Collect Rain Water For GardenIt never seems to rain enough when I need water for my vegetable garden, so I had rain diverters put on the roof above two doorways and big plastic trash cans below.
Food for Tomato PlantsKeep chopped banana skins your refrigerator or freezer until there is enough to fill a blender 2/3 of the way. Add a cup of water and blend to a slurry. Place slurry into a normal sized bucket (9 litre) and fill half-way with water.
Homemade Natural PesticideTo make a pesticide, combine 1 head of peeled garlic and 2 cups water in a blender and blend on high until garlic is finely pureed. Store covered for one day and strain out pulp.
Use Kitty Litter Bucket for Kitchen CompostI always wanted to compost so a kitchen composter was easiest to start with but expensive. I noticed our kitty litter container (hard plastic) was a purrrfect size and has a lid and handle. It fits under the sink and has been working great.
Pencil Shavings in Plant SoilNext time you empty your pencil sharpener, toss the shavings around any any plants that might have bugs. Mix the shavings into the soil at the base of the plant. Most pencils are made from cedar, and the bugs don't like the smell.
Earth Worms to Soften SoilI have always been an avid gardener without any chemicals. I was anxious to 'get started' in my large garden upon moving into a new home, but our soil was rock hard.
Using Grey Water From Your Washer for The GardenThis one comes from my dad. When I was young, he maintained a very large garden and my mom canned most of the fruits and veggies that we ate. One year because of a water main break, all outdoor watering was banned.
Thrifty Watering TipsThrifty watering is the way to go, especially during Colorado's dry summers. Here are my tips:
Conserving Water in the GardenHere are some tips for conserving water in your garden: Water your garden in the late afternoon but not at night. It needs time to let the surface dry so mold and fungus aren't able to damage the plants.
Save Potato Water for Watering IvyWhen boiling potatoes, save the cooking water. Let it cool off completely. Then you can water your ivy plants with the potato water. You will be surprised with how pretty, green, and shiny the leaves will get.
Using Buckets Under DownspoutsMy husband never got around to setting up a rain barrel system under our downspout, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I set out several 5-gal. pails, a large plastic garbage can, and even my wheelbarrow along the ground, in a line, directly under the garage roof edge.
Use Recycled Cans For Garden EdgingI save my vegetable cans, clean them and take the paper off of them and use them for starting new plants and as a border around my gardens. When I put them around garden, I spray paint them in different colors and turn them upside down and use a hammer to bang into ground. By doing this, it saves it from the landfill and i get free garden edging that looks great
Keep Track of Rainy Days To Save Garden WaterKeep track of the days that it rains on a calendar. Circle the day and write "Rain". This way its easy for you too see which day it rained. It will help you save money on your water bill.
Repel or Prevent Pest Infestations Without KillingIt concerns me to see posts about killing insects and animals when it is just as effective and less poisonous to repel or prevent infestation.
