- A saucer of beer -- snails will crawl in to drink the beer, then drown when they can't crawl back out.
- Strips of copper (copper shocks snails) around containers or raised beds.
- Sharp items such as pine straw.
Q: I don't have a lot of sun in my yard -- in fact, the sunniest spots get only four to six hours a day. What kinds of vegetables can I grow with any success?
A: Obviously, if you had some areas with full sun, you'd have more options to choose from in plant varieties. But don't let a little shade discourage you from growing tasty vegetables that you and your family will enjoy and benefit from, such as leafy crops (e.g., lettuce and spinach) and root crops (e.g., carrots and beets, which can get by with four to six hours of morning sun).
Q: When I go to the garden center to buy my plants, what should I look for to make sure I'm buying healthy plants that will grow well in my garden?
A: Sometimes the choices at the garden center are overwhelming, but there are a few general things to look for in any plant you'll be buying -- and that's especially true for vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers. Here are three things to look for:
- Plants should have green, not yellow, leaves.
- Roots should not be bound tightly.
- Seedlings should not be crowded (one per pot is preferable).
Money-Saver Tip:
Instead of spending money on expensive irrigation systems, use cans to make your own:
- Cut the tops and bottoms out of large juice or coffee cans.
- Dig a hole about a foot from each plant and insert the cans in the holes.
- Poke holes in the top of a plastic gallon jug, fill it with water and put the top back on.
- Place the jug upside down in the can. The water will slowly seep out and water your plants. This will encourage deep watering -- inexpensively.
