Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / July 2009

Aldi have a batch of Hibiscus on sale. Apart from 'Lady Stanley' and
'Jeanne d'Arc' the other variety they have is labelled 'Ruby', which is
new to me. Does anyone know anything about it?

Hi....I inherited an Atco Commodor B17 Mower with the house we bought.
It has run fine since last August.
This year, I have noticed it seems slightly noiser(and I mean slightly
than last year and seems to struggle through grass when it get

I thought the forcast was for a dry hot summer.
Since the heatwave passed it has done almost nothing but rain.
Our ground can't take any more, it is running off everywhere.
Friday 0.6 inches then last night starting after 7pm  till around 1am

Moved into this house 3 years ago with a substantial front hedge of V tinus,
it had an awful case of viburnum beetle (id'ed from photos by someone here -
thank-you), in the morning and when the hedge was damp it gave off a
revolting smell - so much so I starting investigating the ...

Pic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v725/DannyWho/IMAGE_028a.jpg
This is growing in Cleveland, Ohio about 3 miles from my house. Not
sure how many different types are in that planter, but something was

How quick do they die off?
Do they die off quicker if you don't pick all the fruit?
(I know *I've* not sprayed them with anything but they've got a bit of
a weedkilled look to a couple of stems)

Hi, all,
I've been spending some time looking for a new portal to access Usenet, as
we've been discussing. Before registering anywhere, I thought I'd ask a
question or two.

Does anyone know how to can peppers? We did some last year and of
course can't find the book. Do you blanch them or do  you have to cook
them through? Thanks for any ideas.
MJ

I can't do much about the heat here in SoCal.  Even the shade is 92F today
and literature says peppers drop over 90F.  So my bell peppers have started
to drop their buds and small fruit.  I have several larger peppers holding
their own.  The plant is not stressed, it gets water ...

Some plants, especially the broccoli. Perks up afterward and it's developing
normally. It's mulched like crazy and the soil's nice & damp and of perfect
tilth. 80 degrees, sunny. Lots of rain in previous days.
I seem to recall reading many years ago that this drooping routine can ...

I have a terrace house with a small front garden approx 1m x 4m. Ther
is a small wall at the front just under 1m high. I have a problem wit
cats so I want to grow perennial plants, and plants that will cover th
ground, leaving little bare soil. I like cottage gardens and that's th

In the grounds of my office is a thistle I couldn't recognise from a
quick hunt online.
It is tall (at least 5 ft) and some points I noted were that it has
some short sharp barbs on the flats of the leaves, and also on the

That was my impression at first blink, so long as I was looking at the
thing by the way I would suppose it looks--to others. That means I was
judging in terms of perceptions not my own. A little later, after
hearing what Sarah is having to say about it, the hard work began of

can you please help id this plant...
http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t121/gardenalves/?action=view&current=HPIM057
8Large.jpg
thanks in advance!
PA

The thread about spinach and chard reminded me I had a freebie packet of
'Nero di Toscana' kale that I'd forgotten all about. I'd been meaning to
try a few plants of that this year but it says sow April to June, so I
assume I'm a bit late to get any started off this time around.