Monday, August 24, 2009

Rain Barrel installed; discount plants

I finally got the first of my rain barrels installed this evening (in the rain).  Let's hope it's worth it.  

This is the time of year for discounted plants.  Skillin's is having a great sale, and I just picked up some clearance plants from Lowe's (where I usually don't buy my plants, but I had to pick up some gutter hardware):  some nikko blue hydrangeas (with lots of fungus and a few flower buds), and three huge bee balms, for $3.99 each.  I'll plant them in the near future.

4 comments:

  1. What a great blog site you have. Envy your beautiful flowers, garden, etc. Our victory garden here in Florida this year didn't do well. Got hit hard by a fungus that wiped out my cuc's, tomatoes, and beans. So, I'll just have to try again when it gets to be a little cooler.

    My wife and I only have two rain barrels up and running, but it is enough to keep her orchids, exotic plants, pets watered, bird bath and fountains full, with enough water to clean our lawn furniture and windows during the year.

    If you are harvesting rainwater from rain gutters channeled to barrels I hope you keep your gutters squeaky clean and free of stagnant water that causes mosquitoes to breed that carry West Nile Virus. We have invented a new type of rain gutter cleaning tool that our customers tell us is the "best gutter cleaner on the market today." I invite you to come and visit my wife and I at www.gutterclutterbuster.com and check out the American Made, DIY gutter cleaning tool. Then please leave us a comment. Would love to hear from you. Until then, be safe, be well, and "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled." God Bless You, Your Family and God Bless America.

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  2. bob@bestgardenvisits.comAugust 25, 2009 at 6:50 AM

    Hi Dave, once the bee balm gets established, make sure you give it plenty of sun and room to ramble, as it may tend to spread. With your shady site conditions in the back it may lean along the edges towards the sun. Watch it and don't let it take over an area unless you want it to.
    The hydrangea will do fine in both the sun and shade and Nikko blue can get to five feet by five feet in size, with beautiful blue flowers if the soil pH is right.
    Finally getting some dry August weather, but the nights are finally cooling off here. Feels like fall this morning.

    Bob
    Bestgardenvisits.com

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  3. Thanks for the tips, folks. I may end up putting the two hydrangeas in the back, where there's more shade. And I plan on cleaning the rain gutters this fall, before it all freezes over.

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  4. You might want to make it easier on yourself when the winter weather comes along - we installed this downspout diverter and it works great http://www.aquabarrel.com/product_downspout_diverter.php

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