Replies

Pest Prevention Concentrate

Posted By TipNut On February 1, 2008 @ 6:58 am In Garden & Plants | 1 Comment

Picture of Potted Plant - Tipnut.com

Here’s a short and sweet recipe to help with pest control for garden and house plants. You can use this as a preventative spray as well as a bug and pest killer.

Ingredients:

1 cup Sunlight dish soap
1 TBS vegetable oil

Directions:

* Mix ingredients together then store in a plastic, airtight container.

* When you’re ready to spray your plants, take 1 to 2 teaspoons of the concentrate and mix with a quart of water. Pour into a spray bottle.

* Spray your plants making sure to get underneath the leaves as well as the flower buds and new shoots.

* In hot weather, repeat every third day (3 applications over 7 days).

* Warm to cool weather, spray once a week for 3 weeks.

I found this recipe in the book: The Joy of Planting [1]
A Step-By-Step Guide To Creative Container Gardening
101 Recipes For Pots & Containers

Author: Arlette Laird

If you are interested in container gardening, I love this book and recommend it–especially for beginner gardeners. There are some gardening tips & tricks as well as 101 recipes for various container arrangements (you can get an idea of what’s offered here on this page [2]). Nice to browse through and plan your Spring gardening activities on a cold winter’s day!

There’s also this Organic Insect Repellent For Plants [3] you might be interested in.
Also See These Tips:

* Organic Insect Repellent For Plants [3]
* How to Build a PVC Hoop House - Gardening Tip [4]
* Cool Backyard Project: Design A Mini-Garden [5]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/pest-prevention-concentrate/

URLs in this post:

[1] The Joy of Planting: http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Planting-Containers-Step-Step/dp/1894022416

[2] here on this page: http://www.joyofplanting.com/recipe.htm

[3] Organic Insect Repellent For Plants: http://tipnut.com/organic-insect-repellent-for-plants/

[4] How to Build a PVC Hoop House - Gardening Tip: http://tipnut.com/how-to-build-a-pvc-hoophouse-gardening-tip/

[5] Cool Backyard Project: Design A Mini-Garden: http://tipnut.com/design-a-mini-garden/

How To Make A Self-Contained Gardening System

Posted By TipNut On February 22, 2008 @ 1:38 pm In Garden & Plants | 1 Comment

Picture of Self-Contained Gardening System [josho.com] - Tipnut.com

Today’s feature is from Josho.com with a tutorial for How To Make A Self-Contained Gardening System [1].

These gardening systems are perfect for apartment dwellers or those who don’t have time to manage a full-sized garden yet wish to enjoy growing some of their favorite herbs and vegetables.

Self-contained gardening systems discourage weed growth and can yield more per plant than growing in a regular garden.

The site also shares a reference from EarthBox - pdf [2] (a commercial alternative) which includes planting and growing instructions.
Also See These Tips:

* Growing Lavender: Tips [3]
* How to Build a PVC Hoop House - Gardening Tip [4]
* 10 Organic Aids & Natural Planting Tips For Gardening [5]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-a-self-contained-gardening-system/

URLs in this post:

[1] How To Make A Self-Contained Gardening System: http://www.josho.com/gardening.htm

[2] EarthBox - pdf: http://www.earthbox.com/pdf/earthbox_planting_instructions.pdf#Earthbox(TM) Planting Guide - PDF

[3] Growing Lavender: Tips: http://tipnut.com/growing-lavender-tips/

[4] How to Build a PVC Hoop House - Gardening Tip: http://tipnut.com/how-to-build-a-pvc-hoophouse-gardening-tip/

[5] 10 Organic Aids & Natural Planting Tips For Gardening: http://tipnut.com/organic-aids-natural-planting-tips-for-gardening/

Make Your Own Cheap & Easy Worm Bin

Posted By TipNut On May 2, 2007 @ 10:57 am In DIY Projects, Garden & Plants | 2 Comments

Handy Tip - Tipnut.com

Today’s feature tip is from Washington State University, Whatcom County Extension, with their instructions for a Cheap and Easy Worm Bin! [1]

Composting with redworms is great for apartment dwellers who don’t have yard space, or for those who don’t want to hike to a backyard compost bin with their food scraps. Some kids like to keep worms for pets! By letting worms eat your food wastes, you’ll end up with one of the best soil amendments available worm castings. This is the cheapest and easiest to manage worm bin system that I’ve seen:

Materials Needed to Make an Easy Harvester Worm Bin:

* Two 8-10 gallon plastic storage boxes (dark, not see through!) as shown in pictures Cost: about $5 each

* Drill (with 1/4 and 1/16 bits) for making drainage & ventilation holes

* Newspaper

* About one pound of redworms

Visit their site for more details and instructions.

