For the lazy gardner - or overambitious composter - Use freshest manure in your compost pile to help decompose fall leaves over the winter.  I have a 20 X 5 X 3 foot compost pile that I find difficult to turn regularly.  I obtained fresh manure from my neighborhood stable and my fall leaves turned into usable compost within 3 weeks without any assistance on my part.  The manure itself is still not completely composted but its shape is very noticeable..  Since I ride at the stable I know that they use pelleted feed - so I don't have to worry to much about additional weeds growing in the garden.  Our our winters are variable in Texas and having composted and mulched through the winter, my plants were ready for the 15 degree weather we had at the end of February and the last winter frost (29 degrees) yesterday morning.

Cindy McKellar

For my aquariums I change out some of the water frequently and add fresh water.  I use the aquarium water on my house plants.  The water is loaded with nutrients and the plants love the extra special feeding.

Dawne Holak

I live in the middle of an oak forest. We do not rake in the fall at all. The oak leaves cover all my plants and keep them warm and toasty all winter. It is March 5th and my plants are blooming under all the leaves. On sunny warm days I uncover them so they can soak up some sun. By the end of March many of my flowers and hostas are at least 9" tall. By then its safe enough to uncover everything. This is not a new idea, its what nature has taught me. Leave the leaves until spring.

Margaret Razus

Stones give a garden a natural look and flat stones or left over pieces of irregular shaped slate are ideal to make a garden path.  My gardens are wide so this system makes it much easier to navigate through foliage quickly without damaging plants or compacting the soil or mulch to do the occasional pruning, weeding and dead heading.  If the foliage grows to conceal the stones you know they are there so just shuffle instead of stepping.

Beanierene

Mulching over your babies!  When spring comes and you want to get your new, fresh mulch down but are afraid of smashing your newly sprouting plants, here's an idea:  Cover your little sprouts with plastic cups (they come in clear, red, blue, etc).  Secure the cups by pressing into the ground slightly.  After spreading the mulch, just pick up the cups and your little ones are just fine.

Diana Dunlap

I'm not completely sure this is what you are looking for as a garden tip, but it definitely is a success story.  I live in Panama City Beach, Florida and a new bridge is finally being built to connect Panama City Beach to Panama City.  Along the entrance ramp to the old bridge were some of the most beautiful deep red oleanders.  It was truly a shame when they started talking about tearing up everything to start the new construction.  Well, after gaining permission, I took several cuttings about 10" long.  I removed all but the top leaves, dipped them in rooting hormone, and placed them in some potting soil in old plastic pots. Well, that was three years ago, and I now have three beautiful bright red oleanders of my own.  A reminder of what was and a dream of what can be.  What a great way to garden.

Pam Snuggs

Encourage moss in your shade garden by painting garden accents (wood posts, cement planters, etc.) with a thin coat of yogurt and watering lightly everyday.  This will promote that mossy green coating that usually takes years to build up.

Jo Anne Appel

Here's a little tip should any of your customers find themselves short of cylinders for their Park-Starts. (Or if they need to use a different seed starting medium.) You can slice the styrofoam blocks through the center of the holes and then use rubber bands to hold the cut sections together. The holes can then be filled with a seed starting/rooting mix of your choice. Once the roots of the plants have filled the cylinder, simply remove the rubber bands holding the block together and the little cylinders of soil lift out for repotting. It gives you multiple options for soils and makes transplanting even easier.

Donald Shinn

We have tried to grow roses for years without too much luck.  Last summer, my husband started "planting" his morning banana peel in his rose bed each day.  I'm sure the potassium enriched the soil, and we had the biggest and most beautiful roses we have ever had.  We plan to continue to "plant" the banana peels this summer. 

Jean B. Walk