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Here is a nice handy collection of my favourite gardening
tips & ideas that may make life in your garden that little
bit easier, or at least show you that gardening doesn’t have
to be expensive to be enjoyed.
I’ve amassed these 10 tips over my many years of being an
avid amateur gardener, and nature-loving enthusiast, from
old gardeners, neighbours, friends and my own tried and
tested methods.
I’m no expert and would never claim to be one, I only
pass on a small part of my accumulated knowledge in the hope
of helping others enjoy the most rewarding of pastimes
“Amateur Gardening”.
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To prevent animals from digging up and
eating your spring bulbs, you should have first, wrapped
them in a thin layer of steel wool. It does no harm to the
bulbs, as its shoot will push right through it.
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Washing up liquid makes a great
insecticidal soap when you mix it with water. Take 1 to 3
tablespoons of washing up liquid and mix it into 4 litres of
water, add a tablespoon of vinegar too, put it in a spray
bottle and mist spray the entire plant. Small left over soap
bars, you remember the ones that clutter the soap tray in
the bathroom, and no one likes to use, can be utilized also
and easily dissolved using warm or boiling water. Of course
always remember to let it cool before applying to your
plants. Soapy dish or bath water can also be collected and
used effectively.
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Cut all flower stems at an angle, as it
creates a larger surface area for the flowers to draw up
more water and you must remember to put your flowers into
water immediately. When I cut long stemmed flowers I take a
deep pale almost full to the brim with water whish was stood
in my glasshouse or shed overnight just for this purpose. If
you don’t then tiny air pockets will form in the stems and
cause the flowers to droop. Oh yes and don’t forget to drop
an aspirin in your vase with the water, your flowers will
love you for it and repay you by staying fresh looking for
longer. A small piece of an Alka-Seltzer tablet or a part
spoon of liver salts, once the fizzing has stopped are good
alternatives to aspirin. Don’t put long stemmed flowers in a
small vase, and visa versa, for small stemmed ones. Always
choose the appropriate vase and your cut flowers will
certainly last a little longer, provided you maintain the
correct water level. Last but not least, never ever use
water straight from your tap for your vase of flowers,
always put water in your vases the night before and stand
them on a windowsill to gain room temperature, as tap water
is very cold and causes those little air bubbles to form.
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If you didn’t plant your trees and shrubs
late last autumn, to get well established before the onset
of winter, then it’s nearing that time of year in temperate
zones, when the ground is free from hard frosts. They can be
planted out now or as soon as they become available at
garden centres and nurseries. Always choose the ones with
the freshest or plumpest buds, as these are raring to get
growing. A good handful of bone meal or other
general-purpose plant food, even the pellet form of chicken
manure dug well in the bottom of the hole will help feed
your new addition to your garden. Large trees will benefit
from the addition of a length of garden hose being buried
alongside their roots to help watering in long dry spells.
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Use old bubble wrap to line your pots and
containers, it will help warm the compost and prevent late
frosts from damaging delicate new roots.
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When planting up your fresh spring
hanging baskets why not use your old knitwear or newspapers
for a no cost basket liner, this will save you plenty, and
the money saved can go towards better quality compost and
plants. Don’t throw away the remnants of last summers
baskets; either dig it into your garden or at the very least
put it in your compost bin.
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When giving your garden hedges that all
important prune, get nice neat level edges and flat tops by
fastening a length of rope to two points across it. Or push
broom handles into the hedge at each end and tie your line
to them. An old washing line or strong garden twine are
ideal, remember not to cut through your line. Although not
100% accurate it will certainly help achieve a
better-looking hedge.
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So now the path has over wintered, and
the mosses, lichen’s and of course the weeds have all taken
over. Salted Boiling water and a good stiff broom will do
the trick. It may need to be repeated, but will not damage
surrounding soil like commercial products can, and is the
safest where pets are concerned.
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We all love our own pets, but we simply
hate it when that old cat from down the way decides to use
your garden and freshly dug flowerbeds as a toilet. Now I’ve
tried just about everything in the book apart from a
shredder LOL and I’ve still yet to find a really good
solution to this problem, as most only seem to work for only
a short time. Please don’t say get a dog, frankly my dog is
fast asleep just like me when our neighbourhood cats come
calling. The closest I’ve come to a deterrent is rose thorns
on your flowerbeds, the cats simply hate them as its like
walking on glass and as any gardener knows who has ever had
rose thorns in his/her fingers that really hurt and are
difficult to get out. It’s often easiest to grow lots of
plants that cats don’t like.
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Now dogs are a lot different, because of
their acute sense of smell, old perfume, or the ones given
you for Christmas, you know the ones that you always give
away as presents to those you don’t really like, well use
them in your garden instead. Even aftershave will work
wonders. Cayenne, White or Black Pepper powders can also
help but are easily washed away by rain.
I hope you’ve enjoyed a few of my gardening tips and
ideas, it’s off to my potting shed for me, as there is
always plenty to do no matter what time of year it is, an
amateur gardener’s work is never done. Do look out for any
of my other articles, but most of all……..“HAPPY GARDENING
until we meet again”
John Elliott aka Oaky Wood has been an avid amateur gardener
for over 25 years
John Elliott Aka Oaky Wood is currently the Co-Founder of
"The Corner 4 Women©2006"
thecorner4women.com is a Poet, writer, artist, webmaster
and designer. He is also the owner of the Oakwood
Grafix©2005 Group of websites
www.oakwoodgrafix.co.uk
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