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It’s August and there are still a lot of problems with
gardens and outside plants or projects, so let’s have some fun with an
inexpensive problem solver. It’s called vinegar. Yep, vinegar again.
Got stains to be cleaned out of clay flower pots? Just
fill each pot to be cleaned with 2/3 cold water and 1/3 vinegar. Let the
pots soak until they look clean, then wash them with hot soapy water and
rinse well.
Have weeds growing in your driveway or between the
cracks in your sidewalk? Boil one quart of water, add two tablespoons of
salt and five tablespoons of vinegar. While it’s still hot, pour the
mixture directly onto the weeds. You may have to do this a few times to
clear out all the weeds.
Do you have black spots or fungus on your roses? Mix
three tablespoons of natural apple cider vinegar with one gallon of
water and pour into your garden sprayer. Spray your roses daily. This
should help a lot.
Do cats use your garden as a litter box? Soak wads of
newspaper with vinegar and place them in areas where the cats have been.
The vinegar smell usually discourages more visits to your garden.
Do slugs invade your garden? They usually appear for
late evening or on cloudy, damp days. To combat them, fill a spray
bottle with half water and half vinegar and kill the slugs by squirting
them with the solution. Don’t forget that the mixture also works on
outside pets to discourage ticks and fleas. Also, wipe your pet’s ears
with a clean cloth dipped in vinegar if you see them scratching.
Their ears tend to get dry in the summer.
I hope that some of these ideas help you.
My thought for the month is: Share your garden’s bounty
with family and friends.
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