r/gardening • u/AutoModerator • 2d ago
Friendly Friday Thread
This is the Friendly Friday Thread.
Negative or even snarky attitudes are not welcome here. This is a thread to ask questions and hopefully get some friendly advice.
This format is used in a ton of other subreddits and we think it can work here. Anyway, thanks for participating!
Please hit the report button if someone is being mean and we'll remove those comments, or the person if necessary.
-The /r/gardening mods
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u/sir_discipline 5h ago
Looking for help in saving my shrubs. Southwestern PA. What is happening? There are patches with no leaves, and some with yellow leaves. Is there anything I can do to get them back in shape?
Thanks in advance!
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u/Squire_Squirrely 5h ago
Not a question, just not very important, anyways:
I want some extra garden space, I'm mostly just working with my front yard which is quite small so I've decided to go pull up some patio stones in the back (there's the main stone patio taking up most of the yard and then beside it and like beneath it there's a pointless pavered path(? area?) along the fence that isn't useful for anything, it's objectively not part of the patio, one of the many things I question about the previous owner's financial decisions lol). And, uhhh I discovered landscape fabric directly beneath the paving stone on top of gravel (and nothing under the gravel). And there clearly wasn't any sand between the pavers either. So weird and wrong and totally explains why the pavers have shifted so much rofl. Anyways, woo new project to work on for April while I wait for May to actually get planting outside.
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u/CatsEqualLife 9h ago
DAE have experience using day laborers for small jobs? I’ve never done it before but I have five overgrown spirea bushes that I want GONE and there’s no way I can do it on my own, so I was hoping to pick up two guys at Home Depot and pay them pizza, Gatorade, and $250 to dig them out and weed two small beds.
Any thoughts are very much welcome.
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u/traditionalhobbies 8h ago
Haven’t done this, but I would happily take that job.
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u/CatsEqualLife 8h ago
I’d like to think it seems reasonable, but I have no clue what I’m doing 😅 I figure I just show up with some pictures of what I want done and go for it?
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u/brown_bandit92 11h ago
Is my rambutan alive?
Sorry for basic image, i have done scratch test below the black circle seems moist and wet sap. Leaves just rapidly withered, after i bought it from the nursery. It's been a month now, no signs of buds. How do i proceed?? Any help is appreciated.
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u/moogle2468 17h ago
I’m in the UK, and in a rental property - our rental company take care of the front garden and it looks lovely. We are lucky to have a large back garden which at the moment is just a large patch of grass. I’d like to add some colour and interest to it using different containers/plant pots, but I am a complete gardening novice. What are some easy container plants I could start with?
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u/Crafty-Armadillo-114 5h ago
Any plants or kids?
I didnt realize foxgloves are native to the UK. There's a bunch of varieties to help with color and size for pots. However, from what I remember, foxgloves are toxic.
Several sites recommend honeysuckle. Just get a small variety for them to fit in a container.
As an aside, a lot of annuals you would find at a garden center (centre) would likely be good in containers. Don't be afraid going shopping at a local shop and asking questions.
Advise: Start small and add more containers.
Good luck!
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u/USMousie 1d ago
Looking for pretty spreading maybe edible plants for my “pocket pet” graveyard. I have little flat gravestones for them but they will fade in the sun. I was thinking to plant something low to the ground where the leaves will cover the stones but I can still move them aside to see them. I was thinking strawberries but I’m not sure the leaves will cover them all year. Spreading because I want them to thrive and grow thickly enough that when there is a new grave I can carefully move some plants over.
I do like the concept of edible, even if I don’t eat it, because I like the idea that they are contributing to the world (though they will be buried far too deep for that to actually be true), but not anything deer or other critters would eat the leaves of. It’s ok if mice eat the strawberries, which they will.
Climate here is up to 95 F in summer and -10 F winter with snow (Connecticut, USA).
Thank you!
