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 Post subject: New and loving it.
PostPosted: Thu Jun 19, 2003 8:40 pm 
I am new by only about 45 days so far. I like to raise veg., herbs, flowers, and fruit trees. My wife and I have 2 acres in Greenville Tx that is mostly trees. Do not know what kind of grass to grow and the area where I put the garden this year is on a slope and is very unfertile at this time. So I enjoy all the input that I have read from everyone so far and have at least a 1000 questions on how to do everything organic. Organic is very new to me and I am trying to learn but there seems to be so much. But at 56 I now take my time and try to learn it right. Have had several questions answered already but have alot more just don't want to overload anyone or myself. Am interested about the benificial nematodes for fleas. Do they work on ticks to and where in the world do you get them, how often do you have to replace them, and how many/much do you need. Have to warn those who know all this stuff some of my questions may seem dumb but for me I am just learning. Thanks to those that have given advice and to those in the future that will give advice. There no place like a garden.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 7:18 am 
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Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 4:52 pm
Posts: 147
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
Hello - I am fairly new here, too..and I have already learned a lot I did not know before. I was always told that the only stupid question is the one that was not asked...
I tried nematodes for fleas in my yard in the wilds of Dallas just south of LBJ...and had little or no luck. I was told by some that the temperature range for nematodes in environments like my yard was pretty narrow, and that the moisture required for thriving beneficial nematodes just did not last very long in Dallas.
Are you trying to prevent ticks and fleas on your companion animals? In dogs, I have found that feeding garlic (about 1 medium clove per 15 pounds of body weight a day) and brewer's yeast in their food has kept my four monsters flea-free, and they don't get ticks, either. I put the minced garlic in their dry dog food in the morning, and the brewer's yeast is part of the "afternoon treat" that I give them.
I envy you having two whole acres!
drc.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 8:02 am 
:D Thanks for the reply. Yes we have baby that is 1/2 Golden Retriver and 1/2 Black Lab. Your suggestion about the garlic and brewers yeast might be the right answer. So do you use a garlic mincer and just put it right on the dry food? I could do that. Our dog is about 6 months old right now but looks grown, but still has puppy ways (chewing,digging and loves to play) I am surprised at how smart he is. We keep him in at night and when we are home but he has been potty trained since the 2nd. week we had him and he was still small. Loves to play fetch. But the bad part is when I tilled my garden and planted it he thought I did it just for him and messed up 80% of the garden before I was able to put a fence around it. Lesson learned. Although I have been told that he will grow out of that. Just like kids seeing is believing. But thanks for the suggestion and I am going to start that today.


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 Post subject: Re: New and loving it.
PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 2:27 pm 
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Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 6:45 pm
Posts: 354
Location: San Antonio,Tx
Harry:

Welcome to the DDBB site. There are no dumb questions :!:

Now that you are into gardening, composting, etc. I guess we could call you "Dirty Harry" :lol:

I would not plant burmuda grass near the garden. Give some thought to using Lirope or monkey grass for a barrier.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 2:51 pm 
Thanks for reply and that's not a bad idea "Dirty Harry" Back yrs. ago used to be on the CB alot and my handle back then was the "Dirt Dobber" got that cause I used to fish alot and would go down dirt roads in my pick-up and would get caught in the rain alot and get stuck. Maybe I'll change my pen name to one of these. Have always loved playing in the dirt. Still just a kid at 56.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 6:41 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2003 6:37 am
Posts: 37
Location: Central Texas
Hi Harry!! Welcome to the BB! I'm new here too and anxious to meet everybody and learn new gardening techniques. :)

Those are cute and catchey names; Dirt Dobber and Dirty Harry! :wink: Let's see now which one should we call ya?


Dancey
Zone 8b


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2003 7:15 pm 
:D :D Thanks everyone for making me feel a part of the group. Look so very forward to learning from everyone and maybe every so often I will slip in a recipe from the garden for you to try. Home grown sure beats the store bought. Home grown is the good stuff---store bought like eating the box with paint on it. I planted 1-fig tree, 3-peach trees, and 2-nectarine trees this yr. 2-peach trees died ?? but all the rest are doing fine. Have 5 figs coming on the fig tree and one of the nectarines has 1 fruit on it. Small harvest but not bad for yr. one. Next yr. hope to add 2- more Peach trees, a bay tree if I can find one, and maybe 2- cherry trees. Also want to add some berry bushes to. Does anyone raise fruit trees if so what do you do special to keep away bugs and worms? :? Thanks for your reply and may we all get to know each other even more.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2003 8:14 am 
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Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 4:52 pm
Posts: 147
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
Harry - I planted a fig tree about three years ago. It bore some fruit the following season, and did bear two crops last summer. This year, the first "crop" (I never did think of it as an actual fruit-bearing tree when I planted it, I just thought it would be pretty) got a little burned by a late cold snap, but the second wave of figs has gotten so prolific that I am having to prop up some of the branches. I bought some "agrifabric" at my local nursery - this is a fabric that is light, allows water and air through, cuts easily and lasts about five years or more - I use this to drape over my tomatoes. I don't do anything to the figs. I love to eat them right off the tree, but this little tree is bearing enough for the birds and for me! I also feed the birds and squirrels daily so that they look to the feeder for food and not the plants.


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 Post subject: Fruit tree maintenance
PostPosted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:49 pm 
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Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2003 2:55 pm
Posts: 48
Location: Fort Worth, Zone 8
Hey, Harry--I'me over here by TCU & a few years ago won a $50 gift certificate from Michigan Bulb. Yeah, I know--keep it local. But I decided that I'd splurge on a 5-fruit (grafted) tree, since I would never spend my $$ on something like that, but it intrigued me. Well, I've got a Huge bird feeder next to my tree, I've only used Garrett Juice (substituting Tabasco for the peppers if nec) & have only ever lost 1%-2%, @ most, to any critter, feathered, furred or squirmy. On the other hand, I've never had a crop of apricots ripen, so maybe I'm not doing something I should. Lots of bird seed, fresh water (I have 2, one ground, one birdbath, just by the fruit tree) & you shouldn't have too many probs. Good luck--also, you might try Asian pear trees--I hear they're easy & have few insect probs. Good luck!!!

Terri

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The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's Heart in a garden, than anywhere else on earth.
Dorothy F. Gurney, 1858-1932


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