#46743
April 11th, 2006 at 05:07 AM
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2004
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What does that mean, "deadhead the blooms"?
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#46744
April 11th, 2006 at 07:55 AM
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Originally posted by Amber J: What does that mean, "deadhead the blooms"? Amber, it means to pick or pinch off the spent (dying) blossoms. Two reasons to do this , one is to promote more flowers on certain plants, usually annuals. Second reason is to prevent them from going to seed so you don't end up with way too many babies. Oh yeah, third reason to deadhead is it will look prettier!
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#46745
April 11th, 2006 at 04:26 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
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Ahould I do this with my strawberries?
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#46746
April 11th, 2006 at 04:37 PM
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Strawberries???? I thought we were talking mint?? I have heard that some do deadhead their strawberries but I never have. I guess the idea behind it is to pinch off all but one strawberry per plant to get a bigger berry??? Doesn't make sense to me.
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#46747
April 15th, 2006 at 06:39 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
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my mint became invasive too...I am still finding roots and sprouts in the area it was planted - definitely suggest using a container!
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#46748
April 20th, 2006 at 08:57 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
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I planted some by my pond , and it is Spreadding like crazy... For now I like it but I am sure I will be chopping it off soon
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#46749
April 21st, 2006 at 09:01 AM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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mint is invasive!! and once it gets well-established, it's hard to get rid of! it sends out suckers underground so, even if you get the main plant, those suckers are still there and you'll have more popping up a foot (or more) away. unless you've got an area that you don't care if it's overtaken or if it's blocked off (surrounded by concrete) you should plant mint by putting it in a pot and then putting the pot in the ground. well. since you didn't know that, you'll need to keep an eye on it and when you see it starting to grow in a spot you don't want it to, you'll need to pull it up. you could try putting some kind of plastic barrier into the ground to try to keep it confined. there's a black plastic edger thing that might be helpful. comes in 20 foot sections and can be cut to fit and is flexible so you can make a circle if you need to. easy to install - just place it and press or hammer into the soil.
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#46750
April 25th, 2006 at 11:18 AM
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Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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I have trouble getting catnip to sprout from seeds. I've been using nice potting soil, so that may be the problem. Should I try to straite the little seeds, with sandpaper or something? I have one small plant, but it doesn't provide enough catnip, especially if some roaming cat finds it. Thanks!
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#46751
April 25th, 2006 at 12:25 PM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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We have catnip out doors, and it re~ seeds prolifically.... How many seeds do you have?? (can you get more seeds?) Try an experiment.. Do some indoors... And throw some outside, in a couple of different spots... It likes plain dirt/soil.. Nothing fancy.. Ours grew in a gravel driveway!!!
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#46752
May 7th, 2006 at 09:53 AM
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Joined: May 2006
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Be careful with planting mint outdoors! I believe most types reseed easily or spread from rhisomes, so they can take over your yard in a season (though it makes mowing a more pleasant smelling affair!) Make sure to either dig deep and surround with stone or some kind of barrier, or keep it in a container if you don't want it everywhere!
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#46753
May 7th, 2006 at 10:04 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Good tips on the mint's invasive properties. I love, love, love mint, but I keep it in clay pots. The pots circle my wildlife water feature, which is just a very big blue ceramic plant saucer. But it looks so pretty with the mint trailing in the water. My little patio water feature gives me alot of joy.
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#46754
May 7th, 2006 at 02:21 PM
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Joined: May 2006
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Deborah,
Would love to see a picture of your water feature! Sounds really cute and like something I could do on a rented property without being too invasive.
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#46755
May 7th, 2006 at 05:43 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Snap, I don't have a digital camera and a scanner and all that. Wish I did. But I can describe the water thing in more detail for you. I rent too, a condo in California, and that's why I'm a container gardener. I have a really big patio and that's all. If you go to the garden center, with the pots are various sizes of ceramic saucers. I chose blue to make it look like a pond. Green would look good too. I just circle the saucer with four 6 inch pots planted with peppermint, spearmint, maidenhair fern and an ivy. Four pots make a half circle, which leaves the front open for the squirrels and rabbits. It is really pretty, and if you get a 13 inch saucer, sometimes you can see the sky reflected in the water. It really gives me a feeling of happiness, and what a deal, all this for a few dollars ! I hope you'll make one too !
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#46756
May 8th, 2006 at 03:33 AM
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Joined: May 2006
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Sounds great! Home Depot here I come!
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#46757
May 8th, 2006 at 03:55 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Let me know what plants you get and how it turns out !
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#46758
May 8th, 2006 at 04:06 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
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I meant to add that you can also put small pretty stones in the water. I have a flat chunk of amethyst (my birthstone) in the water off to one side, for butterflies to land on. It's off to one side to leave room for the birds to bathe. So far I have never had a butterfly, but I hope to. The whole thing is really great.
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