Denisa’s Garden

Welcome to Denisa’s Garden!

Here in Denisa’s Garden you can share our adventures in gardening. Both the good and the bad. Learn as we do on what works in our climate, what thrives and what dies, and how our garden evolves over the seasons.

Ask Denisa Q&A: When Frogs and Lizards Take Over Your Garden

Last modified on 2011-09-09 12:59:32 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Karen Asks Denisa: Do you know of anything that will act as a frog and lizard repellent. I have a container garden in my courtyard and I am being overrun with lizards and frogs. They are destroying my plants.

Answer:

Frogs and lizards will not do anything to harm your garden. They actually do quite the opposite by eating insects and bugs that could actually be attacking your plants. They can however “infest” a garden in overwhelming numbers and this can be unpleasant for many reasons. Frogs can be especially irritating as they make lots of noise and some can be poisonous to your pets (dogs and cats).

In actuality you don’t want to completely rid your garden of these reptiles and amphibians because they control the mosquito population along with many other pests such as roaches, grasshoppers, leaf eaters etc. But that doesn’t mean your garden has to become a frog sanctuary.

The best way to get rid of them is to find out what has attracted them to your garden in the first place. In order to get an infestation you must be providing a very good environment where they can breed and eat happily. 

Do you have a garden pond where they congregate? Frogs love water and will usually gather near fountains and ponds or even a leaky hosepipe that provides constant moisture for them. Ponds and fountains can be particularly attractive as they will lay their eggs there and form even more frogs.

Do you have a dog or cat that you feed outside?

Frogs love dog and cat food and will stay near your home if you put out a constant supply of one of their favorite foods. Be sure you are not leaving out bowls of left over pet food where they can gorge themselves every night.  If you don’t leave food out, perhaps you have an insect infestation that the frogs love to eat. Try checking for other pests that can be feeding your frogs and control them with a garden pesticide found at Lowes or Home Depot.  Also, keep in mind that lights at night attract insects which in turn attracts frogs, toads and lizards.

If you do have a pond, you may be in trouble. Especially if your pond has fish in it because you wont be able to add any type of repellent to the water without harming your fish.  You may want to consider getting rid of the pond all together or emptying it of water for a while until the frogs leave (only they will come back once the pond is filled again).  Fountains are easier to manage as you can use one part bleach to 10 parts water to clean out the fountain and get rid of the frogs. They will not want to be anywhere near the chlorinated water.   If you have a large fountain you may consider using pool-chlorinating tablets to keep it clean and frog free for long periods of time. But test it first. You may need to use just ¼ of a tablet and it needs to sit inside the fountain “behind the scenes” as it might stain your fountain floor or harm the finish of the fountain.

Once you have gotten rid of the two largest culprits (food and water) try spraying the area of your garden with a vinegar solution (half vinegar half water).  Spray the patio area where you don’t want the frogs and lizards to be but avoid spraying on plants as this may burn them. Also be sure to check an area of your patio before spraying to be sure it does not stain your tiles/pavers/wood etc.  Another alternative is to fill a bottle of Listerine and spray it around the floors where the frogs hang out. Listerine will also repel mosquitoes, which will help control the lizard population as well.

If you are simply overwhelmed with the amount of frogs and there are just too many, you may need to catch them individually and relocate them or destroy them one by one.  A children’s butterfly net found in the toy department will work well for this. Otherwise any kind of net (pool skimmer, etc) will work.  If destroying them is not an option try throwing them all in a bucket and taking them to a near by pond or canal. (Kids would love to help out with this project).

Otherwise the must humane way to get rid of them is to put them in a plastic bag in the freezer for 10 days.   This will cause them to go into hibernation and eventually they will die in their sleep. The bags can then be disposed of on garbage day (don’t leave them in your garbage can in the heat for more than 24 hours, yuck!).

Be ware of common mothball treatments as they are highly toxic and can melt and seep into your soil and in turn, our water supply. We do not recommend the mothball treatment outdoors.

