Oreganos, Cat Spray, Euonymus, Acid Loving Plants, Organic Spraying
Two oreganos for landscape use are Mexican oregano and Greek oregano. Greek oregano is a culinary and medicinal herb, of course, but it also serves as an excellent groundcover for sun or part shade. Mexican oregano is used to flavor food in a similar way but it is a bushy plant with beautiful purple summer flowers that fade to white with age. It needs protection in the winter, Greek oregano does not. Both can be used in pots or in beds.
Q. Our neighbor’s male cat has been “spraying’” in our planting beds. Is there an environmentally safe product or combo of things that will discourage him from continuing to do this? The cat is also visiting other neighbor’s yards and flowerbeds as well. ’– M.M., Dallas
A. Gardeners have reported success using citrus peelings, citronella sprays, and pointy mulch such as sweetgum balls or thorny cuttings like those from roses and blackberries. I recently received an idea on a more consistent solution ’– using lava gravel as mulch. Not sand like we use in soils but the larger gravel. I’ve tried it and it works also to keep squirrels out of potted plants.
Q. I have some shrubs called “Gold Spot Euonymus’”. I noticed a lot of little white things all over the leaves and branches. One of the bushes has lost its leaves and looks sick. Over the past week the little white things are now brown. Have any ideas or suggestions? Can I save the shrubs? They are about 4 to 5’ and I have cut them back some. ’– S.C., Dallas
A. Here’s a foolproof solution. Cut them down flush with the ground and plant some adapted shrubs. Evergreen euonymus are without question the sorriest shrubs you can plant. Get the store to refund your money and plant some hollies, nandinas, abelias, viburnams and other shrubs that will tolerate our soils and climate and only require a minimum amount of care. Texas has a glut of landscaping, gardening and plant books written by people who understand our special Texas conditions. None of these regional authors recommend evergreen euonymus shrubs. The big box stores are the only places that still sell these inferior plants ’– at least I hope they are. Here’s a partial list of organic stores that also sell natives and well-adapted introduced plants. Green Mama’s, Redenta’s, Rohde’s, North Haven Gardens, Sticks and Stones, The Herb Market, Blooming Colors, Weston Gardens, King’s Creek and Shades of Green.
Q. I am trying to find an organic way to fertilize acid loving plants. ’– J.E., Dallas
A. They don’t need to be fertilized with anything different if you are using organic techniques. Organic fertilizers have strong buffering powers that work well to make trace minerals available to plants. Even azaleas, gardenias and dogwoods do quite well under the Basic Organic Program. Products that will speed up the balance are Texas greensand, Maxicrop Seaweed with Iron and Earth’s Fortune.