Today as I looked out our window, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this sight in the midst of a thunderstorm.
Benefit of a Lush Lawn
We've been having heavy downpours everyday and today was no exception. We'd have a sunny early morning and towards noon, dark clouds loom and thunderclaps announce the rains.
Today as I looked out our window, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this sight in the midst of a thunderstorm.
Today as I looked out our window, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this sight in the midst of a thunderstorm.
Impatiens Plants for the Garden
Amidst the noon rain today, DH and I passed by some gardens in San Pedro to look for vines. We were actually hoping to see Morning Glory. Sadly none of them had it. Rather than waste that stopover, we bought a couple of Impatiens plants. Supposedly, these plants love morning sun and will thrive in the afternoon shade.
We already have a spot in mind. So we'll see how they'll do maybe in a couple of months.
We already have a spot in mind. So we'll see how they'll do maybe in a couple of months.
Wall Attachments to Support Vines - Part 3
This is the continuation of Part 2 in a three-part series.
With the brackets in place, it's time to string the anchors together. Here's the wire used: a gauge 14 G.I. wire. You'd also need a pair of pliers for forming and bending wire as well as a pair of vise-grips to secure your work in place as needed.
With the brackets in place, it's time to string the anchors together. Here's the wire used: a gauge 14 G.I. wire. You'd also need a pair of pliers for forming and bending wire as well as a pair of vise-grips to secure your work in place as needed.
Wall Attachments to Support Vines - Part 2
This is the continuation of Part 1 of a three-part series.With the basic materials ready, it's time to start on the work.
Since we only need 4 inches of space on where the vines will rest, we need to cut the long metal brackets to just 4 inches. This will make them uniform in length. Use a hacksaw for this task.
Since we only need 4 inches of space on where the vines will rest, we need to cut the long metal brackets to just 4 inches. This will make them uniform in length. Use a hacksaw for this task.
Wall Attachments to Support Vines - Part 1
Woohoo! Another DIY project!
After the decision to add another layer on the wall for vines, the need for strong wall supports entered the picture. These supports need to be either screwed or nailed into the concrete block wall. Honestly, I couldn't think of any other attachment (glued brackets?) that will be strong enough to support vines especially in their maturity.
So what to use for attachments? Wood blocks? Plastic supports? Metal bars? Whatever it may be, the frugal gardener in me tells me (hopefully) not to spend a cent. So let's get the brain cells working!
Wood blocks can deteriorate in several years and have the inherent risk of termite infestation. Plastic isn't strong enough. One-eight inch metal angle bars may be an overkill.
Finally, an idea - metal brackets used for shelving. These are lightweight contraptions designed to carry load. Anchor them into the wall by nail or screw and string them together with some wires.
I have some old rusty brackets shown below in varying sizes and some wires. The wires are leftovers from previous projects but I don't think they're thick or sturdy enough for this project.
After the decision to add another layer on the wall for vines, the need for strong wall supports entered the picture. These supports need to be either screwed or nailed into the concrete block wall. Honestly, I couldn't think of any other attachment (glued brackets?) that will be strong enough to support vines especially in their maturity.
So what to use for attachments? Wood blocks? Plastic supports? Metal bars? Whatever it may be, the frugal gardener in me tells me (hopefully) not to spend a cent. So let's get the brain cells working!
Wood blocks can deteriorate in several years and have the inherent risk of termite infestation. Plastic isn't strong enough. One-eight inch metal angle bars may be an overkill.
Finally, an idea - metal brackets used for shelving. These are lightweight contraptions designed to carry load. Anchor them into the wall by nail or screw and string them together with some wires.
I have some old rusty brackets shown below in varying sizes and some wires. The wires are leftovers from previous projects but I don't think they're thick or sturdy enough for this project.
Adding Another Vine Layer
After seeing the assortment of plants and vines in the gardens of the churches we visited, I had second thoughts in putting just the Millionaire's Vine (Cissus Sicyoides) or Princess Vine or Curtain Ivy (as it's commonly known on the internet) on our blank wall. Locally, many refer to it as Millionaire's Vine, so I'll simply call it Millionaire's Vine from hereon for brevity.
If I were to envision the vine when it has matured with its curtain threads, it'll probly look boring with it covering all the wall. The concrete block wall is around 10 feet high and is adjacent to the neighbor's firewall. So it's practically all wall with nothing else on it. And so I thought of putting layers of vines on this wall. Here's a drawing of what I had in mind.
