Happy Garden - October 1, 2009

Vol. 4, Num. 40, October 1, 2009 (Read It Online) The year and our gardens are winding down as fall weather starts in earnest. If you have any seasonal tips or photos, please submit them for a future newsletter. Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team Send to a Friend! Submit Your Gardening Tips Submit Photos of Your Garden Submit a Gardening Request Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Photos: Beautiful Fall Leaves Garden: Toilet Planter Tips and Articles: Hardy Kiwi 'Michigan State' Use Old Panty Hose to Tie Up Plants Garden Safety Tips Use Vaseline on Birdfeeder to Keep Ants Away New Requests: Killing Tree Stumps Information About Seven Sisters Roses Rooting A Yellow Bell Bush Getting Rid of Fleas in the Car Anthurium Blooms Turning Brown Growing Summer Vegetables in the Winter Leaves Dying on an Avocado Plant Getting Rid of Squirrels Harvesting Sunflower Plants and Seeds Natural Repellent for Lizards Homemade Hummingbird Feeders Chrysanthemum Cuttings Storing Worm Compost Tea Today's Sponsor: Crafting for Fun and Money! 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: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml Photos: Beautiful Fall Leaves I was volunteering on Fort Eustis base in Yorktown, VA where I am staying. While walking between buildings, I spotted this wonderful little leaf. It seems to scream "I am still green inside!" The colors are amazing, and the center is almost perfectly symmetric, but as nature would have it, not quite. I rather like it better this way. I thought you might all enjoy this wonderful little "ode to late summer". N-JOY! By Poor But Proud from Yorktown, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62098565.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Garden: Toilet Planter This is a picture of a commode that I use as a planter with lovely impatiens planted in it. I think it's very pretty! The commode was about to be thrown away so my husband got it for free from the literacy council here in town. They had just had some remodeling done and were happy to get it out of their way. By Kflawson from Bolivar, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34031043.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Tips and Articles: Hardy Kiwi 'Michigan State' Actinidia arguta 'Michigan State' I just discovered that there are kiwi vines that are now available for zone 3-9, so they are very hardy! I did find that they need a male kiwi plant to be with up to 8 other female kiwis. However, they say that in 2-4 years, I'll start getting 100 lbs. of kiwis for each female plant! Some guy last year told me that the females are called Annie, and the male plants are called Andy, lol. My friend and I are going to buy together that we can get less cost for each of the vines. And I still wonder how to know if it's a male or a female kiwi, do they have to peek in their underwear? ;) Source: http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/49171/ I found this one, but, I'm going to keep looking for better prices still. By kas2 from Grand Rapids, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70779462.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Use Old Panty Hose to Tie Up Plants When you're gardening and you have vegetables that vine, you can get some wooden stakes (or make a trellis) and take your old pantyhose that you can't use anymore and tie the vines off the ground. Pantyhose won't bruise your fruit and the fruit won't ground rot, because it's not on the ground. Hope this helps. By Beverly from Havana, Arkansas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf925826.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Garden Safety Tips By Ellen Brown Gardening may seem like a low-key leisure activity, but it involves a lot of tools and at times, a lot of physical effort. Each year hundreds of thousands of people visit the emergency room for gardening related injuries. Don't be one of them. Here are some tips to keep yourself safe and injury-free while working in your yard and garden. Avoid Over-Exposure (Sun and Heat) On hot, sunny days, try not to work in the yard and garden during the hottest parts of the day (10 am to 2 pm). Instead, work in the yard and garden during the early morning and early evening hours. Follow the sun. Plan your garden chores so that you're always working in a shady part of the yard. This may mean splitting up tasks so that you're working on them in several sessions, but for shorter periods of time. Cover yourself. Long sleeves and pants in a lightweight cotton are not as hot as a sun burn. Don't forget the wide-brimmed hat and gloves. If you must wear shorts and short sleeves, cover exposed skin with sunscreen in the highest SPF you can find. Take frequent water breaks to keep yourself hydrated. Pay attention to signs of overheating like nausea, dizziness, headaches, or high body temperature. Reduce Muscle Fatigue Warm up. Do some simple stretching exercises to warm up your muscles before starting a physical task. If you have knee, hip or back pain, use a bench or bucket to sit on while weeding. Don't lift heavy items like concrete blocks, large potted plants, or bags of soil by yourself. If lifting something alone is necessary, use a dolly or wheelbarrow to move heavy