Happy Garden - May 14, 2009

Vol. 4, Num. 19, May 14, 2009 (Read It Online) We hope everyone is having success in their gardens. We would love to see pictures of what you are growing. Feel free to share your gardening tips and photos on one of the contest pages. This week we have lots of tips from readers and a new article by Ellen Brown about Planning Your Vegetable Garden. Starting this week, contest winners are now picked by the ThriftyFun Community. The tips that get the most "Thumbs Up" ratings will win their respective categories. Since tips are published on different days of the week, we will use a 10 day total to pick the winners. The contest includes tips published from Saturday to Friday. We have marked the tips in this newsletter that are contest contenders, please take a moment to give a "Thumbs Up" to the tips and photos that you like the best! 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: Painted Pots Wildlife: Purple Martin Photo Craft Project: Recycled Wind Chimes Tips and Articles: The First Steps to Planning Your Vegetable Garden Ask a Master Gardener Use Red Balls To Deter Birds From Tomatoes Protect Seedlings From Birds Make Tobacco Spray for Insect Pests Oil Absorbent for Fertilizer Making Planters from Plastic Trash Cans Shredded Paper to Deter Birds in the Garden Test Your Vegetable Garden Soil Don't Use Plastic Net Bags for Wild Bird Feed New Requests: Making Soil Acidic for Tomato Plants Bees Drilling Into a Wooden Porch Getting Rid of Crab Grass Getting Rid of Ticks - Our Yard Is Infested With Ticks Getting Rid of Ground Ivy Caring for a Crab Apple Tree Something is Eating the Leaves on Canna Lilies Getting Rid of Baby Oak Trees Something Eating Leaves on Bing Cherry Tree Getting Rid of Poison Ivy 2 Litre Bottle Hanging Tomato Planter Brown Spots on Tomato Leaves Homemade Compost Bin Sweet Gum Tree Losing Leaves Possums In My House Make Your Cut Flowers Last Longer Getting Rid of Mare's Tail Weed Raising Chickens Saving Plants Through The Winter Worms Eating Cherry Tree Leaves Fruit Trees and Pollination Zinnias Being Eaten Starting a Vegetable Garden Planting Dwarf Fruit Trees in Pots 16 HP Briggs and Stratton Engine Won't Start Planting Asparagus Spiders on My Front Porch Tomato Plants With Yellow Leaves 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: Painted Pots Some old and a couple new Terra Cotta pots. One day I didn't have much to do so for a craft and make my pots look good, I put on some paint to dress up my outdoor plants and sense then moved them to my porch ledge. It was a fun idea and Terra Cotta pots are cheap. I used outdoor craft paint, and 2 coats of outdoor craft varnish. By Sherry Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65881401.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Wildlife: Purple Martin Photo This glass bird house was supposed to be a decoration, but this purple martin thought it looked good enough for a home. By Beth from Ft. Blackmore, VA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37617676.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Craft Project: Recycled Wind Chimes Use up your old scrap pieces of wood and clay pots to create this summer wind chime to enjoy. I used a Sailboat theme with an old scrap piece of wood, little clay pots, white nylon cording for strings and added big washers for the chimes. Hand paint a theme of your choice. Drill a few holes in the wood for hanging at the top. Add your clay pots and washers and you're all set to enjoy both the visual beauty and sounds this wind chime will make. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26517135.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Tips and Articles: The First Steps to Planning Your Vegetable Garden Some people have labeled them victory gardens. Others call them recession gardens, crisis gardens--even survival gardens. No matter what you call them, industry surveys are showing a double digit increase in the number of folks starting vegetable gardens this year. If you want to jump into the wonderful world of gardening, it's not too late. There is no better way to increase your health while stretching your food budget dollars! Here are a few important first steps to getting started. Find Your Hardiness Zone Finding your USDA Hardiness Zone is a key first step to planning a successful garden. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map is divided into 11 different zones based on the average coldest temperatures for each region. When shopping seed catalogs and reading plant labels, hardiness zones are listed to help you avoid planting flowers and vegetables that can't manage your region's temperatures. You can find your USDA plant hardiness zone here: http://tiny.cc/HardinessZones Know Your Frost Dates Knowing your last average frost date (in the spring) and first average frost date (in the fall) is vital to when it comes to planting and harvesting your vegetables. Nearly all vegetables succumb to frost, so knowing when it's safe to plant and when to provide plants with frost protection are important. Every vegetable variety needs a certain number of days in a growing season to reach maturity. The number of days