If anyone has any useful gardening tips, information or interesting links then this page is where we will show them. Send them via email to cothigardeners@gmail.com for inclusion.

Our monthly topical tips can be seen if you hover the cursor over the ‘Gardening Tips and Other Miscellany’ heading in the header bar of the page and then click on the drop down menu

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NEED HELP IN THE GARDEN?

      

Info from Gwenda… she can recommend him!
Twelve pounds an hour, she says he is well worth it, works really hard!

John 01570 481 814 or 079853 45207

Gardening, cleaning, mowing, pressure washing, hedge cutting and problems with rats and moles!!

                                   

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Following our June meeting suggestions control of various gardening problems were suggested by members.

1. Using milk to control Mildew. A spray made of 40% milk and 60% water can be as effective as chemical fungicides in managing powdery mildew. The following link gives more information both about powdery mildew and it’s control. http://www.growveg.com/growblogpost.aspx?id=242

2. The problems of an increase in the number of rabbits some members were experiencing prompted the following recommendation: ‘Grazers’ – click on the link to find out more http://www.grazers.co.uk/

3. Soapy water was suggested to control aphids as it has the effect of blocking up the pores in the aphids body thus effectively suffocating it. Another interesting website with ideas for homemade recipes for aphid control is: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf/Pest_Control/Aphids/Homemade-Aphid-Spray-Recipes.html

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Elena’s Homemade Weedkiller Recipe

1 gallon of white vinegar
1/2 cup salt
Liquid dish soap (any brand)
Empty spray bottle.
Put salt in the empty spray bottle and fill it the rest of the way up with white vinegar. Add a squirt of liquid dish soap. This solution works best if you use it on a hot day. Spray it on the weeds in the morning, and as it heats up it will do its work. Good to know!

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Julian’s Homemade Weedkiller Recipe – use on paths, drives, yards etc

½ kg Salt
1 dessert spoon cheap wash powder
1 gallon hot water

Place salt and wash powder in a watering can and fill up with the hot water, stirring to dissolve.
Use a watering can with a rose and apply with rose close to the ground making sure everything is thoroughly wetted.
Repeat 4 – 5 times between mid March and September.

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Also from Elena is a link to a useful article on edible flowers found in the newsletter from lifespan.com (to see the article click here) If you click on the link it will take you to the article from where you can download their edible flowers chart so that you can have it more easily to hand. Unfortunately it is in PDF format so I can’t reproduce it here.

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More tips from Elena………….

Have only used the last one… it works but I keep forgetting to keep doing it 🙂

Am trying the banana skins tip … will let you know how it goes !

Alternative Gardening Tips:

• Save banana skins and let them dry. Plant them at the base of your tomato plants for a tomato pick-me-up. Or…. puree the banana peels, add water and pour around the base of the tomato plants for strong growth.
• Put garlic and onion skins into a lidded gallon container. Cover with water, put the lid on and leave for a week. Strain off the liquid and use as a spray to get rid of aphids.
• Sprinkle cabbage heads with cinnamon to keep bugs away.
• Try a spray with chamomile tea to prevent damping off fungus in seedlings.
• Spray garden tools with a coating of car wax. Repeat monthly. A heavy coat in autumn keeps the tools from rusting over the winter. Better still, try used cooking oil!

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Moisturizing Hand Salve

This salve softens and protects gardening hands.
Lavender & Lemongrass smell nice & support good skin health.
Sandalwood balances, reminding us that gardening is also spiritual!

Ingredients
2 oz beeswax
2 oz coconut oil
4 oz olive oil
20 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops lemongrass essential oil
5 drops sandalwood essential oil

Directions
Heat beeswax, coconut oil, and olive oil gently to melt
Remove from heat and mix in essential oils
Pour into a wide-mouthed glass or metal jar and allow to harden

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