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Nature’s Way Resources owner John Ferguson, “The Lazy Gardener” Brenda Beust Smith and Pablo Hernandez welcome your feedback and are so grateful to the many horticulturists who contribute their expertise
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Younger generations are rejecting the gardens of their parents and turning to those of their grandparents.”
PLANT SWAPS ON RISE — BUT MUST PLAY BY THEIR RULES!
BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH
Did you read the quote above? That’s SO nice to hear, especially given I’ll turn 81 this year!
Seems to me, looking back over all the changes I’ve seen in 50+/- years of writing as the Lazy Gardener, gardening has increasingly become more serious. Fun, yes, but more competitive, more ruled by forces outside of the gardener’s own personal wishes, needs, desires.
One trend I’ve seen rise and fall and rise again over the decades is the proliferation of plant swaps. It’s exciting to see how many are now (once again) actively helping gardeners these days. Certainly another sign the trend mentioned above is right on target.
New to plant swaps? In our now Internet-ruled world, one has to be on Facebook to access dates and rules of most area swaps. Look up “TEXAS PLANT SWAP” on Facebook.
But be forewarned If you decide to try a swap, certain rules MUST be followed. These are NOT commercial events — more like friends helping friends.
You can’t BUY plants or anything else. NO money can or will be exchanged. Load your car with already-potted/bagged plants, bulbs, etc., (see details below) that you’d like to exchange. Include a wagon to pull them booths and others trade-sites. Good idea to peruse whole setup before starting to exchange, but know the best plants usually go quickly.
MIND YOUR MANNERS. These folks are eager to share plants, to trade with you, and/or give you growing advice. They also can banish you from future exchanges if you don’t follow their strict protocols.
THREE UNBREAKABLE RULES FOR 1st TIME PLANT SWAP VISITORS:
- NO MONEY CHANGES HANDS. If you hope to go home with great plants, take something “growable” to exchange — potted plants, cuttings, bulbs, tubers, seeds, etc.) in transportable shape and CLEARLY IDENTIFIED.
- ASK FIRST — NEVER just take plants from tops of, OR from under, table, in wagons, etc., without owners’ specific permission.
- PLANTS UNDER OR BEHIND A TABLE ARE ‘HANDS OFF!” May already be taken or promised. This point is NOT up for discussion and may result in you be being asked to “Please leave!”
More suggestions for first-timers . . . .
- Read everything published on a given swap announcement on FB page. (main method used for public, but you have to join website)
- Expect to see seeds, plants, bulbs, wildflowers, garden decor, etc.
- Bring your own snacks, wagon, (or table, etc.)
- Park ONLY where designated for plant swap
- Go prepared with some of your own plant cuttings (well rooted if possible), bulbs, seeds with ID, etc., to exchange for plants you want.
- If plants NOT already well rooted, mark container: “NEWLY PLANTED.”
- Know about your offerings, name, varieties (if possible), sun/shade/drainage and other growing info. You will be asked!
- Bring a pen & notebook for information you’ll be given. (Also your own drinks, etc)
- Don’t be insulted if someone doesn’t want to accept your swap plant. Experience swappers know their plants well and want to exchange only for plants of equal or higher value, which novices may not recognize.
REMEMBER: Swaps are for SWAPPING. Solicitors are not welcome nor is anyone looking to PROFIT off swaps. But if you seriously want to learn more about plant swaps, resources join their nonprofit website: Facebook.com/groups/PlantMeet/
John’s Corner
NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD
OF SOIL AND PLANTS # 278
Subject: Mulch Types
In addition to compost, I get a lot of questions about mulch so I thought I would do a follow up on mulch. Below is a is a quick breakdown. Over my career I have visited numerous properties with plant and gardening issues. Using an incorrect mulch or a cheap low quality much were the source of the problems.
There are no labeling laws in Texas for mulch; hence anything can be marketed as mulch. However, there is an easy way to protect your family and garden based on selling price.
Mulch can be broken into three basic types based on its quality and usage. These types are Biological, Commercial, and Industrial.
