Winning tip: Handy garden tool tote
Several years ago while shopping at a big-box store, I spotted this tote in the household-cleaning section. In addition to carrying cleaning supplies, it can be used as a shower caddy, but I envisioned it as a garden-tool tote—balanced, sturdy, comfortable to carry, and with holes in each compartment for drainage. I’ve used it for a few years now, switching tools as needed so that I’m always ready for the current job. Cleaning the tote in spring or fall is as easy as removing the tools and spraying it out with a hose.
—Lynn Dampman, Glenrock, Wyoming
Make those tools stand out
I’m sometimes careless in the garden, and I used to lose tools because I couldn’t find them. After seeing a set of brightly colored tools, I came up with an idea that was much cheaper than buying a whole new set—bright-colored duct tape on the handles. I’m still working on being less careless, but at least now I can see my tools when I leave them in odd places.
—Susie Narkis, River Forest, Illinois
Color-coded bulbs
I plant hundreds of bulbs each year, and invariably mistakes happen: The colors don’t match the descriptions, the effect isn’t quite what I want, or I mix up the packages of bulbs. I have to dig up and move those bulbs. But I would never remember which ones to dig up come moving time in the fall, so I wrap colored metallic twist ties around the bulbs’ stems below the leaves. The color of each twist tie matches the bulb, and the ties are easy to remove once the bulbs are in their new home.
—Julie Scandora, Seattle
A chandelier planter
Many people are changing out their old chandeliers for new ones, and I found an old one online for free. I removed the light bulbs and added planting soil and strawberry plants. Now that I’ve hung the chandelier, the slugs can’t reach the plants. I really enjoy reusing items. Plus, I got some free light bulbs!
—Seelah Poling, Marysville, Washington
Overwintering dahlia bulbs
I live in Minnesota, and every year I attempt to overwinter my dahlia bulbs. I’ve tried following directions and also attempting new methods. I am pleased to say that I’ve had great success this year with a method that was in part created by laziness. Last fall I dug up the bulbs and left them in the huge dirt clumps that were attached to them. I put the clumps with the bulbs into leftover summer annual pots. I stored them in a space in the basement that is under the stairs and remains cool but doesn’t freeze. That’s it. The bulbs really just liked staying in the dirt. When I took them out and picked away the dried dirt, underneath were nice plump bulbs, and several were sprouting.
—Vicky Swanson, Tonka Bay, Minnesota
Securing an open bag
When I use a large bag of weed and feed, potting soil, or grass seed, I cut across the bag but leave some of the material attached. This creates a tail that I then use to secure the bag tightly.
—Sheila Abair, St. Albans, Vermont
Broken main stems on young pepper plants
A mother turtle visited my vegetable garden in spring to dig a hole for her eggs. In the process, she uprooted and broke several of my peppers. If I found the uprooted plants before they wilted, I replanted them and they recovered. I wrapped the broken stems that were still attached by even a few threads with a couple of adhesive bandages while I held the top half in place. A few weeks later when I removed the bandages, I found mended stems. The plants grew and produced a good crop.
—Mary Crum, Fort Myers, Florida
Weeding with a hula hoop
I have a long garden bed with small, young plants. In the spring there are still weeds that want a spot. I use a hula hoop with my different weeding tools to clean up the bed. I put the hula hoop on the ground to help me “see” a specific area that I need to weed before moving on to the next one. Before using the hoop I used to get distracted by every weed that caught my eye and so wouldn’t fully weed an area. You could also dance with the hoop in the garden, but I have no comment on that.
—Tracy Leach, Cobourg, Ontario
From birdbath to pedestal planter
The top of my birdbath broke, so I found a large pot of a similar color and used it as a pedestal planter. In the photo, you can see the dichondra spilling over the edge like shimmering water. African daisy and cardinal flower are in the pot with the dichondra.
—JoAnn Atwell, Branchburg, New Jersey
Contribute to a bird’s home
When it is time to refresh the coco fiber liners in hanging baskets, the remnants of the old liners can be recycled as bird nesting material. Just tuck what is left of the old liner between the wire frame and the new liner. During the early-spring nesting season in my area, birds raid the liners for these leftover fibers.
—Jeffrey Steiner, Albany, Oregon
Photos, except where noted: courtesy of the contributors
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Water Right PSH-100-MG-1PKRS 400 Series, 100-Foot, Olive Green
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XLUX Soil Moisture Meter
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