Try these garden tips from our readers!
Summer gardening brings plenty of challenges. Discover reader-tested tips for dealing with slugs, deterring birds from nesting in rain gutters, and making the most of your garden space by sharing it with neighbors.
An easy way to use eggshells to deter snails and slugs
Constance has a problem with slugs and snails eating her hostas, so she applies ground eggshells to the areas around her hostas to deter the pests. To make the process easier, she realized she could reuse a grated parmesan cheese shaker — the durable plastic kind that dispenses from holes in the lid like you see above. Just wash the container out and let it fully dry before filling with clean, dry, ground eggshells and apply with ease.
—Tip submitted by Constance Larson, ID
Deter nesting birds with this simple solution
To prevent birds from making nests in unsafe or inconvenient spots, Jim found that he could use two unexpected items: An old tuna can and a golf ball. In some spots, such as the one where a gutter or light attaches to siding, he just balances a can where the birds will knock it off if they try to land. It makes a clanging noise that scares them away.
If they’re trying to build nests on the flat tops of his lights, he secures the can to the top. Then he places a golf ball inside. The ball rolls around when birds try to land and nest, startling them and sending them off to a different location.
—Tip submitted by Jim Fameree, WI
Grow flowers from seed all season for budget-friendly containers
It’s more economical to change your containers from season to season when you are growing some of the plants from seed. Richard has a simple rotating system in place to keep his front yard container display stunning: At the same time he plants up the spring containers in the front yard, he plants seeds and seedlings in a few pots in the backyard too.
By the time the containers out front are fading, the seed-grown plants in the back have come into their own. Richard swaps the faded planters for fresh ones that keep his front entrance looking its best. Then in the backyard he refreshes the faded pots, pulling out some spent plants, replenishing potting mix and reseeding the empty spaces with cool-season plants that will be ready to show off by the time fall comes and he’s ready to swap the containers again.
—Tip submitted by Richard Sunberg, OH
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Upcycle a rusty firepit into a garden planter
Instead of tossing out your old metal fire pit, line it with landscape fabric or coir lining and plant it up! Anna’s old fire pit had a few holes caused by rust that could provide drainage. But if yours doesn’t, just carefully drill a few new ones. If the exterior is looking a little rusty, a couple layers of spray paint can give it a fresh new look.
—Tip submitted by Anna Ellenberger, PA
Create a neighborly growing space
If you are lacking space for a vegetable garden, you might want to team up. Kent and his neighbor both wanted a vegetable garden and decided that the flattest and sunniest location was where their side yards met. Together they built the raised bed in three stair-stepping sections to follow the slope of the yard, each with their own trellises. Then they each chose one section to plant and tend themselves, leaving the middle section for shared crops.
Pole beans and cucumbers grow on the 7 ½-foot-tall trellises that also help support tomatoes and peppers. Plus there’s always room to tuck in a few flowers. This has worked so well that they often have a big harvest they can share with friends and family.
—Tip submitted by Kent Young, IA
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Photos courtesy of contributors; Illustration by Carlie Hamilton
