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Volume 2, Number 28, July 19, 2007 (Read It Online) Thank you to everyone that has sent in pictures from around your garden. It adds a lot of color to this newsletter. If you have a picture to share, submit it here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_photocontest.ldml Thanks for reading, Susan
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Growing Guides:
If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information:
I have a large whiskey barrel planter that has a dinner plate crimson red hibiscus; the plant is about four years old and each year flourishes more and more with the magnificence of the size of the buds and blooms. Of course, there is no fragrance to these blossoms but the brilliance of the color of the blossoms and the size of the blooms is an eye-catcher to everyone that approaches the backyard deck; it sits on the corner of our deck with a birdhouse behind it. I have photographed the different stages of the flower and will hang the 4 x 6 photographs in a place in my home so my guests and family can enjoy the beauty of these blossoms. So my crimson red hibiscus is part of my garden decor and will become a part of my interior decor. By WandaJo from Tennessee
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Rate It: I found this little cutie in my garden last night when I was weeding. So small I almost tossed him. Anyone know what he is? By Tracy from Battle Creek
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Rate It: We put in a river rock feature in our front yard last year; we added to it during the course of the year. The river rock came from my late sister's home in the Ozark Mountains; we added pea gravel around the feature. It has special meaning to me because of all the rock I gathered from my late sister's yard and surrounding area of her home. The fern in the back of the feature was from a cutting that my daughter gave me a few years ago; it has grown very large. There is a birdbath for the birds to splash in, ceramic frogs, a ceramic lizard, a resin frog balancing a gazing ball; there is a bench nearby where my husband and I can enjoy listening to trickling of the water over the rocks and the lights around the feature at night give it a soft glow. By WandaJo from Tennessee Here is Wanda's Water Feature at Christmas:
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Rate It: A new bird in the neighborhood: Rose Breasted Grosbeak. By Peggy from Cortland, OH
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Rate It: I received this mini rose bush from my kids 11-12 years ago. It was in a pot for a while and then I planted it in the yard. It has grown and blooms beautifully in front of my day lilies every year. I've received others and always find a special place for them in the yard. I feed them with coffee grounds and cut up banana peels. Susan from ThriftyFun
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Hanging Planters From Paint Cans If you have empty cans of paint left after a project, don't throw them away! Turn them into hanging planters. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65020980.tip.html
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Rate It: Buy Mulch In Bulk From Landscapers If you have a large area to mulch, check with local landscaping companies about buying mulch in bulk. We did this year for a play area we made for our kids. It was $40 for a bobcat scoop. We got three truckloads, and it made the landscaping project significantly cheaper than if we had hired it out or bought bags of mulch. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97665164.tip.html
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Rate It: Tips For Feeding Birds And Other Wildlife I live in the suburbs with the birds and other wildlife. I feed the animals crushed corn, bird seeds, rabbit food, and give them fresh water daily. I cut the tops from under the handle off of gallon milk jugs and use the bottom half for water bowls and for bird baths. The birds love bathing in them and it is easy to change the water for them. I have also seen the deer drink out of them too. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85789183.tip.html
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Rate It: Don't Over Water Your Indoor Plants You can love your plants to death. Over watering can do them great harm, almost a sure death for them. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf533815.tip.html
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Rate It: When my children were young and still living at home, they made a habit of burning my tea kettles dry. I decided to plant flowers, and/or herbs in them. They look really cute outside or inside! Especially the cow one! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf608001.tip.html
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Rate It: Don't throw away your coffee grounds or egg shells, instead as you turn the potting soil in your house plants, add the grounds and shells for healthier house plants. This can also be used in vegetable gardens for larger crop yields. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf104720.tip.html
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Rate It: Preserving Your Potato Crop
Potatoes are one of the most versatile vegetables around--as well as one of my most favorite! When stored properly, your potato crop will last throughout most of the winter. View This Article: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf001100.tip.html
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Rate It: Advice for removing stumps inexpensively from the ThriftyFun community. Bleach Drill holes in the stumps, then pour bleach in the holes. In time, maybe 6 months to 1 year, the stumps will be really dried out and easy to break up and remove. By Daved Burn It Out My husband uses lighter fluid, and charcoal to burn the stump out of the ground. It will smoulder when in the ground. I guess that's why you use charcoal. By Amanda I've just recently finished removing eighteen stumps by burning with very good results. I used the hole drilling and potassium nitrate (Saltpeter) method. Mix 400 to 500 grams of SP in about 3 to 4 liters of very hot water. Fill the holes in the stump repeatedly until the solution is all used up. This should be left a month or two to dry. The stump should be covered to keep rain out during this period, but air should be able to circulate around the top of the stump. The SP doesn't seem to encourage stump rot, its purpose is to assist the burning. Fill the holes with kerosene or diesel a couple of times and let it soak in for a week or so. You may have to pour a little more kerosene on it to light it but I found it usually lit by laying a bit of burning paper on top of the stump. It will burn with very little flame or smoke. It will burn right down into the roots. A little bit of dirt to fill the hole and grass grows readily on the site.By Richard Use A Circular Saw I use a circular saw set at 15 degrees and keep crisscrossing the stump at the blade depth of three inches and the stump just falls apart in small wood squares. Cover with heavy 6 mil plastic and re-cover with earth. By James Post your own tips below.
