Irish Attic » Garden

Trellis Garden Netting For Amateur Gardeners

TKA Guest Post — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:21:04 +0000

While this article advocates buying a product instead of re-using a recyclable item we at Irish Attic feel that its well worth it for our readers to explore gardening in small spaces, on walls and fences and even rooftops as a way to live a little greener and enjoy a delicious bounty as well!

Of all the different ways that netting can be used in the garden, a surprisingly small number of people are familiar with garden trellis netting or its uses. For those that are familiar and experienced in its application in the home garden, not actively using the netting for their gardening is simply unimaginable. The versatility and space efficiency are simply too valuable to dismiss.

The primary purpose of trellis garden netting is to implement some form or vertical gardening techniques into your design. Some plants, such as green beans, are naturally inclined to use trellis netting for their growth. They need a way to spread out, grow, and climb. The netting provides that structure for them to grab hold of, and helps facilitate their healthy progress.

What many people fail to recognize is that your typical vine plants are not the only types of vegetables that thrive in a vertical environment. Not only can you grow beans up your trellis, but cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, peas, melons, and a number of other indeterminate plants will also thrive. A basic rule of thumb is that if the plants can spread out on the ground to grow, it can spread out vertically as well.

The first question that people ask is whether or not the plant and/or trellis can really hold the weight of the fruit that is produced. Particularly for plants such as melons, pumpkins, and squash, the fruit can be quite heavy. The only real deterrent to this is whether or not your support structure can handle the weight. As long as the supports for the netting are strongly secured, the netting will hold and the plant will be more than strong enough to handle its own weight. If you grow paranoid, you can simply support the plant with additional homemade systems.

How To Grow a Container Garden

Water Saving Tips Using Recyclables

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:45:30 +0000

We all know by now (don’t we?) that recycling of water is an important part of living green. This project is a great water conservation for kids instruction because it encourages them to reuse soda bottles and plastic milk jugs, items that they typically use. This water saving tip is a two-fer on the “green scale”: using a recyclable item in a way that saves water.

Start by cutting off the bottom of a recycled soda bottle or recycled half gallon plastic milk jug to make it into a funnel. As you water your garden place this funnel right at the base of the plant, pushing it down below the surface if possible, so that when you water, all the water goes directly to the roots of the plant. You’ll be saving water and BONUS, you’re not watering the weeds.

Garden Stakes

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:23:20 +0000

There’s never a need for me to purchase stakes for my garden. If I look around I’m able to find many items I can repurpose as garden stakes.

Here are some of the items I’ve repurposed as garden stakes:

wooden and metal stakes originally used to hold election signs
handles from brooms, mops and other tools that are past their prime
wire clothes hangers
post from old floor lamp
branches from tree trimmings
dowels left over from DIY project
quarter round molding left over from DIY project

check out Amazon.com for gardening tools

Croquet Wickets in Your Garden

admin — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:04:08 +0000

If you have an abundance of croquet wickets you can use them to corral your garden hose. Press them into your lawn or garden area to define where you want your hose to be. Then just snake the hose through the wickets and it won’t flop around and crush your delicate flowers.

Birdbath Turned Planter

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:08:36 +0000

If you have a birdbath that you no longer wish to use to attract birds you can turn it into a beautiful planter. Make sure to use plants that can benefit from the lack of drainage.

Free Weed Killer

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:46:56 +0000

You probably all have heard that boiling water can be used as a weed killer, but IA takes it one step further by using “gray” water to kill weeds. I have a large decorative pitcher sitting by my kitchen sink. Whenever I rinse out a can or bottle before placing it in the recycling bin I dump the water in this pitcher. When I’m rinsing dishes, I dump the water in this pitcher. When the pitcher is full I use it in a variety of ways, and one way is to boil the water and pour it on the weeds that grow in between the cracks in my brick patio.

stock up on gardening gear

Peanuts For Plants

admin — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:58:19 +0000

Don’t toss out those annoying styrofoam peanuts that came with your mail order. Use them next time you repot a large plant.

Next time you’re repotting a plant in a large planter fill the bottom half of the pot with foam peanuts. Your pot will be much lighter and they allow for drainage.

McD’s Artists’ Palette

admin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:18:41 +0000

Thank you to Debbie Yates from Echo’s Voice for this tip.

“This is an awesome idea for both water color and acrylic painting. I use styrofoam to-go food containers as palettes for acyclic paints.” IA: I think that those styrofoam trays that some produce and meat come packaged with would work well also.

“Here is something that most acrylic painters don’t know. Acrylic dries really quickly, and when finished painting for the day, if I still have paint on the palette it will dry out by the next time I’m ready to paint. So if you’re using styrofoam containers or wax paper as a palette, simply put the lid back on and stick it in the freezer. Normally I don’t put a lid on it, but for the sake of your website it would be best to say that. The acyclic freezes and then it can be used anytime. Just take it out of freezer and in a matter of a minute you’re good to go.”

Frame Magnet

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:44:06 +0000

Use old promotional magnets & salvaged cardboard to make a new photo frame magnet.

Cut two identical shapes from a piece of salvaged cardboard. They can be a circle, square, oval, etc. One piece will be the frame and the other piece will be the backing.

Cut a hole in the shape of your choice from one of the pieces of cardboard. This is the frame. The uncut piece is the backing. The hole should be large enough so that the portion of the photo you’re using that you want to show will show. Decorate this piece of cardboard in any way you choose.

Glue the photo onto the cardboard backing. Glue the frame onto the backing over the photo.

Glue a magnet salvaged from a promotional magnet or broken decorative magnet to backside of backing.

are you in the mood for another craft project?

Decorative Boxes

admin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:03:30 +0000

Thinner pieces of smooth cardboard, such as those saved from pantyhose and other clothing packaging can be used to make decorative boxes which can then be used to package a gift or to store small items.

First you’ll need a pattern, which you can find at a fabric or craft store or check out these free patterns:

1″ Scale Hat Box

Cube Box Free Photoshop Template

Decorate Your New Box

markers
stickers
cut out designs from fabric or wallpaper & glue to box
glue on buttons and fabric trims
decoupage with magazine pages, used gift wrap, used tissue paper, children’s art projects …