Yes, that little white pill we all know so well that’s been curing headaches for as long as any of us can remember, helps keep heart attacks at bay, and is rumored to reduce your risk of cancer is actually good for healing your plant’s ailments too.  Who knew?  According to Avant Gardener mixing 1.5 uncoated Aspirin tablets with 2 Gallons of water can bring your sick little plant back to life.  Here’s how it works.

Aspirin is Salicylic Acid derived from the Willow Family.  Stressed plants naturally produce Salicylic Acid in an attempt to heal themselves.  Unfortunately, sometimes their efforts are too slow to save them in time.  Adding Aspirin to the plant can help to speed up the healing process and save the plant.  In various studies, treated plants grew faster and were able to fight off pests and diseases better than untreated plants.  Aspirin treated plants also showed an increase of production in fruits, herbs, and veggies.  Martha McBurney, the master gardener that first tested the effects of Aspirin Water on plants at The University of Rhode Island even treated their seeds with Aspirin and reported 100% germination.  You can even add an Aspirin to your vase of fresh cut flowers to keep your flowers fresher longer.  I don’t think I will ever look at Aspirin quite the same way again.

I haven’t read any studies yet on whether eating fruits and vegetables treated with Aspirin Water can help deter headaches, but I figure it probably couldn’t hurt to try. 

For more info on how Aspirin can help your garden, visit PlanTea.

A Seasoned Mint Planter will warn you that even though Mint is easy to grow, it’s also a bit of a bully.  Mint spreads and can prove a tough competitor for any other plants you happen to plant it next to.  So if you want to plant your Mint in your garden or landscape, remember to create a barrier to keep your mint under control.  You can do this by either digging a large hole and then lining it with plastic (be sure to add drainage holes) or you can dig a large hole and place a large plastic container (again, don’t forget the drainage holes) inside the hole, fill with dirt and then plant the Mint inside the container.  Be sure to follow the instructions on the plant’s tag for proper spacing, sun requirements, and watering. 

Harvesting Mint is just as easy as growing it.  Simply pinch off the stems for fresh mint leaves to use in tea, recipes, or even a mixed Mint bowl of potpourri.  Parks Brothers carries a wide selection of Mint including Apple Mint, Chocolate Mint, Orange Mint, Peppermint, and Spearmint! 

For some unique ways to use Mint in your day to day life, check out this page on Health.com!  I’m thinking their recipe for Mint Shampoo is something I have just got to try  Minty Fresh Hair?  Oh yeah, I could handle that!

It’s a lot of work.  You have to dig.  You have to weed.  You have to break up big clumps of dirt.  You have to remove all the rocks that mysteriously showed up over the winter.  And then you have to re-remove all the rocks after your faithful dog retrieves said rocks and returns them to your garden.  Oh and you have to replenish your soil to replace the nutrients your veggies borrowed from the ground last year.  Wait, what?

That’s right.  Every year the vegetables you plant borrow essential nutrients from your soil to grow and produce those wonderful fruits and veggies you love so much.  And it’s up to you to put those nutrients back so the vegetable plants you plant this year can produce quality veggies again.  Failure to do so can leave you with a less than bountiful harvest this growing season.

There are several ways to replenish your soil’s nutrients.  Our best recommendation is to take a sample of your soil to your County Extension Office to be tested.  They can tell you EXACTLY what your soil needs and what you should add for optimum growing results.  But if you’re like me, you won’t go that route.  I’m the type that always asks for directions, and then goes in a completely different route.  So if you are like me, here are some alternatives.

1.  Use Osomocote or a Time Released Fertilizer.  Be sure to work the fertilizer into your soil and follow the instructions on the label exactly.

2.  Add Compost, Manure, or Worm Castings.  Compost and manure work better when added in the Fall and allowed to winter over, but you can add it now as long as you work it into your soil very well and they are well decomposed.  If it is not decomposed enough, it will actually rob your plants of nitrogen to finish the decomposing process.  And your plants NEED that nitrogen, so make sure it’s well decomposed.

3.  Add Miracle Grow or a Water Soluble Fertilizer.  Again, be sure to work it into the soil and don’t over fertilize.  Follow the instructions on the label and only fertilize once every week or every two weeks.

4.  Pray for Snow.  According to Jason Parks and a few websites online, Snow is the ‘Poor Man’s Fertilizer’.  Not only does Snow saturate your garden with lots of life giving water, it also saturates your garden with a ton of nitrogen which is an essential nutrient for your plant’s growth.  (Personally, I’m putting my foot down at praying for Snow.  But Jason swears it works.  I’m skipping manure too, because it’s gross and it smells bad.  But that’s just me.)

