This ancient product is basically ground diatoms (or sea shells) that work by killing many pest insects such as Fleas, Ticks, Ants, Earwigs, Cockroaches, Silverfish, Slugs, Termites, Bedbugs and other crawling insects. All you have to do is sprinkle this on and around your landscape plants and anything bug that walks, slithers or crawls across it dries out and dies quickly. Will not hurt your plants and is non toxic to humans and pets. Can be used both indoor and outdoors. 100% organic and natural control for many of the pests that bug you. Normally $49.95 on sale now for 15% ($42.46)
June 21, 2011
Product of the Month: Diatomaceous Earth
Plant of the Month: The Perennial Hibiscus
These large leaf Ohio native perennials are a show stopper in the garden in mid-late summer when little else is in bloom. We carry 6 different varieties, all with blooms as big a your head, and ranging in colors from white, pink, red and near purple, and some foliage forms are deep burgundy. These sun-loving perennials can tolerate extreme drought or standing water, lending themselves to many possible locations within the yard. Reaching a height of 3′-4′ tall and wide, they make a real presence by themselves, or mixed into the landscape. Full grown Perennial Hibiscus on sale now for $14.95
June 17, 2011
80 Calorie Guacamole
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 ripe avocados (peeled and pitted)
- 1 medium lime, juiced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 2 T chopped cilantro
- 1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 t kosher salt
- 1/2 t black pepper
- 1 T finely chopped jalapeño pepper
DIRECTIONS:
Place the avocados and lime in a medium bowl, and lightly mash with a fork. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Serve immediately or cover and chill for up to 3 hours.
Nutrition:
Calories: 80, Total Fat: 9g, Sat Fat: 0g
, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 170mg
, Carbohydrates: 4g, Fiber: 2g, Protein: 2g
Recipe from: www.thedailygreen.com
Tips for Organic Pest Control
- Not all bugs are our enemies. Many are excellent companions for your garden as well getting rid of their no-so-loved relatives! The best way to gain maximum benefits from predatory insects, such as lady bugs, is to maintain an environment that encourages their long-term, natural establishment near your garden. A mixture of crimson clover & hairy vetch used as a cover crop will provide the needed habitat while improving your soil.
- Check new plant growth for aphids. Aphids, or plant lice, can weaken plants and delay growth.
- Heavy rains encourage slug problems. Go on a few slug patrols during rainy periods to hand pick pests.
- The use of Milky Spore (bacillus popilliae) for Japanese Beetle control is most effective in neighborhoods where most people use it. Otherwise, Japanese Beetle larvae hatching in other yards will infest your property.
- Japanese Beetle traps are probably not appropriate for most home use because they tend to attract beetles than catch them all. However, if traps are used, recent research indicates that white is more attractive to Japanese Beetles than other colors. Place traps at least 25 feet from fruit trees and roses to lure them away from your treasured plants.
- To attract bees to your gardens, please do not use synthetic chemicals.
Please remember that all insects in your gardens are not pests. Be sure to properly identify insects as pests and check with Marvin’s Organic Gardens for your ORGANIC solution.
GLOBAL COMMUNITY TREATY
Overladened earth, most have agreed
Natural resources we’re soon to exceed
There is a truth we must concede
That throughout life we proceed
An unfulfilling torrent of greed
Over consumption it does breed
Forcing innocence to bleed
Let us collectively take heed
Together in servitude we can lead
Together accomplish a worthy deed
In love we can plant the seed
Global compassion we will feed
Suffering we can impede
As one we will succeed
By consuming only what we need
Our sisters and brothers will be freed
Peace on earth is our creed
A shift in consciousness must precede
Creating positive change indeed
Between the lines we must read
Open our hearts to their plead
Let us arise to the need
And together supersede
The fruitless rush of greed
Simple prosperity can be achieved
When we act as one global community
Written by: M. Wesley Duren
June 14, 2011
Spotlight Service of the Month: LED Lighting & Permeable Pavers
By Frank Stewart
In past articles I have briefly mentioned some environmentally friendly practices that should be considered by eco-conscious homeowners who are planning additions to the landscape. Today I would like to focus on two of the more interesting innovations to come along in recent years.
LED landscape lighting:
Whenever I have been asked by a customer “How do you feel about landscape lighting?” my response has been:
I think that dollar for dollar it is one of the best investments that you can make in your landscape. The initial cost is sometimes higher than the customer expects, but you are literally doubling the amount of time that the landscape can be viewed and enjoyed. In my opinion, a properly installed system is well worth the investment.
These days I feel even stronger about the positive aspects of the use of outdoor lighting with the broad availability of the LED fixtures. Some of the benefits include:
• They are up to 4 times more efficient than regular incandescent fixtures. LED uses between 50% and 80% less energy than traditional lighting. Even though all landscape lighting is typically low-voltage, this is a considerable savings in operation. Some studies indicate that if all households in the U.S. switched to LED lighting we could CLOSE 90 power plants nationwide.
• The lights last 10 times longer than incandescent and basically never “burn-out”. They just become 30% dimmer at the end of their rated life. 30% is the amount of change that becomes noticeable to the human eye.
• Voltage drop is not an issue with LED lighting, because the output is the same at 8 or 13 volts. This makes the system much easier to design and allows more flexibility in use. The great advantage to the home owner is that we can run more fixtures off of the same transformer. The transformer is traditionally the single most expensive component of a lighting system, and in some cases an additional transformer may be eliminated through the use of LED fixtures.
This is the most exciting thing to happen to landscape lighting in many years.
Permeable Pavers:
For the eco-friendly homeowner who hesitates to build a new patio or walkway because they feel like they are adding to the run-off issues by introducing more impervious surface, permeable pavers are the perfect solution.
Tests show that permeable pavers actually reduce run-off and increase ground water absorption compared to typical turf on clay/loam soils in Ohio.
The permeable pavers are built on a base of 1” washed limestone with a bedding layer of angular limestone chips. The stones themselves have a “tab” on the side that creates an automatic joint width of ¼” or more. The limestone chips are then swept into the joints. The final product is attractive, functional and environmentally sound.
Please contact the landscaping department at 513.932.3319 if you have any questions about these products.
