Saturday, April 29, 2023

Slogger Yard and Garden Boots

  

Whenever I go outdoors to walk the dog or to work in the yard or garden I will put on my slogger boots. I think this boot is the best quality-made boot for fit, durability, and long wear.

 

My sloggers are 8 years old

Slogger garden boots are made from rubber which is waterproof, windproof, and stain resistant.  They do provide some insulation from the wind and the cold.  I wear a sock with them on cool days and my feet are comfortable.

 I prefer a garden boot because it covers my ankles and calves.  Which protects me from insects, dirt and from the string trimmer from hurting my feet.

Know that not all rubber boots are the same, some are intended for rainwear others are meant to be worn in the yard.

 When shopping for a garden boot it’s important to choose one that fits your foot well.   Many stores sell slogger shoes and boots, including Amazon Walmart, and eBay to name a few.  I bought mine at a local garden store.  The sizes were whole only, and the size 8 fit my 71/2 foot perfectly.

I love the floral prints and the colorful designs and the lug sole is great when I work in the mud.   The garden boot helps me to keep my footing.  Slogger yard and garden boots were designed to brighten your rainy, snowy, or muddy day.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Growing Tips for Oleander Flowering Shrub

Recently my brother bought me two Oleander flowering shrubs because he thought I would love the beautiful flower.  He did not realize that all parts of the plant contained chemicals called cardiac glycosides which can affect one's heart and cause death if consumed. 

Here are a few of my photographs of my Oleanders

 




 Plant and grow Oleander in your yard but do take steps when planting that will keep you safe.  The entire plant is so toxic that you must handle it with care.  You don’t want the sap to get on your skin so dress in a long sleeve shirt, and pants and wear gloves that cover your wrists.  A plastic shield to cover your face would also keep you safe from Oleander sap.

 Grow the Oleander in full sun.  Choose an area that has well-drained rich soil.   Space accordingly leaving 3 feet apart as this plant needs plenty of room for spreading.

 It’s a good idea to plant the oleander flowering shrub in the early spring or fall season when the days are cooler.  

 Planting Tips

Did a hole that is two times the size in depth and width as the root ball.  Amend the backfill soil with compost The top of the root ball should be level with the soil.   You can also grow Oleander in a container

Water the newly planted Oleander well so that the soil is evenly moist but not waterlogged.  Water throughout the growing season in the morning so that the soil does not dry out.

 For repeat blooms, you should fertilize the Oleander every two weeks during spring and summer.  I like the miracle grow bloom booster that is attached to the hose.

Other Tips

Oleander will survive in the winter as long as the temperature does not go below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Known pests are caterpillars, mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids.

Monday, March 6, 2023

How to Stop Bamboo From Spreading

 Our home came with bamboo growing close to the foundation and we knew immediately that it would need to be transplanted to another area. What we did not know is that bamboo was invasive and that once it was established in your yard nearly impossible to stop it from spreading. 

photo by pixabay bamboo canes


My husband dug up the roots and replanted the bamboo by our patio At first we thought it was a good privacy barrier but soon learned that it was invasive and that we needed to prevent it from spreading. We cut the large bamboo canes with a saw at the soil line and followed that by cutting the new shoots as they emerged.

The following photos show the bamboo canes. You can see that they were planted too close to the foundation and growing out of control.

 




The best way to stop the bamboo from spreading is to control all new growth by cutting it back as soon as the shoots emerge in the spring and throughout the summer months.  


bamboo shoot appears in spring and summer


 Another way to control the spread is to mow over the new bamboo shoots.  Set your mower at the lowest level then mow over the bamboo, you will need to repeat mowing of the bamboo weekly to prevent it from growing back.  

 Many people will stop the bamboo from spreading by cutting back the shoots and then treating the area with chemicals or herbicides.  This method is a way to permanently kill the bamboo. Be aware that you may have to repeat the herbicide treatment a few times to stop the roots from spreading.

 We find the best way to manage the bamboo growth is to cut back the new shoots and cut the roots that appear just below the soil surface. Then mow the area weekly.