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Roses Love Bananas: Since roses love potassium, whenever I have an old banana, I plant it near one of my rose bushes. They've never done better!
Free Rain Barrels: I wanted some rain barrels but could not afford to buy them from the nurseries. Called the local bottling soda pop bottling companies to ask about plastic barrels because I wanted to make a rainwater harvesting system. One company gave me 6 used food grade barrels for free (60 gallons each).
The bottling companies ship their caramel coloring in plastic barrels and it is too expensive for them to clean the barrels out and re-use them. However, for gardening they are just perfect. Cut some holes in the top, drill a hole in the side near the bottom to install a spigot, put fiber screen (like window screen) on the top to keep mosquitoes out, place it underneath your downspout to collect rainwater and you're all set.
Keeping the Cute Away: There are tons of little bunnies and kitties that love to eat my herbs and vegetable leaves. If you're like me, you love bunnies and kitties but don't love how they leave your garden. My natural remedy: sprinkle human hair (from the next time you go at those bangs or give your friend a trim) around the plants -- not a thick layer, just a sprinkle. No more problems! Sometimes it helps to rake it into the soil a bit so the wind doesn't carry it away.
Leftover Milk: You might be shocked to know that regular milk is an incredible fungus and virus fighter in the garden. Some plants such as tomatoes and roses are notorious for contracting nasty diseases that can kill the plant or limit fruit and flower production. Start adding a tablespoon of powdered milk to the soil around your plants early in the season BEFORE problems happen. Or make a spray that can be applied to infected leaves using leftover or spoiled milk diluted with water.
Transplant Container Cutworm Collar: Toilet rolls are traditionally used as a cutworm collar since they are readily available and will biodegrade into the soil on their own. However, I was once caught at my community garden with a tray of tomato transplants and no toilet rolls. Since our soil has a history of cutworm problems I did not want to leave my plants unprotected for even a moment. Rather than go all the way home, I cut the ends off the plastic containers my transplants came in and placed them around the stems of each seedling. It was the perfect solution since I never know what to do with all those leftover containers that pile up over the years! Ornamental Veggies: Urban dwellers and other small space gardeners can make better use of their space by tucking veggies and edibles in amongst their bedding plants rather than separating them out into distinct gardens. There are lots of unusual edibles available with gorgeous flowers and foliage. Try 'Red Burgundy Okra', 'Bull's Blood' Beets, 'Mascara' lettuce, and 'Lipstick' strawberries, to name a few.
Cheap Plant Tags: I found a good use for old plastic levelor blinds, I cut them up into smaller pieces with an angle on one end and use them as plant markers for seed trays and for markers in the garden.
Tall Tree Care: If you are a homeowner with tall trees which extend over your neighbour's property, it's worth getting an arborist or tree care company to advise you about any potential danger of the tree(s) splitting or dropping large branches which could cause property damage. They can tell you how long the trees are likely to live, and whether the roots will do any damage to the foundations of your home or garage as well. Most will come to the property and provide a quote free of charge. The best time to have major pruning done is during the winter - when the trees are bare, and tree care companies are not as busy, and may offer a discount on their services. If you do have work done, make sure to tell them you want to keep the wood chips they create when they put branches through the chipper/shredder - you'll have a good quantity of organic mulch in the bargain!.
Useful Bushel Baskets: One of things I always recommend gardeners buy are
bushel baskets. They are so handy in the garden clean-up area and can be lined with a plastic bag for a
cheap and easy planter. Most of the time the garbage guys leave them behind (although not always!) I tell
people to go to their local greengrocer and buy them there -- who want's to pay retail which is about 7-8
dollars. The grocer charges me 1-2 dollars and I find they generally last 2 seasons.
Hold Dirt in with Coffee Filters: You can use coffee filters as an alternative to rocks or terracotta shards over holes in containers to keep the dirt from falling out. Useful in hanging baskets. You can even use this method with the "upsidedown tomatoes". Just cut a slit in the coffee filter and place around the tomato plant before
filling the pot with dirt -- kind of like skirting on a Christmas tree.
Lighten Your Containers and Save Soil: To decrease weight and for really good drainage, use foam peanuts or broken pieces of styrofoam in the bottom of your pots, then fill with soil. While no one should go out and buy the stuff, it tends to sneak up on you anyway -- at least this way it can be useful and reuseable. I had an old foam cooler that worked great when I broke it up.
Cutworm Collar: Are your tomato transplants being chewed in half near the roots by an unknown assailant? You've probably got cutworms; the larvae stage of a moth that inhabit the soil surface feeding on fresh, succulent stems. One method of controlling this hungry worm is a simple barrier device made of scrap materials. Cut a toilet paper roll tube in half and place it around the stem of your seedling when you plant. Press the tube into the soil halfway. The paper tube will act as a barrier between your plant's delicate stem and the jaws of the cutworm.
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