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COFFEE POT FILTERS
May 11, 2013
Good drainage in your pots and containers is very important to the health and success of your flowers and vegetables. In the past we have suggested using broken pottery shards, rocks, and even foam packing peanuts to keep the hole at the base of your container from clogging. Recently we read a tip that may have all of those beat! Coffee Filters! You just place a coffee filter in the bottom of your planter or container and fill with soil. These filters are designed to drain water through and not let anything else leak out (either coffee or soil). Over time the filters will breakdown and then the soil should be set up enough to not leak all over your deck or patio. Try them out and see how well they work for you.
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BAD GAS
May 4, 2013
Our tip of the week comes to us from our friends at Stihl Tools. Wayne Sutton from Stihl told us about the importance of keeping fresh gas in our power tools and equipment. He recommended 89 or higher octane rated fuels that are not more than 30 days old. Gas gets weaker as it ages and weak gas creates most of the problems a homeowner will encounter in their power equipment. For other power tool tips check out the Stihl website. |
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DEADHEADING DAFFODILS
April 27, 2013
Now is the time to deadhead your early spring blooming plants. By removing the seed heads, you are telling the plant to send the energy to the bulb or tuber to make it stronger for next years bloom. Don’t cut back the foliage yet! That part of the plant is putting the ‘gas’ in next year’s engine. When the foliage dies back in a couple of weeks you can just pick it up and clean up your garden bed then.
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CLOROX PRUNERS
April 20, 2013
Our tip of the week comes to us from our friends at Heirloom Roses. When we were visiting a couple of weeks ago we noticed that they were using Clorox Wipes to clean their pruners after each plant. Normally we would recommend a spray bottle of a bleach & water mixture, but this seems a lot more convenient. You should keep your pruners clean to prevent the spread of plant diseases and these wipes seem to make that chore a breeze. |
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SEALING YOUR PLANTERS
April 13, 2013
You can extend the life of your wooden planters and it doesn’t take much to do it. We found that if you use a pruning sealer it will do a great job of preserving your planters and containers. Pruning Sealer is normally used to seal the cuts and wounds on trees after they have been cut or damaged in any way. This prevents pest and diseases from entering the tree and damaging it. The same principle holds true for planters. If you just spray a coating on the inside of your planter or container it will prevent disease and decay from shortening the life of your planter. Check for Pruning Sealer at your local independent garden center or nursery. The product we found was from Bonide.
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FLOATING HELLEBORES
March 16, 2013
In the cold, dark days of winter leading up to spring it is hard to enjoy the colors of your outdoor plants. To help you enjoy them, bring them indoors. Winter blooming plants like hellebores are even more difficult to enjoy because the flowers sometime face down to the ground. One way to enjoy them is to cut the blooms and float them in a bowl of water. This way the blooms are facing upwards and, because they are in water, you can enjoy their beauty for a week or two.
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SPRING WASP PREVENTION
March 9, 2013
It may seem weird that we are putting out traps for wasps and yellow jackets in the spring, but next to the late summer this is the best time to use them. Our friends at Rescue (they make those cool yellow Wasp, Hornet, and Yellow Jacket traps) told us why it is a good time to put them out now. In the early spring the queens emerge from their winter hibernation and look for places to make their nests for the new season. If you get them now they won’t be around to create a nest of nasty pests to ruin your summer fun. Take down your old traps, clean and refresh them with the pheromone attractant packets available at most of your local garden centers. To make your hunting more effective, place a couple of traps around the perimeter of your yard and garden.
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LAWN MUSHROOMS
March 2, 2013
We always get questions this time of year about the mushrooms in lawns. Are they dangerous? Judy talked about the conditions that cause the mushrooms. They are caused by decomposing matter in your yard and that there is no way to remove the mushrooms from a lawn. They will continue to occur where organic matter exists. To be on the safe side they should be removed if you have small children or pets, they could be poisonous. If you don’t have pets or small children, you can choose to let them be and enjoy nature at work!
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