In an earlier comment here on Tipnut [2], Kitkat highly recommended vermicomposting [3] kitchen scraps. Quote from Wikipedia:

Vermicompost (also called worm compost, vermicast, worm castings, worm humus or worm manure) is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by some species of earthworm. Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer and soil conditioner. The process of producing vermicompost is called vermicomposting .

Thanks Kitkat for the tip, this is a great idea!
Also See These Tips:

* How to Build a $15 Compost Bin [4]
* How To Make Compost Guide [5]
* Composting Leaves Without A Bin: How To [6]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/make-your-own-cheap-easy-worm-bin/

URLs in this post:

[1] Cheap and Easy Worm Bin!: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywormbin.htm

[2] In an earlier comment here on Tipnut: http://tipnut.com/tips-for-leftovers/

[3] vermicomposting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicomposting

[4] How to Build a $15 Compost Bin: http://tipnut.com/how-to-build-a-15-compost-bin/

[5] How To Make Compost Guide: http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-compost-guide/

[6] Composting Leaves Without A Bin: How To: http://tipnut.com/composting-leaves/

Lawn Care Tip - Secret Lawn Tonic Recipe

Posted By TipNut On May 1, 2007 @ 10:34 am In Garden & Plants | 8 Comments

Picture of Lawn - Tipnut.com

Today’s feature is from two sites with the same lawn care tip.

First Wise Bread with this tip for healthy, green grass: Secret Lawn Tonic Recipe From Golf Course Groundskeeper [1].

You will need:

* One full can of regular pop (any kind-no diet soda)
* One full can of beer (no light beer)
* 1/2 Cup of Liquid dishwashing soap (do NOT use anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid)
* 1/2 Cup of household ammonia
* 1/2 Cup of mouthwash (any brand)

Directions:

* Pour into 10-gallon hose-end sprayer (other sizes will work too)
* In high heat, apply every three weeks

Green Lawn: Pop, beer, dishwashing liquid, mouthwash, etc., … how could you go wrong with a recipe like that! Seriously, I’m handing this one off to my husband. Super Green Lawn here we come! :)

I admit when I first read the tonic recipe, I was a little iffy about it. Beer? Mouthwash? Pop? Lawn maintenance has never been so wacky! The post mentions the groundskeeper’s name, so I did a quick search and found this on a tv station website: KSL TV [2]:

He gets these great results with no sprinkler system and only a little fertilizer.

Tim Heffron, Lawn Tonic Expert: “I started using it about five years ago– back in Oklahoma– where it’s 100– 100 degrees every day– day in and day out.”

His secret–a formula– a “tonic” made-up of common household ingredients. A pop, a beer, a little liquid dishwashing soap- some mouthwash–and some household ammonia–all mixed in to a 10-gallon hose-end sprayer. The pop and the beer are essentially food for your lawn, and,

Tim Heffron, Lawn Tonic Expert: “The combination of the two will allow the grass–the dead grass in your lawn– help to begin to break down and to compost much quicker.”

Well–looks legit to me! Make sure to visit both sites and read the instructions and details as to why it works, very cool tip! Here’s to happy, healthy (and tipsy) green lawns!
Also See These Tips:

* Quick Tips For Plants & Garden [3]
* Household Degreaser & Cleaner Recipe [4]
* How To Wash & Care For Fine China Dishes [5]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/lawn-care-tip-secret-lawn-tonic-recipe/

URLs in this post:

[1] Secret Lawn Tonic Recipe From Golf Course Groundskeeper: http://www.wisebread.com/secret-lawn-tonic-recipe-from-golf-course-groundskeeper

[2] KSL TV: http://water.ksl.com/index.php?nid=3&sid=92192

[3] Quick Tips For Plants & Garden: http://tipnut.com/tips-plants-garden/

[4] Household Degreaser & Cleaner Recipe: http://tipnut.com/household-degreaser-cleaner-recipe/

[5] How To Wash & Care For Fine China Dishes: http://tipnut.com/how-to-wash-care-for-fine-china-dishes/

Make Your Own Garden Pots With Hypertufa

Posted By TipNut On April 16, 2007 @ 10:47 am In DIY Projects, Garden & Plants | 1 Comment

Handy Tip - Tipnut.com

Today’s feature tip is from TimpyWorks with their instructions on Hypertufa 101 [1] and Hypertufa 201 [2]:

This first lesson will help you learn how to modify a mold and will get you thinking about using the common containers you already have around your home. This lesson will also show you how to make openings in the walls of your hypertufa creations. Once you have those openings mastered you can go on to make lanterns and birdfeeders (THE LATER PROJECTS – HYPERTUFA 301). Believe me, your friends will be amazed at how skilled and artistic you are! You will smile, knowingly and sweetly, and say, “Thank you in response to all the compliments. (And only you and I will know how easy it really is.)