between your first and late frost is the approximate number of days in your growing season. Visit the National Climatic Data Center to find the freeze/frost probability tables for your state. http://tiny.cc/frostdates Choose Your Crops Once you know your hardiness zones and first and last frost dates, you're ready to think about what kinds of vegetables you want to grow. To help you decide, answer the following questions: What do I like to eat? What does my family like to eat? Which vegetables are the most expensive to buy? Which vegetables are the most nutritious? What is my gardening skill level? Do I plan to preserve vegetables over the winter? The following crops are considered some of the easiest to grow for first time gardeners: Tomatoes Green beans Peas Cucumbers Squash Carrots Beets Radishes Peppers Salad greens Herbs (parsley, basil, and chives) All of these crops can be grown from seed, which is the most cost-effective way to garden. If you're in a cooler zone, you may want to get a jump on the growing season by buying seedlings from nurseries or garden centers that can be transplanted. Select a Site Now that you have decided what to grow, you need to decide where to grow it. Do you want to grow your vegetables in containers on the patio, build some raised beds, or break ground on your first garden plot? Whatever you decide, it's always a good idea to start small. As you gain skills and confidence you can continue to expand your garden. Most vegetables need a minimum of 6-8 continuous hours of sun per day. The site should be somewhat protected from wind, and offer good drainage. You'll want to plant taller crops on the north and west sides of your site to avoid shading your shorter crops. Sketching your plans on graph paper may be helpful at this stage in your planning. Gather Some Tools You don't need more than a few simple tools to get your garden started. Garden shovel/spade: digging, turning over soil, and cutting sod. Hoe: weeding and aerating the soil. Metal rake: smoothing and leveling soil. Trowel: spot weeding and planting seedlings, container gardening. Twine and wooden stakes: marking and laying out rows in garden beds. Buying brand new quality tools is a bit of an investment. Good tools stand the test of time, and you can usually save yourself a lot of money by picking them up at auction sales and flea markets. Get a Soil Test! To grow vegetables, garden soil needs to be loose and crumbly to a depth of at least 12-18 inches. It should contain plenty of organic matter, provide good drainage, have pH levels in the 6.2-7.0 range, and be safe for planting edible crops (low in heavy metals). To find out what your soil does and doesn't contain, contact your local county extension agency about information on obtaining a soil test. They will give you instructions on how to collect soil samples (it's easy!) and where you can send the sample for analysis. You'll save yourself a lot of time and frustration if you do this before you plant your first seed. It takes 2-3 weeks (and around $15) to get detailed results on what, if anything, you need to add to your soil to have a successful garden. Good luck! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79900295.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Ask a Master Gardener Ever wonder what you should plant? For free answers from experts about what grows best in your area, and for questions about insects and garden pests, ask a Master Gardner. They offer their advice free at most Farmers' Markets and also online. Master Gardeners are trained for free at most universities and in return they are required to offer their advice to the local community. Besides local farmers markets you can also get in touch with them by searching the words "Master Gardeners" then adding your State. For example "Master Gardeners Minnesota" or "Master Gardeners University of Washington". You can then connect to a Master Gardner Forum in your area. If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardner contact the University closest to you. Master Gardeners are some of the most helpful and friendliest people around. They have a booth at the Saturday Market that I sell at. By Cyinda from near Seattle Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34812672.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Use Red Balls To Deter Birds From Tomatoes Birds had always beaten me to my ripe tomatoes, forcing me to pick them green. I found a simple yet effective solution; light-weight, red, plastic balls! When a tomato begins to ripen, hang a red ball directly on the plant next to it (it needs to be very light weight). The bird will peck at the bright red ball instead of the tomato. When you pick the tomato, move the red ball near the next tomato to be picked. If you have a hard time finding the red balls, go to www.materballs.com By rexter from Canyon Lake, TX Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78671723.