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Rate It: Recommendations of good plants for apartments that are easy to keep alive. Chinese Evergreen I have always had luck with the chinese evergreen. It is a variegated leafy, bushy plant and does well, it seems, in any light. I have a brown thumb and I haven't killed one yet! By Sharon Spider Plants Spider plants are always hearty and take little care. I learned early in life that plants do in fact react to music and I used to play music all of the time and if I was gone for a few days and there was no music, they would droop. I would only water once a week or even every other week and they do well unless you have real bad heat. Air conditioning will also affect them if it is too cold. By Tawnda Aloes And Pregnant Plants In addition to Tawnda's suggestion of spider plants, aloe plants are great. Water about once a week, they don't care. There is a great plant called a "pregnant plant". It can take all the neglect you can dish out and will last forever, along with all the "babies". Look at your nursery or local WalMart, K-Mart, etc for succulents. They tend to be able to stand being neglected, will take apartment sunlight in stride and look great for years. There may be certain succulents that are local to your area. Local plants always do the best. By Norma Jade Plants These are available everywhere and are sometimes known as "money" plants because of the coin shaped leaves. They don't need a lot of water and can bounce back from neglect. I found one once that had fallen back behind my table and had been out of it's pot for a few weeks. A little dirt and water, and it was as good as new. The leaves will root in dirt after they fall, so you grow as many as you like. If they are looking leggy, just pinch them back. By Jess Ivy And Palm Plants Ivy and palm plants. just make sure you remember to water your plants before you leave on your 4 day trips! :-) By Ann Lucky Bamboo And Air Ferns Try Lucky bamboo, it can live off of just one inch of water and you only need to add water every 15 days or sooner, depending on how gross the water is and they don't need direct sunlight. You could also try buying air ferns, they don't require any water, sunlight or anything. You can't kill them. Lucky Bamboo should be kept out of direct light. It really likes the shade. By Heather Post your favorite houseplants for an apartment below.
