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We hope that the following tips and lessons we've learned will be useful to other
gardeners.
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Good Neighbors: Vines and Roses - Grape growers often plant
roses near their vineyards. Both roses and grapes are prone to powdery mildew and pests, but roses will
show signs of the mildew first, giving warning that it's time to protect the grapevines.
Planting a rose bush at each end of your arbor makes a wonderful companion for the grapevines
while adding beautiful color and fragrance to the vineyard.
Deer Deterrent - A deer deterrent recently passed along from a neighbor -
Mix three eggs along with enough water to fill a plastic outdoor sprayer and spray plants.
The deer don't like the smell of eggs.
Japanese Beetles - Are Japanese beetles on your fruit trees? Early in the
morning before the sun warms them, Japanese beetles can't fly. Spread an old shower curtain
on the ground below. Shake the tree. The beetles will drop. Gather the 4 corners of the
shower curtain and pour the beetles into a container with soapy water.
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Pruning Lavender - Lavender plants should always be left to be pruned in the
spring time. The plant needs all the energy during the winter time. When pruning, prune
every other growth.
Encourage Strong Roots - Put a teaspoon of Epsom salts in the hole you have
dug for your plant to encourage a strong root system.
Beware of the Invasive - Be very careful where you plant things
(sweet woodruff, for example) that spread easily and can become invasive. Much time and
energy will be spent getting rid of the plants, only to have them come back and spread
again the next year.
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Rooting a Wood Stem Plant - To root a plant with a wood stem, such as a
Rose Bush, in the spring select a stem that can be bent to soil level. Put a cut in the stem
where it is going to be inserted in the ground. Carefully raise the stem to an upright
position. Dust stem at the cut with root starter. Push the stem into a 6 inch deep opening
in the ground. Place a rock on top to keep in place. Cover with soil and mulch then water.
It will root by next spring. Cut the new branch away from the Mother plant and enjoy your
new baby rose bush!
Protect Roses from Disease - To help protect your rose bushes from fungal
disease, encircle each bush with four garlic bulbs.
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Prevent Tomato Plant Disease - Combine half a cup of powdered non-fat milk,
one quarter cup of Epsom salt, and a shovel of compost. Mix well, sprinkle around tomato plants, or in the soil before planting.
Save Your Back - A hand truck is great for moving large rocks. They are low,
so rocks can be "rolled" onto them, instead of being lifted into a cart or wheelbarrow. And the
wheels are usually sturdy enough for rough terrain.
An Old Knife, A New Use - An old dull kitchen butchers knife makes a great
weeding tool, especially for tap rooted weeds.
Shovel & Tool Cleaning - Fill a large galvanized bucket or tub with sand,
pour a quart of motor oil over the sand and mix well. Clean shovels, spades, trowels and forks
by moving them up and down in the sand. The abrasiveness of the sand removes some rust and dirt.
The oil helps protect the surface. Wipe the tool off with a rag. Depending or the size of
container, tools can be stored in upright in the sand.
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Tidy Daffodil Foliage - Once your daffodils have finished blooming,
do not cut back the foliage until it has turned yellow. In the meantime, the foliage
may become limp and messy looking. To keep foliage tidy, simply grasp it in a bunch,
hold it upright, and use two or three pieces of foliage to tie the bunch together.
A bamboo skewer or stick can be added also if necessary. For a more formal look, bunches
of foliage may be braided. When the foliage has yellowed, cut back bunches and add to your
compost pile.
Age a Terra Cotta Pot - Easily speed up the aging process of your terra cotta
pots. Grind up moss and a little bit of water in your blender or food processor. Paint the
outside of the pot with buttermilk or plain yogurt then rub the moss mixture on. Set in a cool,
damp shaded area for a few weeks and mist daily. Your new pots will have a nice "old"
patina by the end of summer.
Keep Pot Saucers Clean - When potting plants, place a coffee filter or used
dryer sheet in the bottom of the pot to prevent the dirt from coming through the hole in the
bottom along with the water.
Reduce Flower Box Watering - A trick for keeping the soil moist in your
flower boxes is to line the bottom with a disposable diaper before you add soil and plants.
The absorbent material of the diaper is excellent for retaining moisture and reduces the
number of times you'll need to water each week.
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Share or Exchange Plants - To add flowers and plants to your garden without
the expense, check with your friends. They may have gardens overgrowing with that plant you
have just been waiting to purchase. Iris's, tulips, daffodils, or one of the many other
perennials that you haven't been able to find or previously grow may in your friend's garden.
Dividing plants is a great way to clean out a garden and share with others at the same time.
Enjoy, Enjoy - Try not to be a slave to your garden; there will always be
another weed to pull or plant to dead head. Take the time to reap the rewards of gardening by
relaxing and enjoying all of the beauty that you and nature have worked together to create.
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