What is hypertufa? TimpyWorks explains [3]:

There are a number of recipes for hypertufa. The basic one is sand or perlite combined with cement and peat moss. The finished products are lighter in weight than concrete and have an ancient look about them, as if they’d been sitting outside for the past couple of hundred years or so just waiting for you to find them and fill them with sedum or hen and chicks or rare alpines or even shade-loving plants, if that’s your choice for wherever you garden.

The first two lessons on how to make hypertufa are free, and they’re all you need to get you well on your way. There are other reports for sale on TimpyWorks for more advanced projects, but I haven’t read them so I can’t say whether or not they’re worth it. The price is very reasonable though and if the intro reports 101 and 201 are an indication, I’m sure they’re excellent as well.

There really is no limit to what you can create with hypertufa and I think the items made grow more interesting as they age. The moss that can grow on them create such an ancient and interesting look.

This is quite a nice garden art hobby to master, feel free to send me some photos if you’ve tried it!
Also See These Tips:

* Create A New Garden Feature FAST With Moss Or Stain [4]
* How To Grow Roses In Pots [5]
* Moss Starter Recipe [6]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/make-your-own-garden-pots-with-hypertufa/

URLs in this post:

[1] Hypertufa 101: http://www.timpyworks.com/pamphlets/hypertufa-101/101.html

[2] Hypertufa 201: http://www.timpyworks.com/pamphlets/hypertufa-201/201.html

[3] TimpyWorks explains: http://www.timpyworks.com/about/what-is-hypertufa.php

[4] Create A New Garden Feature FAST With Moss Or Stain: http://tipnut.com/create-a-new-garden-feature-fast-with-moss-or-stain/

[5] How To Grow Roses In Pots: http://tipnut.com/how-to-grow-roses-in-pots/

[6] Moss Starter Recipe: http://tipnut.com/moss-starter-recipe/

Make Your Own Organic Potting Soil

Posted By TipNut On February 28, 2007 @ 6:42 am In Garden & Plants, Green Living | 1 Comment

Picture of Seedling & Potting Soil - Tipnut.com

If you make your own organic potting mix, you still have to avoid using any prohibited ingredients, and that means checking out all the individual ingredients for their organic acceptability.

It may surprise you to learn that products like peat moss or limestone are sometimes treated with prohibited materials such as wetting or anti-caking agents, so don’t rely on assumptions about purity.

In addition to meeting certification requirements, your final product will also need to provide plant roots with the right amount of air, water and nutrients.

(Source: Potting Mixes For Organic Growers [1]).
Organic Potting Soil Mixes & Recipes

Classic Soil-Based Mix

1/3 mature compost or leaf mold, screened
1/3 garden topsoil
1/3 sharp sand

Seedling Mix for Styrofoam Seedling Flats

2 parts compost
2 parts peat moss
1 part vermiculite, pre-wet

Sowing Mix

5 parts compost
4 parts soil
1-2 parts sand
1-2 parts leaf mold, if available
1 part peat moss, pre-wet and sifted

Note: All ingredients are sifted through a 1/4-inch screen. For every shovelful of peat, add two tablespoons of lime to offset the acidity.

Growing Mixes for Pots and Baskets

30 percent topsoil
60 percent peat
10 percent perlite
5 pounds lime per cubic yard
3 pounds dolomitic lime per cubic yard

Note: The handling of this pot mix is the same as for pack mix.

Bedding Plant Recipe

25% compost
50% peat moss
25% perlite or vermiculite

*Source: National Sustainable Agriculture Information Services [2]
Also See These Tips:

* Composting Leaves Without A Bin: How To [3]
* How To Make Compost Guide [4]
* 10 Organic Aids & Natural Planting Tips For Gardening [5]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/make-your-own-organic-potting-soil/

URLs in this post:

[1] Potting Mixes For Organic Growers: http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/pottingmix.html

[2] National Sustainable Agriculture Information Services: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/potmix.html#appendix3

[3] Composting Leaves Without A Bin: How To: http://tipnut.com/composting-leaves/

[4] How To Make Compost Guide: http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-compost-guide/

[5] 10 Organic Aids & Natural Planting Tips For Gardening: http://tipnut.com/organic-aids-natural-planting-tips-for-gardening/

Flower Preservative Recipes & Instructions

Posted By TipNut On October 28, 2006 @ 6:25 pm In Crafty Ideas, Garden & Plants | No Comments

Picture of Flower - Tipnut.com

Interested in preserving flowers from your garden? Here are two different recipes & methods you can try.