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Rate It: 10 Frugal Garden Tips
Whether you are an avid vegetable gardener, a beginning herb gardener or just like to have a pretty yard, these frugal tips may help you save a little money! View This Article: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf996684.tip.html
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Rate It: Moles don't like Castor oil. Try this solution and be sure to let us know whether it was successful. Ingredients
Directions Pour this solution around the perimeter of you garden or lawn and keep some on hand to pour on mole mounds when they appear. Continue doing this for a month. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf473800.tip.html
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Rate It: Ammonia and Dishsoap to Repel Insects I use lemon scented ammonia mixed with lemon dishsoap and water to keep bugs out of the lawn! The lemon repels the insects! Mix 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup soap and put in hose end sprayer. Fill with water and open valve to spray over your yard! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf865599.tip.html
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Rate It: Spray Cooking Oil on Lawn Mover Blade When you are cutting grass and the grass is damp, try spraying a little cooking spray on the blades of the lawn mower before starting to cut the grass.. It is amazing the grass doesn't stick to the blades and clump up. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf154936.tip.html
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Rate It: If you have ever went out to pick dewberries you know how hard they are to get without getting stuck with all the little prickly vines they grow on. Will finally I have came up with the best idea how to get around this problem... A "long" pair of bbq tongs. And if you are trying to get them through a fence this works great as they won't fall out of the tongs either. Just wanted to share. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf762577.tip.html
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I have 15 inch flower pots. Instead of filling the whole pot with potting soil, is there anything that I can put in the bottom to fill the pot and then put the soil and flowers on top? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47173735.tip.html
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Rate It: What uses can there be for a plastic toilet tank? I just replaced 2 of them, and have 2 spare tanks in perfect exterior condition (the mechanism was faulty). I am looking for ideas to recycle them. I was thinking of using them as planters, but they are quite deep and still have tubes within them, and don't know what kind of plant could benefit from the depth. Are there any other ideas out there? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34677887.tip.html
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Rate It: I am a true novice at gardening, but I planted some sunflowers along my fence (in full sun) and they were really thriving but now there are furry black worms eating the leaves and they are all dying. Does anyone know what this is, and is there anything I can do about it? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19720917.tip.html
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Rate It: Cleaning Spray Paint Off Trees Any advice for cleaning spray paint off trees? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf41670981.tip.html
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Rate It: I have a brother and sister that are getting tomatoes that have a large black soft area on one side of the tomato. What is this and what can they do to prevent this? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10012181.tip.html
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Rate It: I am wondering about the proper technique for pruning my mophead hydrangeas. They have only bloomed once. One was planted by the prior owners of our house and it never bloomed. I planted another close by, which bloomed and then so did the older one! That was two years ago. Since then, I tried pruning one year- resulting in no blooms. This year I did nothing in the lines of pruning and the only flower I got was buried at the very bottom in the back of the plant. Should I be covering the hydrangeas in the winter time or will proper pruning help? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48282295.tip.html
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Rate It: Growing English Laurel From Cuttings I'm trying to propagate English Laurel. I need a super-fast growing hedge for privacy and can't afford to buy the plants. But I DO have access to cuttings. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92712141.tip.html
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Rate It: My tomato plant has lots of flowers but only three tomatoes. It's about 4 feet tall and in a pot we planted the beginning of June. Am I being impatient or doing something wrong? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44090078.tip.html
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Rate It: My hibiscus leaves are getting dark blotch-like discolorations beginning on the undersides of the leaves, then turn yellow. What is this from, and how can I correct it? It's in a pot outside that drains well, and in full sun with quite a few beautiful blooms. It is also well watered. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97771335.tip.html
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Rate It: How To Make A Bleach Bottle Birdhouse Does anyone know how to make a bleach bottle birdhouse with mortar and rocks on the outside? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37057673.tip.html
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Rate It: Product: Patch Perfect Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73965076.tip.html
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Rate It: Bird Feed Mix With Seeds, Nuts And Fruit? I have 3 bird feeders in my garden, the birds go through the seed very quickly. Does anyone have a mix of seed that they make from bulk seeds and nut and dried fruit. We get woodpeckers, finches, songbirds, blue jays and cardinals Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60312522.tip.html
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Rate It: Preventing English Ivy From Climbing On Trees I have read all the info on getting rid of English ivy and the salt, vinegar and soap sound good. My problem is, is that I can get rid of the ivy surrounding my fence but beyond my fence is what is called "common ground" between my house and the house below me and there is a lot of common ground that is completely full of the ivy. Since it is common ground, no one wants to take care of it but it is in my view. What do I do with that much ivy so that it doesn't keep coming onto my property? Do I spray the whole thing or just spray what is surrounding my house? I have a beautiful view of the mountains beyond the common ground but the ivy keeps climbing up the trees and hangs from tree limb to limb and looks terrible. Do I just spray the salt/vinegar solution around the trees so the ivy doesn't grow there anymore or will it hurt the trees (these are big trees) What do I do? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45445459.tip.html
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Rate It: Keep Tomato Hornworms Off Your Tomatoes How do I get rid of tomato worms? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61996472.tip.html
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Rate It: Growing Hydrangea from a Cutting or Slip How do you grow a hydrangea from cuttings? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf162210.tip.html
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Rate It: Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here
If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information:
Growing: Marigolds
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Rate It: Growing: Torenia (Bluewings, Wishbone Flower)
Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36525804.tip.html
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Rate It: Growing: Wax Begonia
Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22197431.tip.html
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