If I were to envision the vine when it has matured with its curtain threads, it'll probly look boring with it covering all the wall. The concrete block wall is around 10 feet high and is adjacent to the neighbor's firewall. So it's practically all wall with nothing else on it. And so I thought of putting layers of vines on this wall. Here's a drawing of what I had in mind.
Thin Wires - A Versatile Gardening Material
That's thin insulated (solid strand) wires. They're so "cheap" you could actually get them free from discarded cables or wires.
The sample below shows a brown sheath covering 3 insulated solid strand wires inside (black, red and white).
The sample below shows a brown sheath covering 3 insulated solid strand wires inside (black, red and white).
Wall Support for Millionaire's Vine
After some thinking, I'll put up a Millionaire's Vine somehow on our blank wall. In the photo below, the top of the concrete blocks forms a ledge where the vine could rest. The ledge is around 11 to 12 feet high. Here's the ledge as seen from below.
Millionaire's Vine for the New Wall
In our neighborhood, I've seen some houses with a plant that hereabouts is called the Millionaire's Vine. I don't know how it got the name though. Maybe some Pinoy planted it, won the Lotto and thereupon baptized it as "Millionaire's Vine". Elsewhere in the web, however, it's known as Princess Vine or Curtain Ivy (Cissus Sicyoides). Here's a definition:
Anyway, these neighbors would have these vines above a pergola. They look nice with the hanging threads that have pinkish tips. The house below has a thick bushy vine on top of a pergola.
Princess vine or Curtain Ivy belongs to Vitaceae (Grapevine family). It is an evergreen perennial vine that is native to Florida, south Texas, Mexico south to Central America and Caribbean. This vine occurs in brushy areas and rainforests, and produces a dense mantle that covers other vegetation. Mature stems have swollen nodes and thin peeling bark. Long reddish aerial roots droop down from the axils. Leaves are broadly rounded or ovate, and entire. Yellow-green flowers are seen in the cymes that extend from the axils.
Anyway, these neighbors would have these vines above a pergola. They look nice with the hanging threads that have pinkish tips. The house below has a thick bushy vine on top of a pergola.
Creeping Fig (Ficus Pumila) on our Old Wall
In a previous entry, I wrote about a literal blank wall I'm having and how to add color to this wall to complement the front garden.
When we had the old house, we had the "climbing fig" vine on this wall. Don't know what that is? The climbing fig is also known as Ficus Pumila. Here's how it looks like on a wall.
When we had the old house, we had the "climbing fig" vine on this wall. Don't know what that is? The climbing fig is also known as Ficus Pumila. Here's how it looks like on a wall.
DIY (Do It Yourself) - An Improvised Manual Aerator
In a previous entry, this gardener wrote about the need to aerate compacted soil in the front and backyard lawns. Both lawns are not big and it isn't worth to invest on anything fancy or expensive. So an idea came up to build an improvised manual aerator using an old garden rake and some masonry nails. Here's the aerator in action in the lawn at the backyard (Carabao or Buffalo grass).
Lawn Aeration for Clay Soil
Our soil in the lot where we live has always been on the clayish side. And so even after our new house came with a landscaped garden, I have this fear that our soil is just too compact to sustain the Bermuda grass in our front yard.
The Bermuda grass, by the way, was slowly deteriorating, no thanks to our dog Poochie who finds enjoyment in digging up the lawn. But that's another story.
There is a technique called aeration that is suppose to address drainage issues and improve the infiltration of nutrients in compacted soils. There are two types of soil aeration: Core and Spike.
The Bermuda grass, by the way, was slowly deteriorating, no thanks to our dog Poochie who finds enjoyment in digging up the lawn. But that's another story.
There is a technique called aeration that is suppose to address drainage issues and improve the infiltration of nutrients in compacted soils. There are two types of soil aeration: Core and Spike.
Blank Wall in the Garden
There are some parts of the garden in our new house that look nice such as this little mound by the front fence.
There's however this unpainted blank wall that's really boring. The builder just had the workers mortar the old wall.
Any ideas to spiff it up and add a little color? Inexpensive, of course. :)
There's however this unpainted blank wall that's really boring. The builder just had the workers mortar the old wall.
Any ideas to spiff it up and add a little color? Inexpensive, of course. :)
First Post
Hello, practical gardeners!This is my first post and welcome to this blog on Practical Gardening.
If you're a DIY'er or simply love homemade projects that support gardening, then this blog's for you!
