Make a Mini Toolshed!

Keeping tools handy can be hard if you live on a large lot, or have a good sized garden. To save time from walking back and forth to the garage for small hand tools, you can create a mini "Toolshed" near your garden using a mailbox.

Mailboxes come in different sizes and shapes, are very strong, weatherproof, and can fit several small tools in them like: hand pruners, small folding saws, trowels, gloves, seed packets, string, green tape, files, etc.

Just set the mailbox on a post or a fence near your garden or field. You can even paint it to fit your own style.

Now you can have your tools handy without the expense of building a real toolshed.

Kill Fungus, Bacteria and Moss!

The weather here has been so uncharacteristically wet and moist, that I have been getting moss growing on my sidewalks and even on the top of my soil!

If you're having similar problems, try this simple mix that kills fungus, bacteria, and moss from growing in your lawn, on your plants and trees, and between the cracks in your sidewalk and patios.

Try this Mix:
1-Part Hydrogen Peroxide mixed with 9-Parts Water

Just mix it up, put the solution into a spray-bottle, lightly apply it to the area that needs it, and watch it quickly rid your lawn, plants, and flowers of ugly fungi and bacteria. It’s also safe to use around plants and children.

Try it out and let me know if you like it!

For more gardening tips please come visit: www.weekendgardener.net

Carrot Flowers and Beneficial Insects

If you planted any carrots this past year, make sure you leave a couple in the ground to overwinter. They will flower the following spring, and are simply beautiful!

Carrot flowers are similar to Queen Anne's Lace in appearance because they are in the same family (Carrot family Daucus includes: Caraway, Queen Anne's lace, Tansy, Dill, Angelica) and can attract beneficial insects to the garden like Lacewing, Ladybug, Mealybug Destroyer, Minute Pirate Bug, Spider Mite Destroyer, Syrphid Fly, Tachinid Fly and Whitefly Parasitic Wasp. Give it a try!


Photo Credit: http://www.flagstaffotos.com/

Good Nurseries Give a Warranty

Bareroot season is in full swing, and many of you will be going out to purchase trees and shrubs for your home or office.

A good quality nursery will always offer a warranty for their plant material.

You have to do your part too however, and make sure you give the plants proper care by either planting them as soon as you get home, or healing them in properly until you can get them planted.

Never allow the roots to dry out, so give them a good dunking in a bucket of water to make sure they stay nice a moist.

If you have done everything correctly and for some reason, the plants don't perform, then by all means use the warranty.

Happy New Year and I look forward to exchanging more gardening ideas and tips with you in 2007!

Cheers!