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From: SifGreyWillow (Original Message) Sent: 9/30/2007 11:47 PM

In addition to knowing your regional temperature zone (one of the eleven designated by the USDA according to annual minimum temperatures), you should also try to determine what "microclimates" you have on your property. These are small areas where the average temperatures and conditions will vary depending on the amount of sun, wind, and water present. For example, a damp area on the west side of your house may behave more like a zone 5 even if you live in a warmer zone 6 region.
If you have a plant you'd love to grow that seems too tender for your region, there are some things you can try. Try situating the plant by a south facing brick or stone wall. These structures store heat by day and release it at night and may warm the immediate area as much as two zones. In colonial times, gardeners used "hot-bedding". They would build a soil bed on top of a pile of fresh manure; the heat of decomposition was enough to change the climate by a few zones for the winter. Placing tender plants by man-made heat sources, such as HVAC vents may also do the trick. Be creative and try your ideas with just one or two specimens.

Instead of using insecticides, try planting marigolds, basil, savory, horseradish, mint, onions, garlic, and chives near your garden. These plants’ (and many others) natural and root secretions repel some insects.

Dirty and rusty garden tools need to be kept clean, not for appearance sake but because pitted metal attracts soil and slows the work. Use rust remover and a wire brush. Pass a hand file over cutting edges. Then sand handles and wipe on linseed oil.

It is time to "work" the soil in spring when you squeeze a handful and it crumbles. If the soil forms a ball, it is still too wet to start gardening.

When building a garden, use newspaper under your loam and topsoil. The newspaper will kill all the weeds and grass underneath, plus it will compost into great mulch that roots can grow through.

Nature’s fertilizer is there for the taking. Don’t burn leaves; use them to improve garden soil. Chop the leaves up with a lawn mower. Make a compost pile and store your leaves there. Spade into the garden as needed.

Try starting seeds in eggshell halves. It’s economical and earth-friendly. Store planted shells in egg carts so they can easily be moved to sunny spots. Plant as is. Roots break through and the decomposed shell acts as fertilizers.