Open Bag Garden Items Are 50% OffAt Home Depot - I know for wood if there is a defect and it'll be marked with the specific color for discount, but I didn't know that on open bagged items you get 50% off.
Always Have Hope - Rescued PlantI rescued this plant from someone who was going to "trash it" after its first blooming. The plant was almost dead when I got it last year. I'm always trying to save things that other people have given up on or abandoned. After a summer of good care, this is the reward I got this fall.
Use Old Storage Racks In Your GardenEveryone has old shelves and racks that they have bought to use in their garage. From time to time the racks get old and you replace them with new ones. Instead of throwing them away use them in your garden. The racks in the garden will give you more space for your plants. You can arrange the racks at the back of your garden next to the fence. This way you have plenty of room to add your plants.
Cable Ties for Supporting PlantsWhen garden plants start to produce, they need extra support. Cable ties are great. They come in many sizes and are inexpensive. You can tie them to a plant stake, another part of the plant, or a fence. At the end of the season, just cut them and dispose of.
Thrifty Plant Shopping TipsWith some DIY home improvements going on, I have been wandering the home improvement stores lately. I love to stop by and peek at the plant section.
Starting Tomatoes in Coffee CansWhen starting tomato plants, I cut the bottom off of an empty Folger's coffee can. Then I poke some drain holes in the lid, put the lid on, and turn the can upside down. I fill the new pot with soil and plant my tomatoes. When they are ready to go into the garden I just take the lid off the bottom and the plant slides right out.
Using Eggshells In Your GardenNext time you crack open your eggs, do not be so quick to throw them away! Grind or crush them up and add to your vegetable garden, it will provide many nutrients that may be lacking in your soil. Add to compost. Use in the garden is to deter slugs, snails, and cutworms. They stay away, leaving you with uneaten flowers, plants, and vegetables. Just sprinkle around your planting areas.
Dividing Potted PlantsWhen your plant is getting tight in the pot (or when you purchase a plant like this one), you can easily get more plants by separating into more pots. This will allow room for your plants to grow, or is a great way to give some plants away as gifts.
Dollar Tree Candle Holders as Succulent PotsAs you all may know, I love plants, especially succulents. They're actually my go to gift to give to co-workers, family, friends, neighbors, teachers, etc.
Free Flower Pots at Lowe's Garden CenterSome garden centers like Home Depot or Lowe's have a rack for free pots. If they don't, you can ask if they have any free pots you can have. What's awesome is once in a while you may stumble across a nice ceramic, clay pot too!
Harvesting ElderberriesAfter snipping the 'umbrellas' from your elderberry bush, use a plastic fork (held backwards) to glean the black berries from the vines. Package and freeze. Wash just before using.
Protect Ripening Fruit with NewspaperIn our yard, we have been experiencing more wild animals lately (i.e.: birds, rats, rabbits, etc.) especially since our yard is near a canyon. These animals are eating our fruit! It is quite frustrating watering these fruit trees, watching the fruit grow, and then finding them eaten/ruined.
Shop Specifically For Plant BargainsA Tightwad Grows Flowers: Someone said I was so tight, I squeaked when I walked. So tight, I squeezed a nickel til the buffalo bellowed. Say what they will, when it comes to buying flowers, being miserly certainly has it's advantages.
Euonymus As Foundation PlantingI did a previous post on using Euonymus fortunei Emerald Gaiety as a foundation planting. My last picture in the post left you looking at some tiny Euonymus plants I had rooted. It also showed a dead Bermuda lawn. (I killed it).
Overwintering Corkscrew Vine (Vigna Caracalla)Some friends have expressed an interest in growing Vigna Caracalla outside and overwintering them inside. I have a tip or two on that subject. These vines are perennials in their native Central American and tropical South American climes. In temperate regions, they require winter protection when grown as perennials.
Don't Discard Sick Plants Too HastilyWhen you read about plants and the pests and diseases that can affect them, you will find some extremes in the figures. Some plants are affected by only one or two pests and/or only one or two diseases. With other plants, that number may double or triple or even quadruple.
Corkscrew Vine Bloom TimeI've gotten some private messages asking for further information on the corkscrew vine (Vigna Caracalla). I'm making this post so all who are interested can share this information.
Flowers That Attract ButterfliesButterflies just love flowers. That's their drinking fountain full of the nectar they feed on. So be sure and plant flowers in your garden if you want them to come visit. Here are some of their favorites:
Photograph Your Garden In Early LightI haven't had camera as long as most of you. I've just been picking up bits of information as I need it. I wouldn't know an 'f' stop from a short stop with the New York Yankees. I've always heard though about the wonders of early morning light. It is a great time to take pictures.
