How about a gardening thread?

	Quote:	Tom1234
	I wouldn't bother to re-pot. My wife, a one-time entomologist, informed me that they exist in most of the pre-packaged soils and composts. Except most of the year you don't notice them because you either are using the soil outside or the flies haven't yet hatched out. It's probably pot-luck whether a bag contains lots or hardly any fly lavae.

It's not the current bag I have, as I used that to repot other plants which are fine. It's the new plants. What does your wife do to get rid of thee flies and larvae?

[Tom1234]

	Quote:
	It's not the current bag I have, as I used that to repot other plants which are fine. It's the new plants.

Then I'd re-pot if you know your current bag is larvae-free.

Alternatively, are the plants hardy enough to leave outside for a bit?

	Quote:
	What does your wife do to get rid of thee flies and larvae?

Nothing. She's just the advisor. I do all the work in the garden so I don't bother.

	Quote:	Tom1234
	Then I'd re-pot if you know your current bag is larvae-free. Alternatively, are the plants hardy enough to leave outside for a bit?

No, they aren't. I put the one which I think the whole thing stems from outside though, and it seems the number of bugs has decreased a bit. Although that might be wishful thinking.

I'm digging out what feels like hundreds of irises in our garden to extend the lawn and make room for a second soccer goal. He things we do for our kids!

Anyway, I'd be happy to share irises with anyone interested.

	Quote:	carlasmom
	I'm digging out what feels like hundreds of irises in our garden to extend the lawn and make room for a second soccer goal. He things we do for our kids! Anyway, I'd be happy to share irises with anyone interested.

Do they grow on balconies?

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	carlasmom
	I'm digging out what feels like hundreds of irises in our garden to extend the lawn and make room for a second soccer goal. He things we do for our kids! Anyway, I'd be happy to share irises with anyone interested.

I'd love some.

	Quote:
	Do they grow on balconies?

I'm pretty sure they'd grow on balconies. A pot, some soil and a lot of sun and you should be good to go. Want some?

	Quote:	Belgianmum
	I'd love some.

Let me know when you have time to come over. Would be happy to see you again soon

	Quote:	carlasmom
	I'm pretty sure they'd grow on balconies. A pot, some soil and a lot of sun and you should be good to go. Want some?

Unfortunately my balcony's full of other plants for now. Maybe next year? Thanks for your kind offer though.

[DeezBeez]

Has the gardening thread been updated? I'm getting my winter garden ready and wanted tips.
I have a rather large garden and want to prepare it for spring. What is the best cover for the soil? What can I get here in Switzerland?

[amogles]

	Quote:	DeezBeez
	Has the gardening thread been updated? I'm getting my winter garden ready and wanted tips. I have a rather large garden and want to prepare it for spring. What is the best cover for the soil? What can I get here in Switzerland?

What sort of cover do you mean? To protect against frost?

I find a mix of leaf litter and the stuff that comes out of my shredder when I shred twigs and cuttings make a good cover. I then rake it off and put it on the compost heap when Spring somes and the risk of frost is past. Also, when you take down your Christmas tree, don't trash it in one piece but cut off the branches and use those to cover the sensitive stuff in your garden.

[DeezBeez]

Hi - Thank you for your response

I want to add nutrients to the soil and yes protect it from the frost/snow. This is my first time gardening in winter weather in Switzerland. I have plenty of compost and lots of leaves. I am use to planting clover when I lived in California but here in Switzerland, I wanted to know how to prepare my soil for next Spring.

[DeezBeez]

Oh and when do I plant bulbs? I'm assuming as soon as possible here. Also, do you protect the bulbs with anything special like straw or are leaves good enough?

[amogles]

	Quote:	DeezBeez
	Oh and when do I plant bulbs? I'm assuming as soon as possible here. Also, do you protect the bulbs with anything special like straw or are leaves good enough?

About now is a good time for bulbs. If they're the normal stuff such as daffodils and tulips I don't think they need special protection. Make sure you pant them at the right depth. Frost doesn't normally go very deep so they'll be fine. If your bulbs are something ultra exotic, you may need to consider protction. Make sure you don't smother them though because there0 snot much point in protecting them from frost if you do so by asphyxiating them. Some of the real sensitive stuff may be best planted in pots and then planted out in Spring.

	Quote:	DeezBeez
	Hi - Thank you for your response I want to add nutrients to the soil and yes protect it from the frost/snow. This is my first time gardening in winter weather in Switzerland. I have plenty of compost and lots of leaves. I am use to planting clover when I lived in California but here in Switzerland, I wanted to know how to prepare my soil for next Spring.

Clover works fine here.

[Confloozed]

	Quote:	DeezBeez
	Oh and when do I plant bulbs? I'm assuming as soon as possible here. Also, do you protect the bulbs with anything special like straw or are leaves good enough?

Here you go..

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	DeezBeez
	I have plenty of compost and lots of leaves. I am use to planting clover when I lived in California but here in Switzerland, I wanted to know how to prepare my soil for next Spring.

If this is your first season in Switzerland and you are coming from a very different gardening climate, it really would be worthwhile to ask your immediate neighbors what they recommend or stop by a large local garden center for a chat with local experts.

You see, Switzerland is a country of micro-climates as far as gardening is concerned. What I might recommend here in on The Dark Side of the Rossberg would be the wrong thing to do just a few kilometers away for a lake level garden.

I moved here from Chicago, where we mulch the heck out of our gardens to prepare for winter, and continue mulching through the summer to retain precious moisture. Well that was a huge mistake here, where it rains incessantly and even at our elevation never gets much colder than -5c. My Chicago mulching technique earned me a nice crop of rot here, I lost much of what I had planted that season.

So - local knowledge is best. And by local I really do mean in the neighborhood. There is nothing a gardener loves more than chatting about All Things Gardening, and nothing will endear you to your neighbors more than praising their gardens and asking for advice.

Good luck, and happy gardening!

[DeezBeez]

Thank you very much! My French is not good at all so talking to my neighbors might be hard for me and THEM! haha
I will try to ask the gardening shops. Right now I am going to cut the grass down and let the cutting sit on top of the freshly cut grass. I might put some dried leaves on it but do you think that will make it too soggy? I want to let the soil rest before I till it next spring.

thanks!

[amogles]

	Quote:	DeezBeez
	Thank you very much! My French is not good at all so talking to my neighbors might be hard for me and THEM! haha

but the best way to make friends ...

[DeezBeez]

Very true!! I need to start doing that as soon as possible! I am new to Switzerland and have not met my neighbors yet

[DeezBeez]

So covering with pine tree branches is best for the garden? I have mulched pine branches (we just trimmed our 200 year old tree)