loads, and make sure you bend from your knees and hips, not your waist. While doing repetitive tasks like weeding and raking, spread it out over several days if possible. Then take frequent breaks and change your hand and body position often. Use ergonomic hand tools that are easy to grasp and designed to put less stress on muscles and joints. Precautions for Mowers, Trimmers, Chippers, and Other Power Tools Know how to operate all of your equipment before using itóespecially how to shut it off in an emergency. Never remove or disable safety guards or devices on your equipment. Before you mow, free the yard of sticks, rocks, nails, wire, and other debris that can be ìthrownî by your mower. Always keep children and pets well away from mowers, trimmers, chippers, and other power equipment. Never allow them to ride along as a passenger on riding mowers. Always keep your feet, hands, and other body parts away from the moving parts when your equipment is running. Never attempt to make adjustments or free jams while the motor is running. When mowing and trimming, protect your legs with long pants and wear shoes with nonskid soles that completely cover your feet. Don't use mowers, trimmers, or other power tools at night, during bad weather, in the dark, or when the grass is wet. Be aware of your surroundings. Don't assume children or pets are going to stay where you last saw them. To protect against electrical shock, use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), and always make sure extension cords are in good condition and rated for outdoor use. Store gasoline in approved containers, and wipe spills up quickly. Never smoke around gasoline or fill up your gas tank while the engine is running. Properly clean and service your equipment so that it is in good working condition when you want to use it. Prevent Falls Avoid carrying heavy loads or operating power equipment while walking on uneven or slippery surfaces. Install railings or extra lighting in areas where surface levels abruptly change like slopes and steps. Store hoses and ladders properly after use to avoid tripping over them. Rakes should be stored upright or laid on the ground with tines facing down. Always use the right ladder for the job. Place ladders on flat even surfaces and never on top of another object. Don't climb higher than the second rung from the top on stepladders or the third rung from the top on straight or extension ladders. Handle Poisons Carefully Before buying chemicals, think about whether or not there is another (chemical-free) way to accomplish the same task. Keep chemicals in their original containers and properly dated and labeled. When it's time to dispose of them, take them to the nearest household hazardous waste drop-off site for proper disposal. Always keep the phone number of the poison control center handy. In an emergency, look on the container for medical information and first air instructions. Always store chemicals according to manufacturer instruction, in a secured area that is inaccessible to children and pets and away from food products. Use according to label directions. Use in a well-ventilated area while wearing gloves and eye protection. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling dangerous fumes. Don't use chemicals near children or pets. After use, wash your hands and clothing immediately. Never pour chemicals down storm drains, household drains, or in toilets where may end up in the local water supply. Avoid Insect Bites and Stings Wear neutral colored (not bright) clothing while working in the yard and garden. Avoid wearing perfumes, colognes, and strong-scented soaps and shampoos while working in the garden, and avoid mowing lawns or working with flowering ornamentals when bees and wasps are collecting nectar. Don't walk barefoot in the yard. Keep soft drinks and fruit covered while outdoors. Pick fruit as it ripens and dispose of rotten fruits. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85257847.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Use Vaseline on Birdfeeder to Keep Ants Away To keep the ants out of the hummingbird feeders, apply Vaseline or stiff hair jell to the hanger or wire of the feeder. The ants can go as far as the jell then they can't go further to get in the feeder. By Jacque Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18644021.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Contest! Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! The above contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners, 2 photo winners (1 photo and 1 pet photo) and 1 recipe winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! New Requests: Killing Tree Stumps How to kill tree stump for good? By Roodie from Houston, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16985955.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Information About Seven Sisters Roses When is the best time to plant a potted Seven Sisters rose plant in my area? Hardiness Zone: 5a By Suekue from Waldo, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63069879.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Rooting A Yellow Bell Bush When do you re-root a yellow bell bush? Hardiness Zone: 6a By Lynn37643 from Elizabethton, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77741019.