Eric and I want to gravel the garden path ways and bark around some trees.
We have some work to do before this becomes a reality.
measuring
estimating the cost of landscape cloth
and gravel
and bark
labor to put the gravel in place
preparing the soil by rototilling and raking it out before laying out gravel
waiting for the nice weather to rototill.
All this before June.
How much gravel do I need?
Gravel is sold by either the ton or the cubic yard. A cubic yard can cover about 160 square feet with a 2-inch layer (adequate for most paths) or 108 square feet with a 3-inch layer (necessary if the surface must be able to handle heavy foot traffic or cars). If you live in a rainy area, you'll need to build up the path a little higher to allow for drainage: start with a 2- to 3-inch layer of compacted 3/4-inch base rock, and top it with a 1 1/2-inch layer of the gravel of your choice.
I'm guessing the formula for bark is the same or close to that.
This is a huge project to undertake, expensive, time consuming but in the end it will make the garden low maintenance and easy to deal with in the future.
True soil that plants thrive in is a rich substance, teeming with microscopic organisms, bacteria, insects, minerals, and decayed plant material. A single teaspoon of soil contains over a billion micro-organisms! It is a complex living world that provides plant roots with the nutrients they need to grow and synergistic relationships with microbes and fungi that help them to uptake these nutrients. When soil is healthy and has this kind of complexity, there is a greater chance of growing healthy vegetables, herbs, and flowers in your garden that have vigor and a natural ability to fend off pests and diseases.
A healthy garden has soil that is a treasure chest of all the above things. You can help to create it by:
A neutral (7.0) or slightly acidic (6.0 – 6.5) pH is fine for most flower and vegetable crops. If your soil is too acidic (common in the moister eastern U.S.), lime can be added to raise the pH. If your soil pH is too alkaline, (common in the dryer western U.S.), it can be lowered by adding sulfur. Using raised beds filled with compost is a way get around natural soil pH issues.
If you'd like to have your soil tested for nutrient deficiency, you can find an inexpensive pH test kit at your local garden center or nursery. Your local county extension agency usually provides this service for a small fee. You can find a link to your local office here: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/
With these basic tips, you are well on your way to a healthy garden with soil that will help your plants thrive!
Herb Companions in the Garden and Kitchen
Herbs are great companions to food in your culinary masterpieces, and they are great companions in the garden, too.
Anise
In the garden: Plant with coriander, which promotes its germination and growth.
In the kitchen: Use in cookies, cakes, fruit fillings, and breads, or with cottage cheese, shellfish, and spaghetti dishes.
Basil
In the garden: Plant with tomatoes. Repels flies and mosquitoes.
In the kitchen: Use in tomato dishes, pesto, sauces, and salad dressings.
Borage
In the garden: Plant with tomatoes, squash, and strawberries. Deters tomato worm.
In the kitchen: Use leaves in salads; flowers in soups and stews.
Caraway
In the garden: Plant here and there. Loosens soil.
In the kitchen: Use in rye breads, cheese dips and rarebits, soups, applesauce, salads, coleslaw, and over pork or sauerkraut.
Chervil
In the garden: Plant with radishes.
In the kitchen: Use with soups, salads, sauces, eggs, fish, veal, lamb, and pork.
Chives
In the garden: Plant with carrots.
In the kitchen: Related to the onion, chives enliven vegetable dishes, dressings, casseroles, rice, eggs, cheese dishes, sauces, gravies, and dips.
Dill
In the garden: Plant with cabbages. Keep away from carrots.
In the kitchen: Use seed for pickles and also to add aroma and taste to strong vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, and turnips. Use fresh with green beans, potato dishes, cheese, soups, salads, seafood, and sauces.
Fennel
In the garden: Plant away from other herbs and vegetables.
In the kitchen: Use to flavor pastries, confectionery, sweet pickles, sausages, tomato dishes, soups, and to flavor vinegars and oils. Gives warmth and sweetness to curries.
Garlic
In the garden: Plant near roses and raspberries. Deters Japanese beetle.
In the kitchen: Use in tomato dishes, garlic bread, soups, dips, sauces, marinades, or with meats, poultry, fish, and vegetables.
Lovage
In the garden: Plant here and there to improve the health and flavor of other plants.
In the kitchen: It's a great flavoring for soups, stews, and salad dressings. Goes well with potatoes. The seeds can be used on breads and biscuits.
Marjoram
In the garden: Good companion to all vegetables.
In the kitchen: Excellent in almost any meat, fish, dairy, or vegetable dish that isn't sweet. Add near the end of cooking.
Mint
In the garden: Plant near cabbage and tomatoes. Deters white cabbage moth.
In the kitchen: It is common in Middle Eastern dishes. Use with roast lamb or fish and in salads, jellies, or teas.
Oregano
In the garden: Good companion to all vegetables.
