Your All Things Plants newsletter for May 21, 2012

• 45 new members.
• 164 new threads.
• 3,165 new posts.
• 1,394 new images to the plant database.
• 24 new comments in the plant database.

There were 10 new gardening ideas posted last week:

By goldfinch4 May 21, 2012 A gnat tip for houseplants A great way to get rid of gnats on your houseplants is to mix 32 ounces of water with one squirt of Windex. Water your plants by making sure the entire soil surface is wet. It's not necessary to saturate the soil. (one comment)

By critterologist May 20, 2012 Seed-catcher tip An old pizza pan can be wired under a bird feeder for a great seed catcher tray! Even an aluminum pie plate would work, if you punched some holes in it for drainage. (4 comments)

By Sharon May 20, 2012 Garden Tours: jmorth It's an amazing garden we're touring today, the creation of a man, his plants and his flying friends. We think you are going to enjoy this trip to Illinois. Come join us and be sure to click the images so you can enjoy the full view. (1,553 words - Read the full article) (11 comments)

By rock May 19, 2012 A tip for hydrangeas Remember to feed your hydrangeas acid fertilizer for blue blooms and alkaline for pink blooms. (5 comments)

By Sharon May 18, 2012 Review: "and I shall have some peace there", a book by Margaret Roach Right up front I'll tell you this book is not a 'how-to' gardening book. It is, however, a book that might very well mirror every thought and fear that most of us gardeners have faced at one time or another. Let's take a look at a surprisingly fun, totally inspiring, and very personal glimpse into the soul of a New York businesswoman turned full time gardener. (1,047 words - Read the full article) (17 comments)

By Trish May 17, 2012 "Watersorb" water crystals: A Review Being a natural skeptic, I wasn't sure if water crystals were really worth my money. Let's see if I changed my mind. (369 words - Read the full article) (24 comments)

By rebeccag May 17, 2012 A Cayenne pepper tip If you have an area that mice or rats bother, you can keep them out using hot Cayenne pepper. They sniff an area and if they sniff up the pepper, they leave. Works well if you have them around your seedlings, under a bird feeder or in a work shed. It will not get rid of them, but it's an easy way to deter them. (one comment)

By rocklady May 16, 2012 A planter idea We recycled our old wet/dry shop vac into a planter. There was a threaded drain at the bottom which we did not tighten fully so that water could drain out. The blue also adds color to the yard. (7 comments)

By Joannabanana May 16, 2012 Big Balls of Colour You see them hanging twelve feet up along boulevards, blowing in the wind and totally exposed to the elements. Big beautiful balls of colour! How is this possible for the entire season? You rarely see anyone maintaining them. Ah - but they are. Let's have a look at how you can create and maintain your own big ball of colour in your garden. (1,124 words - Read the full article) (14 comments)

By Boopaints May 15, 2012 And the award for Best Garden Hose goes to . . . After spending too much money on a multitude of hoses that I disliked, I finally stumbled upon the answer to the perfect garden hose. (1,013 words - Read the full article) (34 comments)