Lastly, try and enjoy your patio more often. Frogs and lizards do not like being around humans and may feel the need to leave if they see you around every evening. Your presence alone might be enough to give them the hint that this space is occupied and they should find somewhere more secluded to live out their lives. Animals seek quiet undisturbed places to live out there life so perhaps a few get-togethers or a BBQ or two will give them the hint.

An Easy and Inexpensive Garden Path

Last modified on 2011-02-03 15:41:29 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

For months I’ve struggled with the plants in the far back end of my garden. They were difficult to reach and I found that when I did find my way back there, I always left evidence of foot traffic. Either that or I wound up with multiple splinters from my pineapple plant. Either way I found the further back end of my corner garden was starting to look wild and unkempt and one day it occurred to me; by adding a few stepping stones, I could create a little path that would make accessing the harder to reach areas of the garden much more accessible. So, after staring at the problem for what seemed like an entire day, (I often wonder around the garden for hours on end planning and plotting and making notes of where I can make improvements) I decided more than a few plants would need to be relocated, while others would have to simply be removed completely.

This was a tough decision to make as I find it very difficult to remove and/or essentially kill anything growing in my garden. Even the plants I’m not too fond of have found themselves a home in my yard.  But seeing as we’ve quickly run out of room and space is so valuable in my small oasis, it’s become easier to focus on plants we love. We usually end up moving plants to less prominent parts of the garden rather than cutting them out completely, but sometimes you don’t have a choice.

In the end, we ended up removing a fussy and a very lanky buttercup bush that had dwindled to a few long scraggly twigs with tufts of leaves on the end. (We’d been struggling with it for quite some time. We also did away with a pineapple plant (4 others still reside in the garden) and a small xanadu of which we have another as well. In the long run, removing these plants opened up ample room for more favorable plants like a double hibiscus we had been keeping in a planter and a few others, which have yet to be chosen. (Which means we get to go plant shopping!!!)

After moving a few of our plants around as gently as we know how we were able to form a small path using stepping-stones purchased from Home Depot on sale for $2 a pop. $8 total for a small path in our garden, priceless!

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Cool Climate Plants For The South Florida Garden

Last modified on 2011-01-21 16:27:09 GMT. 3 comments. Top.

As you may know, South Florida gardening seasons are almost the exact opposite here to the rest of the country. Some cool weather perennials are considered annuals in South Florida. Our summers are usually too hot to sustain most tender flowering plants unless they are a tropical variety. But during the wintertime we can enjoy a variety of plants that thrive up north. Recently we took a trip to Flamingo Road Nursery using a %50 off coupon we purchased at LivingSocial.com for some cool weather plants to spruce up our garden. Here are a few of the choices we planted in early December that are thriving right now in our garden:

Dianthus:  Dianthus is part of the carnation group of flowers. They are very fragrant (a more flowery scent than carnations) and bloom in small clusters on tall thin stems with long thin leaves that sprout every two inches or so from a clump of tall grass-like leaves. They have long lasting blooms in shades of light pink, dark pink, magenta, white and red, and come solid colored, stripped or rimmed in white. They resemble little paper disks with zigzag edges about the size of a nickel. They make excellent cut flowers and attract all sorts of butterflies and pretty moths to the garden. They are also sold in tall and short varieties. We prefer the tall versions, which can be cut and brought indoors for long lasting bouquets. They are easy to care for and are disease resistant. Besides the occasional deadheading, ours have been maintenance free since being planted in the garden.

Delphiniums:  Delphinium is a beautiful flowering plant with bright blue-violet flowers. The blooms are electric blue and almost seem to glow in the garden. They make excellent cut flowers that last and last when brought indoors away from heat and intense sunlight. They like full sun but will not do well in direct sunlight once the temperatures reach 80 degrees (non uncommon in South Florida, even in the winter time) so they do better in partial shade in our garden. Although they are considered a perennial up north, these lovely bloomers are used as annuals in South Florida, so don’t expect these beautiful plants to survive our intense summer season. But, do enjoy them during the cooler months of the year as they will continue to bloom repeatedly providing beautiful cut blossoms for indoor bouquets all season long; until the sweltering heat zaps them dry in late spring to early summer.

