Gardening Helpers

I have one tool that I use beyond all others in my yard. A big old kitty litter container with a lid that flips halfway open and a handle to easily carry it. I put the weeds in it as I pick them, minimizing the trips to the compost pile. I scoop compost into it when I need to add it to my window boxes or planters and I put plants in it when I am dividing or transplanting to carry them to other areas of the yard. If you don't have a cat to provide you with this most excellent helper, fear not. You likely know someone who does and who would be happy to give you one the big lidded buckets next time they use up their supply of kitty litter. I even have one in the garage for scooping out the chicken coop a couple of times a week. I scoop the droppings into the bucket, add some ashes from my fireplace to reduce the smell and close it up.
My second favorite gardening helper is the clearance table at the garden section of Lowe's although any place with a gardening dept may have something similar. I make a beeline for it, trying not to be tempted along the way. I get plants for a fraction of the cost and I pick the ones that are either perennials or ones I know will continue to bloom with a little TLC. Today I got a beautiful healthy hanging pot of fuchsia for $5 because the plastic pot was cracked, several geraniums for $.50 each, a great big hanging pot of miniature petunias for $5 and some perennials for only a dollar each! What great deals for plants that will bloom all summer and some that will hopefully come back each year for years to come (if the chickens don't scratch them up). The geraniums I got last week are already sending out new blooms thanks to the compost I mixed in with the potting soil and regular watering from the rain barrel. Look like you took out a second mortgage for landscaping but your deals can be your little secret.

homemade watering can

Now that you have almost unlimited free water thanks to your roof and ingenuity, how about a free watering can. I've seen people use gallon milk jugs for watering cans but I recommend using kitty litter containers because they hold much more water and the large lid and opening means they pour more quickly and fill more quickly. If you don't have a cat I bet you know someone that does and would be delighted to give you an empty container. Simply take the container and drill or punch a small hole in the top back part of the handle. This allows air to go in and out as you water so your watering can pours smoothly. Next get a piece of scrap wood and put the lid from the kitty litter container on top of it with the flat part resting on the wood. Use a drill or nail and hammer to makes holes approximately equidistant throughout the top of the lid. Fill with water from your homemade rain barrel, screw on the lid and water to your heart's and your plants' content. If you want to be super fancy you can even decorate the outside of your new watering can with a waterproof marker. This prevents family members from mistaking your fancy watering can with trash;)

Easy Rain Barrel

I made a rain barrel a few years ago but broke the bottom when I was trying to get it ready for winter storage. So I made another that was even easier. I got two plastic garbage cans with lids. I cut a hole in the top of one to snugly fit a PVC plumbing item that looks kind of like an ice cream cone but open on top and bottom. I used a clamp for a dryer vent to affix some window screen to the large end of the PVC. This is where the water enters and the screen prevents debris like leaves and such to get into the barrel and it prevents mosquitoes from using your barrel as a nursery for 10,000,000 bouncing blood thirsty baby mosquitoes. I made a hole towards the top of the side of the first barrel and a corresponding hole slightly lower on the side of the second barrel. I inserted metal pipe fittings into each of these holes and then connected the two cans with flexible hose that fit these fittings. The last thing is to add a faucet to the top of one of the cans to allow the overflow to escape when your cans get too full. I attached an old garden hose and leave the faucet open full blast with the end of the garden hose emptying into our garden, away from the house. Change your downspout so it empties into the top of the first rain barrel and have the other barrel nearby to fill up when there is too much rain for one to hold. If you get freezing winters you will need to empty the barrels and put your old downspout back until spring. Whenever I need water I remove the lid of either barrel and dip in my watering can. Works great and holds plenty of water. This saves on your water bill and allows you to use natural rainwater on your plants instead of municipal water treated with chlorine. It also lessens the amount of water that storm sewers have to deal with. Less than a quarter inch of rain over my small house will fill and entire rain barrel and that is only using one of my downspouts! Let it rain!!