Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 196 August 13 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Today we are publishing more Gardening Q and A with answers by Ellen Brown, our Gardening and Green Living expert. If you have any Gardening or Green living questions, feel free to submit them here:
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Also, if you have any photos of your garden that you would like to share, please submit them to the photo contest here:
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Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
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Today's Photos
Wedding Programs and Basket
This picture is of a basket that was made by my mother in-law for my daughter's wedding. The wedding programs that you see sitting in the basket were designed by my son in-law on his computer. We then went to Staples and bought some good quality paper and ran them off ourselves at a family member's real estate college. There was no cost whatsoever for the printing and the paper was not expensive. The total cost of the programs was less than $50 for 600 programs.
By Robin
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My New Friends - Brie and Tissy
This is my new cat is Brie. The next photo is Brie and Tissy. Brie is about 10 months and Tissy about 5 years.
I had major fire this February. My husband, my friend, my four cats, her dog and 2 cats and everything I owned perished in the fire. I was the only survivor.
So these are my new friends and the only sign of life I have around my apartment. That's why they are special to me. In the second picture you can kind of see me snapping the picture. I'm no expert taking pictures.
Nicole
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Mocha (Mixed Breed)
My pet's name is Mocha. She is a 6 month old mixed breed. I got my pet when a man came to my job at a gate house and said he was going to put her to sleep. So I took her. My dog likes to play a lot by chewing on her bones and my other pomeranian. She also jumps a lot around the house and looks like a jumping bean most of the time.
By Caridad Herrero
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Today's Tips
Small Bugs on Houseplants
Q: My boss took care of my houseplants while I was on vacation this summer. Now that I am back I see tiny little bugs crawling around on the leaves which are already peppered with brown spots from the bugs eating them. I have never had bugs on my plants before!
The bugs are tiny, about 1/32 inch or even smaller, and resemble a speck of dirt until you see them move. They do not fly that I have seen, only crawl around. They seem to prefer spider plants and do not care for African violets or my mini rose bush at all. But I have seem them on my prayer plants and my pothos.
Can you please tell me the best way to get rid of these awful things? I really do not want to lose all of my beautiful plants.
Mommyrabbit
A: Mommyrabbit,
vIt sounds like you're describing an infestation of Aphids-especially if you're seeing a honeydew or sticky mold-type of substance on the leaves. Here some strategies for getting rid of them:
Physically Remove Them: Dislodge them with a blast of water from your kitchen sink sprayer or garden hose or try sucking them up with a hand-held vacuum.
Dry Them Out: Gently apply rubbing alcohol to leaves using a cotton ball or spray leaves with a mixture containing a few drops of Ivory dish soap and 1 quart of water.
Smother Them: Mix few drops of cooking oil in with Ivory dish soap and water and apply to leaves with a spray bottle.
Keep in mind that anything you apply to the leaves of your plants (organic or commercial) can burn the leaves and kill off beneficial insects. To minimize this, rinse the leaves with water a few house after application. Don't forget to treat the underside of your plant's leaves-a favorite spot for Aphids to hide-out and multiply.
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Inspect Your Gutters
Spring (and summer) is a good time of year to check your gutters. If you are in an area with snow, sometimes the weight of the snow can pull your gutters away from the fascia of your house. Nail any droopy gutters back to the fascia. The next time you get a good rain, make sure the gutters are draining correctly and that water is being channelled 3 to 4 feet from your house.
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Growing Hydrangea from a Cutting or Slip
Q: I hav e a friend who has a beautiful Blue Hydrangea. Last year I had a bloom cut from it and tried to get it to root but it did not take. Any advice on how to get this to grow for me?
Thanks.
Leona from Newfoundland
A: Leona,
There are two easy ways to propagate Hydrangeas from cuttings. Try both methods at the same time and one is bound to work for you. The first is to root it in a vase of water. Although this sounds easy in theory, it's unsuccessful a large percent of the time. Just stick the bloom in a vase of water and wait for roots to appear. Keep the water fresh and make sure to remove any leaves below the water's surface.
A second way is to root the cuttings in a growing medium. Start with a 5-6 inch branch-one that hasn't bloomed this year. Remove the bottom 2 leaves from their leaf nodes (the point where they attach to the branch). With a scissors, cut the largest of the remaining leaves down to half their size. Insert the cutting into a damp growing medium (vermiculite works well). You can dip the cutting in a root hormone before potting it, but it's not necessary. Water it thoroughly, making sure you have ample drainage, and cover it with plastic. If possible, prop up the plastic with sticks to keep it from touching the leaves. Place the pot in bright light-avoiding direct sunlight. Let the soil start to dry out before watering again. In 2-3 weeks give the cutting a gentle tug and if you feel a little resistance, you have roots.
