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A Few Quick Hints

© Emily Levitt

The weather here is perfect, and I am really on the run trying to put plants in the ground, and separate overgrown things...so, this week I'll give you a few simple things which have helped this simple gardener make life outside a little easier. I hope you're out running in your garden, too!

I have several tie-on aprons with pockets, like the ones used as tool belts, which are just right for carrying hand tools around the garden.

Save spice containers and their screw tops, especially the jars with perforated plastic shaker lids. Fill them with granular slow release fertilzer, so you dont have to carry the whole container around. When you need it, it's right there in your pocket.
A tablespoon of fertilzer has the same volume as a tablespoon of anything else you measure out in the kitchen. I also put WaterGrabber granules-- and anything else in powder form-- in these little jars. Label the jars with masking tape and a waterproof marker.

Compost material getting out of hand? Freeze kitchen waste in gallon size freezer bags. Sometimes I can even find five-gallon freezer bags, and I snap them up for this use. The waste won't get icky on you, and if you label it as COMPOST maybe your husband won't think it's a casserole and put it in the microwave... (yes, mine did. And it was labeled "DO NOT EAT") When you are ready to use it, dump it in the middle of your compost pile. It will thaw out and do it's rotting thing just fine.

Bacteria and viruses overwinter in clay, wood and on plastics without losing their potency .A weak solution of Clorox in water is the cheapest and easiest thing to use when washing out last years' containers for this years' use. An inexpensive spray container makes this a quick job. Just be careful where you do this, as the runoff may effect your soil Ph and plants.

A big plastic washtub filled with water is perfect for soaking clay pots. Most pots need to be soked overnight, so there's almost always water in the tub. I keep a mosquito ring under a brick (so it won't float away) at the bottom of the tub so it won't become a breeding ground for bloodsuckers.

A black plastic bag is the best thing to use when disposing of weeds. The heat inside the closed bag will eventually kill off the weeds, but NEVER compsot weeds! Ever! Put them out with your household trash.

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