Garden Practices
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Last week Yvonne Post’s lead goats, Wyeth and Rodin, visited the Scott Arboretum on a reconnaissance mission. As lead goats, Wyeth and Rodin (named for famous artists) are brought to trial new locations and vegetation to see if the entire herd would take to the site and eat the weeds found there.
Rodin chomping on ivy while Yvonne discusses goats in the garden. photo credit: R. Robert
Like many other institutions in the region, the Scott Arboretum is trialing the use of goats to remove invasive and stubborn weeds from the garden. Also called “nature’s weed-eaters”, goats are a sustainable, environment friendly…
Continue reading »
Monday, November 9th, 2009
On Thursday, October 22 over 35 volunteers from Swarthmore College, Scott Arboretum, and CRC Watershed Association gathered to plant 83 trees and shrubs. These plantings were the result of a TreeVitalize Watershed Grant awarded from Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and Delaware County Conservation District (DCCD). Volunteers spent the morning planting a 2,000 square feet or 4.59 acre riparian forest buffer along the Crum Creek corridor.
Tools and plants are laid out in preparation for volunteers. photo credit: R. Maurer
These plantings were in addition to the trees planted last spring by Swarthmore College volunteers in the area newly name Roger’s Grove, which…
Continue reading »
Monday, August 10th, 2009
Propagating cacti can seem like a daunting task, but with a good pair of gloves it is a simple process. It is recommended that you propagate your cacti in late spring with the arrival of warmer, drier weather. This allows plants plenty of time to get established before the winter season. You will need a pair of pruners and the aforementioned gloves.
The many sized spines of Opuntia. photo credit: R. Robert
The gloves, of course, provide protection from the prickly spines that are a trademark of all cacti. Be warned, while the average new cacti grower avoids the large, fearsome spines,…
Continue reading »
« more recent posts •
earlier posts »
