Water Azaleas with Pickle Juice
My azalea bushes are 20 years old. Several years ago, I pruned them back severely, because they were getting very leggy and sparse. This spring they did not bloom for the first time in years. I found that they enjoyed an acid soil.
I have a bad back and needed an easier, lighter way to water and feed my plants. I recycle my 1gallon plastic milk jugs for my garden. I cut the top of the jug just wide enough to fit my hand in and punch four holes in the bottom of the jug.
Reuse Your Dehumidifier's Water
I've always hated to throw away the water I accumulate daily in my dehumidifier. I water outdoor plants with it. I'm sure my neighbors think I have a strange watering can, but I think this is the best way to recycle this free water.
I put a bar of soap in the toe of a cut off leg of pantyhose and tie it onto my out side water faucets. It is handy for clean up after working in the yard and saves bringing the grime into the house.
Use Blanket Instead of Wheelbarrow
If you normally use a wheelbarrow to move mulch, dirt, compost or weeds, try an old bed sheet instead. Lay the sheet open on the ground and rake or throw the mulch, dirt or weeds onto it then grab three corners and drag the whole bundle to its new location.
Collecting Dirt for Your Garden
I have found this works great. Put a square of blanket, any side out in the yard. Secure it how you want, I use cinder blocks, rocks, or bricks. When you pull up weeds, throw them on the blanket and don't shake any of the dirt off of the root clot.
Preventing Dirt Under Your Finger Nails
Before gardening, scrape your nails over a bar of soap. This makes it really easy to clean dirt from your nails after gardening. This also works when wearing gloves
Use Squeeze Bottle to Water Plants
As much as I love my houseplants, I find it a messy chore to water the ones in high places. I've purchased several watering cans to minimize drips, but they left much to be desired - usually a splash from the well of the can.
When moving heavy objects any kind of distance, place a wheelbarrow turned onto it's side next to the object to be moved. Use a rake to help the object into the wheelbarrow, right the wheelbarrow, and wheel to the area where the object needs to be.
Most of the rocks that I move are for edging, which would make them around bowling-ball size. The tines of the rake hook onto the ragged edges of the rocks very well, and you can just move them along the ground without having to bend over.
Admire Gardens While At Garage Sales
I love to garden but I also like to spend leisure time at garage sales; sometimes I combine the two. Whenever the host(ess) of the sale is an avid gardener, I often admire their work and tell them so.
Cleaning Under Nails After Gardening
I hate how dirt gets under my nails when I garden. No matter how hard I try, I couldn't get all the dirt out from under my nails. Then I discovered the dish sprayer from the kitchen sink.
Use Golf Tube To Water High Plants
In our zeal to keep our hanging tomato planters out of reach of the neighborhood cats, my husband hung them too high for me to water easily. He suggested taping a broom stick to the hose to make it more rigid.
Use Pruned Tree Limbs as Trellises
Use hard wood branches you have pruned to at least five feet long in your garden as a trellis for climbing vines. It's perfect for sweet peas or peas. Looks absolutely pretty too.
A plastic bucket with a tight fitting lid makes a wonderful stool in the garden! You can sit on it while picking produce or weeding and store gloves, small tools, and more inside.
If you don't have the space in your yard, you can get some big Rubbermaid containers/buckets, drill holes in the bottom of it, fill with dirt, and plant either seeds and/or actual veggie or fruit plants.
Pollen Free Flowers Won't Help Bees
Every year I plant lots of sunflowers for the honeybees as they are declining. Yesterday, I picked up my seeds but didn't notice that they were pollen free. These sunflowers will not help the honey bee or other pollinating insects.
Buy Secondhand Shoes For Gardening
I love to garden and, more often than not, I ruin my shoes when I'm immersed in black dirt. I constantly go outside to garden. Sometimes I'll actually remember to slip on my plastic garden shoes...
Keeping Dogs Out Of Flower Beds
Having four dogs running around my garden, I found that the best way to avoid the trampled plants, bent branches, and other fun stuff that happens in a garden when pets run rampant is to work out where they like to run and make them their own racing track.
Protect Garden Plants With Wire Basket
A wire in-basket (the ones that look like a freezer basket) can work hard outside too. Turn one upside down and place it over young plants to protect them from curious cats and other creatures.
My Frugal Life: Recycling In the Garden
There is nothing better than something cold in the hot weather, and ice cream fills the bill for us! I frequently plant pinto beans in these wonderful containers.
Ornamental kales are said to be the "daffodils and tulips" of the fall garden, and a great way to fill in gaps and brighten up fading flower beds. They laugh in the face of dropping temperatures and frost, in fact, cooler weather only serves to intensify their color.
Craft Project: Useful Items From Tree Limbs
I've had a lot of oleander bushes in the yard for years. I wanted to re-landscape some parts so the bushes had to go. The limbs of this bush are very soft and can be milled into useful items to use around the house and studio.
One of my favorite garden crafts is making homemade plant labels from aluminum cans and wire clothes hangers. Not only are they inexpensive and durable, but these labels are actually attractive and fun to make.