In the kitchen: Of Italian origin, its taste is zesty and strong, good in any tomato dish. Try oregano with summer squash and potatoes, mushroom dishes, beans, or in a marinade for lamb or game.
Parsley
In the garden: Plant near asparagus, corn, and tomatoes.
In the kitchen: Use fresh parsley in soups, sauces, and salads. It lessens the need for salt in soups. You can fry parsley and use it as a side dish with meat or fish. It is, of course, the perfect garnish.
Rosemary
In the garden: Plant near cabbage, beans, carrots, and sage. Deters cabbage moth, bean beetles, and carrot fly.
In the kitchen: Use for poultry, lamb, and tomato dishes, stews, soups, and vegetables. Try it finely chopped in breads and custards.
Sage
In the garden: Plant near rosemary, cabbage, and carrots; away from cucumbers. Deters cabbage moth and carrot fly.
In the kitchen: Use in cheese dishes, stuffings, soups, pickles, with beans and peas, and in salads. Excellent for salt-free cooking.
Summer Savory
In the garden: Plant with beans and onions to improve growth and flavor.
In the kitchen: Popular in soups, stews, stuffings, and with fish, chicken, green beans, and eggs.
Tarragon
In the garden: Good companion to most vegetables.
In the kitchen: Great with meat, eggs, poultry, seafood, and in salad dressings, marinades, and sauces.
Thyme
In the garden: Plant near cabbage. Deters cabbage worm.
In the kitchen: Use in casseroles, stews, soups, ragouts, and with eggs, potatoes, fish, and green vegetables.
Herb Lore: Natural Remedies
We all know that herbs make great companions in the garden and kitchen. Herbs also have a long history as a natural remedy—and many other more unusual uses, too! Read on. . .
Anise
Romans paid taxes with anise, and it was used in cough drops.
Basil
Precious to lovers in Italy and considered sacred in India. A cup of basil tea after dinner helps digestion.
Borage
The Romans believed the herb to be an antidepressant, and ancient Celtic warriors took it for courage.
Caraway
Caraway was used to scent perfumes and soaps. The Greeks used it for upset stomachs.
Chervil
Eating a whole plant would cure hiccups; chervil was said to warm old and cold stomachs.
Chives
Bunches of chives hung in your home were used to drive away diseases and evil.
Dill
Romans made wreaths and garlands out of dill. Dill keeps witches away.
Fennel
Bunches of fennel were used to drive off witches. It was used in love potions and as an appetite suppressant.
Garlic
It was thought to give strength and courage. Aristotle noted garlic's use as a guard against the fear of water. It's also been widely used against evil powers.
Lovage
Chewing on a piece of the dried root will keep you awake. Lovage warms a cold stomach and help digestion. Added to bathwater, it was believed to relieve skin problems.
Marjoram
The Greeks believed it could revive the spirits of anyone who inhaled it. At weddings wreaths and garlands were made of marjoram.
Mint
It was believed to cure hiccups and counteract sea-serpent stings. The Romans wore peppermint wreaths on their heads. It was added to bathwater for its fragrance.
Oregano
Used for "sour humours" that plagued old farmers. Also used for scorpion and spider bites.
Parsley
Used for wreaths and in funeral ceremonies. Believed to repel head lice and attract rabbits.
Rosemary
Rosemary in your hair will improve your memory. It will protect you from evil spirits if you put a sprig under your pillow.
Sage
Thought to promote strength and longevity and believed to cure warts. American Indians used it as a toothbrush.
Summer Savory
It was believed to be an aphrodisiac. Some thought it was a cure for deafness.
Tarragon
Put in shoes before long walking trips to give strength. It has been used to relieve toothache and as an antifungal.
Thyme
Burning thyme gets rid of insects in your house. A bed of thyme was thought to be a home for fairies.
Anyone who has sage planted in the garden is reputed to do well in business.
One 80-year-old farmer said it very simply: “I just wait until I see the weeds starting to grow in my garden. Then I know it’s time to plant.”
Soil Fixes
Soil Amendments and Benefits
Don't Forget Fertilizers
The next step is to add fertilizer. Nitrogen (N) is needed for leaf growth and is responsible for making plants greener. Phosphorus (P) is associated with root growth and fruit production. Potassium (K), also known as potash, helps the plant fight off diseases and keeps it vigorous.
Fertilizers are labeled to show the percentages by weight of the fertilizer. A 100-pound bag of 10-5-10 contains 10 pounds of nitrogen, 5 pounds of phosphorus, and 10 pounds of potassium. The rest is filler, which gives it bulk and makes it easier to spread.
When is a good time to fertilize your vegetables? See our Growing Vegetables Guide.
Starting Your Garden
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When is Soil Ready for Planting?
Ready to plant? Use our free 2010 Seed-Starting Guide—customized to your local frost date and including the best days to plant in the light and dark of the Moon.