Clearance PlantsI am always on the market for more beautiful plants and flowers. At my local Lowe's home improvement store, they have racks of reduced plants and flowers for only $1, $3, $5!
Turkey Baster To Transfer Garden ChemicalsI have a half acre field joining my property. I hope over the years to turn it into a respectable flower garden. Now you know why I am so keen on rooting plants. I could never buy enough to fill this half acre.
Buying Plants for Longer BloomingPick out and buy plants that are not yet in bloom. They will flower longer. If you do buy a plant in bloom, pinch off the flowers and buds at planting time to encourage more profuse flowering.
Preventing Mud Under Outdoor FaucetI got tired of the constant mud puddle under our faucet. Between watering our yard and maintaining our ducks' pen, we have the water on a lot. So my husband created this awesome little gravel pad under the faucet. It is perfect for preventing the mud puddles. It is also a great place to rinse off boots.
Get a Healthy Nursery Plant for the Best PriceTo choose the most healthy plant of a lot, look under the pot, the roots must be at least beginning to come out of the holes of the pot. Checking the root growth will also help you avoid one of the classic tricks to make you pay more for getting less.
Toddler Fun With FlowersI recently took my toddler to a plant nursery and one of the ladies working there said he could pick up any flowers that had fallen off the plants onto the ground. He absolutely loved hunting for flowers and as we were getting ready to leave, he decided to decorate his head with one. :)
Expect The Unexpected When Gardening - Blooming WisteriaA lot of unusual things happen in the garden. I would wager most go unnoticed by most gardeners. I find these odd happenings interesting and I like to share them on ThriftyFun. Well, here's one that has left me flabbergasted. I even sent pictures to my ag agent and am awaiting his reply.
Buy Plants from Local GardenersMy favorite place to buy plants for my gardens is from the Tualatin Valley Garden Club. They have a booth at my farmer's market every Saturday. The club is made up of people in the local area that love to garden. They are always willing to share their expertise.
Select Plants for Best ValueIf you are purchasing plants or flowers, sometimes if you look carefully you may find more than one plant in a pot. Take your time and find the plant that will best work for you! For a better value, I was able to buy one low priced pot and be able to plant four plants compared to purchasing the plants individually.
Save Receipts When Purchasing PlantsSave receipts when you buy plants at Home Depot. My basil plant died a couple of weeks after I purchased it. Because I saved the receipt, I got a new one. I'm sure other places do this as well.
Take Photos When Visiting Plant NurseryI was at our local nursery yesterday afternoon, looking for a plant for our backyard. I decided on azaleas, but took photos of others I would eventually like to buy, along with the planting info. I plan to keep these in a file in my email folders so I can refer back to it when I'm ready to plant again.
Transplant Bedding Plants QuicklyWe know almost nothing about what plants know. We do know they engage in chemical and other types of warfare. We know they send out chemical messengers to warn their like kind of danger.
All Flowers Deserve A Hard And Digital FileI preach keeping records of all your flowers, and I am the one guilty of not doing so. Not having truly permanent markers nor a camera or computer, I did tend to get sloppy with my record keeping. Now I have all three. There's no excuse.
How to Maintain an Air PlantIf you do not have any luck with keeping plants alive or you do not have the time to maintain indoor plants, and want some green in your office, or home - an air plant will be ideal for you!
Building a Frame for Dragon Fruit TreeThere are many different methods and materials you can use to build a frame for dragon fruit trees.
Gardening By Trial And ErrorI'm not stingy. If I had all the money I've given to people in need, I could take a nice trip abroad. Still, I find watching pennies while gardening to really pay off in the long run.
Wear Gardening Gloves For The UnexpectedSome time back I wrote an article on the importance of wearing gloves while working in areas that might be infested with black widow spiders. One might do well to consider gloves when working in other areas, too.
Dispelling A Myth About Garden MumsIt now is January 5. I have a little surprise for some of you. Once, I told a friend something I had read. She found that something very hard to believe. She replied, 'Doug, don't you know a piece of paper will lay there and let you write anything on it?' Of course, she was right.
Growing Honeysuckle As StandardIn an earlier post, I mentioned that honeysuckle could be grown as a standard. I looked around and found enough pictures to put together a post on the subject.
Hiding An Ugly Foundation WallI have a small, recessed foundation wall in one area. It's ugly and I can't seem to get around to painting it. To hide the wall, I planted a row of Euonymus fortunei rootings in front of it, this summer. This stuff can get huge, but can easily be sheared to the 2 feet I need. It will get as thick as any hedge.
