My Garden DisasterMy tomatoes, corn, zucchini squash, onions, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, bell peppers, lettuce, and spinach all came short of the glory, this year. I had not one vegetable worthy of a shutter click.
Making Permanent Plant MarkersI didn't realize how easy it was to root grape cuttings. When I found out, I started rooting them like crazy. I had five different varieties. I carefully labeled the cuttings from each, making labels from mini blinds and using a fine point 'permanent' Sharpie pen.
Durable Plant Markers from Vinyl SidingEveryone seems to have a tip for making plant markers. I've posted a couple here, myself. From the standpoint of durability, I think I've found the ideal material. Scrap white vinyl siding.
Windbreaks for SeedlingsUse the free supermarket plastic carrier bags as small windbreaks for recently planted seedlings.
Styrofoam as Perlite SubstitutePerlite is exellent for amending soil used for container grown plants and for starting seedlings in a soil or soiless medium. It insures better drainage and aeration which results in a larger, healthier root system.
90% Discount on Plants is Almost FreeI go to the home improvement centers and some have plants that have been returned or wilted a bit at 90% discount, I just picked up some hanging basket flowers with basket, and all for less then $1 each! All the need is a little TLC.
Save Water In Milk JugsIn the summer months, I have always kept plastic milk containers filled with water hidden behind group planters, so I do not have to go far when I water the pots. Now that we have a hosepipe ban, this is a good idea.
Homemade Gardener SoapPut 3/4 cups of white sugar into a glass jar and add some dish soap. Then stir, you don't want it too runny. If it is, just add more sugar until you get the right consistency.
Unravel Rope For Multiple CordsThe long stemmed flowers were all on the ground. There was a need to tie them up a bit, but I didn't have enough of the end of a cord roll to do both. So, I unraveled the tri-cord and then had three separate cords.
Repurposing Edging Bricks As PaversLast month I found some old edging bricks from another garden. Their new purpose: a connecting path between my dining patio and my fire pit area.
Reuse Plastic Containers for SeedlingsWhen I buy my chicken in bulk, they come in big plastic containers. The containers make perfect seedling trays for the green house and they're free. I also use all the plastic containers that tomatoes, plums, etc. come in.
Mulch for Gardens in Hot AreasMy friends are always admiring my flower garden, but can't seem to get theirs to grow. Here goes the only key to a happy garden in the south and other hot places - mulch, mulch, mulch, and water!
Board to Let Fowl Escape from Water ContainerChickens and wild birds seem to have a positive genius for drowning themselves in cattle, horse, and other large watering tanks during dry weather. However, if you'll float a small board in such a container, the fowl will be able to climb up on the wood and save themselves.
Laundry Detergent to Kill MossShow the moss who's boss! I have been doing this for years and I guarantee it works. If you have moss on the walks around your home, you know it's dangerous for falls when wet and unsightly. Go to the local dollar store and get powdered laundry detergent.
Make Your Cut Flowers Last LongerTo prolong the life of cut flowers in a vase, add a couple of drops of chlorine bleach. Never submerse any of the stem with leaves in the water. It adds to the decay factor.
Use Clear Take Out Containers As GreenhouseI love collecting seeds to propagate. I have been most successful in sprouting even difficult seeds by creating my own tiny greenhouse. I could buy one, but I prefer to use what I find in my own recycle bin.
Keep Cats From Digging in GardenCats like soft soil and will make a bee line for where you've just been digging. Dig a hole, blow up a balloon, and bury it in the hole. When the cat comes to inspect the nice soft soil, thinks this is a nice place, and starts digging, bang!
Use "Pooper Scooper" in the GardenI have a passion for gardening, but am always frustrated that garden accessories, like good tools, are so expensive. The other day I was planting some herb seeds and trying hard to get out all the small rocks out of the dirt.
Use Recycled Bed Springs in the GardenI really recycle, and that includes taking old furniture apart so I can use the parts. I like getting the springs out of old box mattresses, couches and easy chairs, because I can use them for several years to protect seedlings in the garden, and/or make trellises.
Sharing Garden FlowersI will call this a friendship tip. My aunt is home bound after being in the hospital and nursing home after several falls. No broken bones thank goodness. She loves to come to see my flowers once each spring or summer.
Save Water - Build a Path!If you have a spot in your yard that is hard to reach with water, or you simply want to save on your water bill or conserve, build a path!
Try Something New In Your Garden Each YearPlant something new every year. You'll be amazed at what you learn once your plant starts to grow. I remember the year my mom told me she was going to grow celery. I thought sure she'd lost her mind. She lived in Iowa, celery would never grow there, I thought. But it did. And she loved it!
Shims for Plant MarkersInstead of buying plant markers go to your hardware store and ask for a bundle of shims. These are very inexpensive wooden slats and have plenty of room to use a permanent marker to write the name of the plant.
Plant MarkersOne of the most difficult things to find for the garden is plant markers that hold up to the seasons. After experimenting for decades, I have many suggestions...
Create a PVC Garden TunnelCreate an easy garden tunnel for your kids. Use 10 foot long, 1/2 inch diameter PVC pipe and push each end into the ground to create an arch. The arch will be about 4 feet wide at the bottom, and about 3-4 feet tall. Make another arch about every 2 feet apart.
Fix a Drip Hose that SpraysDo you have a drip hose that sprays rather than drips? Rather than get rid of the hose, you can re-direct the water back down into the ground where it belongs. Simply take an empty soda or water bottle (clear plastic) and carefully cut off the neck and the bottom.
