions:
1)  The root invasion was apparently invited by leakage at the pipe
joints. The pipes were just shoved into the couplings, which I guess

Sorry if this is going to the wrong place, but I wasn't able to find a
decent group other than this one.
I have this douglas fir in my backyard, probably 50+ years old, the people
who built the septic system deliberately routed the drain field around this

I want to extend my garden fence upwards (for privacy), its currently about
4 to 5 foot high, concrete posts
with wooden panels. Is this possible or do i have to have the longer 6 foot
posts put in.

Brand new to gardening? Don't know your Cauliflower from your Wallflower?
Click here
http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk
and go to the site with all the information. Gardenbanter is a 'hub' of well

The wife bought this plant 3 years ago and it was fine the first year. Small
blue flowers/yellow stamens flowering late spring. We live in south wales
valleys.
The plant is now about 2 ft high/wide and is in garden facing south and

Sorry if this is offensive to some, but we have an elderly dog who,
because of mobility problems over this past winter, has been peeing in
an area near our back kitchen door. It's been grassy lawn but is now
damaged.

I thought that I would try some of the coiled flourecent bulbs as grow
lights this year.  My theory was that they have a broader light
spectrum than incandescents so might work out pretty good.
Boy, am I impressed.  My seedlings are healthier looking than ever

Does anyone know what kind of bush this is? Pic here:
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3725/bushzw6.jpg It's maybe eight
feet tall and about as wide and the flowers attract scads of Red
Admirals, Painted Ladies and Buckeye butterflies.

I built a pergola on my back deck.  I want to "roof" it with bamboo
poles.  I'm looking for a local source of bamboo poles.
Any suggestions?
--

I remember reading some method to control Aphids.  What should I use on my
Roses?
Thanks
Pat

This small tree grows along roadsides close to the bank of the Colo
river west of Sydney.
http://www.box.net/shared/static/mm49y5789h.jpg
It has fruits containing nuts.