5 Tips for a Better Garden

Winning Tip: Gardening is entertaining too

I discovered a new use for an old entertainment center — a raised garden bottom . As you may see from the photo , I lay the amusement center on its side , added soil , and constitute a miscellanea of vegetables . This was a great mode to reuse an old piece of furniture that was being replaced . It also give me a no - toll bottom that required zero labor to ramp up .

— Donna Gilly , Kenmore , Washington

Propagating winter basil plants from cuttings

Before my basil flora succumb to freeze temperature , I take several cuttings about 4 inches foresightful and remove all but two or three of the leaves . I place the cuttings in a clear imbibition glass with filtered body of water that I refresh every few days , and in less than two weeks the press cutting have enough root to be imbed . I habituate sluttish potting soil , water well , and keep the pots in a warm area with sunlight . It does n’t take long for newfangled leaves to appear on the rooted cut .

— Mary Crum , Holland , Pennsylvania

Bread-knife pruner

I ’m the “ sheriff ” of the Bennington FlowerPosse , which give care for over 75 Sass flag varieties . When it arrive time to rationalize back the spent bloom stalks , we ’ve discovered that an 8 - inch serrated shekels tongue works well and pull through time and binding . After using hand pruners for many twelvemonth , the Posse has find out a great alternative .

— Ellen Dahlstet , Bennington , Nebraska

Satellites and software can help with garden record-keeping

What did I imbed where ? Google Maps is a good starting position to help keep track of what ’s found where in the garden . I started with a projection screen pellet of my yard , going in as close as possible to get enough detail for my quarter - Akko . I used Adobe Photoshop to turn my exposure into a line drawing , then run it to a word processing program where I could create shapes to freeze out the neighbour ’ grand and create white space for writing . I then printed the lottery and started copyinginformation onto it from my gardennotebook . I used another printed copy to record when the sun arrived and left area of the garden at different times of the year . I wish I had imagine of this a foresightful time ago .

— Barbara Downing Owen , Wellesley , Massachusetts

Set a visual reminder to water

If I need to move plants during a dry spell , I have found that regular watering greatly reduce the inevitable transplanting stress . It is all too comfortable to forget to water , so instead of writing myself a tone that will be misplaced , or specify a earphone reminder that I will cut , I satisfy a brightly color lacrimation can and set it next to the new organ transplant . As I go about my garden business organisation , meet the can cue me to discipline on the transplant and to give them a drunkenness if they involve it . After about a workweek of this extra tending , the plant can usually transition to a more normal lachrymation agenda .

— Angela Barnet , Littleton , New Hampshire

Garden tips and myths

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