tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post2331201934135855988..comments2024-03-28T16:38:10.153-07:00Comments on Late to the Garden Party: Project UpdatesKris Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-36900509007828570132016-09-14T23:48:54.151-07:002016-09-14T23:48:54.151-07:00That's a really good idea, I've only seen ...That's a really good idea, I've only seen that method used for wild meadow grass plants.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-22631783749781221642016-09-13T20:43:11.276-07:002016-09-13T20:43:11.276-07:00Now, if only I could work up the energy to face th...Now, if only I could work up the energy to face the work required on the back slope...Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-74519109828421913042016-09-13T17:15:53.010-07:002016-09-13T17:15:53.010-07:00In my garden it is at its most vulnerable when new...In my garden it is at its most vulnerable when newly planted. Hoover Boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083294821646284424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-53799066054951872662016-09-13T11:01:13.874-07:002016-09-13T11:01:13.874-07:00So industrious you are! Your new plantings look m...So industrious you are! Your new plantings look marvelous and I'm impressed with your soil testing. outlawgardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08273973572989510382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-44577046354895770412016-09-12T21:11:07.121-07:002016-09-12T21:11:07.121-07:00Your new garden looks great, Kris, it's such f...Your new garden looks great, Kris, it's such fun to put in new plants. I remember the good old days back in San Diego when I could just stick succulent cuttings in the ground and have them grow! I just bought a couple of Euphorbias and a lavender and a Luna Pink Swirl Hibiscus moscheutos that were on clearance sales, to fill in a border. Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773149110503024929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-23063030961941644662016-09-12T10:58:43.720-07:002016-09-12T10:58:43.720-07:00I won't be giving up on those plants, of that ...I won't be giving up on those plants, of that you can be sure. I'd like to avoid the heartbreak of losing one after another, though, so if a soil supplement helps I'm all for that.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-86819050883704190292016-09-12T02:14:22.151-07:002016-09-12T02:14:22.151-07:00Interesting to see your soil testing and results. ...Interesting to see your soil testing and results. Still well worth a try with those plants you bought for those areas even if the soil tests indicate it is less than ideal for them. A lot of them are more tolerant that initially given credit for but it's all a matter of trial and error. Looking fab btw!Mark and Gazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09427245730390252976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-52128912215685409422016-09-11T16:45:26.853-07:002016-09-11T16:45:26.853-07:00I keep hearing about these end-of-summer sales! T...I keep hearing about these end-of-summer sales! That's pretty much a foreign concept here. While I occasionally find individual items marked down (usually plants grown as annuals or those in poor shape), I haven't found any local garden centers that offer a comprehensive range of deals. I'm envious!Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-39613569349047084182016-09-11T16:40:25.188-07:002016-09-11T16:40:25.188-07:00My Ozothamnus is doing well despite the fact that ...My Ozothamnus is doing well despite the fact that it's planted only about 10 feet from the location that proved a death sentence for several other plants. It may be that the Ozothamnus has a greater range of tolerance for alkalinity or, perhaps more likely, that it benefited from my prior treatment of the soil in that area - I brought in a lot of imported topsoil when we removed the lawn there.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-20645836777568562412016-09-11T16:34:44.018-07:002016-09-11T16:34:44.018-07:00My thanks to both of you on the tip for establishi...My thanks to both of you on the tip for establishing the Dymondia.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-45944902928974221222016-09-11T16:33:38.217-07:002016-09-11T16:33:38.217-07:00The soil in my former garden, just 15 miles away, ...The soil in my former garden, just 15 miles away, was more neutral than the soil used in this sample. It'll be interesting to see if samples from other areas of the garden yield the same results. I suspect there's some variability as Australian and South African plants in other areas have fared well (as least by comparison to those I planted in the area I tested).Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-89562650815927908802016-09-11T15:27:39.068-07:002016-09-11T15:27:39.068-07:00Your garden is looking great! Each project adds to...Your garden is looking great! Each project adds to and improves. I love all the interesting vignettes you created with your plant combinations. I recently purchased some plants at an end of summer sale at my favorite nursery, but the weather continues to be too hot to work in the garden much so I have not planted them yet. I am eager to launch into some projects of my own, though nothing on the scale of those you have undertaken.debsgardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15656883577922890561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-28657487422146787362016-09-11T14:15:27.329-07:002016-09-11T14:15:27.329-07:00yes, I learnt that it is thirstier than I expected...yes, I learnt that it is thirstier than I expected - but mine is spreading its fingers, looking for a new space to conquer.Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-29930078193790396632016-09-11T09:01:59.004-07:002016-09-11T09:01:59.004-07:00The fun part is filling in with the plants... ;-) ...The fun part is filling in with the plants... ;-) Love the way the Senecio looks at the wall base, just perfect. Thanks for mentioning the Australian plants and acidity; as most are drought-tolerant, I had assumed they would be fine with alkaline conditions. I'll probably be taking your advice and getting sulfur on the Ozothamnus once temps drop low enough... and checking individual soil requirements a little more closely!Amy@SmallSunnyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02490564566463354419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-16601271114794411642016-09-11T07:08:58.894-07:002016-09-11T07:08:58.894-07:00It all looks so good, your hard work is paying off...It all looks so good, your hard work is paying off. The test kit is interesting and I enjoyed seeing how it works. I know we have alkaline soil so I generally avoid acid-loving plants but it might be good to check different spots.Shirley Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734806779997587008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-18651023117492145992016-09-10T16:07:51.989-07:002016-09-10T16:07:51.989-07:00Interesting on the tests--I test my pond water but...Interesting on the tests--I test my pond water but have never done soil. <br /><br />Keep the Dymondia watered for a while. Very sensitive to drying out until well established. Hoover Boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083294821646284424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-52529281972298212842016-09-10T10:35:13.997-07:002016-09-10T10:35:13.997-07:00I got my kit at my local garden center. It's ...I got my kit at my local garden center. It's a Luster Leaf Rapitest Soil Test Kit. I just checked on-line and it looks to be available through a lot of retailers (at a cheaper price than I recall I paid). Mine came with 40 test capsules (equal numbers for pH, N, P & K tests).Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-33292325315702614962016-09-10T10:28:34.441-07:002016-09-10T10:28:34.441-07:00Groundcover plants here are frequently sold in &qu...Groundcover plants here are frequently sold in "flats," which are shallow, square plastic containers within which the groundcover has been grown (presumably from seed). I'd guess the containers are about 20 inches (50 cm) square. It's a cheaper way to buy plants you wish to install en masse and it's ideal for something like thyme, which can easily be pulled into plantable pieces.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-993123782344465182016-09-10T04:50:22.903-07:002016-09-10T04:50:22.903-07:00Your rock wall and planting turned out really well...Your rock wall and planting turned out really well. I can well imagine how those plants will steal the show as they form clusters in the future. So frustrating when you have plant failures and you cannot pinpoint the reason. You are very wise to do the soil test, something I have never done. We have every alkaline soil to and my understanding is that it is very high in phosphorus and that it is difficult for plants to take up nitrogen. I sometimes add epsom salts to the water or around the plant. I must look into this further now that you have reminded me. Where did you get the test kit?Rock rose https://www.blogger.com/profile/00348711150803587369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-30153504069399826742016-09-10T00:15:43.811-07:002016-09-10T00:15:43.811-07:00I love your enthusiasm Kris, although the coming a...I love your enthusiasm Kris, although the coming autumn does have me wanting to fill some gaps too. I've been meaning to ask "what are flats" it's not a term I'm familiar with. Some of my thyme looks dead too, although I'm leaving for now, it might regrow from the base. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-5160717281489621382016-09-09T18:48:07.084-07:002016-09-09T18:48:07.084-07:00As with many problems, my guess is that there isn&...As with many problems, my guess is that there isn't a single cause for the plant deaths but the pH is clearly high. I understand that all the plants I lost prefer soil on the acidic side. The soil test kit offered some examples for common plants - in the case of Grevilleas the preferred range is 5.5-6.5 and my reading is falling in the 7.0-7.5 range. Heat was possibly also a factor and, when I conducted the test I noticed that, despite having increased irrigation, the soil was on the dry side only 1 day after the last irrigation cycle, which suggests that the soil is draining a bit too well.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-87278703106423420682016-09-09T18:39:30.294-07:002016-09-09T18:39:30.294-07:00I planted based on hope and a prayer, Tim, and I r...I planted based on hope and a prayer, Tim, and I regret that I didn't at least check my soil pH earlier. As I recall, the kit I bought was about $20 so, basically, not much more than the cost of one or two of the plants I lost. I've lost plants in other areas as well so I think I'll be running a lot of pH tests - at least they don't take long.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-66762314364098608312016-09-09T17:26:52.472-07:002016-09-09T17:26:52.472-07:00The new area is going to look great once everythin...The new area is going to look great once everything takes and grows in. It must be frustrating not to have a definitive answer on what conditions killed your plants in that one spot. Hopefully changing the ph will help.Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16323262555906240701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-31991750561933872162016-09-09T12:58:45.306-07:002016-09-09T12:58:45.306-07:00I love what you've planted, Kris, and even mor...I love what you've planted, Kris, and even more so, I admire you for doing soil testing. I guess I'm either too lazy, too cheap, or both-which ultimately is quite silly if I am killing plants that cost money......tvojthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05481184445956506127noreply@blogger.com