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GARDEN TIPS
 BARBARA TAYLOR 
 
 SPRING BULBSThere’s nothing prettier in Spring than tulips, hyacinths and daffodils in bloom. If you’d like a repeat performance next year, here are some tips. Once the flower headsfade, clip them off but keep the foliage alive and green. The foliage sends energy back to the bulb. When the fading foliage looks a bit ragged, you can interplantwith annuals – maybe marigolds or petunias. They have short root systems and won’tinterfere with the bulbs planted below. And, by interplanting, you’ll have a reminder to keep the bed watered. It will look like you hired a professional. ____________________________________________________________________ THINNINGDid you plant your lettuce seed too thick and now it looks like a tiny jungle? To thinout those unwanted plants don’t pull them up – that will disturb the roots of the onesyou want to keep. Instead, grab the scissors and snip the unwanted plants at groundlevel. A few snips and you’ve got a beautiful row.TOMATO TIPTomatoes are one of the few garden plants that you can transplant deeper thancontainer level. Once underground, the stems freely send out roots. By plantingdeeply, you give the plants more stability from the wind and a more ample rootstructure. ____________________________________________________________________ MARIGOLDSDon’t like the smell of marigolds? You’re not alone. Bugs and mosquitos don’t likethe smell either. If you want to keep the bad guys away from your tomatoes andgarden plants, put a few marigolds around. They’ll make a bright and cheery note aswell.
 
TOMATO TIP #2When setting out your tomato transplants, put 1/4 cup of Epsom Salts in your  planting hole. This will give your plants an extra dose of magnesium needed for agreater production of big, juicy tomatoes.GARDEN TOOLSAfter using your garden tools, take a little extra time to clean them up and put them back where they belong. When you’re done for the season, spray them with a littleWD40 or spray them with vegetable oil to scare the rust away and you’ll be ready togo next year. ____________________________________________________________________ SAVE SPACERadish plants mature so quickly they can be interplanted with other crops. For instance, plant some radish beside your tomato transplants. You’ll have your crop in before the tomato needs the growing room. ____________________________________________________________________ FORCING LILACSJust at bud swell, cut and bring in some healthy branches of lilacs to force for springcolor inside. Place them in a large vase of tepid water and place the vase in bright,indirect light. You’ll be able to enjoy their showy spring blooms even earlier andtheir fragrance will perfume your home.TOMATO SUCKERSThose tiny shoots at the lower branches of tomato plants are unproductive and sap theenergy of the plant. By pinching these off you will increase the size and yield of your tomatoes.
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muzuba

great! I finally found the link. Thanks

reply06 / 15 / 2009
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