Wilshire Square
Neighborhood
Santa Ana, California
"The Happiest
Neighborhood on Earth"
Gardening in the Square
Wilshire Square Rainfall 2008-09
Last Year - 8.9 inches
2009-2010
7 Dec.-6.0 inches
13 Dec.-1.5 inches
Face Value
"It's out front. It's in our face , it's the first thing we see and it says more about us than perhaps we are comfortable with: our front yard. Like you keeping your hair combed, curb appeal is one of the most important factors in maintaining home value and is a key indicator of what is inside." Cindy McNatt, Orange County Register, 8/2/08,Home & Garden
"Award Winning" Composting Workshop
Santa Ana residents can attend a FREE "Composting Workshop", at the CSUF Aboretum. The CSUF Arboretum, 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton. 657-278-3407. Call for schedule.
Rose Care
If you would like to have beautiful blooms and healthy roses this spring. Then it is time to apply a little Epson Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) to the base of each rose plant. A light Application, once a month, will keep your roses blooming and the colors vivid.
Hydrangea
The way to create blue Hydrangea is to apply Aluminum Sulfate to the plant before the flowers form. This only works on red Hydrangea
Epsom Salt
The best place to buy Epson Salt in bulk (agricultural grade) is at Orange County Farm Supply, 1826 W. Chapman, Orange Ca. (Between Main St. and the 57 FWY.) (714-978-6500)
Recommended Epsom Salt Usage:
House Plants: 2 tbs. /gal water once a month.
Tomatoes: 1 tbs. / ft. of plant.
Roses: 1 tbs. /foot of plant height every two wks. Scratch 1/2 cup into soil at beginning of blooming season.
African Violets: To get African violets to bloom -Apply Epsom Salt drench every two weeks.
Remember: Merigolds keep virtually all garden pests away.
Plant Booster*
Concentrate Ingredients:
16 ounces of light Karo syrup
16 ounces of water
2 ounces of seaweed concentrate (fish emulsion can be substituted)
Mix together and store in the refrigerator in an air tight container
Directions:
Mix one gallon of water with 4 tablespoons of concentrate and drop of wetting agent (Ivory dish soap). Mix together and pour into hand-held sprayer and apply evenly over leaf surfaces. It is best to do this in the morning.
*Published In -Fruit Gardner Journal 1986. Author Gary Matsuoka, Laguna Hills Nursery.
Controlling Powdery Mildew
Neem Oil: Use as directed.
Baking Soda : Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of dormant oil and 1 teaspoon of insecticidal or liquid soap ( not detergent) to 1 gallon of water. Spray on plants every one to two weeks
Potassium bicarbonate: Approved for use in organic growing. It is sold as GreenCure at some garden centers.
Mouthwash: Use one part mouthwash to three parts water. Careful! can damage new foliage.
Vinegar: MIX 2 to 3 tablespoons of common apple cider vinegar with 1 gallon of water. Concentrations of acetic acid above 5 percent are more effective.
Milk: One part milk to 9 parts water. Applied weekly. Concentrations below three parts water had adverse side effects.
Note: If you are a Wilshire Square resident and would like to contribute to this page. Email information to ray30@prodigy.net