Helpful Hints & Tips Archive

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Planting Colorful Varieties

Colorful pansies in shades of blue, yellow, and purple blooming in a garden bed during spring.

Keep the colors growing all season by planting varieties that bloom at different times.

Lawn Watering

A black pop-up sprinkler head sprays a fine mist of water over a lush green lawn.

To save water, only water your lawn when footprints show. Healthy lawns that spring back up don’t need water.

Dealing with Headaches

A single ripe red strawberry with green leaves and a small stem on a white background.

Got a headache? Try eating some strawberries! They contain natural salicylates, which are an active ingredient in aspirin.

Don’t despair if your steam iron doesn’t steam. Quite often, mineral deposits in the water clog the vents, and a simple treatment can solve the problem. Fill the water reservoir with white vinegar. Heat the iron and set it on a cake or broiler rack while it steams a few minutes. Unplug and stand the

Choosing Annuals

Yellow pansy flower with dark purple center markings surrounded by green leaves in a garden.

When choosing annuals, bigger isn’t always better. Choose plants that are well proportioned.

Bugs Biting?

Two small red itchy bumps on a person's skin from a common insect bite.

Splash a little vinegar or rub a clove of garlic on exposed skin. Eat garlicky foods.

Repurposing an Old Golf Bag

Is an old golf bag taking up space in your garage? They can be a real treasure to a gardener. Long-handled tools can be carried in the club compartment and smaller ones in the side pocket.

Simple Garden Tool

An old kitchen fork makes a great cultivation tool.

Reuse Those Envelopes!

Stack of used envelopes on a wooden table with a handwritten grocery list on the top envelope.

Before you trash all of that junk mail, save the envelopes! They can be reused to mail letters, to take notes, and make lists.

Healthy Seedlings

Seedlings don’t have to be as warm as germinating seeds. Move them away from radiators and turn off the heating mat as soon they have sprouted.