Uses for Epsom Salt

I live in an area that has Raccoons. They can be very noisy late at night when they dine on what ever yummy contents that you may have in your trash can. Here is a way to help deter those masked bandits.A few tablespoons of Epsom salt spread around your garbage cans.They don't like the taste. Just remember to reapply the salt after it rains.

How to Keep pests away from your garden area

If you are using the same space every year for your garden, use different annuals every season along with your perennials or wait a few years before planting the same thing in the same area.
Keep wide spaces between plants to help the leaves dry.
Plants need to be well fed from the beginning to keep them healthy.
Mulch your plants, mulching helps keep the soil moist along with keeping some weeds, insects and diseases from spreading.
Surround your plants with other plants that help to keep pests out.
Use insects that eat other insects but do not harm your plants.
Clean up the dead leaves quickly, this will help keep the disease from spreading.
Finally, and I can't say this enough, mulch, mulch, mulch
Good luck and Happy gardening :)Carnivorous Plants Horticulture and Home Pest News

Midnight Gardens

A few years ago I had a wild hair and thought that I would plant a garden that only bloomed at night. The plants that I used had a wonderful fragrance and it was one of the best things that I ever did. I had a large front porch that I liked to sit on in the evening. This is where I planted my garden. The fragrance was heavenly. I hope that you give the midnight garden a chance. I used this site to get my ideas.The Night Shift Good luck and happy gardening :)

Compost

If every person were to make compost, that person would save at least 10 pounds of waste a week from going to a landfill. Just think of what that could do for the environment!!!
Getting started: You can either buy, or build a bin for compost, or if you would rather not, you can place your compost materials in a pile under a tree. You need one part green to two parts brown.This combination breaks down the fastest. Continue to add these materials until the pile is at least 3 ft by 3ft. Piles of this size heat up and break down quickly. Moisture is also important. Your pile should neither be too moist or too dry, it should be like a damp sponge. Turn the pile once a week. Finished compost should be ready in about 6 weeks.
Green materials are; Grass cuttings, raw vegetable peelings, tea bags, leaves, coffee grounds, crushed egg shells.
Brown materials are; Cardboard, newspaper, junk mail, glossy magazines, hay, straw, wood shavings, old bedding plants.
It is a good idea to keep a bucket by your kitchen sink to throw peelings, etc into, then you can carry it out to your compost pile about once a week. Word of caution: it is a bad idea to use, meat dairy or cooked food as it can attract vermin to your pile. Good luck and happy gardening :)

A few days off

I am sorry that I have not been writing for the last few days. I have been attending to a few personal issues. I will be returning Thursday May 1st.

Lettuce and Cabbage

Before planting lettuce or cabbage, wrap newspaper around the roots. It will keep the cutworms away.

Deer-proofing a garden

There is no sure fire way to totally deer-proof your garden, if they are hungry nothing will stop them from munching on your plants, but there are certain plants that deer do not like to eat. You can place these plants around the edges of your garden. Here is the list; Holly, ferns, boxwood, salvia, peonies, poppies, daffodils, and a few Herbs like oregano. Good luck and happy gardening :)

Tea Leaves

Sprinkle new or used tea leaves ( in a bag or loose) around your rose bushes in the middle of summer. You will have beautiful roses in no time :)

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are pesky little critters. They just love a good meal in the evening. To keep them from taking a bite out of you, plant lemon balm in your garden. Break off a stem and then rub it on your skin or clothing. It will keep the Mosquitoes away. :)

Garden Pests

To keep garden pests away from your flowers, plant a row of Sage in the garden. Pests do not like the sage. :)

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds make great fertilizer. After you haved brewed your morning coffee, throw the grounds out onto your lawn or into a potted plant or anywhere in your vegetable or flower garden that you want to fertilize. You will have the most lush lawn, vegetables or flower garden on the block. Happy Gardening :)

Killing Crabgrass

Killing Crabgrass;
My Grandfather used Vinegar to kill Crabgrass. You have to be careful as to not overspray onto the grass around the weed as Vinegar will kill anything.It takes a few hours to take effect, but you will notice that the leaves are turning brown. Apply again in a few days to the more mature Crabgrass. Here is the ratio;

1 Gallon of Vinegar to 1 oz of Dishwashing liquid
Pour into a regular spray bottle

Killing Crabgrass takes a lot of time. Be patient you will not only have results but will also be saving the environment. :)