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Getting Rid of Bamboo
Q: Does vinegar really kill bamboo? We've cut it down, gut out lots of roots, sprayed with roundup and week whacked, and mowed daily but it keeps growing. What can I use? Where I can I purchases 20-30% vinegar?
Mer serkel
A: Mer serkel,
I'm assuming your trying to rid yourself of Japanese Stilt Grass, also sometimes referred to as Bamboo. Perseverance is a necessary virtue when it comes to eradicating this prolific invader. The seeds from this grass can remain viable for up to 7 years, so the key is to stay on top of it and keep it from setting more seed (usually in September). Try spraying an "over the top" mixture of 1 cup salt, 1 gallon of vinegar and 1 tsp of Ivory dish soap (to get it to stick). This mixture is non-selective and can kill other plants and grasses, so apply it with care. Don't expect to see any changes for at least 24 hours, maybe even several days. Be patient. If you can't find 20-30% acid vinegar at a local feed store, you can strengthen regular 5% vinegar (the kind sold at grocery stores) by boiling it down to half its original volume. An effective commercial alternative is Ornamec-a herbicide available at many hardware and garden centers.
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Is Dog Poop Bad For a Vegetable Garden?
Q: I know that cat urine can burn up a lot of plants. I have a problem with dog dung in my vegetable garden. Does anyone know if this will hurt the plants?
BJ, KY
A: BJ,
Although dog and cat manure both contain organic nutrients useful to plants, neither is safe to use in soil containing food crops. Both contain parasitic pathogens that are harmful to human health. Dog manure can contain the eggs of Toxocara canis (the common large roundworm), which can also infect humans. It's estimated that 90% of young puppies are infected with this worm-many are born infected-and up to 50% of all adult dogs. The eggs can be transferred to the human mouth by a person's fingers or from foods that have been in contact with dog feces. Toxocara eggs can remain viable in the soil for up to 10 years depending on environmental conditions. Because no information is known on the effects hot composting has on Toxocara eggs, it also unsafe to add dog manure to compost heaps intended for food crops. If you have a dog feces problem in your garden, remove the feces and take care to use good hygiene practices (thoroughly washing hands and vegetables) to avoid possible contamination.
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Contest ends August 31, 2005
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New Requests
Removing Drain After Cross Breaks Off
How do you remove a drain after the cross (inside) breaks off, and the drain is smooth. I read about something called the Golden Extractor, but I have not been able to find a tool.
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What Colors Go With Sage?
I have a cotton sage duvet cover and shams. They are solid sage. I got them cheap and wanted to dress it up a little bit with other colors. What other colors go good with sage on a bed?
Thanks,
Geordan
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Removing Gasoline from Car Carpet
I spilled gasoline from a 5 gallon container in the back of my mini-van on the carpet and now cannot remove the smell. I tried suctioning it out with a steam cleaner and then cleaning it with steam cleaner odor remover and cleanser, but the smell is still so strong it's nauseating. Please help.
Dot DiGirolamo
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Boy Dressed as a Crow Painting
I saw a print of a painting (a contemporary one that looks almost photographic) about 10 years ago at a market stall selling framed prints. It has a boy dressed as a crow (you see him from behind) running down the street with crow birds on either side of him. I can't remember the title or artist and I'm having a hard time finding it on the internet or in stores (not at the market dealer anymore either.) Does anyone know any information on this?
Thank you.
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How do you make loud shoes quiet?
This site is great! I have mid-heel shoes with a chunky heel that makes a loud clunk when I walk on hard floors. Is there a way to quiet them down? I tried putting layers of masking tape on the bottom of the heel, but it made the shoes slippery and the tape wore off pretty quickly.
Maxine
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What kind of vinegar for dandruff?
I have a dry flaky scalp even after I wash it with Shampoo and conditioner. A lot of people here suggest vinegar. But I was wondering what kind of vinegar? There's apple cider vinegar and white vinegar. How should I use it?
Thanks,
Anna
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Lawnmower - Cord Won't Retract
I have a Snapper riding lawnmower. The cord is pulled out and won't retract. Any help would be appreciated.
sd10161951
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Canning Pimiento Peppers
How do I prepare pimiento pepper's from the garden? I would like to have them like Dromedary canned.
Faye from Arkansas
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Dawn
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