Line Small Flower Beds With Concrete Mixing TubsBermuda migrates towards wetter soil. If flower beds are kept wetter than the surrounding lawn, Bermuda will easily invade them. Using sunken concrete mixing tubs as liners for beds can prevent this migration, underground. Keeping above ground migration at bay is much easier.
Plant Markers from Popsicle SticksAt this time of year, many of my plants are being brought inside for the winter. I love all of the beautiful plant markers that can be purchased, but if you have a lot of plants, those markers can get expensive. I save Popsicle sticks to make inexpensive markers.
Eating Spinach StalksIf your spinach, chard, spinach beet or other similar leafy vegetables have been ruined by slugs and bugs, don't altogether despair. Snip off the ragged leaves and put them in the compost (or feed them to your guinea pig or chickens if you have any).
Winterizing a Geranium (Part One)I got a beautiful geranium in May that gave me so much pleasure all summer. I did a little research on the internet and found that I could winterize it and it will bloom again in the spring. Here are the steps:
Life Lessons From Your GardenYes, those are Portulaca umbraticola. Mine grow so thickly, I find myself thinning them every year. Here are some thinnings I haven't yet picked up and taken to the compost pile.
Gardening with Native PlantsGardening with plants native to your area has so many benefits. They attract local birds and butterflies. Native plants are resistant to pests and diseases, therefore require little care. They also need less water. Some of my natives are orange coneflower, bee balm, and daylilies.
Saving Marked Down PlantsOften at Lowe's and Walmart, where their garden center is located, there are flowers/plants that have gotten a little worn to where they are dry, brown, and brittle. Often all these little lovelies need is water and nutrients. I often check for clearance plants and flowers.
Controlling And Dividing Liriope (Monkey Grass)I had to sink some cinder blocks into the ground to hold back soil my foundation Holly hedge is planted in. The blocks do a great job, but the exposed top halves were rather unsightly. I planted liriope in front of the blocks.
Photograph Your GardenI have gardened all my life. It has brought me much pleasure. Another dimension of pleasure was added when I began to photograph my gardens and plants. The camera picks up detail often missed by the naked eye. The pictures are becoming keepsakes, and ultimately, a means of sharing with others around the world.
Pick Beans Often for a Great HarvestEven if you only have a few beans, make sure you pick them daily. The more you pick the beans, the more the plant will produce. The converse is also true; if you stop picking beans, your plant will stop producing.
Co-joined Rudbeckia Flower - FasciationI found this unusual beauty in my flower garden mixed in with the rest of the typical rudbeckia blooms.
Starting A Pecan Tree From SeedThis technique is not an oversimplification. It really is this simple. You can forget about location, sun, shade, hillside, etc. As to the ph of the 'medium' you start the seed in; it really doesn't matter. Temperature? If it feels good to you, the incubating pecan will love it, too. How much to water? None needed.
Deter Scent Marking DogsI have a lovely, long row of arborvitae. All are strong and healthy, but still young and tender. Things a mature tree would tolerate, could surely kill these saplings, urine included. Neighborhood dogs have started marking there, so with a few prickly blackberry limbs tucked under them, problem solved.
Use Coffee Filters to Keep Weeds AwayI always put my spent coffee grinds around my flowers anyway, but started ripping the used filter halfway through then centering them around the base of my plants to keep down weeds and also keep roots moist. It's working great. The filters are safe and let water through, but keep out weed growth!
Flowering Plants May Be WeedsThis plant with pretty purple flowers popped up in my garden this year, and I never planted it. When I went to the garden center, I found out it is called purple loosestrife, and is very invasive. The person I spoke to said to be very wary when things you didn't plant pop up in your garden!
Shade Potted Plants with UmbrellasWe have very little shade. For our potted plants, we bought umbrellas at Dollar Tree and broke the bottom off. When it's too hot and sunny we put them up, in each pot, over the plants.
Buy Named Varieties Of Trees and ShrubsI just opened a pack of zucchini seed to see how many seeds were in the pack. Would you believe a pitiful seven? Well, the pack cost only 20 cents at the Dollar Store. Should I complain? While opening the pack, my eye again caught what it had caught when I bought the seed. There is no variety name on the pack.
Look For Two Plants In One PotI noticed a few years back that a new nursery trend had started. Many growers began to put two shrub plants per pot, rather than the usual, one. These plants are positioned so close together, on casual observation they appear as one. I haven't bothered to research this practice.
Cleaning New and Used Flower Pots or PlantersIt is a good idea to clean both new and used pots before replanting them. New pots can have a chemical residue and previously used pots and planters may have salt deposits, diseases from previous plants, mold, fungus, insect eggs, or weed seeds.
