THE *GARDEN
Here are lots of gardening tips that I have collected over the year. Enjoy!
January 30...Pick up some white flowering plants at your neighbourhood supermarket and
then cover the pot with red foil saved from Christmas.
February 2...Storing bird seed can be messy. Bags get knocked over and then there are the
insects and mice that seem to find your stash no matter where you store it! Here is a way
to get around all of that. Pour the seed into large plastic popbottles. They store well and it
is so much easier to fill the feeders now. I simply take a bottle out with me and pour!
February 4...Here are some free feeders for you to use...coconut shells, grapefruit
halves...both will hold suet and seed mixtures. Onion bags that you normally throw out
also make good feeders. Simply fill them with suet or melt some beef fat if you should
have some on hand and then form it into a ball. Drop into the onion bag and then hang
from the nearest tree. Avoid port fat, however as it is too salty!
February 10...Ground Feeders...you can sprinkle seed directly onto the ground or onto
elevated feeders. Sparrows actually prefer their seed sprinkled onto the ground. Lots of
our seed blows away in the winter wind...it will be found by sparrows without a doubt.
February 12...Find yourself a box that can stay in the trunk of your car and fill it with the following:
shovel booster cable (with instructions on how to use it ladies)
blanket
scraper/brush
matches/candles
flashlight...keep this in your glove compartment.
February 13... OH OH's
You are trapped in a snowstorm...do you know what to do?
1. stay in your car
2. run the engine for 10 minutes an hour to stay warm and keep the battery charged.
3. open the window an inch or so and check that the tail pipe is clear of snow.
February 16...You are stuck in the snow...and there's no one around!
Here's what you do...
-dig snow away from wheels and then give the wheels something to grab onto...like sand
or a piece of old carpeting.
-use a gentle forward/backward rocking motion until you are free
-getting yourself out of a such a situation...just takes a little practice and know how...you
can do it!
February 17...A Winter Picnic
On a nice "warm" Saturday afternoon when the kids are underfoot and driving you
crazy...bundle them up and send them outside with instructions to make a snow picnic
table and chairs. Inform them that when they are done...their winter picnic (of hot
chocolate and donuts) will be served!
February 25...A Sunday Afternoon On Ice
Choose a spot in your yard...for your ice sculpture...I didn't tell you what the project was
did I! Well...we are going to go beyond the everyday snowman...we are going to make an
ice sculpture! Think of it as one step beyond the snowman...
Gather round everyone family member that you can convince to participate and hand them
all a shovel! You will need a small mountain of snow It's also a good idea to pick a spot
that is out of the sun...you wouldn't want your efforts to melt away!
Start with a simple form and start packing the snow into the desired shape. You can use
any impliment to carve the snow that you happen to have handy. Once it is firmly
packed...begin to pack on the slushy snow...remember the pile of snow that you have...you
mix it with water. Once you have a good layer of ice..you can begin to get fancy...by
bringing out the chisels! Are you having fun yet? And what about colour...want some of
that too? Toss in some powdered paint and voila...coloured ice! Keep working until you
are happy with the results or too tired to care anymore. And oh yes...make it seem like
you are having a ton of fun...even if you aren't...it will attract the neighbours and they will
just have to join in the fun...then you can take all the credit for having the most interesting
front yard on your block...even if you stood back for most of the day and barked out
instructions!
March 24...Snow Cities
It is easier to make a snow city than it is to make sand castles! Snow won't collapse on
you so get creative. Borrow a sand spade, collect some empty milk cntainers and start on
yru own town. Perhaps to start off...why not try your own block! Be sure that you put in
all the details...the doors, the chimneys, street and trees (use little branches)/
Tools To Use
Spoons of different sizes
spatulas
spades (hand held size)
*add a little colour..mist your street with water mixed with food coloring.
March 29... Remember this tip for the summer ahead. Don't water your plants at night. This is just what the slugs love. Darkness and dampness.