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Protect Seedlings From Birds Anxious to get our tomato seedlings into the ground, I thought of a way to protect the cute little plants from birds. Grab an old metal cloths hanger by the hook end with one hand and grab the middle of the longer (bottom) part of the hanger with the other hand. Pull with both hands to stretch the hanger so it kind of looks like a big, very odd looking bubble blowing wand. Straighten the hook end out, as it will end up being the post you stick in the ground near the plant. If you like, you can use several "hanger" supports , 8 to 12 inches apart, per plant. After sticking the post end in the ground, place a piece of bird netting over the top of the newly created support, assuring the netting is touching the ground, by at least 6 inches (more is better) on each side. Tie several pieces of yarn, string or plastic ties to secure the netting to the top of the "hanger" support. You can secure netting to the ground by making "U-shaped" wires from another cloths hanger to push through netting holes, into the ground. Or you could weight down the netting to keep it from blowing in the wind. You can make row covers as well, by using one long piece of netting and strategically placing "hanger" supports in the row. Tie the netting to the top of each support. When the seedlings become large enough for self-protection from the birds, you can remove the netting. You can save your newly created "hanger" supports for other years. You can tie the hanger supports together, as they will stay better while in storage. It's an inexpensive and easy way to help your seedlings survive. I can't wait to pick that first juicy tomato, can you? And the birds can't wait to pluck those cute little tender seedlings out of the ground. We'll see who wins, as this is the first time I've tried this project. I really think it will work, don't you? By Susan from Clinton, TN Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95787230.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Make Tobacco Spray for Insect Pests We all know the risks of nicotine by smoking, but the same is true for bugs by eating. Rid your garden of pests by way of nicotine. Get a can of chewing tobacco, flavored or not color. Strain through a coffee filter. Pour into spray bottle 50/50 with water. Spray on leaves. Reapply after rain or watering, that washes the spray off the leaves. By Julesthered from Yakima, WA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36198968.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Oil Absorbent for Fertilizer Here's a great tip for you gardeners. You can buy a large bag (approx. 20lbs) of oil absorbent from your local auto parts store for less than ten dollars, and it has multiple benefits. It also acts as a great fertilizer; says so right on the bag. My Japanese Red Maple loves lots of fertilizer, so if you have one that is not flourishing with a good rich color, give it more fertilizer. Triple 13 works well also. But, with the oil absorbent you get the extra benefit of drying up spills and oil leaks, as well as the added benefit of fertilizing your rose bushes, trees,shrubs, and of course the Japanese Red Maple. Happy gardening. By Clarcov08 from Memphis, TN Editor's Note: Make sure that you get the type of oil absorbent that is OK to use as a fertilizer. Most are made with wood chips or some other natural material. Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77848385.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Making Planters from Plastic Trash Cans When the city converted to robot trash and recycle pick-up, I had five extra 32 gallon Rubbermaid trash cans. I have limited space for gardening, so I cut the bottom half of the trash cans off, drilled three holes (about 3/4 inch) on the bottom of the sides for drainage. I am now growing veggies in the large containers I created. Now I have five top halves left over. Two of them I have started two compost piles (with lids) at the back of my yard. I turn the compost by simply picking up the plastic trash can upper, setting it down next to the pile, and forking the compost into it. I can turn the pile regularly with ease. If you want to dress them up, you or your artistic kids (or grand-kids) can use some of that new Krylon spray paint that sticks to plastic. Perhaps camouflage them to blend in with the background. Use your imagination. By Cebtoo from San Antonio, TX Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84783251.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Shredded Paper to Deter Birds in the Garden To stop the birds eating my newly sown seeds, I cover them with a small amount of paper from my shredder. I also use this shredded paper in the strawberry patch to keep them off the ground and as mulch where ever it is needed. By Gwen from Tasmania, Australia Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19340363.