The Rural Voice, 1996-11, Page 38Gardening
Gardeners are the ultimate recyclers
By Rhea Hamilton -Seeger
When we think of falil weather we
think of cleaning up the garden but
this year I turned my hands to
cleaning up the corner of the barn
where I toss my containers: after the
spring planting. From the looks of
things I haven't cleaned there for
several years.
After looking at the assortment of
materials I have saved over the years
I have come to the conclusion that
gardeners have to be among the
original recyclers. Any container
will serve. Teapots with ivies, kettles
with geraniums. But I draw the line
with tires. I really dislike seeing tires
filled with flowers. It seems like the
ultimate optimistic statement ..
trash is beautiful etc. But I must
admit tires do serve a purpose in a
garden. I pulled the last of the
invasive mint from my garden and
plopped the whole mess into a
massive tire in the back of the
garden. The mint is contained and I
am happily enjoying mint tea.
Planters are all the rage now. You
can be creative here. We have a
lovely round planter at the back door
about 24 inches across. The outside
is a deep cobalt blue. It is half of a
washing machine drum. The lovely
enamel finish has held up well over
the years and it looks quite striking
all year round.
I tell my weight -conscious
husband that I have to buy donuts
once in a while in order to have
those lovely greenhouses for starting
seeds in the spring. The clear plastic
domed containers are perfect for
starting seeds and if you are really
careful you can get two seasons out
of a container before letting it go on
its way to the trash. Of course, if you
do that you won't have a good
excuse to buy donuts!
It pays to take a second look at a
few other disposables. Styrofoam
meat trays are good for setting your
flower pots on. Some of the larger
trays I use to group African violets
on. If you want to dress it up a bit
34 THE RURAL VOICE
put a layer of sand in the deep dish
tray before setting your pots out.
You can also use those same trays,
broken, in the bottom of the flower
pots instead of clay pot shards for
drainage. Another handy material for
pot drainage is cell packs that you
buy your annuals in. Crush them in
your hand and use them in the
bottom large planters or pots: much
lighter and sure beats hunting around
for enough gravel or broken pots.
We also use the odd assortment of
500 gram yogurt and sour cream
containers for setting pots in.
Those lovely trays that you use to
carry all your cell -packed annuals to
your car are great around the garden
for sorting bulbs in, separating small
perennials in before replanting, or
drying flowers in. There is always
the option of asking your garden
centre just what containers they will
take back and you will be surprised
at how many will take not only the
trays but the cell packs as well.
After a long winter we have quite
a supply of net bags that the oranges
and grapefruit come in. What to de
with them. Ours hold tulip bulbs that
have been dug up after flowering. It
keeps them away from rodents and
allows them to stay dry in the shed
until fall planting. We also cleaned
up the large wood chips after
splitting wood this spring. The net
bag holds enough kindling for two
fires and can easily be stacked in the
porch with the rest of the wood.
Keep your plastic two litre pop
bottles. Cut the bottoms off and pop
over tender seedlings in the garden.
Pepper, tomatoes, and eggplant will
love the extra protection from those
chilling spring winds. Heat buildup
escapes from the open top. If you cut
both the top and bottom off you have
a very sturdy cuff to put around your
plants to keep cut worms from
nipping off your young crop. I
gathered up all my old pantihose and
we use that for tying up grapes and
smaller plants. I have found that
large clumps of perennials need a
good length of stocking and two
supporting posts. For stakes we use
old handles that have broken off, or
broom handles that have no bristle
left.
We even put Klaus' old football
cleats to use. We noticed in a new
catalogue handy dandy aerator
sandals. They are a combination of
shoes for power walking and small
spikes that aerate the soil, opening
up compacted soil to let water, air
and nutrients in. The old cleats work
the same way while Klaus cuts the
lawn. We have been trying to sell the
virtues of doing two jobs at once to
our son but the allure of the riding
lawn mower won out.
So before you heave anything out
think green, think garden, and get
creative.0
Rhea Hamilton -Seeger raises two
children, and is a skilled cook and
gardener.
ti rA c-erami
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