Dear $$firstname$$,

Crystal Rennicke

I live in the suburbs, and haven’t had many problems with deer in my garden (rabbits are another story, though!). But my in-laws live in the country, and we frequently see these beautiful creatures snacking on their veggies and flowers. While there are no surefire plants that will deter deer (hungry deer will eat just about anything!), read on for a few selections that might turn them away.

I’m excited to introduce a new contest to all of you frugal gardeners out there. Backyard Living and Birds & Blooms is holding a Backyard Budget Contest. Now you can turn those penny-pinching ideas into fast cash! We’re awarding $300.00 to the winners in each of our five categories. For more details and to enter, click here.

The top videos for the Birds & Blooms Backyard Video Contest are uploaded and ready for viewing! Log on to our YouTube page and cast your vote for your favorite!

If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please use this link to sign up for yourself.

Happy Gardening!
--Crystal

READ ON TO DISCOVER...

• Plant of the Month
• Yard Smarts
• Question of the Month
• Plants Deer Avoid
• August Regional Checklist
• Frugal Gardener Tip of the Month
• Current Needs

Submit Your Story

Plant of the Month

Cape Daisy ‘Asti-White’
All-America Rose Selections Winner for 2008
Featuring: Bright-white blooms; may be grown from seed. Flowers remain open even on overcast days.
Botanical name: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Asti White’.
Hardiness: Annual.
Size: 17 to 20 inches high and wide.
Growing tip: Thanks to its tidy, compact growth habit, ‘Asti White’ is a nice choice for pots or window boxes in any sunny spot.
Pretty pairings: Blue-flowering companions—such as trailing blue lobelia or Felicia daisies—will pick up on the blue centers of these bright-white daisies. Perfect for containers, too!

top

Yard Smarts

Gloves at Hand
When my husband installed wire shelving in our garage, we solved a long-standing problem of misplacing gardening gloves and hats. Now we hang our gloves on the shelving using plastic clothespins. This works great to keep pairs together and helps air them out. It’s so simple, but it saves us from many “orphan” gloves. —Karen Wade, Franklin, Indiana

top

Question of the Month

Unyielding Yucca
Q: Several years ago, I planted a yucca root. It finally bloomed 3 years ago, but I haven’t seen it flower since! What might the problem be? –Martha Chrisman, Versailles, Missouri

Melinda: Yuccas thrive in well-drained soils, full sun and hot summers—much like the conditions in their native habitat in the southwestern U.S.

When growing yuccas for their flowers, be patient. These evergreens tend to be biennial bloomers, with even less frequent flowering in areas north of their native habitat.

Increase your blooming success by avoiding high-nitrogen fertilizers that encourage leaf growth and discourage yuccas’ white flower clusters.

See more of Melinda’s answers

top

Hellebore

Plants Deer Avoid

A starving deer will eat practically anything, but both scientific research and anecdotal evidence indicate some plants are at the bottom of their lists. So if you garden in deer country, try growing these:

Agave Ajuga Aloe Bee balm Black locust Boxwood Butterfly bush Clematis Columbine Daffodil Ferns Foxglove Hellebore Holly Iris

Lavender Lilac Marigold Mint Pine Rock rose Rosemary Russian sage Smokebush Spruce Vinca Wax myrtle Yarrow Yucca Zinnia

For tips on deterring deer, click here.

top

August Regional Checklist

Now is the time of year when the hot days are long and languid. While it’s tempting to kick back in a lawn chair or hammock, take time to remain involved with your yard and garden.

• Northeast
• Northwest
• Southwest
• Central
• Southeast

top

Frugal Gardener Tip of the Month

Worm Rescue

Worms are great garden helpers. I can’t get enough of them in my yard, so I started a grassroots movement I call “Adopt-a-Worm.”

After a summer rain, I go for a walk and pick up all the earthworms I see. They’re usually alongside the pavement or on the sidewalk. I just bring a Styrofoam or plastic cup or bowl with me and wear a pair of cotton gloves because worms can be slippery.

If I’m lucky, I also find a frog or lizard along the way. They go into my woodpile to help control the bugs.

The worms are free, and you just may save them from getting run over. —Lucy London, Florence, Oregon

top

Current Needs

Do you or someone you know have a military-themed birdhouse in your backyard that you’ve built? We are searching for these for a very special Home Tweet Home section. Remember to send a photo! Click here.

 

Step Back to the Victory Era!

The editors of Reminisce magazine bring you Reminisce Through the Decades: The 1940s, a 6-hour-plus, three-DVD set of real-life stories from the ’40s! For more information, go to www.reminisce.com.

top