Roof Gardens

Do you have a roof garden or maybe, just a garden area that gets regularly exposed to wind and hot sun? There are plenty of options for your containers or plantings.

First you want plants that are drought tolerant, period. Not just after being established, but from the get-go. Plants that are used near the beach often work well...Lantan camaran, Miss Huff or New Gold, for instance.

Secondly, whether you are planting in a container or the ground, be sure to use an additive like Permatil or Perlite to keep the soil mixture from hardening when it dries. Permatil will provide air pockets that will hold water for an extra reservior.

Another concern is to keep the roots cooler. Do this by raising your pots on feet .This is particularly important if your pots are sitting on a cement pad or tiles.

Let larger plants shade and protect the smaller ones. Isn't always possible, but evergreens do help with this. Make them interesting, shape them in a spiral!

from downtown Atlanta,
Lyn

Battery Recycling Program

More Eco-friendly news!
Residents of Cobb County can now recycle their old rechargeable and single use batteries at any Cobb County Library Branch. Keep Cobb Beautiful is partnering with the Library system to offer this free recycling program.
What to put in the Container
Nickel Cadmium (NI-CD); Nickel Metal Hydride (NI-MH)
Lithium Ion (LI-Ion) with Cobaltate Technology
Cell Phones
Cell Phone Batteries
Power Tool Batteries
Laptop Batteries
Digital Camera Batteries
Video Camera Batteries
Any type of Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, & Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery!
Alkaline (household batteries), Lithium Primary batteries are also accepted.
Dry sealed-cell and power-pack batteries are accepted.
NO WET CELL BATTERIES
BATTERY TERMINALS MUST BE TAPED OVER, OR PLACED IN INDIVIDUAL BAGGIES.
For more information you can visit Keep Cobb Beautiful at http://kcb.cobbcountyga.gov/

Free Rain Barrels!

Would you like to harvest rain water, reduce your ecological footprint and save money?

Make your own 55 gal. rain barrel at one of the Cobb County Watershed Stewardship rain barrel workshops!

This workshop is free of charge for all Cobb County residents! Be ready to spend one hour outdoors and to use power tools. You will need a 4-door sedan or larger to carry you barrel home.

We have four sessions scheduled for April 7 and 23. Keep checking our website for new dates.
We are looking forward to seeing you!

For more information and to register:
http://watershed.cobbcountyga.gov/files/rainbarrels.htm
Please, no phone calls or emails.
Limit of one barrel per household.

The end result

We've been trading "ark jokes' lately and even complained a bit about the amount of rain we are getting now. While we are waiting for the dry, hot summer days to come, I hope you are planning where to install your rain barrel or a water catchment system. I am compiling a list of sources for you in a future blog...

Meantime, the flowering varieties are treating us to a beautiful sight this spring. Enjoy the lovely camellias, cherries and specialty magnolias that have popped this past week!

Lyn

Star Magnolia, Magnolia stellata