Garden Friend: Useful Garden Tool Tips and Tricks
MIDDLETOWN - There are many useful objects around the house that can be used for a purpose other than its intended use. I have found that to be so in the garden as well as in my home.

       One of my favorite weeders is a plain old screwdriver. It can get into tight areas, especially when I’m trying to get grass out of a plant or shrubs roots. It can be beat up and worn and it’s doesn’t matter. When it’s not in use, I can stick it in the ground so it doesn’t get lost amongst the plants.

       I used to wonder where to put my wet, muddy gloves to dry when I came across a pant/skirt hanger. It was perfect--not only could I hang them to dry in the shed, I could fold them over to keep critters out and keep the mice from them.

       Speaking of mice, it didn’t seem to matter to them what they chewed. Gloves, twine and seeds were some of the biggest problems. I had an old bread box that used to come in cabinet drawers; it was the perfect solution. Not only was it made of metal, but the sliding door had holes in it to keep things from getting musty. Now anything I think the mice will get to goes in there. Any metal bucket or can with a few holes would work just as well.

       I used to save seeds in old film canisters (yes, when we still took pictures with film) but now with everything being digital, they are a little harder to come by. I make bead jewelry (this is why I don’t watch TV) and I realized those nice little plastic storage containers were nice and neat and perfect for seeds. I have the ones with the screw caps and a nice plastic case to keep everything together. I simply put a slip of paper in the containers to identify the seeds.

       Measuring any kind of concentrated liquid to mix precisely was always a hassle until I came across a shot glass. It has teaspoon, tablespoon, ounces and millimeter measurements, which covered everything I would use it for. The best thing is it can be cleaned.

       I have lots of birdbaths and they are scattered throughout the yard. I was always looking for my brushes and vinegar and lugging them around the yard. I needed something to keep everything in one place and have it easily accessible. A plastic kitty litter bucket fit the bill. It has a nice lid and I can leave it next to the potting bench and not worry about anything getting wet. I liked this bucket idea so well that I ended up keeping one next to my veggie garden also. It had the twist ties for the tomato plants and a spare pruner along with a few other tools. It was handy when I just needed to do some quick maintenance.

       These are just a few of the many things I have used around my garden. I know there are many more with just a little imagination and ‘hmmmm, what can I use?’

      
MORE MIDDLETOWN NEWS  |  STORY BY JEANIE FALCO  |  Nov 04 2014  |  COMMENTS?