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Borage- Great Herb! Yes, the chickens love the blue flowers here too! I keep it in the veggie garden to help attract pollinators. The chickens don't bother the foliage. It is a little fuzzy/ prickly on the leaves. The tortoise will eat it if there is nothing else better around. I bought...

I vote not to use it. In my opinion, the kind of DE labeled for food consumption is a waste of money for integrated pest management, with or without chickens around. Like the Garden kind, food grade DE also has warnings against breathing the dust, and chickens do a lot of dust bathing and kick...

Normally blackberries are propagated by tip layering, and thus they stay genetically identical. If a fruit falls that was cross pollinated, germinates, but you don't notice, you will begin to have a new variety growing within your old one. I love my Triple Crown Blackberry. It is very well...

From your list, I have only grown Early Girl and San Marzano. Although I like both okay, I have since found others I like better. Instead of San Marzano, I prefer Super Marzano. It is vigorous, disease resistant, and has extra large very meaty roma like tomatos. It held up well in the heat...

Do chickens eat Bay Laurel? I am excited because I have been looking for one locally for a couple of years and finally found it, Laurus nobilis "Bay Laurel," or culinary Bay leaves when dried. I am debating if I should try to plant it in the backyard where the chickens will be around it or in...

That is a neat idea! I am going to have to try in it in the future. I have used other methods to control evaporation developed in Australia in the past with good results. We have been on water rationing for a couple of years now, so every little bit helps. I have read books by Esther Dean...

My veggie garden is protected behind a picket fence, but I do let them roam pretty much the rest of the backyard space. I don't like the look of just grass and trees so I am looking for more variety. The one time the kids accidentally left vegetable garden gate open the chickens had a big...

It depends on the type of trees and fruit you want. Here are my opinions: *I love all dwarf citrus trees. They taste the same and are well behaved. I want more, but have run out of room! *The flavor of most of the genetic dwarfs stone fruits I have tired is fair to poor. I have yet to...

I started pruning my semi dwarf apple trees when I planted them to encourage a nice shape, and I have pruned every year in January since then. I espaliered them against a south facing wall. I think most people prune in winter during the dormant season. I do a second light pruning in summer...

What do you grow in your yard that the chickens don't munch on? I am starting do a little planting for spring and looking to add a few more interesting chicken resistant plants. Any suggestions? I live in zone USDA 9-10 or Sunset zone 22. I have list short list at BYC of what I grow so far...

I add it fresh in small amounts to salad. I cook it as "greens." I also feed the larger bitter leaves to the tortoise. Once it starts to bolt and lengthen, it doesn't taste so good.

Maybe try looking around craigslist or putting a "wanted" posting for redwigglers. I saw a "wanted" ad in the farm and garden section and responded to it a year ago. Since then, I sell them there when I have tons and I am emptying my compost bin. Just make sure they are red wigglers and not...

I have a friend that is a Master Gardener and when I first started gardening she said to stay away from some of the old "garden remedies" and that some cause more harm than good. I read a good book called...The Truth About Garden Remedies by Gillman. It didn't mention aspirin as I recall...

Wow, that must be some veggie garden. I planted 4, not 4 lbs. 4 potatoes. That's all I had room for. I am Irish. I wish I could plant that many potatoes! We eat them almost daily.

Gardening is a hobby that pays you back with food. How many other hobbies or entertainment pursuits can you say that about? That's one way new gardeners can justify the initial upfront expenses that exceed what they spend on fruits and veggies in the grocery store. After that, it is far...

I use an old city trash can. Works great. I drilled holes all over it with a 1 inch bit, cut the bottom off, and cut a flap in the front. Really easy project and free. Works better than any others I have made over the years or purchased. Fits in good with my trash cans and the red wigglers...

Hi, Glad to see you over here. I am pretty new to the Easy Garden as well, but there are lots of familiar faces. Welcome! Great Advice! This is how I grow Clematis here in Southern California. I also planted one amongst a climbing rose and it has done well. Supposedly I should not be able...

Yup. That's wisteria. And many kinds do smell pretty. I believe the Japanese (wisteria floribunda) varieties are even more fragrant than the Chinese (wisteria sinensis.) That looks like Chinese Wisteria because it doesn't have many leaves yet while it has flowers. The Japanese variety has...

Great pictures! Wow!

I have a dog that totally loves to lay and dig in any cool, damp, or open areas in the yard, too. I hate that so much. However, over the years, it just begins to seem to be part of being a gardener with a dog. I have tried all the above mentioned suggestions numerous times. I have had...