The Long Hill Garden Club of Trumbull, Connecticut

Founded and Federated in 1941

Helpful Gardening Hints

Use an extra calendar--or an old calendar----to remind yourself when to do various garden chores. Each time you come by new planting or care instructions, write the information under the appropriate dates. It doesn't matter what year the calendar is. This just lets you know the time of the year each job should be done. Keeping this calendar over the years should cover most of the gardening chores you perform each year.

Instead of using an insecticide pull a used nylon stocking over a cabbage or cauliflower to keep the bugs off the vegetable while allowing light and water to reach the vegetables and allow then to expand as they grow.

For Poison Ivy---"tecnu"--outdoor skin cleanser----removes poison oak and ivy oils that cause rash and itching

Do you grow from seed? Have you heard of an English soil blocker? You can grow your seeds in a 3/4 inch square of soil. Check it out at www.thegardenersworkshop.com

Deer Problems? Check out the solutions on www.whitetailsolutionsllc.com/products.html

If you have cannas, calla lilies, dahlias or other tender bulbs or roots in your garden, let the frost kill the tops and then dig them up. Shake the dirt off them and let them dry in the sun or in an airy container, preferably in the garage if it is really cold after you dig them up. Buy a really big bag of vermiculite and empty your big decorative pots of soil (or use any other big container). Layer the bulbs with the vermiculite in one pot and the roots in another pot. Try to keep the bulbs separated so if one is diseased it won't spread. Keep them covered with vermiculite and in a semi cold place. (an attached garage works well) In the spring, pot them, keep them from freezing and plant them after the last frost.

 

 

If you see one of these egg cases as you are cleaning up your garden for the winter, and it is out and exposed as this one , tuck it in the branches of a shrub for protection against its predators. It is a praying mantis case and very valuable for your garden. Do not take it inside for the winter, it will survive the weather.

 

AWarm Light Bulb trap for fleas:
Use a clip-on lamp with aluminum shade and a 25 watt bulb on a chair leg about 12 inches above a wide dish of sudsy water. The fleas will be drawn to the warmth of the lamp and try to hop to it, but will fall short and into the suds.
Homeowners with pets going on vacation my find this a good way to cope with flea larvae hatching out while they are away. This is much safer than bug sprays, fumigants and those hazardous year-round anti-flea drugs that make too many pets sick.

Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily,

Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases.

Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling. Or any of your long flower arranging items.

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant. Think flower arranging items that fit in a drinking cup

Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles, just hook the spray handle over the bar.

Create a window-box veggie patch using gutters.