Landscaping/Gardening Resources and Tips

Suggestions & Messages from your Indian Springs Neighbors:

10/6/22:  I’m going to attend the PRISM in-person session on “Invasive Vines” at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont on Saturday 11/12/22 from 1 – 4.  It’s free, and sessions fill up quickly – Anyone who wants to join in should register here; happy to car-pool! – Dee Walsh

9/15/22:  A member of the BMGC recently recommended a couple of plants, including “Hummelo“.  She described it this way: “It’s totally different from the light colored fuzzy stachys we know as Lamb’s Ears. It still has purple spikes of flowers, but is a mounding perennial and is deer and rabbit resistant!”  The other plant recommended was a coneflower called Mellow Yellows. It “mellows” to more cream as it matures.     Both sound like welcome additions to any garden! –  Dee Walsh

9/14/22:  American Burnweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius), also known as fireweed, is a fast-growing, annual weed commonly spotted in gardens and fields around West Virginia in late August and early September.  It grows 6 -10 feet tall, has a cylindrical flower cap, and a cottony, white fluffy flower that becomes easily airborne when it blooms.  Another fast-growing weed to watch out for! (But thankfully it’s easy to pull up or snap off…)   –  Dee Walsh

8/26/22:  Jennifer Pitsenbarger noted that Albemarle Ciderworks uses small cloth bags filled with the fertilizer Milorganite® to deter deer, and that “they generally last for a season and are quick and and inexpensive way to put up a basic defense.”  A research study from the University of Georgia on this subject concluded:  “that Milorganite® has potential as a deer repellent for ornamental plants. Though the repellent did not eliminate deer damage, it reduced the overall impact. The effectiveness of a repellent is highly dependent on climatic conditions, deer density, and resource availability.”

7/20/22:  More on Deer Repellents:  Dottie McFalls  highly recommends a product called “DeerPro”, available only online at https://deerproprofessional.com/. Dottie says it lasts a long time, and that they spray in mid-December and it lasts all winter. There is also a separate product for summer.   

7/10/22:  Hello IS Neighbors,  My husband and I have tried all of the deer repellent products from Lowes with mixed results so in June we went to Landscape Supply off route 250 (2424 Richmond Road, Charlottesville). We purchased a product called Deer Scram and we have had amazing results with this product. We sprinkled it around and in our flower garden and we haven’t seen a single deer in our garden since applying this product. Deer Scram comes in a granular form and is sold in 25 lb. buckets. The two gentlemen who helped us were very friendly and quite knowledgeable.

Since we have had such amazing success with this product, we wanted to share our experience with all of you who may also have flowers/plants/shrubs/trees that you wish to protect.  Landscape Supply is just off 250 but can be a little tricky to find the first time. They are located behind the Amerigas building. Turn off 250 at the Amerigas building and you will then be able to see the Landscape Supply building in the back.   Best,  Cindy & Bill Cooke

5/3/22:  From Sara Kunkle – Hi, neighbors – I grew a large quantity of herbs from seed for an event last weekend and have some leftover plants to share!  

• Basil ‘Aromatto’
• Basil ‘Mrs. Burns Lemon’
• Basil ‘Lemon & Cinnamon Mix’

These are in 4 inch pots and ready to go out in the garden. If anyone is interested in some herb starts, please let me know. I am happy to drop off or feel free to coordinate with me to come by and choose whatever plants you like. Thanks!     Sara Kunkle    (Please see “Members-Only” page, community blog/log for contact info.)