A Strawberry Pyramid Planter for Next to Nothing
Store bought strawberry pyramids cost up to $100, but you can make your own for
next to nothing from either wood or metal. The circular metal pyramid is simply
a series of three tiers, the bottom one generally six feet in diameter, the
second four feet in diameter, and the third two feet in diameter. To construct a
strawberry pyramid from aluminum, use corrugated lawn edging sheets, which are
the necessary six inches or so wide. Build the first tier as a circle six feet
in diameter, setting it on the ground and filling it with soil. Then add the
second and third circular tiers, filling each when it is set in place. A piece
of perforated three inch pipe can be inserted from the top to water through, or
a sprinkler can be placed at the top.
To construct a square strawberry planter from lumber, use two by-eights coated
with wood preservative and precut in whatever dimensions you desire - one tier
might be five feet square, the other three and a half feet square, and the last
two feet square. Join the boards for each tier frame with metal corner braces,
using 16d nails. Then place each frame atop the other as with the circular metal
pyramid.
Either of these terraced planters will hold about 50 plants. They'll grow even
more berries than they would on the same space in a strawberry patch if you
drill holes in the sides of the wooden or aluminum tiers and plant strawberries
therein. Pyramids are also far more convenient to tend than strawberry beds.
Free Stakes and Supports for the Garden
Cut off two sides of the wooden frame that supports the inside of large
packing crates such as those used for refrigerators and stoves. Set what's left
of the frame in the garden like an arch and grow plants along the sides of it. .
Make a tomato or cucumber fence from old four paned window frames with the
glass knocked out. Just nail the old frames to posts sunk in the ground.
Use sunflowers as living stakes for tomatoes and other plants. Plant
sunflowers close by at the same time tomatoes are set out. Let the tomatoes grow
up three foot wooden stakes at first. By the time the tomato plants reach the
top of these wooden stakes, the sunflowers will be ready to use as natural
stakes for the rest of the season. Tie the tomato stems to the sunflower stalk
with soft cloth ties. Fertilize and water heavily to provide for the needs of
both plants. Besides providing natural stakes, the sunflowers will shade the
tomato plants and help prevent sunscalded fruit.
In staking climbing tomato plants - some of which grow over 20 feet high - use
your imagination. One gardener trains his giant plants to wooden and aluminum
extension ladders propped against his garage. No matter what kind of staking is
devised for climbing plants (large stakes made by nailing boards together, long
tree limbs, etc.) be sure that they're anchored at least three feet in the
ground so that they won't topple over. Don't forget that you'll have to use at
least a ten-foot stepladder to care for giant plants and to pick any fruit off
them as they grow up into the stratosphere.
All the free stakes needed can also be grown in your own yard if you plant
shrubby willows like Salix viminalis, Salix purpurea, Salix caprea, Salix
discolor and Salix gracilistyla. If these bushes are cut back hard, eight foot
shoots can often be grown in one year, though it is best to leave the shoots on
the plant for another year until they thicken and harden. Willow sticks root
very easily; they should be cut early in the winter so that they'll dry out
before being used.
A Free Strawberry or Flower Barrel
Save $30 to $40 making your own strawberry or flower barrel. The old fashioned
strawberry barrel is a great space saver and is portable as well. Berries grown
in this way will always be clean and ripen evenly. Strawberry barrels can be
made out of anything from a small wooden nail keg to steel oil drums. Starting
at the bottom, simply drill from two to four inch diameter holes in circles
around the barrel. Stagger each circle of holes 6 to 12 inches from the
preceding one. Make the holes in each circle 6 to 12 inches apart from center to
center. Finally, drill small holes in the bottom for drainage, and paint or
decorate the container for use on the lawn, terrace, or patio. Attach coasters
to the bottom so that the barrel can be moved about, or set it on a wagon wheel
that spins around, or simply place the barrel on bricks or wooden blocks. Each
of these methods provides good air circulation.
When ready to plant, put stones or gravel in the bottom for drainage and fill
the barrel with your soil mix. Plant as you fill the barrel with soil, inserting
the plants from the inside of the barrel, guiding the leaves and crown outside
through the holes and fanning out the roots inside. When the barrel is planted,
insert a piece of perforated drainpipe that has been cut to the height of the
barrel (rolled screen can also be used). Fill this with pure sand and water
through it.
Strawberry barrels can be winter protected by bringing them into the garage or a
cool cellar, or by mulching them heavily with straw or leaves held in place with
chicken wire. It is worth a try to save them for next year, but generally the
plants should be replaced with new ones after they have fruited, for they bear
very sparsely after the first year.
In addition to strawberries, almost all flowers can be planted in these barrels.
Quick Free Things You Can Make for the Garden
* The shallow upper drawers from unsalvageable dressers and coffee tables can be
made into seed flats by drilling holes in the bottom for drainage and filling
them three quarters with soil.
* Egg cartons, tops removed, and soil added, become ready made compartmentalized
flats in which to start a dozen plants from seed.
* The bottom thirds of empty milk containers make excellent pots for young
plants started from seed indoors.
* Use spring clip type clothespins to seal partly used seed packets.
* A plastic milk container with the cap left on and the bottom cut out makes a
fine hot cap for plants.
* Save ice cream sticks for plant markers.
* Discarded nylon stockings - toes and heels cut off - make the best plant ties.
Pipe cleaners and old plastic bags cut in strips are also good. Always tie them
loosely, using as a sling support.
* Metal clothes hangers make excellent iris stakes. Straighten out all but the
hanger hook and push the straight part into the ground. Then bend the hook over
and encircle the plant with it.
* Use old tires for attractive flower planters. Simply scallop the edges with a
sharp knife, paint, and fill with rich soil.
* Old milk cans make excellent decorative planting containers for the lawn. Save
money by buying an old one and painting and decorating it yourself.
* To beautify a bare unsightly fence, paint ordinary gallon cans and drill holes
in the bottoms. Attach them to the fence and place wood blocks under potted
plants - like begonias - in the cans. This will raise the plants above the fence
top and make it "bloom. "
* Tile flues filled with soil can be used to grow herbs like chives, rosemary or
mint on the patio close by the barbecue.
* Weathered logs with natural crevices make beautiful natural plant containers
for plants such as low growing junipers. If no adequate depressions exist, drill
flowerpot size holes into the logs.
* The tool belts used by telephone company linesmen and electricians make
excellent tool belts for the garden.
* Garden tools will repay the care you give them. Protect your smaller tools
from rusting by keeping a pail of sand near the garage or cellar door and
plunging the tools into the sand when you are through with them.
* Be your own surgeon when your garden hose develops a leak. Here's how to
"operate." If the hose is torn, cut at the break, remove the damaged portion,
and join together with metal hose mender inserted inside the hose and held in
place with twisted wire (or a hose clamp) on the outside. Small leaks can
usually be fixed with plastic cement or friction tape.
* Observe these rules and you'll lengthen the life of your garden hose: 1. Drain
thoroughly after use. 2. Roll into large, loose coils. 3. Store in a cool place.
(If hung, place over a rounded object to prevent sharp bends.) 4. Don't drag the
hose near oil drippings; oil rots rubber. 5. Don't turn off the water by
pinching on the hose, even for a minute; this strains and weakens the rubber. 6.
Never step on or drive over your hose. 7. Don't leave hose exposed to the sun
for any length of time; heat deteriorates rubber.
* A teaspoon of salt added to the soap lather will clean the grimiest of
gardener's hands.