Monday, April 16, 2007

"Ta da!" All my new bareroot friends are potted up and chillin' like villains, waiting for warmer weather (luckily, it seems to be here)...
...now I have all this dirt that was in the bags with the roots, and I can't waste it...so I'll squeeze out the water and use it to water the new plantings (can't let that rooting hormone go to waste), and the dirt goes back in the Odjob to mix and reuse...man, I am the recycling queen!

Beautiful day...clouds are rolling in, though. Better protect everything from the deer and rabbits... Time to mix up the "varmint repellent"...the best thing I've tried so far is this stuff, Liquid Fence. It works for 30 days, and it prevents the animals from even tasting my plants. Know how it's so effective? Because it smells positively horrible!!! Imagine for a moment a mixture of diarrhea, vomit, and one other disgusting ingredient that you can't quite put your finger on...yea, that's Liquid Fence alright! But the odor does fade pretty quickly to the human nose (like by next morning you barely notice at all), however the animals smell it long term. So I walk the entire property and spray it everywhere...Aaahhh....now it's "Millertime"...and despite the faint odor of Liquid Fence, I'm not repelled enough to avoid building a fire and tossing back a couple....perfect end to a perfect weekend!

8 comments:

chuck b. said...

I have to find something to deter the neighbor's cat from pooping in my yard this summer. It hasn't been a problem yet this year, but last summer was pretty bad. If some saucers of vinegar won't do it maybe Liquid Fence will.

chuck b. said...

I guess it doesn't bother the birds, right? Because that would suck.

lisa said...

No problem with birds, Chuck. As a matter of fact, I think they like having fewer critters on the ground chasing them around...it seems to chase away squirrels somewhat, too. Oddly enough, it doesn't attract raccoons or other "stink-loving" animals...maybe because the smell is intensely human or something. But it IS awful...so I try to spray on Sunday night, so by the time I'm back in the yard Monday night (or later), the smell has dissipated almost completely.

Anonymous said...

Liquid Fence is definitely the way to go. With our neighborhood deer herd up to 6, and with rabbits living under our deck, I couldn't garden without it. I really does stink, though. My husband makes me spray it on a Monday or Tuesday night so that the smell will be gone by the weekend. I also haven't had problems with the birds, so no worries there.

chuck b. said...

Sounds like a serious application of Liquid Fence would be a bad idea in the small urban garden. At least one of my neighbors uses his backyard too. Maybe I can just put a couple dabs of it here and there..?

On the other hand, it sounds like I could commit some seriously fun mischief with the stuff...ahem, if I was that type of person.

Unknown said...

By the way... whatcha got planted up? You just keep talking generally about "bareroot plants," you tease! :)

lisa said...

Chuck-although it's obnoxious, I'm sure if you talked to your neighbors about it, you could work something out. Unless of course you were planning some diabolical mischief, cuz' that would tip them off. (If you WERE that type of person...;)

Kim-okay, here's the bareroot list: dbl. yellow hollyhock (3), 'The Chaterlaine' pink lupine (6), 'Golden Queen' trollius (3), 'White Feather' hosta, 'Jade' coneflower, 'Green Envy' coneflower, 'Starburst' phlox, and 'Black Barlow' columbine. And more stuff is still coming! (Yes, I am really quite insane! ;)

Gotta Garden said...

Can birds smell?? I don't think so...but what do I know (not much about birds!).

You had a busy weekend! But, a good one, lots accomplished! I have a pot ghetto, too...and it keeps growing.

What a neat list of new plants! Can't wait to see what else is coming and to see pics later!! No, you're not insane...it's all those non-gardener types we have to worry about! Lol!

I was thinking that if Chuck B. just commented to his neighbors that they would be getting free varmint removal for 30 days, too (at least on the sides that border his)...they might understand a short period of...uh...aroma.