PBS Forum

Wood can be totally avoided. Aluminum 1/8" (2.75mm) flat stock is available in 1/2" X10' (11mmx 2.64m) lengths. These can be cut to desired dimensions.  The mesh is sandwiched between 2 pieces. Vertical and horizontal elements of each panel can either be screwed together directly or joined with mending plates.

If you use 2" chicken wire to build a cage around your potted plants it will protect them from the crows without seriously hampering your enjoyment of them.
Alternatively you could get a motion detector and a sling shot and make them feel unwelcome.

Quote from: Robert_Parks on June 05, 2023, 05:10:01 PM

Quote from: MarcR on June 02, 2023, 11:52:39 PMOne solution that might work for everyone is to check your markers every 6 mos and replace as needed.  Dynotape plastic labels attached to wooden or metal stakes with small screws (the glue is not reliable) seem to be long lasting.

Growing in pots and lifting almost everything every year lets me keep labels renewed.

It doesn't help when the crows come in and have a fiesta of throwing labels around, or going for the gusto and tossing 2-4 inch pots all over the back patio and playing with the plants thus uprooted.

Robert,

If you use plastic pots, you can screw the Dynatape labels directly to the pot.

Diane,

I sympathize!  Perhaps a twig or plastic straw would have worked better.

I have never heard of propagating bulbs from cuttings; but i suppose it might work.

If you don't already have it, buy a jar {or other container} of Rootone #5; and a bottle of horticultural vitamin B1; and a package of vermiculite. and the smallest available package of polyethylene film.  You will also need a cold temp humidifier pand a cat litter box.

Put the leaves (and stems) on a cutting board and cut them into 2" segments with a flame sterilized knife.

Be sure not to disturb  the orientation during remaining operations

Fill a plastic or ceramic bowel with vermiculite to 1/2" below the rim
Dissolve 1 1/2 tsp B1 in 1 cup of water and slowly wet the vermiculite until the liquid is just below the surface the surface the vermiculite will absorb a lot of liquid so you may need to mix another cup of B1 mixture.

Put a small heap of Rootone in a jar lid or medicine bottle cap.

Dip the bottom of each leaf or stem segment into the Rootone, and plunge it into the damp vermiculite.

Put the cat litter box on a formica or stone countertop or a linoleum or tile floor.
fill the humidifier and place it at one end of the litter box. invert a stack of flower pots or other object(s) that will not be water damaged to a height that when the bowel of vermiculite tests on them, it  will keep the leaf segment tops in the air stream of the humidifier. put a cake cooling rack vertically at each end of the litter box and prop it up with something that will not be water damaged. use the polyethylene film to make a tent over the whole arrangement.

Put a lamp with a growlight bulb near the tent

Plug in the humidifier and pray for success.

If it doesn't root in 20 days, it probably won't.

Arnold,

I prefer organic methods when they give a reliable control.
However organic methods can only achieve control. With a pest like spotted lantern fly, eradication is essential.  Organic methods cannot achieve that unless you get everyone in all effected states to practice them [which is NOT going to happen].

When DDT was banned, without first developing an alternative, 43 million acres of old growth forest in Michigan Wisconsin, and Minnesota were destroyed by the Gypsy Moth. I agree that controlling DDT was environmentally necessary. Banning it without an alternative was idiotic!  The environmental impact of banning it was far worse than the environmental impact of using it.

Arnold,

Organic methods work fine on small plots of up to 1000 acres. When trying to protect 10 million acres of forest they are impractical.

Robin,

The 587 Permit is the permit to import live plants or bulbs. Each genus of plant that you think you might import must be listed. The amendment is to add additional genera.

Robert and Judy,

A polycarbonate coldframe with a frame of 1" PVC pipe can be any dimension you need at fairly low cost and it can be lifted off your bed when the weather warms.
The effort to build and move it is a fraction of the effort to lift and store bulbs, or to move pots around.

One solution that might work for everyone is to check your markers every 6 mos and replace as needed.  Dynotape plastic labels attached to wooden or metal stakes with small screws (the glue is not reliable) seem to be long lasting.

Arnold,

Here on the forum, many practice Organic Gardening. Outside the hort forums [fora] most people are ignorant. When DDT was banned, the Gypsy moth destroyed millions of acres of forest.  I am of the opinion that Rachel Carson should be force fed a gallon of prune juice and hung by her ankles. I think that limited use of DDT should be allowed before this pest does similar damage.

CG100,

Bottom heat may be counter-productive!.  You would do much better to maintain an ambient temperature at or near 20C. 

That makes me realize how fortunate I am.  I am on .85 acre; and most of my neighbors are on 3-5 acre plots. In addition my neighbor has given me permission to plant a 35' wide fire-break along my 350' west property line. His adjacent property is open woodlot. This gives me a huge shade garden in which I have built a 150' X30" recirculating brook with 2 small ponds..

I almost never buy only 2 species. Transportation costs are not much more than seed bought from domestic sellers. With my small lots permit I don't need the phyto. In any case, seeing 30 or 40 of each blooming in large plantings is quite worth the expense
 

Wild Seed Tasmania offers 5gm of D. latifolia or D. moraea for 9.35 AUD.
That is about $5.62 or 6.08 Euros. 5gm is about 300 seeds
They offer an extensive catalog of Tasmanian seed at similarly reasonable prices. A phyto costs 36AUD ($22.85  or 23.04 euros)

I find that this allows me to attempt to grow species that tend to be somewhat difficult without spending a fortune.