Adding crushed egg shells to compost
Adding crushed egg shells (or other calcium sources) can help stimulate worm reproduction http://ow.ly/i/GF3s
Rhubarb leaves – Organic Insecticide
Rhubarb leaves can be used to make an effective organic insecticide for any of the leaf eating insects (cabbage caterpillars, aphids, peach and cherry slug etc).
Recipe 1
Basically you boil up a few pounds of rhubarb leaves in a few pints of water for about 15 or 20 minutes,
allow to cool,
then strain the liquid into a suitable container.
Dissolve some soap flakes in this liquid and use it to spray against aphids.
So, next time you pick some rhubarb stems to eat, you can put the leaves to good use rather than just composting them (which isn’t in itself such a bad use, I guess). http://ow.ly/i/GF8m
I’ve been using Milorganite Fertilizer
I’ve been using Milorganite Fertilizer for over a decade to fertilize just about everything in my outdoor landscape and container plantings, including: shrubs, trees, perennials, annuals, ornamental grasses, tropicals and the lawn. Milorganite is great for rejuvenating old, burnt-out lawns.
Don’t let the low numbers in the analysis, 6-2-0, fool you. Milorganite is also packed with other essential nutrients and minerals your plants require for optimum growth and performance.
Though Milorganite is a very safe fertilizer, what I don’t use it on is edible plants such as vegetebales, fruits and herbs or indoor plants. I use a 100% OMRI Certified organic fertilizer for anything that will end up on the dinner table. That being said, Milorganite meets U.S. “Exceptional Quality” standards – the most stringent regulations in the fertilizer industry, and this means it’s safe for use in vegetable gardens, orchards, and other food gardens.
Otherwise, when it comes to fertilizer any other kind of outdoor plant, it’s Milorganite…for several very good reasons:
It’s a great fertilizer that can be safely used on so many different types of plants and the lawn
It’s mild and non-burning. I can use it on anything in the middle of summer without any worries
It’s slow release and long-lasting releasing mineral and nutrients over a 10 to 12 week period.
It provides uniform growth and establishes strong root systems
It contains naturally occurring iron that helps for deep greening of foliage
No need to worry about groundwater or well contamination. The phosphorus in Milorganite is non-leaching.
The slow release formula stays in the root zone, even on sandy soils and even with frequent watering.
And, last but not least, it helps to repel deer!
http://ow.ly/i/GF4M
Impatiens the Most Popular Shade Annual
Impatiens are one of the most popular plants for shade — and it’s easy to see why. They bloom constantly from spring to fall, offer flowers in just about every color, and couldn’t be easier to grow. Look for New Guinea impatiens, which bear larger blossoms and stockier stems; double impatiens, which feature petal-filled, roselike flowers; or mini impatiens, which cover themselves in small blooms. http://ow.ly/i/GF45