Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Saturday March 27, 2010 |
Primrose, Evening (Oenothera caespitosa) | Today's Featured Plant
Primrose, Evening (Oenothera caespitosa)
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Q&A: Estimating Soil Quantity Question: I need about 2,000 cubic feet of soil to fill in an area behind a retaining wall. Most of the landscape suppliers sell it by the ton. What is the conversion factor I should use to determine the number of tons I need from cubic feet for topsoil? gravel? sand?
Answer: The weight of soils vary considerably. Clay soils are heavier than sandy ones, and moist ones are heavier than dry ones. But typical soils weigh about 100 pounds per cubic foot. So your calculation is pretty easy if you're considering an average topsoil: You'll need about 100 tons. But in our experience, bulk materials are more often sold by the cubic yard. You might want to double check with your suppliers. In other words, they may charge by the ton but measure by the cubic yard. There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard meaning you need about 75 yards of backfill material. And considering that you know the volume of material you need--2,000 cubic yards--it might make more sense to order whatever material, topsoil, gravel, or sand, by volume, not weight. |
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Q&A: Pinching Back Overwintered Petunias Question: I brought petunias inside late September, and here it is, March, and they are still blooming--although a bit "leggy". Would pinching back improve their appearance? Do you think they will continue to survive indoors until I can safely put them back on my porch?
Answer: Wow! You've wintered over petunias! Yes, pinch shoots back to just before the first healthy pair of leaves on the stem. Growth should occur at the point where the leaf stem (petiole) joins the main stem. Try this on one stem before you go crazy and pinch the whole thing back just to see what happens...and be patient. It takes a while for the plant to adjust to your pinching! If you've made it this far, they should do fine outside this summer. |
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Tip: Transplant Self-Sown Flowers Some perennials, such as hellebores and foxgloves, will self sow many babies that will be evident in spring. Carefully dig and move crowded or ill-placed seedlings now to a new location. |
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-- From the ArcaMax editors |
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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors |
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