Gardens 2005

[Pamela'shome]

I did not realize colorado got very hot in the summer. We live in the central dessert where it can get 116 very easily. The great part is that we can garden almost year round here, if you protect the plants when it does start getting cold. We had planned to start on our garden this weekend but when I got up this morning it had rained again during the night, and we still are not comp;letely dried out from all the rain we got a couple of weeks ago. As to the dog keeping birds away, well if you have food outside forget it! We have 2 outside dogs & the birds are always into their food bowls, & of course the water also. I have trouble with the birds eatting my cherry tomato's before I can pick them. My mil & I are going to make some hanging Scare away's out of cds & monofilament we have been getting in the mail from aol etc., hopefully that will help keep them out some more. Then all I have to worry about is the rabbits & gophers. Very agravatting when I start to water then hear it going down a drain! I got 2 of those sonic units that are battery operated to see if that will keep the gophers away. If they do work I will get more of them to put on the whole property & get rid of them all over then 1 of the dogs won't dig as much either. I don't have much shade area in my garden unfortunately, just what my shed supplies in late afternoon. I usually companion plant to help conserve space & help with shading.
Talk to somone @ your local nursery they may be able to order your supplies in bigger bags, they just stock what they know for sure will sell. They may find that by ordering larger for you they might sell more themselves to other prople also. If you have any farmers in your area that raise livestock check with them about getting manure from them, we have a few dairies around here & if you load it yourself it's free, if they fill up your truckbed then I believe it's $20, & is done in a matter of minutes. Not only can you use it in your garden but it helps with making compost too. Hope I have given you some helpful ideas.