February Gardening Tip

Considering how windy this winter has been, we thought it was only appropriate to give you some pointers on how to protect your plants from wind.

Contrary to popular belief, tin cans protect seedlings only from winds. They do not protect from cold. For cold protection for seedlings planted early, remove the lid and cut off the bottom of a plastic milk jug and place over the plant. Remove in mid-May.

—Barbara Rusk, Ames 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