April 15...Watch for old and unusual items at garage sales and second hand shops for this years
"planters". Such things that work nicely are old boots, pots and pans, kettles. Look at
everything that comes your way with a discriminating eye and you will never buy a planter
again!
April 20...Scarlet Runner Beans
-will make a quick temporary screen
-flowers are a vibrant red
-produces a massive display of 6-8inch pods containing pink speckled beans
-great for crafts as well as eating!
April 21...If you don't have a rhubarb patch...plant one this spring. Today, I'm giving you some hints
on what you should know! Keep reading!
Rhubarb is:
-a perennial
-is cross pollinated by insects
-grows best in northern US and Canada
-plant along one side of your garden rather than as a part of it
-prepare soil by adding compost or manure
-the leaves are poisonous...the pink stalks can be cooked and eaten but don't touch the
leaves!
To propogate: in early spring, dig up the crown of a large parent plant, cut off several
chunks and then replant the original (you are dividing the crown). Plant the portions of the
crown 4 feet apart at the same depth as the parent plant.
April 23...Colour All Season Long!
For colour throughout the growing season, plant an assortment of spring, summer and fall
perennials. Fill in empty spots with petunias. they spread quickly and provide plenty of
colour if your blooming times fail to overlap.
April 24...Clay Pots
It is okay to leave clay pots outside during the winter. The trick is to allow room for
expansion when the pot freezes. The solution is to bury small pieces of hose horizontically
in the pot. So...if you like clay pots but have been avoiding them for that reason...avoid no
longer!
April 25...Patios
Start your plants in pots that can be displayed on your patio for splashes of colour. When
the plant outgrows the pot...plant it in the garden!
April 26...Perennials (for dry sunny sites )
The following list of perennials work well in a dry sunny location...
Dianthus Allwoodie
Bearded Iris
Peonies
Sedum
Crocus
Golden Marguerite
Daffodils
Soapwart
Glory of Snow
Tulips
Babys Breath
Lemon Thyme
Oriental Poppies
Salvia
Silver Mound
April 27...Kalanchoe
In spring, repot in a gritty soil...half humis...half perlite and place in semi shade for the
summer. Bring indoors before the frost and be sure to cut off faded flowers. Do not
overwater.
April 28...Garden Superstitions
A June that is warm promises an early harvest
Eating sage in the month of April promises long life!
April 29....Enticing Irises
Established clumps of iris's need to be divided ever 3-5 years to keep them blooming at
their best. The best time to take on this chore is late summer or early fall. If you are just
starting with a new bed of irises...provide some sort of winter protection for them!
mAY 1.....Save banana peels and add them to the soil around tomatoes and peppers. You r plants
will develop strong trunks and stems thanks to the phosphorus and potash in the banana
peel!
May 2....The Gardeners Journal
Use a looseleaf notebook, glue a picture of your garden on the cover and then set up
sections inside. You may want to use the sections that I have listed below.
Day By Day
(divide each page in hlaf and use 2nd half for the next year)
Second Section
Alphabetize each page and enter your garden's flowers. You can enter how each grew,
what turned out to be favourites, when each matured etc. It will provide you with ideas
for next year.
Additional Section
Store articles that you have clipped from newspapers and magazines.
mAY 4....Lemon Verbena
Although lemon verbena is a tender shrub which should be taken in for the winter, I have
found this not to be the case. In my garden, it comes back each spring with a vengence.
Cuttings can be taken in the fall or the spring. You should have no difficulty growing this
plant and the lemony scdnt is great in citrusy potpourris.
May 9....REd Pepper Spray
Grind up one bulb of garlic or substitute a large onion. Add one tablespoon of cayenne
pepper and a quart of water. Spray your plants with this mixture. It is effective for several
weeks on all kinds of sucking and chewing insects.
May 10....Adding sea shells to the top of your planters are useful as well as an attractive addition.
Turn the shells up so that they will act as a receptical when watered. The water will
eventually evaporate around the plant and is especially effective for plants requiring high
humidity.
