GARDENING TIPS
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Take a photo of a newly sown seed tray, so if anything should happen to the labels and they get mixed up - you'll still know what you planted where!
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If you plant swan plants to attract Monarch Butterflies, make sure the plant is well away from your washing line. Those caterpillars can travel quite a distance to find the right spot to have their chrysalis, and it is very frustrating to have to leave your favourite shirt out there for ages - or even worse don't notice them and go out wearing a very pretty but unusual fashion accessory.
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Mice are not cute! Don't let them fool you!
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If you need to do a bit of a weed and feed around your plants but the soil is dry and hard, get the hose out and give the ground a jolly good soak and leave overnight. The next day the soil should have returned to a soft and crumbly state, or something closer to it than concrete hard. The weeds will come out a lot easier, and then replace the nutrients stolen by the nasty weeds, with a good quality fertilizer and water in well. Because the soil has been softened with the water the day before, it will be more receptive to the fertilizer being washed into it than in its dry state, as this tends to repel water the nutrients will just wash away.
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If you have too many lemons - more than you can use before they go off, squeeze out the juice and pour into muffin trays. Put it into the freezer. Once they are frozen transfer them to a freezer bag and you will have a small portion of lemon juice whenever you need it.
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One thing I learnt this year is not to go by the calendar dates for when to plant seedlings in the ground, but use your noggin and go by how the weather actually feels... if it is cold - wait! Makes perfect sense, unless you are a overly keen gardener who can't wait to get things started! Your plants will thank you for it!
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Plant in haste - repeat at leisure
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When tying a plant to a stake, make sure you cross the string over between the plant and the stake to reduce rubbing and damage!