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u/traditionalhobbies 20h ago
I planted a couple alpine strawberries last year and they survived my Ohio winter without any help. I’ve got more in a tray for this year
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u/utkayla 1d ago
I have some lovely tulips that were planted by the previous owner of my home. For the past two years that we’ve lived here they have come up without me doing anything to them, but this year there are definitely less blooms. Is it time for me to thin out the bulbs? Do I need to add fertilizer? Any tips and tricks are appreciated! We are in Zone 7 (east TN)
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u/Money-Process-404 1d ago
I’d like to start a small vegetable garden in my lawn. I typically use Prodiamine as a preemergent on the lawn. When applying the Prodiamine, how much of a buffer zone should I leave around the vegetable garden area? Or is there a better preemergant to use near edibles?
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u/RisqueeSlayy 1d ago
I live in 8b and really want to create a native wildflower garden as well. From what I’ve seen the mixes in the stores give the Reddit gardeners the ick. Anyone know of a trusted brand for a native mix?
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u/sweatergaya 1d ago
I live in a northern climate and have an olive tree that’s successfully survived two winters being brought inside. This third winter, it started out healthy but quickly started drying out and dropping its leaves despite being well watered. I repotted it to give it better braining soil, and roots are healthy and normal looking. Is there any way to nurse my tree back to life now that it’s springtime? What signs of life can I look for?
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u/SoggyAnalyst 2d ago
My soil that I have daffodils, tulips and hostas in is just total shit. I think it’s very dense. There’s also a tree in there. I can’t really dig up thr soil to amend. What else can I do to help drainage?
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u/amyyoungs 2d ago
Can someone please help me save this azalea plant? I am new to gardening (bought a house with gardening beds full of weeds and slowly trying to make it nice). I don’t know what’s wrong with this plant. I had it on my covered porch to begin with which gets maybe 4 hrs direct sunlight (zone 9a I think - DFW area) and it started dropping flowers and looking sad so I moved it to where it is now which gets all day direct sun (but it’s been raining all weekend). Now the stems are all brown, the leaves are orange and spotty, like is it a lost cause? Is it too wet? Is this a soil issue? I repotted with brand new organic raised bed soil so I don’t think it’s nutrient deficient. I am lost it was just so pretty when I bought it.
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u/CanIEatAPC 1d ago
Are you using acid soil? Or acidifier?
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u/Ereldia 2d ago
Zone 6b here. We're looking to start up a garden again, south/southwest facing garden, and all of our plants are in pots, and there is shade due to our neighbor's massive maple tree. We spent way too much on soil last year, so I had the not-so-brilliant idea of trying Mel's Mix, or some variation of it.
We got free compost from our city (the city collects compost bins and creates free compost for the community every year with everything), and bought a LARGE bag of peat moss. I was going to just mix 2/3 compost with 1/3 peat, but I worry that this mixture would retain way too much moisture for our pots.
Perlite and vermiculite are out of the question, as we don't need the water retention from vermiculite. And perlite would bring the cost up so much that we may as well go back to buying potting soil by the bag. And since it seems like we just need an aggregate for aeration, does anyone have any other suggestions? We could get a bag of tiny sub-1cm river stones (bonus of being reusable), or sand, or crushed red brick? Maybe 2/3 compost to 1/3 peat would work? Any advice would be appreciated as this is my first time trying to mix soil together.
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u/Grouchy_Plan_5984 2d ago
Looking for help on what I'd need to buy to allow a hose nozzle to connect to the end of this hose. The end of the hose is too large to allow any connection. I'm sure it's missing a connector but online searching I can't find what it is exactly I'd need to buy. Any help is appreciated.
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u/DemonDuJour 20h ago
It looks to me like that's a broken female connector. It's missing the internally-threaded cup which screws onto a faucet.
You'll have to cut the hose about an inch behind that metal sleeve and install a "replacement female hose fitting."
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u/raeraeroo27 2d ago
What can I do with this little area? Wanted to try growing radishes in some pots but not sure what else I could grow here.
