Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Tuesday December 29, 2009

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Tuesday December 29, 2009

Having trouble seeing this email? View the most recent issue or stories from previous issues.

	Today's Wine & Dine Daily Video
	Sage Sausage And Mushroom Bruschetta ... Play Now!

Get Healthy in 2010

Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Tuesday December 29, 2009

Dogwood, Flowering (Cornus florida)
Q&A: Effects Of Pine Needles On Soil
Q&A: Are Paperwhites Worth Saving?
Tip: Control Fungus Gnats
Get Healthy in 2010
Reader Photos

Dogwood, Flowering (Cornus florida)

Today's Featured Plant
Dogwood, Flowering (Cornus florida)

Read the full profile of this plant at ArcaMax.com.

Interested in reading about other plants? Search through hundreds of plant profiles and helpful articles by keyword.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Q&A: Effects Of Pine Needles On Soil

Question: Will pine needles falling on the soil around strawberry plants or flowers hurt them?

Answer: Pine needles are acidic and sometimes people worry that they will affect the pH of their soil. But any change in soil acidity is negligible. Pine needles are actually a recommended mulch for strawberries, as they help retain soil moisture, reduce soil temperatures, and inhibit weeds. As they break down (slowly) they will add organic matter to the soil.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Q&A: Are Paperwhites Worth Saving?

Question: I have read that there is no way to save paperwhites after you force them? Is this true? Say it's not so!

Answer: If you forced your paperwhites in soil rather than on a bed of moist stone, you can TRY to keep them for another round. Success with keeping them year to year is mixed, but it would be an enjoyable experiment!

After the blooms have faded, cut back the blossom stalk. Don't let it go to seed, or the plants will put energy there instead of into bulb formation. Water and feed them for a month after blooming to help them form bulbs, and after that reduce water and stop feeding. The tops will then fade. Lift the bulbs and allow them to dry. Store them in an onioin bag in a cool, dry, dark, airy place. When it comes time to plant them for forcing, plant them in a good potting soil that drains well.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Tip: Control Fungus Gnats

If black flies are around your houseplants, you probably have fungus gnats. They are harmless to plants, but an annoyance to homeowners. To kill them, spread a 1-inch layer of sand over the potting soil and drench with insecticidal soap.

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Get Healthy in 2010

Start getting in shape for the New Year with health tips from ArcaMax! Get the latest news in health and medicine, free diet and exercise tips, and more with a free subscription.

Subscribe to Health Tips instantly.

Find out more before subscribing.

-- From the ArcaMax editors

Comment on this Story | Printer Friendly | Send Story to a Friend | Top

Today's Reader Submitted Photos

Click an image above to see full size and read caption.

To see more of our subscriber photos visit our full Photo Gallery.

Enter your Gardening Daily Tips pictures so you can show them off to other readers right here in this ezine and on the ArcaMax.com Web site. Click here to submit your photo.

Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors