Winning tip: Contain flying soil while drilling for bulbs

I have garden beds on both sides of a turf path. After years of trying to keep bark mulch in the beds both clean and tidy—despite squirrels, feral cats, strong Iowa winds, and weeds—my husband and I replaced the bark with a trench filled with river rock left over from another project. Aesthetically it was a bit harsh, but the look softened as the season progressed and both perennials and annuals began to spill over the edges. One problem remained, however. Every fall we put in a few hundred tulips along the edges of this path, and it was difficult to keep soil from spilling into the stones when my husband drilled holes for the bulbs. He solved that problem by removing the bottom from a nursery pot and then operating his drill within that confined space.

—Kathy Schreurs, Sheldon, Iowa

Flavor your pizza and your plants

I have discovered that deer hate garlic. That’s probably a well-known fact to more veteran gardeners, but it has proven a game changer for us as we have tried to discourage wanton browsing by the deer. I shake a couple of tablespoons of powdered garlic into my favorite watering can, fill with water, and apply to any plant the deer have taken a liking to. This mixture lasts and discourages deer for about five days or until the first rain, at which time I reapply. This method is not recommended for vegetables, however, as the garlic taints the flavor.

—Scott Johnson, Bremerton, Washington

Repurpose election-sign wire frames

With the fall election over, I took my front yard campaign signs and removed the plastic advertising from the frame. I have a problem with deer eating my blossoming tulip bulbs in the spring, so I laid a row of chicken wire and used the wire frames to hold the wire in place for the winter and early spring. It was the perfect answer; the wire frames hold the chicken wire securely in place. I will enjoy my tulips next spring!

—Caroline Storrs, Cornish, New Hampshire

Keep critters away from new plants

With the increase in rabbits, chipmunks, and squirrels nibbling on our greenery in the Midwest, keeping young plants alive has become a challenge. This spring I was visiting a friend’s garden and saw that she was protecting her plants with wire garden cloches. She pointed out that although her fancier ones cost $60, the smaller ones were only $1.25 each. I decided to adopt her method and purchased my own small wire wastebaskets from a local dollar store to protect my new plants.

—Jane School, DeKalb, Illinois

Reuse Christmas trees and wreaths as winter garden decorations

Winter affords the avid gardener an opportunity to enjoy this beautiful season by carpeting the flower beds with branches from conifers. An easy way to do this is to take a Christmas tree and/or wreath from the recycling pile, cut the branches into 1- to 2-foot sections, and place them over your perennial beds. Once the snow falls, it creates a magical wintery scene. I add a variety of pine cones as an accent. This project costs nothing and provides the gardener with a wonderful, creative task during the winter months.

—Madeline M. Spurck, Blue Island, Illinois

Photos: courtesy of the contributors

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