December Gardening Tip—from GARDENING IN IOWA AND SURROUNDING AREAS

"When leaving on vacation, keep potted plants healthy by watering well and covering them with a clear dry-cleaning bag. The plants will stay watered for up to three weeks."—Darlene Lorenz, Independence Garden Club

Gardening in Iowa and Surrounding Areas, by Veronica Lorson Fowler with the Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa

November Gardening Tip—from GARDENING IN IOWA AND SURROUNDING AREAS

"To discourage the use of your plants, including houseplants, as a cat litter box, cut a slit and a hole in the middle of a pie tin and place it around the base of the plant."—Kathleen Moench, Business Women's Garden Club, Des Moines

Gardening in Iowa and Surrounding Areas, by Veronica Lorson Fowler with the Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa

October Gardening Tip—from GARDENING IN IOWA AND SURROUNDING AREAS

"Do not cut down the tops of asparagus until it's been killed by frost. The longer the tops remain, the more food will be stored in the roots to produce next spring's crop."—Marshalltown Garden Club

Gardening in Iowa and Surrounding Areas, by Veronica Lorson Fowler with the Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa

January Gardening Tip—from GARDENING IN IOWA AND SURROUNDING AREAS

When cleaning your fireplace, save the ashes to spread on your garden. Potatoes, especially, will benefit from nutrients in the ashes. You can also put the ashes in your compost heap.
—Ester Dockstader, Des Moines Garden Club

Gardening in Iowa and Other Surrounding Areas, by Veronica Lorson Fowler with the Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa

January Gardening Tip—from GARDENING IN IOWA AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Make a winter suet feeder for birds by melting together one cup crunchy peanut butter and one cup lard. Stir in one cup flour, two cups cornmeal, one-fourth cup sugar, one cup sunflower seeds, and two cups oatmeal. Pack into a milk carton and freeze. When completely frozen, put in an empty mesh bag in which you bought onions or potatoes. Hang on a pole outdoors.
—Marian McNabb, Linn Grove

Gardening in Iowa and Surrounding Areas, by Veronica Lorson Fowler with the Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa