Garden Tips

SMALL SEEDS
When sowing small seeds which may be washed away by rain or taken by ants, mix with sand and sow in rows, then cover with a thin strip of timber. This will protect the seed and encourage germination. Remove the wood after 2-3 days.

COCOS OR PALM SEEDS
Collect all those annoying seeds and place them in an old tin and cover with water. Keep aside in an unobtrusive part of your garden until the seeds break down into nutritious mulch for food for orchids or bromeliads.

TEA LEAVES
Residual tea leaves are great food for camellias, staghorns, elkhorns and ferns.

LEANING PLANTS
Outdoor and indoor plants will lean towards the light, so rotate them one quarter turn each day during the growing period to encourage straight evenly balanced growth.

LASTING FLOWERS
To make flowers last longer, re-cut stems under water and at an angle. Cut with a very sharp knife or scissors. A teaspoon of sugar dissolved in the water with half a treaspoon of bleach will keep your flowers fresh for longer.

DRYING FLOWERS
Flowers should be cut on a dry day after the dew has dried. All flowers should be picked at their best, with some of the buds just beginning to open. Strip the bottom leaves from the stems and tie them together firmly in small bunches, so there is plaenty of air flow between groups. Hang the bunches upside down in a dark, dry, airy place, such as an attic, garage or shed. As the flowers dry, the blooms will continue to open and the stalks will shrink slightly. Most varieties will dry in 2-3 weeks unless the weather is very humid.

MOON PLANTING
New Moon - Plant Green Leafy Vegetables
1st Quarter - Plant Flowering and Fruiting Annuals
Full Moon - Plant Root Crops,Perennials, Trees and Shrubs
3rd Quarter - Destroy Weeds and Pests, cultivate Soil / Compost.