Six uses for coffee cans and coffee grounds. 1. Make a feeder with an empty can. Remove the top and bottom, place on its side, fill with seed and hang.
2. Put an empty open can over your tender plants to prevent cutworms from harming them.
3. Use a can to raise a ripening watermelon or squash off the ground so the bottom of the fruit doesn't rot.
4. Measure the rainfall your garden receives by placing empty coffee cans around the area. If there is at least 1-inch inside, no supplemental watering is needed.
5. Sprinkle a thin layer of coffee grounds around the base of certain plants to improve the soil.
6. Use coffee grounds at the base of some plants to deter slugs and snails.
Uses for Plastic BagsDoes it seem as if plastic shopping bags multiply in your closets and cupboards? Here are some garden uses for them so they don't go to waste.
Protect plants from frost. Cut a hole in the bottom of a plastic bag, slip it over a plant and anchor it with small rocks. Tie it closed or close it with a clothespin or paper clip. You can open the bags when the weather warms up.
Protect your shoes from mud. Just cover them with plastic bags before you head outside to garden; secure them with rubber bands.
Store equipment manuals. Stash all your outdoor equipment warranties and owner's manuals in a plastic bag, label it and hang it in your garage. Next time you need information, you'll know exactly where to look.
Get ready for nesting season with these clever seed eggs! Angie Dixon from Blaine, Washington, has mastered this technique and sells the eggs on her website. To try these yourself, just follow Angie's simple recipe.
* 1/3 cup gelatin
* 1-1/2 cups water
* 8 cups birdseed
Mix gelatin and water over low heat until the gelatin is melted and clear. Remove from heat and stir in birdseed. Stir until there is no dry seed. Form mixture into egg shapes. Use plastic Easter eggs as a mold to get the egg shape. Refrigerate for two to four hours and dry on baking rack for three days.
Oodles of Orioles
I burn a lot of candles in my home and many of them come in jars with a glass lid. I wanted to find a good use for all the accumulated lids instead of throwing them out. My idea was to use them to feed orioles. They are great for holding an orange, or to fill with jelly. The orioles can't get enough of these treats!
Birds & Blooms