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Test Your Vegetable Garden Soil Check with your local university extension service; they should be able to do this for you at minimal cost. Follow the instructions on their form carefully. This usually involves digging more than 6 inches deep in several spots, mixing the soil together, letting it dry, and then mailing it along with a form they provide. There may be a small fee for this service (it cost me $12). They will test the soil and create a report telling you what type of soil amendments you need to grow vegetables, but even more important, if there is too much lead in your soil to even make vegetable growing safe (and if your children may need to be tested). Much to our surprise, our soil has quite a high percentage of lead, so we are growing flowers in that bed (covered with mulch, per their instructions) and growing veggies in containers instead. For such a small fee, we found this information to be priceless. By Natasha L. from Boston Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf13084830.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Don't Use Plastic Net Bags for Wild Bird Feed Please do not reuse the plastic onion/vegetable bags for the wild birds. I had used the bags for well over five years without a problem. It took one incident to change my mind about using these bags. On a cold winter day, a bird had its' leg tangled in the netting and could not get loose. It was a horrible sight to see and hear. Luckily, I was home and able to cut the netting to release the bird. It was so stressful for the bird, and also for me. Fortunately, it happened in an area that I was able to reach. We had several bags filled with suet high on tree branches that my husband hung and it would have been impossible for me to reach. If I was not home to free the bird, it would have died from the cold or exhaustion, and its' leg would have definitely been broken since it was twisting and turning to free itself. I see this idea used very often and I hope everyone reconsiders using these netted bags to feed the birds. It only happened once to me and after that incident, I would not ever want to take that chance again. Use the wired cages to feed the birds. I have purchased them in dollar discount stores at times, and at the end of season in clearance at a reasonable price. Even at the full price, it is well worth the purchase since they do last a very long time. The plastic netted bags can be reused for other ideas. You can ball them up and use for a scrubby or use them when you shop for your produce. I like to use the larger bags for what I call "throw-away" rags. I save old worn out articles of clothing that I cut into various sizes. I hang it so it is easy to find. When anyone has a messy clean up, and the rags are too dirty/greasy to wash, they use the "rag bag" and throw the rags away. By mkymlp from PA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92261528.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: Making Soil Acidic for Tomato Plants I have heard that tomato plants like an acidic soil. Is this right and if so how do I obtain this? Thanks. By ywilma from Rose City, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61321336.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Bees Drilling Into a Wooden Porch I have some bees on my front porch that drill holes in the wood overhead that holds the porch cover. The holes are perfectly round and deep, they leave saw dust all over from their drilling. Does anyone know what kind of bee this is, or how to get rid of it? By patt2tz from TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91498495.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Rid of Crab Grass My yard is full of crab grass. How can I get rid of it? Thanks. Hardiness Zone: 4a By skkr from WY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57039875.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Rid of Ticks - Our Yard Is Infested With Ticks I live in Kansas and I am having a terrible problem with ticks in my yard. I live right next to a weed and tree infested lot, out in the country. We have a dying pine tree that needs to be removed this summer. Are ticks attracted to this as well? What is the best way to treat the yard? By Sunnie from Wichita, KS Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf517031.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Rid of Ground Ivy How do I get rid of ground ivy without killing everything else? I really don't want a bare spot in my yard as my yard is beautiful, except I don't want this ground ivy to take over. Hardiness Zone: 6a By Poohcorner from Clarksburg, WV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf168612.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Caring for a Crab Apple Tree My husband and I just moved into our new house and there is a beautiful crab apple tree in our front yard. Does anyone have any helpful info about the tree and apples? Any information about maintenance or what to use the crab apples for? By kgsmith830 Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97540388.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Something is Eating the Leaves on Canna Lilies I have a few canna lily plants. They are developing holes in the leaves. What type of bug would do this? How do I find the bug, and how do I remove them? By rofire1 from San Diego, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34353630.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Rid of Baby Oak Trees Does anyone know how I can get rid of all these baby oak trees? How do I prevent them from sprouting like this again? Our back yard has lots of oak trees and we love them for the shade, plus we just love trees. But the acorns this year have sprouted like never before. By Cricketnc from Parkton, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73176188.