Trailing Lobelia:  We purchased one small trailing lobelia to place in a hanging container on our garden arbor and quickly found out this little plant likes lots and lots of water. So far, it’s done well in a small container that does not drain (we find some of our hanging baskets and other containers dry out too quickly for this thirsty little plant), particularly in the dryer winter season of South Florida. The trailing lobelia looks best in a hanging basket or taller planter where it can cascade into a shower of tiny bright blue blooms. So far it has bloomed continuously since planted, but once the hotter season arrives it should be moved into the shade if you expect any chance of survival. We’ve read it can withstand our summer heat if provided with enough water and indirect sunlight, but only time will tell

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Nemesia:  This bright and colorful little annual provides hundreds of tiny snapdragon shaped blooms over bright green foliage. They come in almost an endless array of colors. Ours is violet/magenta with a yellow center. They do better in containers than they would in the soil. Put them in full sun for more constant blooming, but you may want to move them into partial shade once temperatures reach the high 80s  as these delicate beauties may not survive the summer heat. They like to stay relatively moist and will wilt quickly if allowed to dry out, but luckily they bounce back if dryness has not persisted for too long. Choose them for their bright color varieties. Some of which can be very fragrant. They are inexpensive and provide moths of color throught the cooler season.

Pansies (and violas):  Pansies are beautiful, no doubt about it. Whoever came up with the expression that a pansy was a weakling didn’t do their research, as they are some of the cold-hardiest plants available. In our mild winters they will thrive to say the least, but only until May or June comes around. The flat blooms make excellent pressed flowers and they come in every color of the rainbow except perhaps green. Violas are miniature versions of pansies. They have smaller but more prolific blooms. Pansies and violas are an old time favorite for a reason; these small plants give charm and class to any garden.

Snap Dragons:  Snap Dragons are an all time favorite. These long standing blooms come in a variety of colors, are delicately fragrant and make excellent cut flowers. We’ve had much success with ours since planting them in the garden in October, but we’ve had little success achieving the same tall, bright blooms they had when first purchased. They are currently budding and the few blooms that have emerged are short 3-4 blossomed spears. Not the 10-12 blossomed spears they had on them when purchased. Perhaps a little research and fertilizer will help. We’ll be sure to keep you posted!

Diascia:  Another family member of the snapdragon, diascia is a relatively new, short-lived perennial from South Africa. Similar to Nemesia in bloom shape and colors, the diascia is more of a trailing plant and works well in containers where its showy blooms can cascade downwards and sway in the breeze. Diascia blooms in the cooler months but will survive the warm summer months if watered amply and placed in partial shade. Come Autumn she should reward you with ample blooms once again.

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Container Gardening In South Florida

Last modified on 2011-01-14 18:46:05 GMT. 3 comments. Top.

Growing vegetables in South Florida is a little different than in the rest of the country. Just like gardening in general. In our Zone 10 climate, the dead of summer acts as our winter usually zapping most flowering plants and vegetables who cant handle our intense heat and humidity. But even in sunny Florida, cold air and frosts can make their way down south and put a chill in our tender plants mid winter. So how can we achieve a full growing season without risking the loss of harvest?

Planting our vegetables in containers.

Container gardens have both their advantages and disadvantages.  For starters containers can be easily moved to receive more (or less) sunlight in order to keep your crop growing happily throughout the season.  Containers can also be moved easily into a garage or indoors if a rare frost or cold front happens to arrive mid winter.

One major advantage is that pots and planters offer protection from root knot nematodes found in our warm climate soil. These pesky pests eat the roots of tasty veggie plants and kill the plant from the ground up. Another advantage is that you can choose a higher quality store bought soil which many fruit producing plants prefer to our native, nutrient-lacking, sandy South Florida earth.

