Question:
How might I protect my slope from eroding with the heavy rains predicted for this winter? I just finished planting it with creeping rosemary. Because it was planted late, I don't expect it to be very effective in holding the ground. Jute netting has been suggested.Answer:
- I'd be concerned with hillside erosion from the upcoming rainy season, too. It should be an issue when the soil becomes saturated, probably around the holidays or shortly after.
- Jute Netting or Erosion Control Mesh is designed to be a soil surface and slope stabilization solution for erosion control. It's made from a coarse, woven yarn and will biodegrade naturally within six months to two years, depending on microbial action, after clearing the debris and weeds.
- It's installed much like landscape fabric by laying it down over an area before planting.
- You start at the top of the slope, securing the edges with Bio Stakes every two to three feet.
- The seams are overlapped four to six inches, and you fold the bottom six inches under at the bottom of the slope.
- Plants are then planted through the large opening in the mesh, but you can cut it if necessary for larger planting holes.
- When sowing seed, the seed is sowed first with the netting laid over the top.
- All is not lost since you've already planted; I'd stretch the net over the planted area and push the vegetation through the opening, cutting it if necessary.
- Another option is Straw Wattles or Erosion Logs. They're commonly seen at construction sites along freeways and are preferred in those areas with established plants.
- They're an excellent way to control sediment, erosion, and stormwater runoff. Straw Wattles are long, tubular rolls of noxious, weed-free rice straw wrapped in black plastic netting or burlap.
- They're approximately eight to sixteen inches wide and twenty-five to thirty feet long, with a three to five-year life span. Wooden stakes are driven into them every four feet to secure them.
- Water is released through the wattle at a slower, steady rate.
- Jute Netting and Straw Wattles are probably not at your favorite garden center but at an irrigation and landscape supply supplier, such as Horizon (www.horizononline.com)
Question:
My Anjou pears are not ripening. This is my first crop, so I'm unsure what to do next.Answer:
- Pears are best harvested before they ripen and allowed to ripen off the tree. Tree-ripened pears will not develop their peak flavor or texture.
- Harvesting too late can lead to overripe and mushy pears.
- It is essential to harvest Anjou pears at the right time to ensure optimal flavor and texture.
- Pick the fruit when green, complex, and full size for the particular variety. To harvest pears, lift the fruit until the stem separates from the branch.
- Do not pull or twist. If the stem does not break easily, allow the fruit to remain on the tree for a few more days. Comice, Winter Nellis, and Anjou.
- The aroma is a good indicator of the pear's ripeness. So. smell the pear to determine its ripeness. A ripe Anjou pears will have a sweet fragrance.