CLAY VS. PLASTIC:
POTS GO MANO A MANO
When the time comes to purchase pots for the
plants you want in your home and garden, you
have a couple of ways to go--clay or plastic.
How do you choose? Clay (or terra cotta) pots
can be more expensive, and they're certainly
heavier. They can also crack if they live
outdoors in the winter, when moisture expands
within them. Not only that, they pull moisture
from the soil, which means more watering.
However, they come in myriad sizes and styles,
and they're pretty and natural-looking.
Plastic, on the other hand, is lighter, usually
cheaper, and requires less watering. But... it's
plastic. Even plastic pots that simulate the
appearance of clay tend to fall a bit short in
the aesthetics department.
However, you might consider a compromise:
Plant in plastic, but then set the plastic inside
a more interesting and attractive outer container
which can range from antique milk jug to basket to
galvanized washbucket.
UNIQUE PLANT CONTAINERS
Almost any container can be made into a plant
holder. Use your imagination and try a few of
these ideas:
- a child's wagon
- any bucket
- a vintage sink
- a cowboy boot
- a unique watering can
Many of these items can be painted, stenciled,
or appliqued to..add to their decorative
appearance.
DOUBLE YOUR LEEK POWER
If you like to cook with leeks, you know they
can be pricey at the market and slow-growing
in the garden. But you can get more mileage
from them if you use this trick:
When you prepare to chop off the root ends of
leeks prior to cooking, chop a little higher
about an inch above the roots. Then, place the
chopped-off ends and roots in a moist paper towel.
Once you have a break in your cooking chores,
take the leek ends out to your garden and plant
them in a loosely hoed trench about two inches
apart. Cover them up and firm the soil into place,
then water them well. You're now on your way to
leek crop number two!
GARDEN GADGET DU JOUR
If you notice that your lawn is becoming scraggly
and watering it doesn't help--in fact, water seems
to run off it instead of soaking into the soil--it
could be that the soil has gotten too compacted to
absorb moisture and nutrients.
The cure? Aerate that soil. You can rent or buy
equipment that will aerate a lawn, but there's a
simple, low-tech alternative: "aerator sandals."
Available at most garden centers (and via most
garden catalogs--Gardener's Supply Company at
http://www.gardeners.com
The problem is one), the sandals are simply big,
ugly, plastic sandals with spikes in the bottoms.
You just strap 'em on and then perambulate about
your yard. The steel spikes puncture the compacted
soil and create air passages for water and
nutrients. If your feet are too small to wear
the sandals, there's an added bonus:
You'll get to sit on the porch sipping a cool
beverage while watching someone ELSE pad around
the yard looking silly. (The sandals are
designed to fit adult feet sizes 6 to 10.)
Now mind you they work great. It's just getting
someone to wear them. Well if your husband plays
golf than have him putt around with his club and
ball of course with his golf shoes on, for the
shoes work just as well and he won't look so
foolish walking around after his ball:)