How to Make a Cold Frame
Gardeners use frames to "harden off" seedlings that were started indoors or to start their vegetable plants from seed. Here are tips on how to make a cold frame.
Timing
Sow seeds of crops such as radish, lettuce, endive, and scallions directly in the frame for an early or late harvest. You can even raise them there all summer as long as the cover is removed when warm weather arrives.
Make a Cold Frame
A Hot Bed
A hot bed is a cold frame that is heated. The method of using horse manure or compost works well and is more economical than electric heating cables.
He who sows thickly, gathers thinly.
He who sows thinly, gathers thickly.
–Old-time saying
My family who has always encouraged me in my passion of gardening
Mr. Compton and Mrs. Compton were my employers in Jr. High, and High School.
My mom found me the job, I would walk across the street from Western view Jr. High to their their acreage.
The Compton's taught me a lot about plants.
Cecil was a retired Professor from OSU, in Horticulture.
The Compton's didn't have kids, to my knowledge.
I knew they were well educated and did lots of research.
They were very old when I met them and need a strong able person to help them do what they couldn't in the yard.
I worked hard,Cecil taught me about weeds, dead heading, cleaning up plants, composting.
Mr. Compton was a very patient man and when I blew it he gently corrected me and didn't give up on me. He instead explained things to me in a way I could understand them.
The Compton's were on a fixed income and could have me come only 3 days a week.
When it came time for me to go to college the Compton's wanted me to go to OSU. I couldn't afford it.
I chose Rouge Community College 2 year Nursery Management program.
The Compton's installed a love of nature that I had already had from my Grandmother Moreno.
When I married Eric not finishing my pursuit of Nursery Management, was put on hold because we had two daughters right away.
The Compton's being educated themselves were concern for my lack of education.
But I didn't and no one else had the means for me to pursue that interest that burned in my heart.
I stayed home with our daughters and gardened while doing it.
I pursued my dream and not the dreams of others.
I wanted to be at home with our children and I wanted to be a self sufficient gardener growing what ever I could for our families needs.
I remember Mr. Compton a gentle sweet and patient man, and Mary a tough cookie, very stern.
I loved them both very much.
Working on their place for 6 years was a blessing in many ways.
To me they were my employers, not professors, a sweet old couple who needed help with their yard.
The Compton's place went up for sale the summer before last, It was ruined, not the paradise I once knew.
I walked the property with my son in law Nate and was sadden by it's condition.
The Jehovah witnesses bought the place recently and built a church on the property last year.
My thoughts ran to will anyone remember the Compton's and what they contributed to OSU and to a young girls life?
Today I was thinking about them, and did some research.
This is what I found about the people I once knew.
Dr. Oliver "Cecil" Compton, Emeritus Professor, Oregon State University, Department of Horticulture Journal of the American Pomological Society | January 1, 2006| Hummer, Kim | Copyright |
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. Sir Isaac Newton, letter to Robert Hooke, February 5, 1675.
We in pomology, as in other scientific disciplines, are able to forward the knowledge base for humanity having been given the jump-start from those who have come before us. Though he was not a person of great physical stature, Cecil Compton was a quiet giant of pomology.
Oliver "Cecil" Compton of Corvallis, Oregon, died Wednesday 10 August 2005, at Samaritan Heart of the Valley Care Center. He was 102.
(There was more to this article but you had to pay for it)
Oliver Cecil Compton POM PHD 1947
Ceil Died Wednesday Aug 10, at Samaritan Heart of the Valley Care Center. Corvallis, Oregon. He was 102. He attended the University of California at Davis. Where he earned his bachelor degree and masters degree in pomlogy. He earned his PHD at Cornell University. he met his wife, Mary Alberta Tingly at Cornell, She was at the time pursuing a PHD in plant physiology. In 1948 he took a position with the horticulture department at Oregon State College. Where he began his study of airborne fluorides and their effects on fruit tree health. He studies resulted in stringent requirements for the installation of scrubbers on aluminum smelters exhaust stacks to alleviate air pollution. The Compton's moved to their two acre property in 1951. Over the years the property has been planted with some 160 varieties of apples a well as several varieties of other small fruit and nuts. They did research on several varieties of grapes, and blueberries. Cecil trained all of his crops with a little help until he was almost 100 years of age. He and his wife were internationally known for identifying apple varieties. He continued this activity well past his 100th year.
I don't know what people will say about me when I go. I don't really think about it, I just try to make the most of each day with the gifts and talents God has given me. Trying to love the people he has placed in my path. Who knows when I'm old maybe I'll take on a young person who wants to know about plants and be a mentor to them.
I wonder what Cecil and Mary would say now about Eric and I running a International Company called "Stuewe's and Sons Inc." Selling containers to Tree seedling Nurseries all over the world. Helping the citrus and nut industries.
