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Runaway Worms : why are my worms leaving home?
Thanks to some sage advice and the willingness to try again, my worm population has again become the thriving environment it once was. I still add coffee grounds to the mix, but as just a small part of the overall blend, making sure, just like humans, they eat a well rounded diet full of fruits, vegetables, and the occasional coffee to boost their early morning productivity!
Are your trees dying?
It’s the most common problem Jean-Mathieu Daoust sees on trees. An an ISA certified arborist and owner of Tree Frog Tree Care in Calgary ( http://treefrogtreecare.com/.) Daoust sees a lot of tree trouble. Here he tells me about a problem most gardener’s wouldn’t even think about :
The Bugs are Back…
“We can’t identify [the pest], but applied [a] soapy solution to it an hour ago.
Please identify it for us, and a possible treatment – even if it is to garbage this plant.” Jack
Wardrobe Malfunction: Aphids Attack My Husband’s Sweater
Aphids generally lay live young all summer. They do this without wings or mates. This is why aphid affected plants go from a single aphid to hundreds in a week. But in the fall they get wings and take flight. Their eyesight is poor so they are not too discerning. Whether it is a failing plant with pale pathetic yellow leaves or my husband’s orange sweater, aphids lured in and won’t take no for an answer.
Growing Spinach in the Fall
I hate the thought of cooling nights and fall rains. I want summer to stay on a tiny bit longer. But the truth is it was almost too hot this summer to grow great greens. They perished in dry soil, intense heat and sloppy management (I always seemed to be away when they needed attention.)
What’s Happening to Calgary’s Birch Trees?
This is the first year that my birch has looked bad and [it has] birch leafminer – haven’t seen that on my tree for years which tells me how stressed it is. Several branches are dead – mainly on the NW side- which took the brunt from a major hailstorm- we were lucky in Airdrie as far as the snowstorm… not too much branch damage but Calgary was devastated.
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