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Something Eating Leaves on Bing Cherry Tree I planted two semi dwarf bing cherry trees. The leaves look like something has been chewing on them. What should I do? By New gardener from Cincinnati, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85380387.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Rid of Poison Ivy How do you get rid of poison ivy plants? Hardiness Zone: 7a By maere6836 from NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf344848.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | 2 Litre Bottle Hanging Tomato Planter Does anybody know how to make hanging tomato planters from a 2 litre soda bottle? By lorimae from Portland, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39376870.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Brown Spots on Tomato Leaves I have black or brown spots on my tomato leaves and lots of them are turning yellow. Hardiness Zone: 7a By slyellets from Bridgeton, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11308349.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Homemade Compost Bin I am looking for instructions to make a homemade compost bin. By donnellypatti from Colorado Springs, CO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88516410.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Sweet Gum Tree Losing Leaves I have sweet gum tree in my front yard. It's leaves are dying, turning into curl. What should I do to cure that? I don't know what kind of disease it has. Hardiness Zone: 8b By zbabar from Cumming, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22885354.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Possums In My House I think I have possums in my attic. They are also in my walls. These things are scary because they fight all the time. The other night I was in my kitchen and they were fighting so loudly (hissing and growling) that I thought they would come through the walls! I actually thought they were in my kitchen and coming after me! I have also found "droppings" in my living room that I was blaming on my daughter's little dog, and food being chewed on by what I thought were mice or rats in my pantry. Now I don't know. I got a cat a few months ago to get rid of the rodents, but I know something else like possums or raccoons are in the walls and attic, and may be roaming around my house at night. How do I get rid of them cheaply and effectively? Please help! By scared of critters from Lafayette, La. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68955144.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Make Your Cut Flowers Last Longer How do I make cut flowers last longer in a vase? Tim Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000761.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Getting Rid of Mare's Tail Weed How do you get rid off the weed Mare's Tail? By xxkelsxx from UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15907557.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Raising Chickens Can I raise two Black Bottom hens together in a cage rather than letting them free-range roam? Or should I modify a large wooden refrigerator shipping crate with wire and screening, etc. with wheels to move the crate/coop around, in the crowded, grassy, filtered sun yard. I don't want to make too much of a fuss over them, but they are so beautiful, young hens, and lay great eggs, according to owner. Does the cost to raise them for your own family's organic egg needs justify the time and expense of food and maintenance and/or protection, etc.? My grandson is excited and I have already "ordered" two from a local farm, being ready to pickup on Tuesday. Do hens make as much noise as roosters that crow? I don't remember a thing about the two white "Easter" chickens I raised as a teen, and need to know what I'm getting into. Do they get diseases, illnesses easily? Are they really hard to clean up after? Any shortcuts? I have a newsletter coming about them started, but it says less than I hoped about them as "pets" and for beginners. Any basic help ASAP is appreciated. Thanks a bunch! God bless you. By lyndagayle62 from North Texas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87271567.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Saving Plants Through The Winter Dear Ellen, I just read a post that you responded to about Strawberry Plants in pots in the winter. I am hoping you can give a little clarification. You told the gentlemen that he could keep them in the garage, but he did not ask if he would need to water them during the winter. Are the plants going to survive the winter without moisture? I will be doing the same type of thing, but don't know if I should provide regular watering or not. Thanks so much for your help. Dina Hardiness Zone: 6a By Dinamarie from Slatington, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf180418.