Aqua Globes

Hello fans!!! I've hoped you've enjoyed our home gardening tips. This week we'll be finishing up with

Homemade Aqua Globes

(I was making these long before they we ever AS Seen On -cough- *TV*)

Supplies needed:

• A gallon jug

•  A needle

• 1 1/2 inch pvc pipe

•  Hand saw

• Drill with tiny drill bit

• Measuring tape

First take your gallon jug and remove the cap.  With your needle poke holes in the milk cap.  Fill milk jug with water and replace cap.

 Second take your pvc pipe and measure about 6 inches.  Using your saw cut the pipe to the 6 inch length.  Now this part is optional I had it work both way.  Drill small holes all the way around up and down the 6 inch pipe you just cut.

 Hammer the pipe into the ground about 75% of the way into the ground close to the plant.  Pull the pipe out of the ground and remove the dirt inside the pipe.  Place the pipe in the hole and hammer completely into the ground.  Make sure the ground level is just slightly above the end of the pipe.

The idea of this is to create a dirt plug at the end of the pipe, which will act like a sponge and the roots will slowly remove water when its needed.

Finally,  Take your jug and invert it and place it on top of the pipe.  The cap will fit inside the hole.  Make sure its standing straight up and down, because it will create a suction and hold right there. Refill jugs every couples of days or whenever empty.

images provided by:  Stephanie Shorter

My Lot

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Stump Removal

How To Remove Tree Stumps

I spent 2 weeks in my yard removing tree stumps and I came across different ways to remove them. Removing tree stumps is hard work and can be tiresome depending how big it is. You can either try one of these methods.

• 1.  If you can a truck with a tow package on it, hook a thick chain around a tree that hasn't been cut short and yank it out.  Refill the hole with dirt.
• 2.  Dig around the tree, cutting the roots as you go along until you get deep enough.  Use a reciprocating saw to cut through the thick roots.  Once the other roots are removed and you can see the one real thick main root.  Use your body to start pulling and rocking the tree.  This works best if the tree is NOT cut all the way down to the ground and not taller than you.  As you rock it back and forth using yourself to push it as far as you can, you'll hear cracking noises.  Keep doing this and removing any dirt that stops you from pushing it farther until it finally breaks and is out.  Refill the hole with dirt.
• 3.  Okay say you have a stump that you can't dig out because maybe electric lines run by it or some other reason.  First cut the stump down as close to the ground as you can get.  Next get out your trusty drill and a drill bit for making holes (best the ones that make the hole for door knobs).  Now drill a hole in the top of the stump a few inches deep.  Fill the hole first with water, then with a fertilizer high in nitrogen. For instance, you could use cow manure. If you're using a commercial fertilizer instead, make sure the first of the 3 numbers of the fertilizer's NPK is the highest (for instance, a straight nitrogen fertilizer such as 45-0-0).  Soak the ground all around the stump. Cover the stump with a plastic tarp. The tarp will act as a barrier to help retain moisture in and around the stump. Moisture is a powerful ally to have on your side for tree stump removal.  Apply an organic mulch over the plastic tarp, and water it thoroughly. An organic mulch, such as tree bark or hay, will hold additional moisture, keeping the area even wetter. Wet mulch is also heavy, which will help weigh the tarp down, so that it doesn't blow away. For additional weight, roll some heavy stones onto the tarp.  The final thing you need to do for this tree stump removal project is -- to be patient! You're speeding up the natural process of rotting by employing the steps above, but this tree stump removal technique is still not for those who need the stump to disappear N-O-W.   You'll reduce the wait for completion of your tree stump removal project, however, by periodically removing the mulch and tarp for a moment and once again thoroughly soaking the stump and the ground around it. If you still have that nitrogen source at your disposal, add more of it. Then reapply the plastic tarp and mulch. Soak the mulch again, too, to keep the tarp wet and weighed down.

  * There is a tree stump removal product called, "Stump Remover" that breaks down the wood fiber of stumps, leaving them porous. The porous wood then absorbs kerosene readily. After the porous wood is soaked with kerosene and ignited, it will burn away. The flame is a low, smoldering flame. If the use of kerosene and flame is acceptable to you, this is another cheap and easy option for tree stump removal.

5.  This little tip is for the ladies: Get your husband to do it. LOL :)  Happy Stumping!!

Homemade Bee Traps.

Spring is here finally and the the bees are out buzzing around. However the case, those little pests can be annoying especially when having cook outs or maybe you're allergic to bee stings.

Why are bees important?  Bees are a very important part of our ecosystem. Remove one element and the system will need to make adjustments. The effect of that adjustment may often not be known until after it has happened. Now, with bees and honey bees, in particular we know that over one-third of our food supply relies upon them for pollination services and we know that pollination is essential for the reproduction of the plants the bees service. The honey bee is a major pollinator of many of our food crops, almonds, apples, avocados, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, cranberries, cucumbers, sunflowers, watermelon and many other crops all rely on honey bees for pollination.

Now that I've said that here's a good solution to that problem. I myself (Handyman Gene's wife) have tried this & it does work.
I came across these on the internet on how to make these out of 3 liter bottles. Cut the bottle a third of the way down and invert the top into the bottom. It looks like a funnel inside the bottle. Then punch hoes in the sides in which you will put wire to hang from a branch or crook. I used old pineapple juice in mine. I hope you can get the idea from the photo. Hope this helps. I think you could use the small personal sized water bottles too. You can use almost any sweet juice with a few drops of dish detergent like Dawn.
Try using a little bright (red?) food coloring in the water and soap mixture as: the color looks better in the yard,helps hide the dead bodies, and serves as an attractant.

I did use this method through out the summer under my open car port to keep the bumble bees away which were quite a lot and it worked like a charm. In 5 days I caught well over 50 bees....over a dozen the first afternoon after I hung the first one. They will fly around in there for a day or two but they will eventually drown in the nectar.

 Step by Step Instructions:










1. Take a plastic bottle and cut the neck off. (The neck is the cone part of the bottle including the cap.)











2. Flip the neck upside-down, removing the cap first, and place the neck into the bottle.










3. Tape and/or staple the top together with the bottom of the bottle. (I didn't have to do this part.  I just simply set it on top) Keep in mind that you will need to take them apart often to switch out the bait and remove dead wasps.

4. Bait your trap. It should not reach the opening of the bottle (The bees should have to completely enter the trap in order to access the bait). You can also do this before you attach the two pieces together.
Some bait ideas:

• Meat - This is the best choice in the spring and late winter because wasps
• are making nests and laying eggs, so they're searching for high protein
• food; you may even catch a queen this way, in which case the bees will
• relocate their nest.
• 
  
• Dish washing liquid and water
• 
  
• Mashed grapes 
•  
• Sugar and lemon juice
• 
  
• Sugar and water
• 
  
• Sugar and vinegar

* 1 tsp liquid Dish soap, 1 tsp sugar (to attract them), and water - if they
do get out, they will still die from the dish soap.

* soda (lemonade etc) that has lost it's fizz. This way it can still be of
use. Add a few drops of washing up liquid.

5.  Hang where ever the bees are a problem at.  I found it best to hang it where there is a over hang that way it does not get filled with rain water.

Sweating Pipes

To eliminate sweating cold water pipes during the summer months, place foam pipe insulation over the pipes. The tubing keeps the warm humid air from condensing on the cold pipes.