Well this year, let us take the guess work out of picking the perfect Christmas card picture.  We’re teaming up with Golden Moments Photos to help you out.  On Saturday, December 3rd, Golden will have a scene like this one all set up for your family photo.  You will get a 15 minute session with at least 4 shots on a copyright free CD for just $10.  Your CD will be ready for pickup on Tuesday, December 6th, leaving you with plenty of time to make Christmas cards or other Holiday photo gifts.  And the pictures are all copyright free, meaning you own them.  No worries over having to buy an expensive portrait package.  Plus you can post them online to your heart’s content.

Session times will be limited, so book early by emailing Golden at goldenmomentsphotos@yahoo.com.  And visit her on facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenMomentsPhotos.

So mark your calendars, practice those smiles, and bring on the Holiday Cheer!  See you at the Greenhouses!

This morning when I woke up, I realized Summer might actually be coming to end when that 50 degree temp had me jumping up to grab another blanket before I froze to death.  Hard to believe we were in triple digits just last week.  But that’s Arkansas for you. 

And with these cooler temps moving in, I finally admitted it was time to put the pool away.  We don’t have a fancy pool, just one of those quick set pools with the inflatable ring.  Not only was it convenient and budget friendly, but it gave the kids many long summer days of fun and memories.  But as we considered putting it away, we were faced with our first dilemma since we purchased the pool.  What do you do with all that water?

Our pool holds roughly 5,000 gallons of water.  Which amounts to about an $80 water bill at my house.  And we’re just going to drain it and let it all go to waste?  Not at my house.  We are all about getting the most for our buck, so we were bound and determined not to waste all that water. 

And with a little research, we’ve found some options for you to recycle your pool water too. 

Here’s what you need to know.

First of all, your current pool water isn’t good for your garden or landscape.  It needs to age a bit first, or more specifically it needs to be a little less chlorinated.  You can do this 1 of 2 ways. 

1. Turn your pump off, remove your skimmer with the chlorine tablets in it and quit adding any chemicals to your pool.  Let your pool go untreated for a few days.  Then test it.  The pH levels needs to fall between 7 and 8, with the chlorine level at 1 part per million or less.  Larger pools may take longer to reach the desired pH level.  Then you can either use a siphon or a water pump to water your garden, landscape or yard.

2. Remove a bucket full or more of water and let it stand in the sun for a few days.  Again test the water like above.  Then use the bucket to water your garden, landscape or yard.  (This is a great idea if you want to hold on to those Summer days just a few weeks longer and let the kids swim after school while the afternoon temps still allow it.)

Now, remember that plants, trees, shrubs, and vegetable plants don’t actually enjoy swimming, so water as if you are watering with a regular hose.  I know the idea is to drain the pool, but if your garden doesn’t normally hold 5,000 gallons of water at one time, you might want to stretch the process out and give your plants time to soak up the water.  And keep in mind that your pool water needs to be algae free before you water your plants or yard.

We turned our pump off for a full week before we used our pool water.  Then we used our water on our beloved blackberry bushes and the surrounding yard.  The grass looks especially happy 3 days later, and I’m pretty sure the blackberry bushes love us more than ever right now.

I tried to find some information on how to recycle the salt water from salt water pools, but unfortunately couldn’t find any information.  If you know of any tips for reusing salt water, share it with us here.  We’d love to learn how.

One quick idea before you head off to recycle your pool water.  Allowing the chlorine to evaporate from your pool will essentially turn your pool water into gray water, which is perfect for watering your garden.  But if you’re unsure about how your plants might react to this gray water, do a test strip.  Just like you would test carpet or fabric when you are using a new cleanser, pick a small patch of your garden or landscape and water just that area.  Wait a day or two.  If the plants still look healthy, you’re good to go.

For more information about recycling your pool water, check out this link.  Happy Watering!!!

Once upon a time, I remember praying that the sun would come out again.  Now I’m frowning at the sun for being my mortal enemy.  And my vegetable plants are talking about staging a revolt against Mother Nature.

Ask any gardener right now in the South and they will tell you the biggest threat they are fighting in their gardens right now is the heat.  With record temps becoming almost the norm in our area, our plants are withering before our eyes.  But there are some things you can do to keep your garden going through this heat wave and a few tips you can follow to help you get through the these high temps too.

Step One: Plan to garden in the morning and in the evening. Not only is this better for your plants, it’s better for you.  It’s cooler outside during those hours of the day.  Stepping out to garden in the middle of the day with temps above 100 just isn’t a good idea.

Step Two:  Mulch. Mulching adds a layer of protection to your plants.  It keeps them cooler during the day and helps to trap moisture in the ground instead of evaporating into an oblivion.

Step Three:  Water the base of your plants not the top or the leaves. The water droplets left behind from watering can heat up so much during the course of the day they can actually burn your plants and cause significant damage.  A plant pulls its moisture from the roots anyway, so watering the bottom is better for your plants.

Step Four:  Water deeply. A little splash of water in this kind of weather just isn’t going to cut it.  Soak the ground.  I know we always say don’t send your plants swimming, but the ground is drier right now and will require more water than normal.  Just make sure your garden area has adequate drainage.

