Earthly Garden

The best gardener is the one who can save money and still produce a great crop from their garden. If you are an avid gardener and you need tips on saving money here are a few to help get you started.

• Save your seeds: Save the seeds from your best producing vegetables and even flowers and replant them in the following season.

• Recycle from your house: Milk jugs and coffee cans can be used for so much in a garden. Cut off the top and the bottom of the coffee can and place around tender plants and cut the top off a milk jug and use as a scoop for dirt or grass seed. The possibilities are endless.

• Make your own pest spray in your kitchen: Add garlic to water, boil it and let cool. Allow to sit overnight and strain. Fill a spryer and add a few drops of dish soap, shake and spray. This remedy is great for almost any bug on your plants.

• Use what you have as a pot: If you have a large amount of coffee cans, drill holes in the bottom, paint them and plant your plants in them. Or purchase an attract pot at a tag sale and drill it with holes and use it as a planter.

You can cut corners and save a lot of money in so many ways with your gardening. With a bit of forethought you can turn almost anything into a planter and cutting corners doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a good harvest when that time comes.

Your garden isn’t the only thing that should be looking its best, you as the gardener should look and feel your best as well. Here are a few tips to help you achieve the perfect gardener status in now time.

1. Before you head out into the garden to dig in the soil, scrap your fingernails down a bar of soap and get the soap shavings under your fingernails. So when you got to dig in the dirt, it won’t get underneath your nails as easy. And when you are done, and go to wash your hands, you can use the soap shavings under your nails to add to your bubbles. And soothe those aching muscles in the same manner but with baking soda and Epsom salts and kosher salts. Mix together in equal amounts and add them to your bath water. Mix a few dried lavender or calendula petals in the water as well.

2. Ease those cuts and scraps with tea from calendula petals or even lavender flowers as well. If you have the ability to make some dried petals, keep a few by your garden outdoor sink or your wash room area and use the petal water to help soothe those cuts and scrapes on the hands. To help your skin heal fast, wash your hands in honey or a product that contains mostly vitamin E.

3. Always avoid getting a sun burn when outdoors. Wear a hat and use plenty of sun block especially on your neck and face. These are the areas of the body that will be most exposed during the day when you are doing your gardening.

1. Look for plant sales at an Arboretum (a place where a variety of different plants and plant species are cultivated for education purposes and even scientific purposes.)

2. Buy your perennials and even some shrubs at the end of the year when the cost will be much cheaper than when they first come out on the shelves or nursery floors.

3. At times your city municipality system or power companies will have left over compost, collected leaves and even downed limbs that they will give to the public for free or at times at a reasonable low cost to you.

4. Use some small inexpensive evergreens in a nice decorative pot to line the area of borders along your driveway or pathway. You can even use them to mark the areas around your flowerbed that is close to the house.

5. Flea markets salvage yard, and some vintage shops have vintage furniture that can withstand the elements outdoors, and even some flea markets have discounted plant and flower starts already in very cool planters to choose from that won’t end up costing you a whole lot.

6. If you bring your houseplants outside during the warmer months you can add some color and more plant life to your already existing plants around your outdoor furniture or sitting area. Your plants can serve as an addition to plants outside as well as you houseplants will get some needed sunlight.

7. You can always hold a perennial swap party as well. Gather up your friend, neighbors and family and everyone bring a few puts or starts from their existing perennials and swap them with everyone else. It’s great fun and can add a new variety to your garden and flowerbeds as well.

Hi everyone,
Hope you had a wonderful holiday season and a very happy and healthy 2008. With the holidays behind us it’s time to look ahead to spring! Now’s the time to start planning this year’s garden. Start going through that stack of plant and seed catalogs(if you haven’t already!) and make your orders! This is especially important if you’re ordering live plants because most nurseries take orders well in advance and ship at the optimum planting time for your region. This means popular varieties often sell out long before planting season arrives.
To start planning, use a notebook to draw a rough sketch of the area you want to plant in and let your imagination run wild until you settle on a design that pleases you. Make sure to take note of the amount of sunshine the area you’re planning to plant in gets-and don’t forget the trees! Once spring arrives they’ll be full and leafy again, so that spot that seems perfect because it gets direct sun all day may only get it for a few hours once the trees around it are in full leaf!
Tomorrow we’ll start talking about seed starting and what to do to make sure your plants get the best start possible!

gardens, gardening, planning a garden, seed catalogs, ordering plants, seed starting

November is here and the holidays aren’t far behind. Here are some gardening tips for this month.

If you have a cold frame, now’s the time to check it over and get it ready for next season. Give it a good inspection and cleaning and repair any damage you find.

Last month we talked about growng herbs indoors. Plant now if you haven’t already to brighten a drab windowsill and add fresh picked flavor to your favorite dishes.

The days are getting shorter and tomorrow’s time change will make them even shorter. Your houseplants will start slowing down now, so stop fertilizing and move them to brighter spots if necessary.

Remove fallen leaves from flowerbeds and mulch well. If the leaves are allowed to stay, they’ll provide winter shelter to pests and can promote fungal diseases. If you have a compost pile, you can add fallen leaves to it. Remember to stir your pile every 2 weeks and hose it occasionally if you are in a dry area.

The arrival of cool weather means you can cut back on watering. You’ll want to give rose bushes and shrubs one more good soaking before the first freeze.

If you’ve been trimming trees, check with your local authorities before placing the debris out for collection. Some areas have been hit with the Asian Long Horn Beetle and tree waste in those areas has to be disposed of under strict rules.

Clean out your flowerpots and planters and store them in a protected area. Extreme temps can cause them to crack and weaken. Clean in a mixture of warm soapy water and bleach, 1 teaspoon per gallon.

Most of all, enjoy the beautiful fall weather!

gardening, gardens, cool weather gardening, gardening tips