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Rid of Fleas in the Car What is the best way to kill fleas in my car? By Dave Evans from UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf30468404.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Anthurium Blooms Turning Brown Your responses to a previous question about another plant I have helped greatly. Thank you. Now I just became a little adventurous and bought an Anthurium from the Araceae family. I got it at Walmart and it looked absolutely healthy. Now 2 weeks later the white blooms are brown as you can see from the picture and the others are turning brown. What am I doing wrong? I have a light approximately 24 inches away from it during the day, because I get absolutely no sunlight, as I'm between buildings. Thanks again for any information you can give me about this plant. Thank you. Hoping to be a little green in NYC. By Loyda from New York, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65910013.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Growing Summer Vegetables in the Winter This summer I didn't get a lot out of my garden due to all the wet weather and me having surgery. I am wondering if I can raise summer food in a greenhouse? Or does it have to be winter vegetables? I'd like to have more tomatoes, peppers, onions, etc. through the winter without having to pay a fortune for them in a grocery store. Maybe it needs some solar heat? Does anyone know how to set up solar heat? The greenhouse I'm talking about isn't anything fancy, just a few boards and plastic. The idea here is to save money not waste it. Thank you. Hardiness Zone: 7b By Fritzbaby2000 from Havana, AR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf12276309.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Leaves Dying on an Avocado Plant Please help me I am in desperate need of assistance. I live in East Lansing, Michigan and have been growing an indoor Avocado plant since this summer. Everything seemed to be going very well until recently. Firstly, let me say that I do not know the type of seed nor have I ever pruned my tree (I don't know how to or if I should). Right now, my plant is a little taller than 1 foot. It is pretty straight up (spindly) and gets a good amount of sunlight. Here is the problem: recently, I have noticed that almost all of the leaves have fallen off. There are still a few leaves at the top and there even appears to be new leaves sprouting from the very top. Some of the larger leaves literally fell off at the slightest touch. Is this simply a natural phase my plant is going through or are there any measures I should be taking to improve my plant's health. I would be really upset if it died and would really appreciate any help you can provide. I do not give it plant food, but I do have it planted in potting soil containing time release plant food. How often should I completely change all the soil and how do I do that without damaging the tree? So, in sum, why is my plant so ugly (for lack of a better word)? why are all the leaves falling off? What kind of soil and/or plant food would you recommend? Should I change the soil? If so, how do I do it? And finally, should I prune it? If so, how do I do it? Please help. Hardiness Zone: 6a By attys from East Lansing, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20872697.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Rid of Squirrels How do I get rid of squirrels? By chicken42 from Philadelphia, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf424589.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Harvesting Sunflower Plants and Seeds How do you harvest sunflower plants and seeds? Hardiness Zone: 8b By brenda53 from TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34930322.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Natural Repellent for Lizards We have too many lizards that somehow get in the lanai through crevices we have yet to find. Is there anything natural that will repel them? I am sick of cleaning up after pets I never wanted, it's gross. By Tibeka from Englewood, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74919577.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Homemade Hummingbird Feeders I have seen hummingbird feeders made from 2 litre pop bottles. Does anyone know how it is done? By winger298 from La Fayette, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14702085.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Chrysanthemum Cuttings I have just had 12 chrysanthemum stools given me and I would like to know how to look after them through the winter. Many thanks. Clive Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60469104.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Storing Worm Compost Tea Can worm tea from a worm composter be stored? Hardiness Zone: 7a By mbjeanne from Bourne, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23248647.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit your request here: Click Here Today's Sponsor: Crafting for Fun and Money! 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: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml More Stuff Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users. Submit a Request... Frugal solutions to everyday problems.

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