Organic Gardening tips 

Warning:  Always test on a small portion of your plant before use. Protect yourself from inhalation or any skin, eye contact or ingestion of any of these formulas. Keep all formulas away from children and pets. Mix and use at your own risk!

Organic slug and snail deterrent:  February, 2017
​ Spread a ring of wood ash around individual plants in your gardens. One or two handfuls and it's better to use composted wood ash. Wet wood ash no longer works as a pesticide. Apply some more but don't over do it or you will change soil pH and have salt buildup that will likely hurt your plant and not the pests. Much safer to use the composted wood ash dry on pests.

Organic Fertilizer:  March, 2017  Do not use on acid loving plants like blueberries! Wood ash will raise soil pH.
​Wood ashes ​from fireplaces contain 10-25% calcium, 1-4% magnesium, 5-15% potassium and 1-3% phosphorus and other trace minerals. Use it in the vegetable garden and around the drip line of fruit trees. Use some on your tomatoes and other nightshade relatives like eggplant etc.

Use wood ash that has been composted. Uncomposted wood ash contains salt.  A small amount (handful or two) won't hurt your plants generally but large repeated applications might. Always test an area around a plant and wait a few weeks to see how it reacts. Wood ash from Maples and Oaks will contain higher concentrations of minerals than softer woods like Pine.

Organic Weed Killer:  April, 2017
​ Mix together thoroughly 5 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 5 tbsp baby shampoo, 5 tbsp Listerine mouthwash and 1 gal water. Transfer mixture to a garden sprayer and drench each weed. Do not overspray the surrounding plants or sod. Be sure to rinse out the sprayer before using again. Rinse it three times with just soap and water.

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