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There are a number of considerations for gardening in this type of country environment. First and foremost to many who are coming from small urban properties, is the amount of work that will go into planting, setting up the right irrigation, and caring for your gardens. Even if you don't do any gardens, you'll want to control
certain plants on your property to protect your family, pets, and
sometimes livestock. Watch Where You Put Your Hands
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There are rattlesnakes here and the young ones don't
have rattlers to warn you off. Don't ever start digging under a tree or
bush looking for a drip system or for one of the kids balls that rolled off
in play without first prodding with a stick or wearing a high leather
glove. The snake will make its escape without you ever seeing it -- if
you just give it a chance. Once you know the area you're working in is
free of snakes, feel free to "play in the dirt", but always
keep a look out.
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Oh deer!
Keep in mind you're invading deer
territory. They're used to eating what they want and they find many
landscaping plants very tasty. Although over the years they have pretty
much stopped eating the things closest to the house, the further out we
landscape the more that gets eaten. Depending on the plant, we cage some
with fence cages. In some areas, we know we'll just lose some.
There are two ways that deer can damage or kill your plants. Eating them outright is one, but the second is when male deer scrape their antlers on the trunk of a new tree to scrape off the felt. We've lost as many plants the the latter as the former. If you're into an agricultural crop where you have large areas you must protect, deer fencing may be in order.
Jack rabbits will enjoy eating some of your plants too. The cage method will protect your plants from them as well.
Artichokes grow great here, so we were excited when we bought our first artichoke plant. It was looking great for a week or so and then one day just disappeared!
So, we tried it again. Same thing.
Next we got some cats. Waited a couple of years, and tried artichokes again. Cat's got the gophers, we got the artichokes! Pretty good deal I'd say.
Cats work hard for their vittles out here! And when they've got lots of natural hunting, you have fewer problems in and around your gardens from reptiles and rodents.
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are copyrighted. Many are available to purchase, however, at www.19thCentury.us
Landscaping l Irrigation l Tools l Buying Landscape Plants l Solving Problems l Weed Control l Chemicals
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Using the natural rock a lawn and flower bed are separated, hiding drip
lines in the process.
