Set out beer traps to end your garden slug problem
Does it work? This one can be answered with a resounding “kinda.”
The yeast in beer will certainly help to attract slugs to a well-placed trap, but the validity of this garden myth has all of its weight resting on whether or not the slugs can get back out of the trap again.
If you set out a shallow bowl with some beer in it, the slugs can climb up and slurp.
But if it’s too shallow, they’ll just turn around and go back to whatever other goodies you have available in your garden when they’re done.
The effectiveness of this legendary method rests on how quickly and effectively you can nab the slugs from these traps and dispose of them in another way.
Occasionally they may drown, but more often they manage to climb up the side of the container and go on their merry way.
Plant marigolds to keep the bad bugs away
This is a garden myth with a lot of truth to it, but likewise a lot of misunderstanding.
Marigolds do indeed deter some of the bugs we don’t like in the garden, such as cabbage worms, and they can attract beneficial flies that feed on aphids and other nasties.
But we need enormous amounts of marigolds for this to have a real effect.
A single six-pack of marigold starts from the nursery won’t do much for your garden. But if you carpeted the beds with a hundred plants, you’d definitely notice a positive impact.
Keep in mind, however, that those extra marigolds will also compete for the same resources our vegetable crops and other edibles need.
So, marigolds can certainly benefit your garden space as companion plants, but only when they’re grown in sufficient numbers, and there are some considerable drawbacks to this strategy as well.
If you choose to plant some marigolds in your garden, I’d recommend you do it with only their lovely appearance and scent as your reward.
Learn more about using marigolds for pest control here.
Flora Folklore That’s Garden Fact!
Yes, here we go! Definite garden truth that offers a clear, concise, factual bit of wisdom.
Use eggshells and banana peels in your garden for healthier plants
Eggshells and banana peels contain significant amounts of calcium and potassium, respectively, and these common kitchen waste products can be a boon to your garden.
I’d sprinkle crushed eggshells on the surface of the soil or work it just underneath.
And I recommend burying banana peels in the earth instead of tossing them loose on the surface of your garden beds – that’s a recipe for attracting rodents and other pests.
These two helpful food scraps are basic elements of compost, and they may be put to the best use in a bin where they can contribute to creating nutrient-rich compost.
However, in a pinch, adding them straight to the garden in their raw form works too.
Soak your plant cuttings in a “tea” made from soaked willow cuttings to promote rooting
I have a friend who asked if he really could get willow whips to set root in a bucket of water. I told him he’d have a hard time getting them not to take root.
Willows are fast growers, and this is due in large part to the growth hormone indolebutyric acid, which they contain. This hormone will indeed help your cuttings to root.
Cut about twenty branches from a willow tree, nothing larger than a pencil in diameter. Don’t worry, your willow can handle losing these!
Strip the leaves from the branches you’ve cut, and then cut the branches into one- to two-inch lengths.
Boil half a gallon of water, remove it from the heat, and then place the pieces in the water to soak.
In the past I’ve steeped mine for 24 hours because I’m an impatient guy, but they can sit in the water for 48 hours.
Sieve the mixture and discard the twigs however you prefer to go about this (throw them on the compost, etc.).
