Finds—What's New & Where to Get it
Plants & Gardens News Volume 18, Number 2 | Summer 2003
by Greg & Pat Williams
Finds is a compendium of new and unusual products and services for gardeners. Mention of commercial products here does not imply endorsement by Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Coleus canina 'Scardy Cat'; photo courtesy www.scardy-cat.com.
A cat- and dog-deterring hybrid coleus is being introduced in North America this year, following success in European gardens. Marketed as either Coleus canina 'Scardy Cat' or C. canina 'Dog Gone', this annual plant grows around two feet tall, produces blue flowers in summer, and emits an odor that's offensive to cats and dogs, yet faint enough to be acceptable to humans. Look for the patented plant at local nurseries. One mail-order source is Gunning River Herbs, 163 Gunning River Road, Barnegat, NJ 08005; 609-698-1921; www.gunningriverherbs.com.
The 2003 Green Methods Catalog from The Green Spot, Ltd. (93 Priest Rd., Nottingham, NH 03290; 603-942-8925; www.GreenMethods.com) features several new biological control species, including Pseudoscymnus tsugae, the hemlock woolly adelgid destroyer. According to the distributor, this is the only biocontrol agent effective against woolly adelgid infestations of hemlock trees. The price is $1,512.20 for 500 beetles—a single-release treatment for up to six acres.
SoilSoup Brewing Systems enable gardeners to make their own compost tea—a compost water extract that has been found to aid plant growth and health. The manufacturer (SoilSoup, 9792 Edmonds Way, #247, Edmonds, WA 98020; 877-711-7687; www.soilsoup.com) offers both 6.5-gallon and 25-gallon brewing-system kits, complete with start-up worm compost and nutrient solution.
AccuRain watering systems can be programmed to spray lawn or garden areas of virtually any shape at adjustable rates. Each AccuRain spray head directs a water stream up to 30 feet and automatically compensates for any variations in water-supply pressure. The maximum watering rate per head is one gallon a minute. System components are available from AccuRain, Inc., 3680-F Charter Park Dr., San Jose, CA 95136; 408-448-0345; www.accurain.com.
Moss Acres is a web-based resource for moss gardening. The company (www.mossacres.com; 886-GET-MOSS) provides general cultivation information and sells four different species of moss. Fern, rock cap, haircap, and cushion mosses are available either individually ($119 plus shipping for 25 square feet) or combined in a sampler pack ($79 plus shipping for 10 square feet of fern moss plus one clump of each of the other three mosses).
The Heritage Rose Foundation was begun in the 1980s to foster preservation of antique and heirloom roses. In 2000, the foundation became inactive, but at the 15th Annual Festival of Roses, held last fall in Texas, it was resurrected. The foundation is now seeking members. Annual dues in the U.S. are as follows: organization, $25; family, $12; individual, $10; over 65, $8; and student, $8. Send a check or money order to the Heritage Rose Foundation, 2204 Canyon Creek Plaza, Richardson, TX 75080.
A database ranking common plants as allergen sources can be searched at the web site www.allegra.com/plant_glossary.jsp. Sponsored by the makers of the antiallergy medicine Allegra®, the database includes more than 3,000 plants ranked according to the Ogren Plant-Allergy Scale, developed by Thomas Ogren, author of the book Allergy-Free Gardening. Ogren's own web site is www.allergyfree-gardening.com.
Shake-Away™ pest-control powder; photo © Bear Advertisting, Inc.
Shake-Away™ granular predator-urine products emit an odor apparently undetectable by humans but guaranteed by the manufacturer to keep animals such as deer, rodents, squirrels, and domestic cats away from plants. The products are said to work well in any kind of weather, including rain and snow. They are available at local nurseries and hardware stores nationwide. For more information, contact Shake-Away, 2330 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 06518; 800-517-9207; www.shake-away.com.
The Water Wagon™ portable hand-pumped pressure sprayer from H.D. Hudson (500 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611; 800-523-9284; www.hdhudson.com/consumer.html) is designed for transporting pressurized water almost anywhere it is needed. The sprayer's three-gallon tank is mounted on wheels and has a large handle for easy maneuvering. Its high-efficiency pump pressurizes quickly. Look for the sprayer in local hardware stores.
Eco Pond Clear is an "all natural" product for water features and fish ponds that, according to its distributor, "restores water purity and quality, removes organic buildup and odors, biodegrades organic sludge, and increases efficiency of biofiltration equipment." For more information, contact Grow More, Inc., 15600 New Century Dr., Gardena, CA 90248; 310-515-1700. One online source for the product is www.superseeds.com/watering.htm.
Greg and Pat Williams are regular contributers to Plants & Gardens News. They run a farm in Gravel Switch, Kentucky, and edit the monthly gardening newsletter HortIdeas.