My Little Shade GardenI had a small area with a small flowering tree and decided under that tree I could make a pretty little shade garden. It is fading this time of year, but will get a redo in spring!
Chicken Amongst the VegetablesEvery now and again, a naughty chicken will escape into the vegetable patch. Also every now and again I let them in there on purpose. They do scratch about a bit and nibble at the leaves, but they don't do as much damage as the little bugs that they pick off and eat. It's free nutrition for the birds and better eggs and less damage from caterpillars and the like, plus a little extra fertilizer in the process!
Cleaning Fingernails After GardeningEven if you wear gardening gloves your hands and fingernails get ingrained with dirt that is hard to remove.
Toxicity of the Moonflower Vine (Ipomoea Alba)The moonflower vine (which will be considered Ipomoea alba throughout this post) is a beautiful plant; a bit mysterious, too. I have read numerous internet accounts of this vine. The most consistent fact in these accounts is the inconsistency in their 'facts'.
Rabbits to Control BambooI've noticed that wild or escaped domesticated rabbits about the neighborhood seem to like the taste of young bamboo as much as panda bears do. So now it seems that the rabbits are policing my containment trenches for tasty edibles before I even know they are under there!
Caring for an Air PlantAir plants are easy to care for and fun to have. While air plants don't require any soil, they do need bright, indirect light. They can also thrive under fluorescent lights making them a good office plant.
Make Garden Stakes from Discarded Sign SupportsRecently I saw some discarded campaign signs with the metal stakes that look like the capital H shape and picked them up and brought them home to use in my garden to let my climbing plants, like snap peas and climbing green beans....
Ants Are Beneficial in the GardenIf you are like a lot of homeowners and gardeners, when you see ants or an ant hill your first reaction is to get rid of them. But before you grab the scalding water or pesticide, stop for a moment and consider the benefits of having ants in your garden.
Buying Markdown PansiesI entered a tip last year on the thrift of buying drastically reduced violas and pansies at home and garden centers in late fall. They aren't very showy in mid winter, but oh come spring.
Growing Wisteria as a StandardThe wisteria is not a tree. It is a vigorously growing and often invasive vine. It can be kept in check by training it to grow as a standard, whereby it takes on the appearance of a small tree.
Keeping Cats from Using House Plants as LitterboxSimple, but very effective! After years of trying almost everything to stop Brooklyn, our cat, from leaving his deposit in my overwintering houseplants I finally hit on this method which seems to have stopped him in his tracks.
Getting Help With Gardening IssuesI took this picture along with a close up and sent both to my county agricultural agent.
Removing Blackberries Without HerbicidesTackling blackberries is a pain in more than one way. With the proper clothing and equipment, you can pull blackberries without injury.
Homemade Blackberry Pulling GlovesWe are constantly battling blackberries in our yard. For under $5 my husband was able to put together a set of gloves that allows him to pull the blackberries out, roots and all, without being cut to shreds!
Tips on Buying Violas and PansiesA lot of people may not know that viola and the pansy which is derived from the viola, are perennials. In their natural habitat, they will come back year after year. Their natural habitat has a climate much cooler than most parts of the States.
Datura - BrugmansiaDatura or Brugmansia is a highly poisonous plant. There are mental and physical disturbances brought about by the plant alkaloids. This is not a good plant to have in a garden where there are pets or children or anyone else who is apt to put their hands in their mouth after handling the plant.
Water Your Plants With Ice CubesFast, easy, and no spills on your furniture. Cubes melt slowly so the plant doesn't get overwatered. One normal size ice cube per 4 inch pot. The kind of plant drives the frequency of watering.
Dangerous Chemicals In Railroad TiesCreosote is not the only danger of railroad ties. They are also regularly sprayed with highly toxic herbicides, bactericides, and fungicides (including PCP). The sale of railway ties is prohibited in France since 2003.
Use Rolling Trash Can as Yardwork HelperI have a large yard with a lot of trees that requires a lot of work. I am always having to pick up limbs, spread mulch, etc. Then I came up with the idea to use my 30 gallon large garbage can on wheels that I had purchased from a discount store.
Growing an Avocado SeedGrowing an avocado plant from the pit is a great project for kids to do. It is so easy. Our kids love to eat avocados and really wanted to try sprouting one.
Make a Right Hand Glove Out of a LeftWhen doing yard work or picking up litter, I use garden gloves from Lowe's or Home Depot. Being that I am right handed, I wear out a lot of the right hand gloves.
Fade-proof Garden Plant Name TagsIf you take a short length of 1/2 inch water pipe and cut it lengthwise about 1/4 inch with a hack saw and then cut one side in to your cut, it gives you a curved embossing tool. Making a straight embossing tool is easy. Any piece of metal with the same thickness as your curved tool will do.
Keeping Plants HydratedUse marble-sized polymers to hydrate your plants. I buy the 8.5 oz. container of Decorative Accents absorbent polymers from the Dollar Tree to put in my outside flower beds. I use the handle (dowel) part of a wooden spoon to poke holes into the soil.
End Of Season Plant BargainsGarden centers, home improvement centers, grocery stores, department stores and any other location that sales plants or flowers always have a tremendous markdown on plants at the end of the summer.
Use Egg Water for Watering PlantsThe next time you boil a dozen eggs, save the water and pour it on your garden and plants. The water becomes enriched with calcium when the eggs are cooked. Plus, why pour water down the sink when you can reuse it for something, right? (Just make sure you let it get to room tempature.)
Using Telephone Receiver Cord to Tie Up PlantsI needed to tie up some of my vegetable plants and I'm out of garden twine and string. When I was looking for something suitable that will not break the stems I saw one of my very old receiver cords for the telephone.
Easy Plant Support or ProtectionI've always had a problem with critters eating my sunflowers (and other young flowers) after I plant the seedlings out into the garden. This year I'm protecting them with paper towel tubes or even wrapping paper tubes for taller seedlings and TP tubes for smaller ones.
Uses for Tennis Balls in the GardenA good gardening friend of mine uses tennis balls to make a gardening frame and found that the tennis balls are useful for bluetits too.
Old Hot Pads for KneepadsDon't throw out those old stained kitchen hot pads. Recycle them by using them as knee pads while gardening.
Use Sunflowers Instead of Bean PolesA substitute for bean poles is to plant a sunflower seed by each hill of beans. I use the mammoth variety of sunflower. The flowers will measure at 15 in. across.
Create a Living Privacy WallIf your deck or balcony is not very private, you can create a living privacy wall with a trellis and a fast growing vine such as climbing spinach, squash, or gourds.
Growing ClematisYears ago I was told by my mother to give my clematis 1 cup of lime and 1 cup of garden fertilizer each year. She grew everything well, and now I have beautiful long growing clematis.
Ask For Plant CuttingsI usually ask friends and family for starts off their plants. When I go to a nursery or store that sells plants, I look on their floors. A lot of times you can find broken stems that can be rooted in water.
Be Sure You Have Adequate DrainageI worked for a landfill. It is some of the worst ground to cover. I learned one important thing about all ground, drainage is important. The cheap effective way to make drainage is filter black cloth for gardens.
Lime Or Ashes For MossSpread some lime over the area to get rid of the moss, or a cheaper method if you have a fireplace is to lightly spread some of the ashes over the area. If you wet it down, it sort of makes the gray disappear, but it gets rid of the moss.
Use Dandelions InsteadInstead of getting rid of dandelions, use them. You can use the greens in salads. Dandelions can be used to make jelly and wine. Instead of contaminating the soil with pesticides, it would be much better to use what nature provides.
Plant Vegetables After EasterBoth of my grandfathers swore blue that to plant out any of the fruiting vegetables before Easter was asking for weird weather and replanting. Even though the date for Easter does move around, it certainly has been true for my garden.
Gardening With KidsGardening is so good for the soul and the only thing better to watch than something grow that you planted by seed with your hands, is to watch the look in a child's eyes when they see something they planted grow. Gardening is a natural for kids.
Planting Garlic Along With PlantsPlace a clove of garlic in plant soil to eliminate bugs. The garlic keeps the nasty bugs away and will also grow along with your plants.
Rejuvenate Your Soil By Sowing a Cover CropWhen you put your vegetable garden to bed this fall, consider tucking it in under a cover crop. Also known as "green manure", planting a crop of legumes or cereal grains is a great way to rejuvenate garden soil and get your plants off to the best possible start next season.
Making Stepping StonesNo need to buy a 'stepping stone form' to create your garden stones; just dig a hole 4 inches deep in the desired shape wherever you want the stone and fill with quick mix concrete. Be careful not to breathe in any concrete dust!
Using Blue Mesh For Garden PlantsI have been looking at an excerpt from a book on earthclinic.com. Basically it says that if you form a blue mesh tent out of gauze and put it over a plant, it will help the plant grow.
Speed Up Tomato Growth with TableclothsInstead of spending $12 on a roll of red plastic to put around our tomato plants (to speed up growth) we purchased 2 red plastic tablecloths from a Dollar Store. They worked great!
Frugal Gardening TipsI use all of my neighbors and my grass clippings to mulch my vegetable garden. I have few weeds, great organic vegetables, save money and time weeding.