Biological – This is the highest quality mulch and therefore the most beneficial in improving soils, preventing disease, protecting plants, etc. It has a low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio so it does not steal nitrogen from the soil and weaken or stress plants. It has been composted to kill weed seeds and pathogens. Composted (aged) “native mulch” and “coarse screened compost” are examples of this class of mulch. The bag will have holes in it so that air can enter allowing the beneficial microbes to breath and be kept alive. This mulch will typically sell retail for $6-10 per bag (2 cubic feet).
Commercial – This is a middle grade of mulch made from tree barks (pine, hardwood, etc.) and is the most common. It will be in a sealed bag and may have a sour, stale, or strong odor. It has a high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and robs soil of nitrogen and other nutrients. Tends to float off in a heavy rain or develop unsightly molds and fungal mats and may attract fire ants or termites. This mulch will typically sell retail for $4-6 per bag (2 cubic feet).
Industrial – This is the lowest grade of products called mulch. It is made from industrial wastes like old pallets, construction wood, wooden concrete frames, etc. It is often chemically burned black with industrial waste, it will sometimes rub off in your hand, and it is often dyed various colors. It may contain arsenic from CCA treated waste wood. It has a very high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and robs nitrogen and other nutrients from the soil for a long time. It may be extremely alkaline and high in toxic salts. It is often harmful to plants and soil and creates many gardening problems. This product will typically sell retail for $3-4 per bag (2 cubic feet).
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ABOUT US
BRENDA BEUST SMITH WE KNOW HER BEST AS THE LAZY GARDENER . . . but Brenda Beust Smith is also:
- a national award-winning writer & editor
- a nationally-published writer & photographer
- a national horticultural speaker
- a former Houston Chronicle reporter
When the Chronicle discontinued Brenda’s 45-year-old Lazy Gardener” print column — started in the early ’70s as a fun side-project to reporting, it then ranked as the longestrunning, continuously-published local newspaper column in the Greater Houston area. The name, she says, is not just fun, it’s true. Brenda’s gradual sideways step from reporter into gardening writing led first to an 18-year series of when-to-do-what Lazy Gardener Calendars, then to her Lazy Gardener’s Guide book which morphed into her Lazy Gardener’s Guide on CD, which she now emails free upon request. Brenda became a Harris County Master Gardener and, over the years, served on theboards of many Greater Houston area horticulture organizations. She hosted local radio and TV shows, most notably a 10+-year Lazy Gardener specialty shows on HoustonPBS (Ch. 8) and her call-in “EcoGardening” show on KPFT-FM. For over three decades, Brenda served as Assistant Production Manager of the GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA’S “BULLETIN” magazine. Although still an active broad-based freelance writer, Brenda’s main focus now is THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER with John Ferguson and Pablo Hernandez of Nature’s Way Resources. A native of New Orleans and graduate of St. Agnes Academy and the University of Houston, Brenda lives in Humble, TX, and is married to the retired Aldine High School Coach Bill Smith. They have one son, Blake. Regarding this newsletter, Brenda is the lead writer, originator of it and the daily inspiration for it. We so appreciate the way she has made gardening such a fun way to celebrate life together for such a long time.
JOHN FERGUSON John is a native Houstonian and has over 27 years of business experience. He owns Nature’s Way Resources, a composting company that specializes in high quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes. He holds a MS degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas. John has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues. He represents the composting industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste. His personal garden has been featured in several horticultural books and “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine. His business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of their products. He is a member of the Physics Honor Society and many other professional societies. John is is the co-author of the book Organic Management for the Professional. For this newsletter, John contributes articles regularly and is responsible for publishing it.
PABLO HERNANDEZ Pablo Hernandez is the special projects coordinator for Nature’s Way Resources. His realm of responsibilities include: serving as a webmaster, IT support, technical problem solving/troubleshooting, metrics management and quality control. Pablo helps this newsletter happen from a technical support standpoint.
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