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Jump to:  Inside - Outside Inside Watering Houseplants - Save a little money, and use that last bit of milk in your plastic jugs by using it to water your houseplants. Just add some water to the jug, shake it well to pick up all the milk on the sides of the container, and apply as fertilizer to your plants. Windows - If you have a window on the south side of your home that gets a lot of light, think about growing a few herbs on the window sill.  Start with chives.  When they get tall enough, just take some scissors and cut off an inch or so and add them to your soups and sauces.  If you window sill is wide enough, you may even be able to grow tomatoes or peppers.   Outside Casseron - Don't spend your valuable time continually weeding the same flower beds. Use Casseron. Just sprinkle it in on top of the soil, and it will stop the weeds and grass from growing. Very easy, and although not cheap, good for your back. Compost Bins - You can save a lot of money using a compost bin when you garden. Buy an inexpensive, large plastic trash can. Drill holes on all sides, and in the top and bottom (for air circulation). Fill the can with scraps from your kitchen (except meat), grass clippings, and other organic material. Turn it on it's side, and roll it around to mix up the matter about once a week, a give it a little water. In a few months you will have some great mulch to add to your garden or planter boxes. Flowers - Here is a simple and economical way to keep cut flowers fresh as long as possible in your home. To every quart of water, add a few drops of bleach, and one teaspoon of sugar. Fruit Trees - If you have a backyard, think about planting a fruit tree. They last for years, and your whole family will enjoy the crop. However, do your homework first. Don't just pick one up at the nursery. Talk with an expert in your area and plant the best variety for your area. Some varieties are more resistant to mold, mildew and infestation of different types. Experts in this area often host radio shows, or you can locate them through local agricultural colleges or government agencies. Don't waste your time and money on a tree that isn't going to grow and produce great fruit in your area with your soil and climate. Do your homework and you will be rewarded for years. Herbs - If you live in a warm climate, or have a window with a southern exposure, you may be able to grow herbs all year long. Fresh herbs add a wonderful flavor to your food. However, most of the recipes we use only give measurements for dried herbs. In making the substitution, use about a tablespoon of fresh herbs for every teaspoon required in your recipe. Hotbeds - Old single pane windows are great to recycle and make hotbeds to keep your plants warm at night. Make a wooden frame the size of the window, fill with dirt, and place the window over the frame. Open it during the day for ventilation. Planters - Here's a trick often used by gardeners to save money on outside potted plants. If you have a very large container, and you don't need soil all the way down to the bottom of the container, bring up the level of the bottom of the container by filling the container with packing peanuts. They have the benefit of being lightweight, if you move the plant around, and they will let the water through to the bottom when you water your plants. Roses - Roses are gorgeous, and they come in so many varieties. It is a shame when their beautiful blooms are damaged by insects, bugs, or little creatures. Here is a homemade solution that you can try on your roses to repel these critters. Mix 1 cup of water,6 garlic cloves, and 3 Tablespoons of Cayenne pepper in your blender. Spray this mixture on your roses when you see signs of damage. Also, save your eggshells. They make great fertilizer for your roses. Seeds - Save money on gardening by starting your seeds indoors. Many seeds have to be started indoors- because the growing season it so short. It doesn't take much money to buy a packet of seeds and get them going. Use fill an empty egg carton with potting soil and set the seeds in the spaces. You can even leave the empty egg shell in the carton to hold the soil around the plant. When it is time to move it outdoors, either to the garden or a container, just pick up with the eggshell intact. It will act as additional fertilizer to the plant as it decomposes. Another possibility is the use plastic container with lids. Punch holes in the top for air, and you can even close them. They are like a mini-green house. Tilling the Soil - If you want to save money on pest control next year, till your garden in the Fall. This will expose and kill nests of insects as well as many weed seeds. Also add your fertilizer to the soil now, so it will be thoroughly broken down before spring, and not burn your seedlings. Trees - If you live within a city limit, and have an easement running along your property line, check with your city's Public Works department. You may be qualified to have trees planted by the city there for free. Washing Hands - Here is a way to spend a little less time cleaning your hands after you've been gardening. Before you begin, put soap under your fingernails. It keeps the dirt out. It can take forever to get dirt out from under your nails. You can wash your hands a dozen times, and they still feel dirty. Fill the space under your nails with soap, and the dirt will have no place to go. Watering the Lawn - In the summer you can keep your lawn greener with less water if you don't mow it so close to the ground. Let the grass grow a little taller by raising the blades on your lawn mower. The added height of the grass will help the soil hold more water.

 

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