Aesthetically speaking, veggies aren’t the most decorative or attractive plants. Planting them in containers allows for the flexibility of moving unsightly plants away from your main gardening oasis to a less visible part of your yard where they will be less of a focal point. This method also allows people with very little garden space or unpaved land to enjoy home grown fruits and vegetables of their own.

So why not plant your entire garden in containers?

Container gardening does have its drawbacks. For starters, a potted garden requires more care and watering to be sure your plants have enough water and are draining properly. You may also need to fertilize more often as soil in containers may not hold the nutrients as long as ground soil. Containers can be costly and although you can reuse them every year they can still deteriorate over time.  (We like to re-use the old black pots our plants came in from the nursery, but sometimes-bigger containers are required). If you’re garden is out of sight (like ours is) you can use any type of container like old (thoroughly cleaned) paint buckets with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage; or the like.

Click through the gallery of our container garden for more tips and info on growing tomatoes and bell peppers in South Florida.

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A note on squirrels and other rodents:

We recently had our homegrown tomatoes attacked by local squirrels.  It was a sad and horrifying site to see the largest tomatoes eaten in half and left on the vines to rot.  Quick action was needed to save our crop!  A fast search on the web provided many suggestions on how to rid your garden of the pests. Everything from covering your garden in mosquito netting to using hot pepper sauce on your larger veggies to out-right shooting the squirrels (yikes!).  We opted to cover our largest fruits with zip lock baggies (cut the corners off to let air circulate and rain water drain).  This seems to be working well for us, although I do worry about fungi or mildew forming if they do not get adequate ventilation.  Other suggestions include wrapping in pantyhose or other sheer fabric. This sounds like a better option since the fabric will breathe and stretch with the fruits growth, but we had baggies on hand so we’re using this method at the moment.

Planting Annuals For Lovely Color

Last modified on 2011-01-21 16:11:02 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Annual plants bring color and texture to a garden. Although many only last a year, the beauty they bring make it well worth the effort of planting every season.  Fortunately for us in warmer climates, some plants that are considered annuals up north can actually be used as perennials as it is usually the cold frosts that do them in. No frost in the south means you can sometimes enjoy these plants for longer.  Below are some of the most common annuals that do well in South Florida and other warm climates.

Purslane:

Purslane is an inexpensive and versatile little plant that thrives in the Florida sun. It will survive throughout the summer and the entire year unless an unexpected frost strikes mid winter. They are drought tolerant, folding its leaves up in defense should it lack water. They bloom profusely throughout the day closing up their flowers and leaves in the late afternoon right before sunset. Purslane come in a variety of colors and work wonderfully in hanging baskets, as they like to dangle and hang downward.  We like adding them at the base of our potted plants. They serve as easy fillers eventually hanging off the edges in cascades of color. They form shallow roots so very little soil space is needed.  And propagating them is as easy as snipping off a clump from a well-established plant and sticking it in the soil.  They come in an almost endless array of colors like bright fuchsia (our personal fave), pale pink, light yellow, bright yellow, orange, violet, red and coral. They also come in multi color (each flower bloom a different color from the next).

Torenia (Wishbone Flower):

Torenia, also know as wishbone flower is a beautiful little upright shrub with endless blooms that flower constantly throughout the hottest months and into the cooler season. Torenia come in lovely shades of violet, plum, fuchsia, baby pink, white and even yellow with purple centers.  This easy to grow plant likes dappled sun or light shade and can tolerate direct sunlight if watered amply.  Beware of hard water spraying as the tender branches break easily and even the lightest pressure will cause them to lay down flat (the do perk back up again after a few hours). My little dog has the bad habit of prancing around my garden and trampling them. Something they don’t easily (sometimes ever) recover from. This bright, cheery plant grows quickly to about one foot in height and diameter and is not fussy about the sandy nutrient-lacking soils found in South Florida. Beware of over watering though as they tend to be susceptible to powdery fungi and other such ailments associated with too much moisture.  Torenia can also be easily multiplied through cuttings and a little rooting hormone.

