{"id":293,"date":"2010-08-09T09:15:06","date_gmt":"2010-08-09T13:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mymontys.com\/wordpress\/?p=293"},"modified":"2010-08-09T09:15:06","modified_gmt":"2010-08-09T13:15:06","slug":"ask-montys-for-8910-raised-beds-hostas-and-dragonflies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wordpress.mymontys.com\/?p=293","title":{"rendered":"Ask Monty’s for 8\/9\/10: Raised Beds, Hostas, and Dragonflies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ask Monty\u2019s:\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

We put a small pond in our backyard this summer, along with quite a bit of appropriate landscaping plants and flowers around it.\u00a0 It turned out nice and it is attracting a lot of wildlife to it.\u00a0 I\u2019ve noticed a lot of dragonflies particularly, something I\u2019ve never really thought much about or thought would find the pond so attractive.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know much about them but I want to make sure they aren\u2019t a type of bug that is going to cause me any trouble or damage to the plants.\u00a0 Are they good guys or bad guys?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Sandra and Steve,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ava, Missouri<\/p>\n

\u00a0Sandra & Steve,<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s all good!\u00a0 Ponds and lakes do attract dragonflies and damselflies and you are the proud recipients! They have excellent eyesight and their aerial agility allows them to capture and eat vast amounts of insects that are smaller than themselves.\u00a0 So they\u2019re very interested in the uninvited \u201cguests\u201d that frequent your new environment like moths, beetles, mosquitoes, aquatic larvae and nymphs.\u00a0 And with the food supply being so plentiful, they will court and lay their eggs here too.\u00a0 They do need some vegetation to feed on so if you have planted such things as bulrush, cattail or water lilies you will encourage them to stay.\u00a0 They also like blue flag iris, cardinal flower, red-twig dogwood and summersweet.\u00a0 If you have to use any kind of insecticide, be conscious of the good insects and wildlife that may be living there and try to stay as organic as you can.<\/p>\n

Ask Monty\u2019s:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI have two rather large raised garden beds that seem like they dry out very quickly.\u00a0 I love the fact that I don\u2019t have to bend so far over to maintain the garden, but it seems like I\u2019m always watering it.\u00a0 Why would these beds dry out so quickly?\u201d<\/p>\n

Marty,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Seattle, Washington<\/p>\n

Marty:<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re watering daily you may not be watering long enough or deeply enough. When you water make sure you\u2019re soaking the soil at least five to six inches below ground level.\u00a0 Another thing to look at is your soil content.\u00a0 Having a lot of sand in your soil would contribute to why your soil is drying out so fast.\u00a0 If that is the case the more organic matter, like peat moss and broken down compost, you can incorporate into the soil, the better.\u00a0 It will help provide nutrients to the soil and help hold moisture.\u00a0 Regardless of what kind of soil you have, mulch is a must for you as it will help insulate the soil and keep it moist.\u00a0 Then once the growing season is over you just till it all into the soil for added nutrients as it breaks down over the winter.\u00a0 Grass clippings and shredded leaves are great for this.<\/p>\n

Ask Monty\u2019s:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI have staggered my green and variegated hostas throughout areas of my yard for creating some color and diversity.\u00a0 The green hostas come up and do great every year, but my variegated hostas are always smaller and less vibrant.\u00a0 Why do they look so shabby compared to the green ones when they\u2019re in the same soil getting the same conditions?\u201d<\/p>\n

Pat and Lynne,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Leadmine, Wisconsin<\/p>\n

Pat and Lynne,<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Green leafed plants take in more sun which they need to make chlorophyll, which feeds the plant.\u00a0 Variegated-leafed plants just can\u2019t produce enough food energy as a green leafed plant.\u00a0 As a result, they can\u2019t keep up with their green leafed neighbor.\u00a0 But you do have the diversity you were looking for, so despair.<\/p>\n

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Ask Monty\u2019s: We put a small pond in our backyard this summer, along with quite a bit of appropriate landscaping plants and flowers around it.\u00a0 It turned out nice and it is attracting a lot of wildlife to it.\u00a0 I\u2019ve noticed a lot of dragonflies particularly, something I\u2019ve never really thought much about or thought […]<\/p>\n

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