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u/hastipuddn S.E. Michigan 2d ago
It depends on how much sun the area gets. I assume you are asking for veg recommendations?
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u/raeraeroo27 2d ago
Yes maybe flowers too. I had a friend suggest a chaos garden. It rains a lot here so I’m not sure how much that would affect it. When the sun is out the bottom portion below the bricks gets sun the whole day
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u/coffeelover2150 2d ago
Hi! Zone 7, just moved to a house with a very sad front bed. Has a few daffodils. We’re sprucing it up tomorrow and it seems like no one has daffodils left. Any suggestions on good annuals for this zone to get instead? Will plan to plant perennial bulbs in the fall instead of the actual plants now.
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u/hastipuddn S.E. Michigan 2d ago
The daffodils already there probably need dividing which would spare you some expense come fall. Is the area full sun? Zone 7 spans the US but plants that do well are regional. Your state?
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u/Sangraven 2d ago
Any advice for growing herbs indoors? I had a small rosemary plant growing on the kitchen windowsill, but after a few months of occasional use, it stopped growing altogether. It didn't turn brown or anything, but it stopped growing any new stems and eventually the old growth became woody. After about a year of no growth, I just sort of gave up on it.
Now I'm thinking of trying again, but I don't know what I did wrong with the last one and I'm wondering if I should try again with the same herb or if something different would be easier to work with. I live in Zone 7b
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u/hastipuddn S.E. Michigan 2d ago
The perennial, shrubby herbs from the Mediterranean region need to be outside. They need intense sunlight, heat and a winter dormant period. So not a good houseplant. Cilantro should do OK in window light but you'll need a plant light for indoor basil. Oregano is one wood herb that might be OK indoors if there is a plant light. If you search this sub, this topic has come up a fair amount.
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u/ComprehensiveRise187 2d ago
I have the following climbers and the following spots for them. Tell me the best structure/area to put them
Climbing roses -2 bare roots Silver lace vine-2 small starter pot Star jasmine - 1 Carolina Jasmine -2 small starter pot Poets jasmine - 1 smalll starter pot
Chain link fence (with baby arborvitae in front about 3 feet away) Pergola not attached to the house but close by A diamond trellis on fence (can make multiple) Two metal cheap archways
What would you do and why?
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u/gibbyson24 2d ago
Hello, newcomer here. My daughter and I want to get into gardening as a hobby to do together but I have no clue what I am doing. We live in zone 8b so I feel like I'm already fighting a losing battle with the heat. We have about 10 foot edge as by our walkway and a small area in front of the house.
I feel like our my spots are in the shade most if not all of the day as I have a huge tree covering most of the yard, in the past we have tried some different types of flowers but have had no luck keeping any healthy.
Any advice on good shade flowers that will do well for beginners down here in 8b? Any other tips will be appreciated.
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u/Prior_Ad_7706 2d ago
Hello everyone! I’m new to Reddit and gardening. I transplanted tomatoes recently and they have been doing fine with the weather being 60-80s lately, but the weather is showing a couple 30 degree nights coming up. What do I do? Will the freezing temps kill them?
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u/DemonDuJour 19h ago
Step One: Water them heavily. The wet ground will absorb more heat during the day and radiate it at night.
Step Two: Cover them with something, anything. Since you're looking at a frost, not a freeze, you just need to isolate the airflow. Even an old sheet creates a temporary little micro-climate.
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u/Ambitious-Amoeba7380 Zone 7b 2d ago
I would definitely recommend covering them with a blanket.
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u/Prior_Ad_7706 2d ago
So just a regular blanket or would a black trash bag be ok?
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u/Ambitious-Amoeba7380 Zone 7b 1d ago
I might be worried that won't provide enough insulation. If you have a transparent plastic sheet that may work better, so you can get some good greenhouse effects. Not 100% sure though.