May 12....How To Sell Your Own Home
-Plant annuals that will add lots of colour to your property.
-Clean or paint your front door. It's the first thing the prospective buyer sees and it makes
an impression!
-Pack away all of those knick knacks that you have been collecting since you said "I Do"!
-Tuck dryer sheets into all the closets...especially in teenage boys closets...I'm thinking
about the state of my son's room at the moment...no offence to any boys that happen to be
neat!
-Check for anything that looks worn or broken...and fix it.
May 13....Buy cracked corn to mix with your bird seed and be sure to shop around. a small bag of
seed at our neighbourhood feed mill ran at $1.95. The same bag at the mall had a $2.95
sticker!
May 23....Think about all the bending you do while engaged in gardening. You may not like weeding
but your waistline will!
May 24....For colour throughout the growing season, plant an assortment of spring, summer and fall
perennials. Fill in empty spots with petunias. They spread quickly and provide plenty of
colour if your blooming times fail to overlap.
May 25....It is okay to leave clay ots outside during the winter. the trick is to allow room for
expansion when the pot freezes. the solution to to bury small pieces of hose horizontically
in the pot!
June 1....GARDENING ON FENCES
Baskets can be hung on a bare fence to dress it up. Plant bright flowers like petunias along
with trailing plants. A garden at the base of the fence will compliment your basket gardens
nicely.
June 2....Zinnias
Insuffificient phosphorus in the soil could be the reason that your zinnias need to be
staked! Plant in an area that receives full sun all day and is well protected will help the
plant to develop strong stems.
Save seeds from your best plant and then Seeds should be planted as soon as the soil is
warm and the danger of frost is over.
June 3....What do you do with your out of date phone book...keep it in the trunk just in case you
need to contact a neighbour and their number simply escapes you! Or...if your phone
book is simply too big to lug around...make yourself a little personal telephone book to
keep in the glove compartment! Everything handy at your fingertips!
June 7....If you like to decorate your yard with those ornaments with the flying wings/feet, at least
give a little thought to the placement! In our yard, we are visited by hundreds of birds who
visit our feeders. The ornaments are idle when the breeze settles down but if a bird
happens to be near when a gust sends the wings whirling around...it could seriously
damage a fragile wing if it should get clipped!
June 8...I have run into this problem a few times while potting plants...not enough stones to fill the
bottoms. Take a piece of pantyhose and position over the hole. Fill with soil and don't give
it another thought! The pantyhose will keep the soil in place...and your plants happy!
June 9...Lemon Verbena
Although books describe this plant is a tender shrub which should be taken in for the
winter, I have found this not to be the case. It was too much work and I didn't bother and
it came back the following with a vengence. And I live in Ontario!
Cuttings can be taken in the fall or in the spring and for the most part..you can just ignore
it! This is one of those plants that simply takes care of itself!
I mentioned potpourri...it is a wonderful addition to a citrusy based mixture. You can also
scent your kitchen...plant one of your cuttings in an attractive pot and sit it in your kitchen
window!
June 12...If you are a beginning gardener this tip is for you! Save old pantyhose and when you need
something to tie up your staked flowers...cut into strips and use them up! No damage to
the stems what-so-ever!
June 15....Sea Shells
Adding sea shells to the top of your planters are useful while at the same time making
them look attractive. Turn the shells up so that they will catch the water. This water in
turn will evaporate around the plant. This is a good thing for any plant but especially
effective for plants requiring high humidity.
June 23...Hot Pepper Spray
To discourage snails, cats, dogs and many other insect from eating your outdoor plants,
spray hot pepper sauce on them!
June 24...Banana Peels
Save and add to the soil around tomatoes and peppers. Your plants will develop strong
trunks and stems thanks to the phosphorus and potash of the peels.
My Favorite Links
Angelfire - Easiest Free Home Pages
DigitSmith, Inc. - Embroidery Digitizing & Custom Embroidery Services
Matt's Script Archive - Awesome Web Server Scripts
National Computer Security Association
