Outsmarting the tree rats (squirrels) around my house is a full time job. This past spring I hit on a new idea. When I plant a container I invert an empty wire hanging basket over the container and the plant gets sun and can be watered but the squirrels can't dig in it. Another idea: I bring in a lot of plants to "over winter" under lights in my garage. I have so many that it is hard to reach my hand under the lights (4 shop lights) to the middle for watering. So I bought a pump sprayer with a long wand and it works great! In late winter I add a little liquid Dawn detergent, few drops, to each gallon of water and not only does the soil get wet easier but the worms that are waiting to hatch into distructive pets just don't hatch. Don't know what it costs me to run those four shop lights all winter but I don't care. It is a small price to pay to be able to "garden" every weekend in the garage. Many people have mentioned that they mark their outdoor plants with a "permanent Sharpie". In my experience there isn't a "permanent Sharpie", they all fade and quickly too. A grease pencil/china marker or expensive "no fade" garden center marker are the only markers I have found that won't disappoint you by fading. Eight years ago I decided to learn about gardening so I tapped into my local library. I checked out nearly every book they had on gardening and learned so much. The Gardenweb forums are also a wealth of information and entertainment. There is always something new to learn and I appreciate all of you who take the time to write in your ideas. One last idea from me...I keep a small notebook on my computer table and jot down any idea I find that's new and I will want to try. Little pieces of paper get lost but I always know where my notebook is and also use it when I order "on line" so I will remember the name of the company and the order date. Tina or Trowelgal

moonlight74, Here is the infomation you need. They've had this available for several years now. You can see real life use of the mulch and compost which comes directly from the Sprigfield Yard Waste Recycling Center at the Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens at Nathanael Greene Park. All the paths and the mulch & compost used in the beds are from the recycling center. There is actually very little misc matter mixed in. Video Tour of Demonstration Gardens Landscaping Mulch Landscaping mulch is made from chipped and ground wood wastes from limbs and brush and can be used on flower beds, shrubs, trees, and pathways. * Unscreened - $1.00/cu.yd. ($5.00 minimum) * Fine textured - $12.00/cu.yd. * It's In the Bag! - Fine textured - $2.00/1.5 cu.ft. bag (approx. 40 lb). Bags are available at the YRC and the Lone Pine Recycling Center. Yardwaste Compost MO-POST is made from yard wastes, including leaves and grass clippings, which are windrowed and turned regularly to encourage the natural decomposition process. The materials are then screened to uniform size and texture. * $15.00/cu.yd. * It's In the Bag! - $3.00/1 cu.ft. bag (approx. 40 lb). Bags are available at the YRC and the Lone Pine Recycling Center. Benefits of Compost Compost is a valuable resource. It adds organic matter and helpful microorganisms to your soil. Compost develops good soil structure, which is a crucial element for plant growth and health. * Our compost is rich in organic matter which greatly improves soil structure. Any kind of soil canbenefit from compost. It helps sandy soils retain water and nutrients so plants can absorb them. * Compost also helps reduce compaction and improves air and water filtration in clay soils. Havingwell-structured soil will enhance long-term plant growth and health. * Beneficial organisms in healthy composts help break down overgrown thatch in grass lawns. Where and How Can I Use Compost? * Vegetable & Flower Gardens: Before planting, till in 1 1/2 inches of compost in the top 4 inches of soil. * Landscaping: Before planting, till in 1 1/2 inches compost in the top 4 to 6 inches of soil or mulch surface with 2 inches of compost with existing plants. * Trees & Shrubs: Mulch with 1/2 to 1 inch compost at the tree base. Transplant with a mix of 10% to 15% by volume composts and replacement soil. Maintain trees with 1/2 to 1 inch compost along drip line (farthest edge of leaf cover) annually. * Turf Establishment: - Lawns - Before planting, till in 1 1/2 inches of compost with 3 to 6 inches of soil. - Over-seeding - Thoroughly aerate established turn area, spread seed and cover with approximately 1/4 inch of compost. - Turf Maintenance - Aerate lawn thoroughly in spring. Top dress lawn in spring and fall with approximately 1/4 inch compost. One cubic yard will cover: Area: 12.5' x 12.5' Depth: 2 inches Area : 15' x 15' Depth: 1.5 inches Area : 18' x 18' Depth: 1 inch Area: 25' x 25' Depth: 1/2 inch The Yardwaste Recycling Center is located near the Southwest Wastewater Treatment Plant. The services of the Yardwaste Recycling Center are available for residents of Springfield and Greene County. Products are for sale to the general public, regardless of residency. Directions: West on Sunshine (Hwy. 60). Turn left (South) onto Farm Road 115. Turn left (East) onto Farm Road 164. Follow the signs to Yardwaste Recycling Center. Or: Go west on James River Freeway to Sunshine (Hwy. 60). Turn right (East) onto Sunshine (Hwy 60). Turn right (South) onto Farm Road 115. Turn left onto Farm Road 164. Follow the signs to Yardwaste Recycling Center. Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday throughout the year: Summer Hours - 8am-6pm (loading until 5 pm) Winter Hours - 8am-5pm (loading until 4pm) Open Sunday during peak season 1 pm - 5 pm (Call Recycling Hotline (864-1904) to confirm Closed for the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, Easter Sunday. Here is a link that might be useful: Springfield Yard Waste Recycling Center

davidro - Thanks for linking to the thread. I forgot. jem - It does get pretty tiring. But we typically didn't do much at night after a full day of work. We just went non-stop on the weekends. And we took some time off to make some 3-day weekends, which helped a lot. We knew that starting a project at 6pm would only mean still being awake at 1am, which was not a good plan. Doing it on the weekends (particularly 3-day weekends) was the best, because it allowed time for the initial plan and shop, then time for the mistake and the second plan and shop, and time for the actual correct work to be done. (You think I'm joking . . )

Re: cornmeal and ants. Have been having a problem with ants on my sunporch. They seem to be living underneath and coming up through cracks in the tile floor. There's no way for me to get to where they live to spray (and I don't like sprays anyway). So I mixed up some cornmeal and borax in a little deli container lid and left it near where they've been arriving. It's been about a week, and the problem has considerably slowed. BUT they seem to be 'burying their dead' in the cornmeal mixture. I've actually seen a live ant dragging and leaving a dead one there! and there were several little carcasses last I looked. But hey--if it works, without dangerous chemicals, or smells that will give me respiratory problems, I'm thrilled.