Tips on Supporting Bees, Storing Hoses, Deterring Deer, Starting Tiny Seeds, and Discarding Invasive Brush and Vines

Have you ever noticed doer bees collecting water supply while they are out foraging ? If you ’d like to put up a water way - station for your little winged friends , fill a shallow dish with pebbles , marbles , or gravel , and then deluge the dish with water . The marbles will provide good landing spots for the bees so they can get a drink without falling into the water .

— Dell Salza , Shaker Heights , Ohio

Garden hose storage

I have found an easy and cheap way to attend a garden hose . Take an empty 3 - pound coffee can , and screw or absquatulate it to a wall or other suitable surface . Be sure to use some large washer when you bind the can to give the back more strength . impound a bolt through the front top side of the can will help bear the hose in place . I ’ve lease my can naturally brave to a rusty brown colouration , but you may also paint it to accommodate your garden location . Finally , the candid end of the can may be used as a ready to hand storage ABA transit number for sprinklers or hosepipe schnoz .

— Christopher Patin , Clovis , California

Cologne as a deer deterrent

To keep deer out from my bedding plant , I soak the tops of bamboo sticks in strongly scented Koln . ( I have found that men ’s cologne water works well . ) I usually leave them to soak for two to three days in a plastic old bag . Then I introduce the bottoms of the stick into soil near my plants . The sticks blend into the background signal , so I do n’t need to cover them from view . The deer and racoon stay far aside ! The scent endure about a month , and I repeat the process as needed . Eventually , the cervid just avoid the field . This tip also works for potted flora .

— Leslie Gault , Ashland , Oregon

Bag up invasive brush and vines

My garden is adjacent to a wetland , so take away trespassing nonnative tree , bush , and perennials is a top priority . I have find that a 1 - net ton woven polypropylene bag — the type that is used for present sand , crushed rock , and other bulk materials — is the arrant container for assemblage and enchant woody stem and vine . I can easy puff the old bag around with me as I process , and when it is full I get help from a family penis or neighbor to lift it into the bed of my pickup truck . From there , it is easy to coldcock the material onto the coppice good deal at our local carry-over post .

— Eileen Coomb , Torrington , Connecticut

Tiny seeds indoors

When planting flyspeck germ indoors ( for instance , poppies , petunias , strawberries , or thyme ) , I do not cover the germ with soil . Seeds should not be buried more than twice their girth . Tiny seed are well sprinkled over the soil open . To prevent the seeds from being blown away or drying out , I cover them with a single level of vermiculite and then water from the bottom of the container . The vermiculite swell with urine and hold the seeds in place without compacting or stifling their growth .

— Mary Crum , Fort Myers , Florida

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