6 Gardening Tips That Repurpose Common Household Items

gardener often observe clever ways to solve problems . Below you ’ll find tip from our readers that repurpose common household item to great event . Get an edge on horticulture and peruse all of our pastgardening backsheesh here .

Winning Tip: A seed-starting cleanup tool you didn’t know you had

When it’sseed - startingtime again , I like to power up my cleanup subprogram with a battery - operated soup-strainer . While I appear forward to starting seeds , I do n’t look forward to cleaning myseed trays . A dish scrubber works well with the tray , but the small size of the seed jail cell makes cleaning them more challenging . Using an previous battery - operated toothbrush give it a second usage and constitute cleaning the leftover caked - on compost a tidy sum easy . With the soup-strainer I can do a thorough cleanup before I sterilize the seed cells .

— Tom Fisher , Depew , New York

Make your leather work gloves as good as new

I use all types ofglovesfor different gardening chores . For heavy - obligation excavation in the dirt , however , nothing is better than leather work glove . I find that when they are hard dirty , they wash up great when I immerse them in soap and body of water . I blot them dry with a towel and then hang up them to dry . When they are still slenderly dampish , I slather them with a dollop of hand lotion . After they have dried all , they are soft and supple like a new pair of mitt .

— Mary Schindler , Gainesville , Florida

Colorful and sturdy peony support

I attachpeonymetal forget me drug to old wooden chairwoman that have had their seats removed . I then paint the chairs to complement whatever color is highlight in the garden . The chair are pleasing to take care at and bring home the bacon much sturdier financial support than the circles by themselves .

— Michaela Zinno , North Kingstown , Rhode Island

African violet propagation

When pot rootedAfrican violetleaves , I apply two 12 - ounce Styrofoam cups per leaf . The inside loving cup has drain holes and harbour the sassy territory . The outside cup provides insulation , and its white color keeps the plant life from overheat in the sun . I add water when need to the bottom cup , while never adjoin the farewell . Plant datum can be publish on the inside or extraneous cupful .

— Mary Crum , Ft . Myers , Florida

A chipmunk defense for tomatoes

Chipmunks have a go at it to dig at the etymon of young plants . When I move mytomatoplants to their summer household in giant potbelly , I have to protect them from chipmunks until the plants have gotten prove . I put a little circle of charge card fork around the root of each tomato plant plant and sprinkle the pedestal with hot pepper flakes from the grocery store . ( you could also apply bamboo forks or even old chopsticks . ) I just lave them at the end of each growing season , dry them , and store them away . I get several seasons out of the plastic forks before they ’re ready to be recycled .

— Carla Z. Mudry , Malvern , Pennsylvania

Keep plants moist while they’re waiting for their place in the garden

If you ca n’t institute something justly away , place the industrial plant , pot and all , in a sturdy charge card bag ( an empty potting soil handbag works great ) until you ’re quick . The bag assist to sustain wet and minimizes the need to water . I ’ve used this method often , even for overwinter fall shrubs I buy at nursery closeout sales .

— Alina Butler , Winchester , Virginia

BONUS TIP

Overwintering steps for geraniums

Here is an easy way to overwinter a geranium . With the plant in its original container , put it in a coolheaded ( above 35 ° atomic number 9 ) , dark spot prior to the first frost . Once the parting start to fall off , trim them down . Water the geranium a few times over the winter . As bounce approach , start watering more at the same meter you begin to give it indoor light . When the temperature is warm enough to put the plant outdoors , begin it in the nuance and then bit by bit acquaint it to direct sunlight . The amount of flowers you get will be astounding .

— Michael Muscarella , Tonawanda , New York

find out more about growing geranium

More info on overwintering

Repurposed puppet you may utilize in the garden

We need your gardening tips !

place your tips to[email protected]and please include high - resolution photos if possible . We pay $ 25 for each tip we publish .

Prize for gain backsheesh :

A FREE one - yr subscription toFine Gardening

Fine Gardening advocate mathematical product

Spearhead Shade Gardening Shovel with Steel - Reinforced Fiberglass Handle

ok Gardening receives a commission for particular buy through links on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

imbed in a Post - barbaric World : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Gardener ’s Supply Company Large Garden Tubtrug

Get our latest crown , how - to article , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

Signing you up …

7 Garden Tips to Make the Most of Your Time and Money

New Garden Tips for Spring

Tips for Protecting Plants

Tips for Upcycling Garden Trash into Useful Tools

unite Fine horticulture for a innocent lock live webinar boast Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned flora pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals expert manager …

When I spotted a particular backbone dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in difficulty . With a delightful color pattern …

When we only prioritise plants we want over plants our landscape painting needs , each season is filled with a never - end tilt of job : pruning , squeeze , watering , treating , remediate , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be deliberate when you participate the backyard of garden interior decorator Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …