It’s garden questions and answers again! You may e-mail me
questions at: [email protected]. Or you can mail me questions in
care of this newspaper.
It’s garden questions and answers again! You may e-mail me questions at: [email protected]. Or you can mail me questions in care of this newspaper. For a faster, personal response, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Q. I read somewhere that human urine is a good deterrent for keeping deer and other wildlife away from a garden? Will this work? – W.R., Morgan Hill
Well, I don’t want to hear about home gardeners relieving themselves throughout their gardens. The idea may stop conversations, but using human urine as a garden barrier won’t stop many animals. The premise is that plant-eating animals will turn away rather than enter territory that’s regularly marked by a meat-eater, such as man. (So don’t bother enlisting vegetarian friends in the effort). Used against truly wild animals too skittish to approach people, it might work. Unfortunately, most deer these days will graze calmly even in a fenced yard within sight of an arm-flapping, red-faced home gardener.
Interestingly, there is a company that specializes in collecting and selling animal urine. Believe it or not, the company sells coyote, fox, wolf, bobcat and even mountain lion urine! If you believe the Web site, the urine will not only scare away deer, but will work to train your dog where to go in the yard. Not sure what sort of urine is needed? You can buy a “pee sampler” that includes trial sizes of all five urines for $11. The stuff isn’t cheap: $20 for a regular 12-ounce squeeze bottle. Check out the web site at: www.predatorpee.com.
Q. Can beer be used as a fertilizer on a lawn? – B.T., Gilroy
You must have seen the commercial about the garden guru guy that sells these garden advice pamphlets. One of them spouts a greener, healthier lawn by spraying beer on it. Just as using beer as a snail bait, I judge both methods as a waste of good beer.
Truthfully, all plant and animal matter is potential fertilizer. Solid materials like hops, the leftovers from brewing, offer slow-release nutrients. That is, the hops must decompose before chemicals in them can mix with water and be absorbed by plant roots. However, beer is also salty, meaning they contain a significant amount of dissolved chemicals that has the potential to burn plant roots and other tissues. In other words, if you do want to waste beer in your garden, dilute the dregs before using it.
Q. What will grow under mature pine trees? – V.J., Hollister
Irises and other shallow-rooted bulbs would probably survive the acid-like soil. Native plants like ceanothus, cotoneaster or manzanita may also grow. You probably would do better by growing things in containers underneath the pine trees. That way you won’t have to battle the acid soil and shallow roots of the trees.
Keith Muraoka lives and works in Gilroy. E-mail him at [email protected].
