Organic Gardening Tips: From Dogs to Tea Bags

Grab a few bags of organic potting soil and lean them up against the sunny side of your garage or a brick wall of your home. Using a sharp knife, slit 4 small holes in each bag and place your plant seedlings in them. Plant different varieties in each bag or mix them up. Flowers also grow well when sown right into the bag. The bag won't even be seen once the foliage takes over.

You can also fill heavy plastic garbage bags with compost for a cheaper alternative.

Sowing very small seeds and having problems doing it?

When planting small seeds spread them over a damp paper towel and allow it to dry on the window sill in the sun. Once dry, cut the paper towel into small squares and place onto the dirt in your garden. Sprinkle with potting soil and water.

Overwhelmed By Plastic Grocery Bags?

Recycle those old plastic shopping bags but placing one inside the other, then roll them down onto themselves to create a cuff like rim. Fill with compost or potting mix and plant some squash seed or zucchini. Water.

Do You Own Citrus Trees?

Save the skins from oranges, lemons , grapefruit and limes. Spread them in the sun to dry, then store in an cane basket by the fireplace. These are great added to your fire starter chips, reducing the need to burn your money. The oil in the skins burn readily with a gentle glow.

Mold On Your Zucchinis And Squash Plants?

Sometimes mold can form on the underside of leaves when growing vegetables. This can cause the death of the plant, or any fruit which is half grown. Mix together a cocktail of milk and water to spray the leaves with, mold will not grow where this has been sprayed, and will disappear with a gentle wipe if already present.

Does your dog use your flower garden as a bathroom or thoroughfare?

Before or after mulching, lay some large rocks around the garden first. The more the better. When Fido or Kitty need to 'go', the won't be able to scratch so they will go elsewhere. If you want the rocks hidden, put most of the mulch underneath them, with just a light layer of mulch to hide them on top.

Propagating Plant Cuttings:

Don't purchase chemical based powders to starting your plants. Take the cuttings and dip the ends into honey, then plant as usual.

Ants Removing Soil From Your Flower Pots?

Sometimes ants will take loads of soil home from the holes in the bottom of your pots. They also steal seeds. Use coffee filter papers to line the bottom of your flower pots before filling with soil or potting mix to deter these little hijackers.

Tea Bag Seed Starters:

Many seeds will start to grow readily when placed into a spent tea bag. Just take your scissors and snip the top off leaving a small sack of tea leaves, stand them onto a plate with a little water to keep them damp and poke one seed into each bag.