watering seedlings

So the next time you're looking for something to water your seedlings with that won't wash the seeds away, try a squeeze bottle or reuse an empty dish soap bottle.

hanging planter from recycled soda bottles

Turn your empty soda bottles into hanging planters for indoor and outdoor use.

water is recycled from bottom catch bottle back to top planter.

    I cut a hole in the bottom of a to 2 liter soda bottle just big enough to thread the top of another bottle through the whole. [I recommend using a Dremel Rotary tool to cut the holes. A soldering iron or wood burning tool may do the job as well but be sure to do it in a well ventilated area and try not to breathe the fumes.] I drill one or two a 1/8"holes in the cap. Then I put the two bottles together and thread the cap back on the bottle,to hold the two bottles together. I make the hole in the side of the bottle large enough to put my hand in and thread the cap back on. I make the chain of bottles as long as I desire.I spray paint the bottles white so they do not get too hot in the sun and so they do not decompose while hanging in my window. The bottles on the left have one bottle inverted at the bottom to catch the water dripping from the upper three. This bottle has a hole in the side and is simply hung with a wire hook on the bottom bottle so I can empty it as needed. The bottles on the right painted white will be hanging outside over other plants and does not need a catch bottle.I simply attach a drip line to the top bottle, fill with soil and plant my hanging herb garden. This system should work very well for people living in apartments or small living spaces. 

I hang the bottles by drilling a hole in the top bottle. Run a wire loop through a nut or washer and put the loop through the whole using the nut  to keep the wire from pulling through.
   At the bottom of the bottles I take a bottle and do the same thing with the lid, but instead of the loop I make a hook. Cutting a hole in the side of the bottle to catch whatever water runoff that drips through to the bottom.This allows me to empty the bottle periodically as needed.
  Typically this type of planner does well for  vines or small plants such as strawberries, herbs, or above ground vegetables and flowers. 

Note: In resent trials I found the edges of the holes to be too sharp and I have had to tape the bottom edges to keep the plants from cutting on those edges. Split tubing, foam or hot glue may work better.

DIY aluminum plant tags

Home made aluminum plant tags

So you may have wondered why I didn't use aluminum cans?

Aluminum cans are hard to work with and leave sharp edges. That's not to say you can't use them, just be more careful. If you use an aluminum can be sure to bend the edges over to eliminate sharp edges.        (note: If you can get cut on a piece of paper, you can get cut on one of these tags.) Sorry in this day and age with all the idiots out there, I have to put disclaimers on everything.

The aluminum I use is easy to work with and it's an aluminum that doesn't normally get recycled. It is not as rigid as aluminum cans, but still holds it's shape.
    The plant tags will last for a long time. I have some tags that are over 10 years old. The following is an example of what I put on my tags.

• Name of plant
• date planted (moon phases and or planetary  alignment )
• where purchased (note many stores guarantee plants)
• original location (if moved or propagated)
• herb, fruit,vegetable

Or

• Name of plant
• Ref number

Then have a catalog with the reference number and all the details about the plant that you could not include on the tag.

    Other ideas are to use the tags on gifts, as Christmas ornaments, luggage tags, or anywhere you need a nice tag.

(Note: disposable pie tins and disposable roasting pans also work very well . )

Garden pest control

Pest control

Live bull snake

Snakes, real or fake in your garden can help deter pests.  If you cannot tolerate the real thing, then a few fake snakes here and there can be of big help.

rubber snake

The local dollar stores are a good source for rubber snakes. I try to select snakes that look like something you might find locally . I then place the rubber snake in a conspicuous place in the garden and make sure to move the snake periodically. If the snake does not look realistic enough I may take the time to paint the snake with model paint . I use rubber snakes in areas that get a lot of water as they tend to hold up better.

wooden snake

 Flexible wooden snakes are also great for the garden . The one pictured to the left is supported off the ground by a piece of coathanger wire . This gives the snake some animation when the wind blows and as a result does not have to be moved as often. 

This snake I simply zip tied to a fence railing .

It should be kept in mind that no artificial deterrent works 100% of the time .  How effective a deterrent works depends on the type being used and how often it is moved . Even with moving them daily wildlife tends to get used to them.

Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds

So let's talk coffee grounds.
For years I have used coffee grounds to acidif the soil around my plants. I would sprinkle my coffee grounds around my roses , tomatoes and evergreens. But I didn't know you could use coffee grounds to keep pests away from your plants. I was having problems with worms in my cabbages.  A friend suggested that sprinkling some coffee grounds on and around my cabbage  would deter the cabbage worms .  To my surprise it worked and have used it ever since .

homemade scarecrow

Homemade scarecrows

Keeping birds away from your garden can end up being a full-time job . But here are some ideas for reusing items you normally would throw away and save a couple dollars in the process.

If you go to the store to buy reflective tape or some other reflective scarecrow , you're wasting your money. Why pay $5 for a roll of reflective tape when you can use old CDs instead .Take two old CDs and put them back to back, shiny side out. At one edge drill a hole through both, then tye the two CD's together with fishing line leaving a leader to hang from.

Hang them in the garden.  The movement and reflective surface will help deter those pesky pest that think your garden is the latest smorgasbord .

(2)Another idea may require you to think ahead a little bit.

 Remember those Christmas sales the day after Christmas ?Remember to pick up an extra role of that reflective tape or gift ribbon or giftwrap that is on sale for half off . Cut into 1 or 2 foot lengths and hang it like you would the CDs. Then weight the bottoms with large paperclips.

Bull snake garden friend

Bull snakes, our garden friends

One of the things to keep in mind this time of year is our friend the bull snake. Snakes are generally not welcome around homes but this one I always make the exception. The snake is responsible for helping keep rattlesnakes away, as well as help keep the rodent population down. He is one of the many reptiles that come in from the desert looking for food. It is very good at mimicking the look of a rattlesnake. If that is not enough, hissing and striking at you as if he were the real thing, will definitely get your attention. Snakes should never be killed as they are a very important part of our ecosystem. Without them rodent populations would explode. For the most part if you leave bull snakes alone they will leave you alone.