Garden Pests

Rodent Damage on Trees

People are seeing rodent damage on trees, especially young fruit trees.  The worst-case scenario is if the rodent (whether mouse or rabbit) ate into the heart of the center wood circling the entire trunk, there is not much hope for survival. If the damage is less than ½ of the trunk, there is a good chance that it will be OK. If more than ½ way around the trunk, you might have to prune back the branches to reduce stress on the tree.

Prevention for young trees would be to use plastic trunk protectors when you plant the tree. This prevents rodent damage and sunscald. Once the tree is a few inches in diameter, the problem from animals is usually not a threat.

With this last snow, there is also some branch breakage due to the weight of the snow. If the branch is broken, cut it back to the nearest branch crotch or bud. If you need to remove the whole branch, cut it back to the trunk leaving the branch collar (the swollen area on the trunk) to heal.

Home Improvement, Kitchen

Old Kitchen Table and Chairs

If you are getting tired of your old kitchen table and chairs, try giving them a new look. Sanding, 2 coats of primer, and applying 2 coats of new paint will refreshen any set. Do not be afraid of colors, red and white, yellow and brown, or green and black.

The distressed look is being popular, where the table looks old and unpainted. This can be done with chalk paint giving the wood a weathered look.

If your kitchen is too small for a regular set, use a smaller table with two chairs by your kitchen window. Decorate it with a small flower vase or cookbooks.

Use a center island table with drop leaves to save space. You will have a preparation area and when you want to eat, pull up the sides. Some have shelving for dishes and glasses for extra storage. They make a good place to do homework.

Remember the kitchen table and chairs are to look casual, unlike the more formal dining room set.

Starting seeds indoors

Transplanting Garden Seedlings

Now we have seedlings growing in our containers, not what? It is time to transplant seedlings.

  1.  After the seedlings get their first set of true leaves (the first leaf set is called seedling leaves and will turn yellow and die). The true leaves are what the actual plant leaf will look like. Now it is time to transplant garden seedlings.
Seedlings emerging
  1. Get your container which the little plants will go into. I have read about people using toilet tissue rolls, broken eggshells, and tin cans. Make sure the container has holes in the bottom. Fill with damp soil media and use a pencil poke a hole into the mix.
Creating the holes for the single transplants
  1. Gently dig up your seedlings and separate them, then place one plant into the waiting container. If the weather does not cooperate, you can always transplant into a larger container. Do not use a big container to start will because this allows the soil to stay too damp.
Transplanting on plant per pack
  1. Water the new transplants from the bottom and place back under the lights or in a cold frame outside if the weather stays above 50 during the day.
Young tomatoes and peppers