My grandson, Bryce, is on this gardening kick. He wants Nana to have a garden so he can eat all the fruits and some of the veggies out of it. There is One Problem with that; Nana doesn’t have a green thumb to save her life! I have tried, and the only thing that is still alive in my garden, which is in front of the porch is a Cactus and am still not sure if it’s live. But, I did find some tips about gardening that I hope will help you during this time of staying at home during COVID-19:
Tip No. 1: Try using cut up strips of old t-shirts to tie plants, like tomato plants, to dowel sticks or even just plain old sticks to help your plants grown vertically.
Tip No. 2: Do you have a bumper crop of herbs to harvest? After cutting them and giving them a good rinse. Let them dry and chop them up. Then use ice cube trays to freeze them in either water or oil, depending on the herb and your preferences to preserve them until you need them to use for recipes. Leftover herbs are also great added to softened butter and stored in the freezer until you can use them in cooking or as a finishing sauce for meats or vegetables.
Tip No. 3: Do you have a lot of seed packets? A great way to organize them and store them is to use a photo album. You could also add notes or tricks that you have learned over previous planting experience with the seeds.
Tip No. 4: Do you have some seedlings that are ready to plant? Start your seedlings in their own biodegradable ‘pots’ by using a half of a lemon rind that is left after scooping out the center. Add potting soil and your seedling, and you can plant the whole thing in your pot or garden when you are ready.
Tip No. 5: many fruits and vegetables can be re-planted. Take a green onion and slice off the bottom of the white onion. Place your onion in a small jar of water. In a few days, your onion will be sprouting roots, and you will have you a new onion plant!
Tip No. 6: Leftover eggshells can also be very beneficial for your plants. Rinse them thoroughly and crush the shells. Sprinkle the crushed pieces over the soil around your plants’ roots. Not only will the eggshells deter some pests from hanging around your plant, but they will also enrich the soil with calcium over time.
Tip No. 7: If you have leftover rain boots from kids or grandkids, wash them up and then decorate them with spray paint, etc. Use each boot as a planter for herbs and other small plants. The boots can then be mounted on a fence, or a pair could be a cute decoration on a porch or at a doorway.
Tip No. 8: Do you have a slug problem? Evidently, slugs cannot hold their liquor. To get rid of them, leave a small dish or dishes of beer around your problem area in your garden. In the morning, you will find a dish of dead or highly inebriated slugs awaiting to be discarded.
Tip No. 9: Before going out to work in your garden, dig your nails into a bar of soap so that your nails are full of soap, so there is no room for dirt as you are working. When you finish, just wash your hands thoroughly, and your nails will be clean and stain-free.
Tip No. 10: Consider painting your planters on your deck or in your yard with Glow-in-the-Dark paint. It creates an interesting effect at night!
Tip No. 11: Use a clean disposable diaper or a piece of one in your planter as a base with the absorbent side up before adding your soil and plant. The diaper will help hold moisture in the planter.
Tip No. 12: Use an old strainer as a hanging planter. Spray paint or decorate the strainer to match your outdoor décor before adding your soil and plant.
If you would like to find out more information about gardening tips, contact Mrs. Pyles at KLB. Stay safe and well during this COVID-19 situation, and we look forward to working with our volunteers soon. You can reach Keep Liberty Beautiful by calling (912) 880-4888 or email: klcb@libertycountyga.com, or visit www.keeplibertybeautiful.org.