Fore! Golf Caddie Has Another Use, Too

This week, my husband Jim received a golf cart (the pull-it-yourself type) for his birthday. He saw in this apparatus the potential for making his days on the links a bit more relaxing. The cart is lightweight, making it easy to push or pull, especially up and down hills.

It comes complete with a place to keep scorecards, pencils, balls and a water bottle. I am not quite sure why these carts are equipped with all these gadgets. The way I understand it, nothing competes with the golfer’s hip pocket for holding all this paraphernalia.

Nonetheless, while Jim delighted in maneuvering his new toy about the living room, I saw a different use for this simple piece of equipment: It would make a wonderful caddie for garden tools. Instead of the golf bag carrying clubs, it could be the holder of rakes, shovels, hoes and other important tools.

The scorecard holder could be used for a small notebook for taking inventory of plants - their names, when they’re in bloom, whether they are affected by disease or insects - and any other notable happenings in the garden.

The pencil holder could be home to two types of pencils: one for jotting notes and the other an indelible pencil for writing on plant identification tags.

Carting around a water bottle would be a good idea when working in the garden but I find that the time it takes to fetch a glass of water allows me a moment to relax. By removing the cap from the water bottle, the bottle can become a holder for plant identification tags and short stakes.

The pockets on the golf bag will be great for carrying extra garden gloves, insect repellents and handtools. If the pockets are large enough, there may be room to cart around a spray bottle of insecticidal soap to be used if needed. If readyto-use chemical insecticides are packed about, the containers will have to remain in an upright position.

That way they won’t leak while moving about the yard. Leaving a roadmap of dead lawn is not a desirable landscape feature.

And finally, when the day’s work is completed, a bit of relaxation is in order. By including a pitching wedge, nine-iron and a few golf balls in the bag, we can practice our short game in the back yard.

Crawling things

Spider mites really are microscopic critters belonging to the arachnida class, which also includes such creatures as scorpions, daddy longlegs, spiders and ticks. Though there are many different types of mites, most all of them do about the same type of damage.

In our region, mites can overwinter as adults in the soil or under the scales of bark. Many lay eggs that overwinter. The adults emerge some time in May or June to commence feeding on just about any living plant in our gardens. They suck the juice from stems, leaves and fruit causing a mottled appearance. This is usually followed by a yellowing effect and finally complete destruction of the leaves, and in worst cases, death to the entire plant.

Mites thrive where it’s hot and dry. They dislike moist conditions. Mulch to conserve moisture and wash down plants often. Open up plants that are thickly branched such as arborvitae and Alberta spruce, and blast the insides clean with the garden hose.

Insecticidal soap formulated for mite control works well, but as with any organic control, there is little if any residual benefit. Keep on the lookout for the mites to return and spray when needed. Washing plants down with 1 tablespoon of baby shampoo to one gallon of water also works.

ALWAYS TEST SOAP SPRAYS ON A SMALL PIECE OF THE PLANT BEFORE SPRAYING THE ENTIRE PLANT. If the plant doesn’t show an adverse reaction to the spray after 48 hours, then resume spraying. Never spray during the heat of the day. Spray in the early morning or late evening. If infestations are high, a chemical spray may be warranted. Always choose a product containing a miticide. Regular insecticides will not do the job. Dormant oil sprays also help control mites.

Good reads

Using stones in the landscape not only gives our gardens character, but it also creates a feeling of stability. We are seeing more and more stones used in our gardens, but many are placed incorrectly.

There is an art to placing and planting stone. “Natural Stonescapes” by Richard L. Dube and Frederick C. Campbell (Storey Publishing, $24.95) is a work of stone-art. In this excellent book, you will learn how to transport, set and maneuver stones into place. You’ll learn where to locate stones for your design and how to use them by means of excellent line drawings.

Mark your calendar

The North Idaho Dahlia Society will host its annual dahlia show at the Silver Lake Mall in Coeur d’Alene Aug. 26 and 27.

Dahlia growers from Washington, Idaho and Montana will be on hand to answer your dahlia questions as well as display the many varieties of these outstanding flowers.

The Friends of Manito will hold their annual perennial and houseplant sale Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Manito Park. It’s a sale you won’t want to miss.