Vinegar has many garden uses and yard uses that people are not aware of. And with vinegar being environmentally friendly and cost effective it’s a great alternative to other products.

photo credit: ZeePack

One use for Vinegar that many people do not know is that it will help fresh cut flowers last longer. So if you have fresh cut flowers in your home or have a cutting garden and use flowers or sell them this is a wonderful tip. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water. Shake well and change the water every day. Also make sure your vase is clean.

Clay Pots are pretty, add to garden décor themes and have certain benefits over plastic pots. But they can be difficult to clean. If you use vinegar the white salt buildup on old clay pots cleans easily. Simply soak the affected areas in full strength vinegar.

I don’t mind if a clay pot has an old vintage look but you don’t want the pot to be able to harbor disease. Vinegar will disinfect the pot at the same time as it cleans it.

Ants are a pest in gardens, homes, porches and many other areas. Some of these places you do not want to use a strong insect spray, especially if you have pets or small children. Plus, ants are beneficial – in the right areas. Just not in your home or garden areas.

If you spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known to gather the vinegar will keep them away.

Vinegar will help keep cats away from areas you don’t want them. Sprinkle vinegar on any areas where you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching. And many people know how much of a pest cats can be in a garden. Just spray around the garden edge to help keep any cats out of the gardens or shrubs.

Undiluted vinegar will kill grass between bricks and sidewalk cracks. This is much more environmentally friendly than premixed weed killers. Simply spray the vinegar on weeds where needed.

Spraying full strength vinegar on weeds will kill them – be careful not to spray it on the surrounding grass, as it will kill that too. If you use a bottle with a fine spray adjustment you can pick out certain weeds to kill and avoid the grass or flowers.

I like using vinegar over strong chemical mixes. It’s not harmful to the soil or other insects. I don’t have to worry about how it may affect the water table, pets or people. And one bottle of vinegar goes a long way so I save money.

Technorati Tags: clean clay pots, environmentally friendly weed killers, frugal garden ideas, vinegar uses in the garden

Do you have a favorite seed that you like to grow?

photo credit: Dermot Keigher

Unfortunately I have too many favorites but I always like any tomato seeds and hot pepper seeds. The ornamental pepper plants are beautiful and make great indoor plants.

I prefer heirloom seeds to hybrid seeds. I like the older variety of vegetables and flowers and feel heirloom seeds are better for the environment. But I do understand why some people prefer hybrid seeds.

I like the Malabar spinach because it’s edible and beautiful. It makes a great patio or balcony plant. Being a warm climate plant I start this seed indoors.

The rattail radish makes a great ornamental plant and keeps squash bugs out of the garden. The radishes grow skinny and long – like a bean. It also grows on the plant instead of in the ground. The radish is ok for eating if you use it when its small, but I really like using the seeds for a ground mustard. This radish is a bit warm to the taste.

And I like any and all gourd seeds. Gourds are fascinating to grow, cure and decorate. It’s a plant that adds variety and interest to the garden areas.

I guess that’s why I like different seeds. It add fun to the garden while you are waiting to see what the plant looks like and if it’s really as interesting as it sounded on the seed packet or in the garden catalog.

If you haven’t ordered you seeds yet for your gardens, do it now so that you will get the seeds you want.

And here is a link for free seeds - Free seeds. I use the “grow a row for the poor” seed offer every year. The seeds grow well and its for a good case.

So what’s your favorite seed?

Technorati Tags: Creative Organic Gardening, favorite seed, gardening

Each year there are trends in gardening. Sometimes the changes are small other times watch out, it’s a totally new look for the garden and yard. The trend this year is more towards the environment.

photo credit: Ksayer1

Here are three  garden trends for 2010

1.  Main Street is in. Wall Street is out.

There’s a shift of priorities between balancing practicality with comfort and fulfillment. You will see more interaction in neighborhoods with a shift back to enjoying the backyard and turning back to gardening for produce, not just gardening for a pretty yard.

For those with limited space or time there is a move towards sharing resources, skills, space, tools and time. Mini community gardens or permission of turning a vacant lot into a street garden lot is popping up in many states.  The slogans “go local” and growing your own produce is bringing neighborhoods together.

This is a smaller more relaxed version of victory gardens form the WW1 and WW11 era.

2.  Mindful is in. Bling is out.

There is a feeling in many towns of giving, creating and collaborating. With the rocky economy and job loss across the nation sharing a passion and receiving recognition has replaced “taking” as the new status symbol.

Volunteering and a shift from “me” to “we” are showing in the choice for gardens and low maintenance shrubs and plants in the yard. There is a shift towards natural plants and drought resistant plants to reduce water usage.

There is also a demand for products made from recycled materials. Environmental issues and reusing materials to save money and waste will affect garden décor and landscaping.

According to the National Marketing Institute, four out of five people say they’re still buying green products and services today, which sometimes cost more, even in the midst of a U.S. recession. More than two-thirds say they will select green over traditional “if it works.”

3.  Eco-boosting is in.

Chemical dependent gardens are out. There is a movement towards organic pest control and naturalizing plants, which do not suffer as much from insect and disease problems. Naturalizing plants are replacing the more finicky shrubs and trees in many backyards and gardens.

Many of this years garden trends are based on preservation of the environment and a more relaxed, less expensive lifestyle.

Technorati Tags: 2010 garden trends, environmental garden trends, small space gardening