Good Tips Can Grow On Gardeners

While gardening is a great hobby, sometimes it presents some very formidable challenges. This is where good old-fashioned ingenuity steps in. The following is a list of garden tips and tricks gleaned from garden journals, my own experiences and those of fellow gardeners. I can’t guarantee the results of all of them, but there are times anything is worth a try.

Wood ashes, especially those from hardwoods, are a great source of potash for flowers and veggies. Use them sparingly however - 1/2 cup per square yard. Since they tend to be on the alkaline side, don’t use them around acid-loving plants.

Plant nasturtiums among vegetables and flowers to help repel aphids and white fly.

Edible flowers and herb flowers make cheerful garnishes for summer meals. Freeze them in ice cubes for festive drinks. A word of caution however: edible flowers (nasturtiums, violets, etc.,) should be started by you or purchased through an edible flower grower. Plants purchased from nurseries and garden centers may have been treated with pesticides. Herbs should not be a problem since they are always sold as edible plants.

Members of the onion family (chives, onions and garlic) may help protect roses from aphids. Apparently aphids don’t like garlic breath any more than we do. One blast sends the entire colony running.

Look for garlic sprays, sold at local garden centers. They have proven to be very effective against a number of diseases and insects on a variety of plants.

Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) is the plant “elixir” of the ‘90s. Supposedly it cures fairy ring, enhances dark green foliage on conifers and brightens the color of flowers. Mix two tablespoons of epsom salts, in one gallon of water and spray it on.

Dusty miller, a gray foliage biennial, will help repel rabbits.

Salt-free club soda (stale or fresh) will intensify color and add vigor in your plants. Lemon-lime soda (not sugar-free) added to the water, will help to preserve cut flowers.

To help eliminate tangles in your garden hose, coil the hose into figure eights instead of circles.

Mint will repel ants. However, it may take over the south-40 in the process. To keep mint under control, plant it in 1-gallon containers. Sink the containers in the ground leaving the top 1-1/2 inches of container exposed.

Jerusalem artichokes, a perennial wildflower sold under the name sun cherry, will attract lady bugs to your garden. It, too, can become invasive, so plant it in containers and sink them into the ground like the mint.

Plunging tools into a bucket of oily sand will help keep them clean and rust-free.

Paint the handles of tools a bright color such as yellow. It sure makes the tools easier to locate, unless, of course, they are buried under a pile of weeds.

A garbage can lid makes a handy tray for carrying tools. It also makes a great backstop for controlling pesticide drift. Simply back the lid up against the plant you wish to protect and spray the unwanted plant.

According to the American Rose Magazine, roses can be misted with a solution of one ounce 3 percent hydrogen peroxide per quart of water. The solution can also be used as a soil drench to produce bigger, better, pest-free roses. Don’t use this mixture if you are using the baking soda fungicide.

Baking soda helps control blackspot and mildew on roses, mildew on squash, early blight on tomatoes and mildew on begonias. Add 1 tablespoon each of baking soda and oil - either a light horticultural oil or corn oil - to 1 gallon of water. Also add 1/4 teaspoon dish soap. Shake well before and during application. You may need to spray every week with this mixture. Remember, always test any spray on a small area before spraying your entire plant.

If your lilacs are in a sunny location and don’t bloom, the roots may need a little pruning. Using a shovel, cut the roots all the way around the plant. Come about a foot or so away from the base of the plant and cut only a few inches deep. Fertilize with a cup of limestone.

Concoct a brew of manure tea for your plants. Mix one part manure (any type of fresh or dried manure or compost will work) to three parts water. Let it steep in the sun for a day. Dilute the finished product to a pale tea color. Water your plants well first with plain water, and then pour the tea on the soil around the plants.

I am always looking for ingenious ways to garden. If you have some tried-and-true methods, please let me know by writing: Phyllis Stephens, c/o The Spokesman-Review, PO Box 2160, Spokane WA 99210-1615.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Phyllis Stephens The Spokesman-Review