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http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/962268/
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Here are the entries so far. I'll keep adding to it as they come in. I will post voting instructions tonight after the contest closes at midnight.
Yotedog
Before going out to work in the garden, rub about a half to one tablespoon of any cooking oil or rich lotion onto your hands, in your cuticles, and up under your fingernails. I find that olive oil works great--its just the right viscosity. Rub it in enough that the oil does not prevent you from gripping tools etc (if you get too much, just put on some garden gloves until its absorbed).
When you come in from gardening you will find that dirt and stains come off your skin much easier, and that the dirt doesn't stick up under your nails--all is easily washed away with any soap that breaks down the oil. Plus, your hands are moisturized--a real plus if its cold, or if your soil irritates your skin. Also a huge plus if you have red clay that stains your hands, as I do. Even if I wear gloves, I seem to end up with just enough dirt inside the gloves to get up under my nails and into my cuticles--this trick really helps.
Starlight1153
Entry. Cut pieces of pvc pipe and then cut in half again and can use differrent sizes to make collars just below and above soil line to keep slugs from crawlign up plants and eating them.
If you cut the collars in half then it easy to remov e if ya need to put bigger size collar around without damaging plants
Luvsgrtdanes
When I 'm in the yard there is always a chore to do, pull a weed, deadhead a flower...my yard is just big enough from front to back that's it's a pain to have to walk to the shed or garage for a pair of snippers or a tool. If I am just out there for a few minutes before work or something it's seem to be much easier to have things on hand. I Have my good tools or serious work but for quick jobs I keep quite a few pair of cheap (dollar store~flea market) items all around the yard so I always have them at arms reach. I'll put them under something to try to keep them dry but don't worry to much about that if they are recycled, and most tools are pretty long lasting even the cheap ones! Makes for quick clean up and I'm not looking all over the place for something, it's right at hand.
Moretz
What you can do with all my tools is ,get an old mailbox or buy a new one,you can either paint it the color you need to go with your gardens colors or leave it the color it came,and stick it in the yard in your gardens to put your tools in and dont have to worry about them getting wet
Mjsponies
I use a "tool belt"...I keep a small sniper, a large sniper, and a pair of "claws" and a sharp pointed tool, I don't know what they call it but it's great for aireiating (?) plants in the ground and in pots. In any case with the tool belt I can keep track of my tools and don't have to wonder if I left such and such around to use. With the tool belt you can put whatever you like and it's handy when ever you need it. Wkith the tool belt you don't have to carry it, you can leave your tools in it, and it's with you whenever your out in the garden. It's not heavy, it's not cumbersome and you just hang it up in your favorite place when you come in from the garden. For me that's on a hook by the back door.
CajuninKy
Here's a quick, easy and econimical hanging planter. You will need an empty gallon jug, something to cut with, a hole punch, a square of lanscape cloth or similiar material about 4' x 4" and a pants clothes hanger ( one with a cardboard tube ) Cut the bottom off the jug. Make a slit about 1 1/2" long up each corner. Turn the edges down. On opposing sides, punch a hole in the center of the flap through both layers. Remove the cardboard tube from the hanger and thread the ends through the holes in the jug. Place square of material inside the jug over the spout. This will keep the soil in and still allow drainage. Fill your container with soil of your choice, plant and hang. I plant my cucumbers in them to save room in my small garden space.
Karri_sue
I keep a clothespin on each of my tomatoe cages so that when I see one of those nasty hornworms on my plant I just place the clothespin on the creepy critter. It will eventually let go of the plant and fall to the ground. Once I see that it is dead I just release it from the cpin and go after the next one. This way I don't ever have to touch them!
KristaJoy
I use an old lamp shade when spraying for weeds in my flower beds. I cut the wire center out with a wire cutter. You can put over the plant to protect it from the spray and still get all the weeds around it.
Slcdms
Save all your cereal, oatmeal, and any other kind of cardboard box for lasagna gardening. It will help with landfills and give you plenty of cardboard material to make your beds. I break them down flat and put them inside other boxes until I can get outside to put them in the garden. You will be surprised how many cardboard boxes you throw away in a week, when you start to save them. Even though they are not thick, they will still work. I have even saved the Pizza Hut boxes !!!
Gardengus
I keep plastic knifes in my pocket when weeding especially in the spring and when I find new seedlings I mark them both so they do not get pulled and also when I am finished with a bed I get small pots and dig seedlings to share or move ...the knife is then labeled and added to the pot.
Purpbutfly
I have a 5 gallon bucket that I put a 30 pocket tool bag in it. I have all of my garden tool, seed packets, ties, bug spray etc. Also other tools like screw drivers in case something needs to be repaired where I'm working then I don't have to go back to the shed. Plus I keep some sand in the bottom to stick the muddy tools in to clean.
Synda
I keep a small shovel,garbage bags,gloves,paper towels and wet wipes in the trunk of my car.Ever been driving down a road and see flowers in a ditch or just along the road?Well be prepared at all times!Old country roads or even dirt roads are the best.At times you can find a gold mine,and what a pity to have to just drive by and let the county just mow those beauties over when they would be such an addition to your garden.Last summer I found a patch of Wild Bergamot,waiting to see what comes back up this year in my flower bed.
Mibus2
I take empty milk jugs cut the bottom off and use them over my tomato, pepper and any other plant for the veggie garden to protect them from the birds and winds until they start coming out the top hole...gives a lil bit of a green house effect and protects them when I put them out a lil early from any cool weather that happens to come by.
This message was edited Mar 13, 2009 1:54 PM
CLOSED: Contest: Garden Tips & Tricks Entries
