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OT Back from FL +Cuttings update

Hi everyone . We just got back from Fl last week. Quite a temperature difference!! Left those 70-80 deg. temps for 40's - 50's .

Our new grandson is beautiful and getting so big so fast !! It was extremely hard to leave that baby..

Now the replacement of bushes , mulch begins here. Super storm Sandy and salt water wrought havoc or killed so many bushes and the lawn. We already put gypsum down to counteract the salt , milorganite to feed bushes and lawn. Tossed perennials that succumbed to the salt water too. Don't think at this time they will be replaced.
Found out that cedar mulch has gotten quite pricey if you can find enough of it -just not readily available this year. I don't like to put down mulch with dyes being on the water, but this year , it seems there's not much choice. We want to get all that done this month.
Been overwatering with sprinkler system to leach whatever salt left in yard away. Not as bad as some we've seen - just work we hadn't planned.
Still have house repairs to get to also. Some we'll do others have to be contracted out.

As for all my cuttings , only had 4-5 out of about 45 or so that did not make it. Unfortunately one variety Salce was among those that didn't make it and still babying a Paradiso Nero . Keeping my fingers crossed !!  . At a later date I hope to be able to try them again. FL house has so many windows and they were ideal for all those cuttings !

With all our work ahead , I'll most likely be just reading posts when time allows. :-)

Welcome back Pattee. So sorry to hear about your home in NY. Hopefully you will get it all sorted out and repaired. The plants you
can replace in due time.

Glad you are back. Sorry to hear about your storm damage. The best this you are still with us.
Out here is West TX. I have no access to mulch like I had in the east. I started to put gravel and small stones on my plants. About 3 inches deep. Holds moisture and keeps the heat down around the roots. I know in FL you have no stones around but this may help  others or at your other house up north.

Zone 8
South West TX

Thanks guys !!

Mike we just take one day at a time and try and get done the planned days work.  At our age , it doesn't always work out , but not for lack of trying . We are hard core "do it yourselfers" , but have given up some of the back breaking work we used to do.

Bigsmile ( nice outlook !!)  We did "mulch" all the foundation plantings with stone in FL.  Far different from L.I. , but we did like the look a lot . Also there's a discount in house insurance - stone keeps the termites away from the foundation. There seemed to only be a pine mulch available in FL and termites love pine !!!

Hello Pattee,
Welcome back.
At least you will have lots to keep you busy this season : ).
Happy Gardening,

Hi Pete , LOL  lots and lots and lots .... :-)))

Welcome back!  Best of luck with all that work.

Quote:
Originally Posted by noss
Congratulations on your new grandson, Pattee.

Where does one get gypsum and is that magnesium?  If so, is it better than using Epsom Salts?

Thanks,

noss



Hi Noss and thanks so much !!
No gypsum is not magnesium , it is calcium sulphate. I think I it can be used as a fertilizer , but we were using it specifically to counteract the saline deposits of the Bay water  when we were flooded this past fall. It is also used to combat compacted soils that have a lot of clay.  It does not effect the ph levels of the soil.    
We bought it at Home depot.
:-)

Hi Bob and thanks !!

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