How To Preserve Flowers

Materials Needed

Fresh Flowers
Floral Wire
Airtight Container
Plastic Bag
Borax
Soft Brush

Flower suggestions: daisies, mums, pansies, roses, sweet peas

Instructions:

* Remove the stems from the flowers with wire by running it through the throat of the flower and twisting it.
* Take the plastic bag and line the container with it (open side up).
* Pour the borax into the bag, cover the bottom about 1 inch deep.
* Place the blossom of the flower face down in the borax; add as many flowers as the container can hold–do not crowd.
* Cover the flowers with another layer of borax.
* Twist the plastic bag closed as tightly as possible.
* Seal the container and let the flowers sit for at least 5 weeks.
* Remove the flowers, and carefully brush away the borax.

You can now use these dried florals for crafts.

Cornmeal/Borax Floral Preservative

2 parts cornmeal
1 part borax (powdered)
Cardboard box with lid or tin with lid

Directions:

* Start with combining the cornmeal/borax mix to fill half the box or tin you will be using.
* Mix thoroughly.
* Take the freshly cut flowers and place face down in the mix. Partly cover the flowers with the mixture.
* Keep the lid on the container. Dry for approximately 3 weeks.

After use save the mixture as it can be reused over and over again.
Also See These Tips:

* How To Dry Flowers: A Collection of Tips [1]
* Newspaper Clipping Preservative: Recipe [2]
* How To Make A Flower Press + More [3]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/flower-preservative/

URLs in this post:

[1] How To Dry Flowers: A Collection of Tips: http://tipnut.com/how-to-dry-flowers-a-collection-of-tips/

[2] Newspaper Clipping Preservative: Recipe: http://tipnut.com/newspaper-clipping-preservative/

[3] How To Make A Flower Press + More: http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-a-flower-press/

Propagation & Stem Cuttings: How To

Posted By TipNut On October 23, 2006 @ 4:06 pm In Garden & Plants | No Comments

Picture of Houseplants - Tipnut.com

While division is a simple way to create one, two, or three new plants, cuttings allow the propagator to make an infinite number.

* Gather together a sharp knife, moist paper towels, a cutting surface, a propagation sweatbox (either a miniature greenhouse or a homespun version — a small pot placed inside a plastic, zippered storage bag), rooting medium (a commercially prepared mix or a homemade one of half peat moss and half perlite), and a water-misting bottle.

* The best time to take houseplant cuttings is in the morning of a mid-spring day. The ideal cutting is three to six inches long and contains at least three nodes (where leaves appear on a stem).

* Make a clean, angled cut an inch below a node, then detach all leaves from the lower half of the cutting. Remove any flowers or flower buds from the entire cutting. To retain moisture, wrap the cutting in paper towels.

* Next, dig a hole in the rooting medium to accommodate the width and height of the leafless node section. Use the knife to make a final, clean cut just below one of the lowest, leafless nodes, and place the cutting in the planting hole. The cutting should be able to support itself; if it doesn’t, plant it deeper.

* Mist it gently with water and replace the greenhouse top or drop the container into the storage bag with the zipper (half-open) on top. Mist once a week and adjust the humidity accordingly: Dense condensation signifies that the plant needs more air; wilting implies the opposite.

Every week, check for roots by inserting a butter knife into the medium and tilting the cutting upward. When the roots are one inch long, consider the cutting young and fragile but independent enough to graduate into a pot.
Also See These Tips:

* Daylilies, Iris & Peonies: How To Divide & Transplant [1]
* How To Multiply & Extend Your Poinsettia [2]
* How To Grow An Avocado Tree [3]

Article printed from TipNut.com: http://tipnut.com

URL to article: http://tipnut.com/propagation-stem-cuttings/

URLs in this post:

[1] Daylilies, Iris & Peonies: How To Divide & Transplant: http://tipnut.com/how-to-dig-divide-transplant-daylilies/

[2] How To Multiply & Extend Your Poinsettia: http://tipnut.com/extend-poinsettia/

[3] How To Grow An Avocado Tree: http://tipnut.com/grow-an-avocado-tree/