Having only a few inches of thick clay soil over shale for my garden, I have been making small raised beds from flexible plastic edging and filling them with potting soil. The edging can be made into any shape, oval or round, small or large, and just about any size. I cut the edging to the length that makes the desirable diameter of a circle, such as 1 foot, using the formula pi (3.14) times the diameter to get 38 inches. Add a few inches so you get the ends to overlap. Then, using a staple gun, staple the overlap to a small piece of wood, cut to fit the overlap height and width. When I have many of these ready in a group, I set them on the clay topsoil and fill the spaces in between with mulch, mushroom manure or stones. Another idea is to use the heavy plastic bags from the mushroom manure, cut down to sufficient height, with holes punched into the bottom for drainage, then filled with potting soil and placed behind a low retaining wall which divides the backyard from an up-sloping hillside. The space behind the wall is irregular in height and depth so the bags of soil are self leveling and provide additional growing space in my limited garden area.

Joe Mielnicki

I save eggshells for several months in a glass gallon jar. When the jar is full, I crush the eggshells. I then fill the jar of crushed eggshells with warm water and let it sit overnight. The next day, I pour the water around the base of my rose bushes. The roses love this cocktail and reward me with awesome foliage and blooms.

Anonymous

This tip was given to me 20 yrs. ago and is an excellent, inexpensive and easy way to feed roses: around the drip line of your rose, sprinkle 1 cup of rabbit feed (alfalfa pellets) and 2 tablespoons of epsom salt. Then scratch them lightly into the soil. For a small rose (or one that's just getting established) cut the amounts in half.

Helen Aunspach

For thirty years, all of my coffee grounds have gone into my garden. Since nite crawlers eat them, my garden is aerated and fertilized in one operation. There are plenty of worms for fishing.

Ruth W. Downs

Keep a pot of dirt handy when you are weeding. As you come across volunteer plants (those that have come up from seeds dropped or spread by roots) dig them up and put them in the pot. They will be ready to share with friends or to be transplanted elsewhere. I always have pots of perennials ready to be sent home with a new gardener or a visiting friend.

Jo Anne Appel

Once I plant my vegetables and lay my soaker hoses, I lay down everyday BLACK & WHITE NEWSPAPER (not color) and lay my grass clippings on top. My garden remains moist and I just till up the newspaper with the end of the season. Simple, affordable and a BIG timesaver.

John L. Redfern, Jr.

I have a tip about seeds/seedlings. When starting seeds, instead of covering the seeds with soilless mix, cover with a layer of sterilized sand. This will keep them from dying from the wilt that many get. So, in other words, fill the plugs about 5/8th full with soiless mix , plant your seeds, then cover with sand. Since I started this, I have not lost a single seedling to the wilt.

Mary Dauncey

In the fall, when my vegetable garden is emptied, I spread some 10-10-10 fertilizer ( about 2 pounds for every 100 sq. ft.), and lime to bring the soil pH up to 6.5 to 6.8. I work this in the soil, then rake the garden smooth. On this I broadcast winter rye seed at the rate of 1 pound per 100 sq. ft. and water it in. I keep the garden moist until the rye has germinated. This will grow over the winter during any mild weather. In the spring, I till it in a month before I want to plant the garden. This enriches the soil and provides nutrients for vegetables.

 Michael Gravel

I've been somewhat an unconventional gardener all my life and have fun thinking of using what I have without purchasing from stores. My most favorite and of course fun and useful, is right after a storm, I go into my yard and start carefully lifting up rocks or path stones and gathering the worms. Walk gently and be fast or you'll scare them. Then, I put them in my containers, barrels and beds and they go right to work making the soil rich and the plants prosper. Every creature has a purpose and the worms are seldom praised for their wonderful work.

Darci Anderson