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u/Girl123459 2d ago
Hi everyone! I’m brand new to gardening. We just got a 2 by 4 raised bed and I want to start planting. I’ve been trying to read up on it but I’m kind of overwhelmed. What can I plant? I’m in zone 8b
I was thinking strawberries, basil, cilantro and potentially lettuce. Is that too much for such a small bed? I have no idea what I’m doing lol. I’ll be working on this with my 4 year old so want to keep it simple too.
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u/Ambitious-Amoeba7380 Zone 7b 2d ago
Just to add, you'll want to harvest the basil and cilantro aggressively as they'll want to quickly bolt in the heat. This is my yearly battle with those plants.
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u/ohshannoneileen custom flair 2d ago
I think strawberries, basil & cilantro will be fine. Lettuce is typically a fall/winter crop, so maybe hold off on that one for the season!
Keep in mind that when it starts getting hot, your cilantro is likely to flower & die off, they're kind of sissies about heat lol
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u/Girl123459 2d ago
Awesome thank you! I’ll hold off on the lettuce. I totally mistook the size though and I believe it’s a 1 by 4 bed. Do you think strawberries, basil and cilantro would fit in that size? It’s kind of hard to find this specific info online!
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u/ohshannoneileen custom flair 2d ago
I think so, as long as you stay on top of them & don't let them shoot out a bunch of runners!
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u/Icy_Discussion_1955 2d ago
Hello had my house fumigated for termites ..unfortunately my red croton bushes were under the tent ...they did not die however dropped all their leaves and now are growing back green...does anyone know if they will turn back red
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u/Icedcoffeeee US, Zone 7B NY 2d ago
Croton leaf color is determined by the intensity of sunlight it receives.
The red color should come back.
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u/Chiefette1013 2d ago
Help! Last year, I had a ton of slugs, that work decimating my garden. This year, I want to be proactive so I don't have to worry about them. I've tried beer traps (with inconsistent success. I tried the cheapest beer I could find. Maybe they didn't like Bud Light), sluggo (which the birds seem to like), oats (I had mice this past winter, so I want to be careful with that), and a spray bottle with water and vinegar (gross but strangely satisfying). Has anyone had any success with copper stripes? My garden is surrounded on sides by yards, and the yard right behind mine had the majority of the slugs, which I took upon myself to kill. However, I'm sure I looked sketchy with my flashlight and a spade or a spray bottle at 10 o'clock at night, looking for the slugs. So, what are your tried and true methods?
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u/Lizzebed 2d ago
Bear traps, or actually just yeast traps (mixing yeast with sugar, also works well, slugs just love yeasty stuff), and going out with a flashlight and scissors, looking sketchy.
So far this year is a bad year for slugs, last year it rained for almost a full year from summer to summer and hardly any frost, so slugs were having a good year. This year there was some frost, and not much rain lately, actually like almost no rain for a month now. So not a good year for slugs (yet).
Normally I may also use some ferrophosphate (??) pellets, but that was on an allotment, and now I am in my own garden, and there is frogs and toads, and I hope for some hedgehogs, so I am trying to stay away from anything that could poison anything else. And there is more of a mix of plants, instead of mostly tasty veg, so I hope that may also help in some way.
Nematodes are a bit too expensive as an option for my taste. Maybe if we get an extremely bad year again.
I didn't know vinegar did anything against slugs? Is it the same effect as salt?
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u/traditionalhobbies 2d ago
Try a non-light beer, PBR worked well for me in the past.
Long term though if you can promote as much wildlife and natural areas the better, I’ve noticed that there seem to be more snakes around my house and yard over the past few years and one of their favorite foods is slugs, I hardly ever find them on my plants anymore. (I should say venomous snakes are all but non-existent where I live, I’ve only ever found small garden snakes)
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u/Cochranvd 1h ago
New gardener. Started a bunch of tomato seedlings indoors and they have been doing very well. I am starting to notice these yellow spots on some of the leaves tho which has me concerned. I’m hoping it’s just from the lights being too close.