Gardening, while being an enjoyable hobby, also requires some monetary investments. Fred Hoffman, a noted radio host in Herald, California, gives a few pointers about how you may recycle materials. The following are some cheap innovations that work wonders in your garden:

The Miraculous Bucket!
Bugs may plague at times plants in your garden. Fred Hoffman, shares that his pumpkin plants are often devoured by squash bugs; however rather than showering the bugs (and his plants) with chemicals, Hoffman simply uses a bucket of water to tackle these bugs.

The process is simple: in the mornings, when the bugs are at their peak, simply shake the bugs off the leaves and let them fall into the water!

The Beetle Trap
Materials Required:
An old jar
A piece of window screen
Duct tape
Fig juice
Water

How to Assemble:
o Mould the window screen into the shape of a funnel using some duct tape.
o Pour some fig juice and water into the jar.
o Fix the funnel shaped screen in the jar such that the tip of the funnel rests on top of the mixture.

How it works:
This contraption captures the fruit beetles and prevents them from making an exit from the jar.

Snip
Use cuttings of plants such as roses and geraniums to jump-start your garden. Hoffman points out that even plant identification labels may be re-used to label the plants.
§ Supportive Structures
Use materials such as plastic containers, window screens and even rocks to lend support to your plants and direct them to grow properly.
§ A Drip Irrigation System
Materials Required:
v An on/off valve
v Pieces of garden hose
v A joiner
v A male PVC adapter accompanied by to a female ½ inch slip thread
v ½ an inch of PVC Pipe
v A screw-on end cap
How to Assemble:
v Drill holes in the PVC pipe (the holes should travel to the centre of the pipe and not to the other end); in the case of clay soil the holes should be drilled 12 to18 inches apart, and in the case of sandy soil they should be drilled 9 to 12 inches apart.
v Attach the pieces of garden hose to the water source.
v Attach the male PVC adapter to the female slip thread and affix with the screw on end cap.
How it works:
Kick start your system by simply turning on the water (adjust the pipe if required).
§ Get paid for recycling!
Do not dispose your old nursery pots. They may be returned to the nursery for cash benefits!

Tomato Cages
Materials Required:
v A sheet of 12 gauge, 6-inch mesh wire
v Wire cutters
How to Assemble:
Place the mesh wire in the soil, and smoothen the top using wire cutters
Remove the joining wires from one side of the tomato cage
Bend the wires to join the 2 sides
Bend the cage into a cylindrical shape
How it works:
This tomato cage is better than those available at the market as is lasts longer and its dimensions enable you to access your tomatoes easily.
§ Sun burnt onions
To prevent a bed of onions from being sun burnt place a window screen across it.
§ The Handy Pitchfork
The pitchfork may double as a support for vines to grow along.
§ The Wheelbarrow
Do not discard the weary wheelbarrow, but use it as a substitute planter.
§ Mulch
Collect branches and leaves to make mulch.

If you like Gardening....These pages might also interest you:

Allium Directory, Amaryllis Directory, Begonia Directory, Crocus Directory, Daffodils Directory, Dahlia Directory, Hyacinth Directory, Iris Directory, Lily Directory, Tulip Directory

Also see:

A Love Affair With Gardening, Charming Camillias, Firescaping, Gardening for the Family, Garden Rodents, Garden Catalogs, General Gardening Tips. Gardens in the Shade, Hot Summer Cool Garden, How to Plant Leeks, Involve Your Children, Outfits for Gardening, Photograph Your Garden, Plant Care Basics, Using Leaves as Compost, What to Avoid Buying Guide, Cheap Garden Ideas, Creating Garden Berms, Garden Fragrances, Garden Lessons, Gardening for The Challenged, Gardening is Great, Gardening Math, Gardening Tools, How to Use Peat, More About Gardening, Love affair with Lilacs, Organic Gardening, Slow Down and Enjoy, Smart Plant Shopping, Tips for Beginners