All my friends and family know how much I love old gardening magazines and books, so they are always bringing me treasures they find along the way. These tips are from my collection of old Organic Gardening magazines.

If you are having problems getting rid of thistles, this reader found an organic way to eliminate them. Cut the thistles off at ground level, bag and dispose of them, then pour salt on the fresh cut. They haven't had to do this in years after getting rid of them. I would be careful to only salt on plant itself and not overdo it. Salt will change your soil if you use too much, as will vinegar.

When to cut: Asparagus fronds should be left to grow until they are killed by frost. In the autumn cut and compost the tops. The plants foliage collect nutrients all summer long! They should never be cut while green. Tulips and daffodils foliage should also be left until it browns and dies. Pinch off dead blooms at the tops, but leave the foliage. Do the same for rhubarb after you harvest, but you don't have to remove the leaves after frost. They don't harbor disease, and can just be left on in the fall.

Conserving Water: One couple wanted to irrigate without raising their water bills, and found a way to do this and conserve water. They kept buckets on hand in the kitchen, laundry room and bathroom and when running water to wait for it to get hot, they ran it into the buckets. Come to find out they were wasting about 10 gallons a day! Now that was used to water the garden.

Another ant tip: another person who tried it all to get rid of fire ants finds a method that worked for them! He stirred the nests with a stick, then put about an inch of Epsom salts in and around the hill. He hasn't seen them since. Remember, that where you put salt the soil will not grow grass or anything else for that matter, so be cautious as to where you use it..

Do we all wish we had a nickel for every ant tip out there? It's amazing that with all the technology we have today it's the home gardener who is coming up with things that work!

MORE TIPS: What can you grow under pines?
http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/pines.html
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Enjoy your day. ~Brenda

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