Step Five:  Water in triplicate for containers. Containers dry out much quicker than plants planted in the ground.  And when you do water them, excess water runs out through the drainage holes before the super dry soil has time to soak up enough water to keep the plant alive.  So water your container 3 times.  Again, you need to soak the container.  Give it a few minutes for the excess water to drain out and soak it again.  Repeat the process at least 3 times to make sure the soil has soaked up plenty of water.  To check if your container plant has enough water, use Ron’s Second Knuckle Method.  Stick your finger into the dirt of the container all the way down to your second knuckle.  If your finger is dry and free of dirt when you pull your finger back out, it doesn’t have enough water.

Step Six:  Break up the soil around your plant using a small tiller or a hand rake or cultivator.  This will allow the water to penetrate the ground quicker and get more water to the roots of your plant.

Step Seven:  Throw on a little more soil. The more you water, the more the soil tends to move around and can expose the roots of your plants.  So toss in a little more soil around the base of your plants to keep the roots cool and protected.

Step Eight:  Water Twice. Plan on watering your plants in the morning and at night.  I, personally, have been watering my vegetable garden in the morning before work and at night just after dinner.  And so far, even the plants in direct sunlight have been doing great and all the plants are still producing plenty of veggies for the whole family.

Step Nine:  Stay safe. Your garden isn’t the only thing that can struggle in the heat.  Heat Stress can be very serious if not treated.  Drink lots of fluids.  Avoid sodas, teas, and coffee as the caffeine can actually cause you to dehydrate.  Wear a wide brim hat and sunscreen.  And rest when you need to.  Remember if you quit sweating, you’re dehydrated.  Signs of heat stress include nausea, weakness, headache, muscle cramps, confusion, and extreme thirst.  If you feel any of the symptoms of heat stress, stop what you are doing and go to a cool place.  Call for help and drink lots of fluids until help arrives.

Step Ten:  Do a rain dance. A really fancy rain dance, with costumes and make-up.  I’m not sure if it will actually work, but we’d love to see some videos of your best rain dance.  And who knows, your rendition of the rain dance could be just the trick to save us all from this heat wave.

Now before I share my newly found knowledge with all of you, let me just say a few things first.  There is NO SUCH THING as Snake-B-Gone.  No amount of preparation, no chemical, no repellent, no poison, no magic spell, no supernatural charm, not even Harry Potter’s wand is going to guarantee your yard as the new Snake-Free zone.  Snakes are kind of like death and taxes…we all face them sooner or later.  And like it or not, there is actually a law in Arkansas that you can’t go on a wild snake hunt and kill every snake you see.  No really, I didn’t make that up.  According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, it is illegal to kill a snake unless it “pose(s) reasonable threat or endangerment to persons or property”.  In fact, some of the snakes indigenous to Arkansas are actually endangered.  

So now that I’ve made the adequate disclaimer paragraph, let’s move on to creating our Snake-Free-Safety-Zone.

1.  Get rid of the debris.  Snakes like rocks, sticks, logs, leaves, boards, and any other debris they can hide in.  So your first strike in the war against slithering nuisances is to get rid of all these things, or at the very least move them to the farthest corners of your property lines. 

2.  Close down the diner!  If you have a rodent problem, you will probably have a snake problem too.  Eliminating their food source is a sure-fire way to get rid of snakes.

3.  Seal any openings into your house.  Snakes are master contortionists and can easily fit through an opening as small as a dime.  Remember to check the clearance of door bottoms and any openings where pipes for plumbing come into your house, like under your sinks.

4. Let your dog roam.  Snakes don’t like dogs and can actually smell them.  So give your favorite furry friend lots of room to run.

5.  Mow.  Snakes eat the bugs that hang out in weeds and tall grass.  Mowing can eliminate that food source and make the snakes less likely to stop by for dinner.

6.  Use Natural Deterrents.  Snakes are sensitive to smell and seem to stay away from Marigolds, Mint, Sulfur and Moth Balls.  Should you choose to use Sulfur remember it is a dust that shouldn’t be inhaled while applying.  Moth Balls are toxic to snakes, but are also toxic to animals and children and should only be used in areas where animals and children won’t be.  Moth Balls and Sulfur will lose their smell over time and will need to be reapplied.  Marigolds come with the added benefit of keeping other common garden pests away too such as insects, bunnies and dogs that like to dig in your garden.

7.  Use Commercial Deterrents.  You can find commercial deterrents for purchase at your local hardware and/or garden stores. 

These tips and tricks will hopefully help to decrease your chances of encountering too many snakes as the hotter months approach us, but remember, should you come into contact with a snake, the best course of action is to leave it alone.  And if that snake happens to be in your home and you aren’t sure if it’s poisonous or not, call Animal Control and let them remove it for you.