Blue Salvia:

Blue Salvia plants form tall shoots of pine tree shaped flowers that last and last. They are great for the back borders of a garden as their blooms are tall and upright.  Blue Salvia like lots of direct sunshine in order to keep blooming. Salvias planted in shade or places with too much moisture can succumb to powdery fungus and root rot. On the other hand, if found in too much heat they can grow spidery and lanky; so partial sun works best. Pruning helps it grow fuller and planting after the summer heat (in SFL) ensures they will not wilt in the merciless sun.  Flowers can also be cut and brought indoors for lasting color as even the dried blooms retain their brilliant color. Blue Salvia is an easy and inexpensive way to bring cool colors to gardens lacking blues and purples.

Geraniums:

This all time favorite annual brings huge clusters of long lasting colorful blooms to a garden and love lots of sunshine for continuous flowering.  They come in lovely hues like velvety red, fuchsia and shades of pink ranging from palest pink (almost white) to bright pink and coral. They are easily propagated through stem cuttings as well so you can fill your garden with them quickly and inexpensively. They wont do well in South Florida’s full summer sun, so best to plant them after the hot summer months have passed.  They also do very well in containers and make excellent gifts.

Impatiens:

Impatiens is a staple in every garden. These inexpensive and highly popular plants are common for a reason. They continuously bloom and provide tons of color to your garden. They also fill out quickly, are excellent bed and border plants, and come in all colors imaginable except perhaps blue and yellow.  They also fill out shady areas in the garden where few other plants flourish.  Impatiens does well in planters and hanging baskets. Propagating from cuttings is very successful and we like to buy one of each color and multiply them until we have all the colors we want in our garden. Impatiens can be water hogs here in South Florida so be sure to plant in a section of your garden that is shaded and naturally moist. Mix sandy soil with denser topsoil to help retain moisture and always add mulch to help keep them from drying out. Do not plant your Impatiens before or too near the South Florida summer season as they do not tolerate intense heat nor direct sunlight. A few of mine were able to survive the summer in the dense shade, but this is not always the case. New Zealand Impatiens, a variation on this plant, are a bit more sun tolerant but may still struggle through the Florida summer. They offer bigger (though fewer) blooms that come in the same colors. The bright fuchsia ones are particularly striking.

Blue Daze (Evolvulus):

Blue Daze is a sun loving spreading annual that produces tons of delicate little blue flowers with white centers.  They love direct sunlight and thrive in the Florida sun (even in mid summer).  They have soft velvety leaves in greenish grey that contrast well with its little flowers. They will bloom profusely if given lots of sun but the flowering will slow down dramatically if in shade. We planted ours in late spring and they have grown huge and bushy but they have slowed in blooming since the fall arrived. They do beautifully in baskets, as they like to spread wide and dangle over the edges looking for sun.  They are also slightly drought tolerant and bounce back should you miss watering for a few days.

Pentas (Star Flower):

Penta or star flower is an agreeable little plant that does very well in South Florida. They thrive in both sun (outside of mid summer) and shade and pretty much anywhere in between. We found ours do best with morning sun and shade in the afternoon.  This forgiving little plant will bounce back if left under watered and will constantly bloom in long lasting clumps of tiny 5 petaled flowers (hence the name penta meaning 5).  They come in white, pink, red, fuchsia, and violet colors.  Pentas are great for the beginning gardener as they require very little attention and tend to manage well even in poor soil. A good fertile soil will produce much larger plants with lots of flowers, but even the most nutrient starved plants will continue to bloom albeit remain on the smaller side.

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Marigolds:

Marigolds are great little plants that do well South Florida. They are well known for their insect repelling properties and veggie gardeners mix them into their vegetable patches to reduce pests.  They are even said to repel mosquitoes. The long lasting blooms resemble that of a carnation and come in hues from bright yellow to deep orange and burgundy. They also have a strong but pleasant herbal fragrance. We didn’t have much luck with them in our garden this year as they only lasted a few months before practically vanishing from sight leaving dry little twigs behind. Although, it may have been the intense summer heat that finally got to them. Have you successfully grown marigolds in your garden? Leave us some tips in the comments below.