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Worms Eating Cherry Tree Leaves What are the little worms eating leaves on my flowering cherry tree - they also hang from the branches? Hardiness Zone: 6a By Mariebal Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52753630.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Fruit Trees and Pollination I just bought a couple fruit trees, but I need to know if they need to be cross pollinated with other trees. I bought a Vans sweet cherry tree and a Toka plum tree. So, do I need to pollinate these or will they pollinate themselves? Hardiness Zone: By scooby1 from Utah Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90326458.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Zinnias Being Eaten I just planted my Zinnias and something is eating them, the flowers, leaves, everything. What could it be? Thank you. Hardiness Zone: 6a By Terryo from New York, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf41011872.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Starting a Vegetable Garden My wife and I are starting a garden this year for the first time. We were wondering what kind of vegetables thrive near each other? What would be good to grow for our area? Any advice would be much appreciated, and put to good use. Thank you all very much. Hardiness Zone: 6a By greengreenthumb from Detroit, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38463988.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Planting Dwarf Fruit Trees in Pots I would like advice on growing dwarf fruit trees in a pot. Hardiness Zone: 6a By Greg B from St. Louis Mo Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79930724.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | 16 HP Briggs and Stratton Engine Won't Start I have a Craftsman rider with a 16 HP Briggs and Stratton that barely cranks. The solenoid was replaced late last summer and I jumped the terminals today to see if that was the issue and it still barely cranks. The battery was a 12 month battery purchased last year so I took it in and replaced it with a fresh one and I still get the same, barely cranks if at all. It will rotate one or two revolutions and then stop. The mower is about 8 years old. I can generally get it jump started with my car and then the engine runs fine and I can mow like normal. Just as long as I don't shut it off. Then same thing, will hardly crank if at all. Any suggestions on where to start? When it was barely cranking I took the spark plug out and then it cranked fairly well for about 5 seconds and then started slowing way down right away. By DanS from St. Louis Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76192949.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Planting Asparagus I bought some asparagus pots with crowns that have sprouted and are over 16 inches in height already. Should I plant them in the garden now at 12 inches depth or should I leave them to seed in the pots? I know that when you have crowns that have not sprouted you plant them down to 12 inches and cover lightly as they mature to raise them to level ground. But these crowns have sprouted already. If I leave them in the pots all summer, what do I do with the pots in the winter? Thank you. Hardiness Zone: 4a By prjprj12 from Gravenhurst, Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76448411.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Spiders on My Front Porch I have a problem with red spiders making a ton of 'homes' in the ceiling of my outdoor porch. Their webs/cocoons are also red. They are so hard to get rid of that I can't even brush them away with a stiff broom. They're incredibly sticky. I live in Houston, TX and would love to have some advice on how to get rid of them, forever if possible. They only congregate on my front porch, not on my back porch. Go figure. Thank you! By Metroplex Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33245700.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Tomato Plants With Yellow Leaves I have a small greenhouse that I start over 400 tomato plants in for sale. This spring we have had some pretty nasty weather and some warm days too. Since I have transplanted all the plants into 3.5 inch pots, some are doing great and some are turning yellow and their growth seems to be stunted. Although I am a smoker, I always wash my hands and wear disposable gloves every time I transplant my plants. I have only 2 or 3 weeks before I'll start to sell my plants and I want to make sure they are the best around, as they usually are. I have repeat customers that rely on my quality plants. My greenhouse pots are all new and my soil is MiracleGro potting mix. Could I have over watered them? The greenhouse gets up to about anywhere from 60-100 degrees during the day and at night I use 4/100 watt bulbs to keep them warm. Sometimes I've had to cover them with sheets of white plastic so they don't get too cold. I am sending pictures of a good plant and some yellowing plants. I was thinking of re-transplanting the yellow ones, but that's probably 60 plants! Please help me! Hardiness Zone: 4a By motheroneil from Sheridan, WY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf482428.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.