Hi there, folks!
Hopefully, you’re all enjoying the warm spring weather. I’ve been taking full advantage of the mild temperatures to get some much-needed outdoor chores done.
For starters, my deck was really looking dirty. But rather than buying an expensive cleaner, I gave it a good scrubbing with my homemade Deck and Porch Cleaner: 1 qt. of household bleach, 1/2 cup of powdered laundry detergent, and 2 gallons of hot water mixed in a bucket. Use a stiff broom or brush to scrub this mix into your deck’s surface, and then hose it down thoroughly.
It was also time to get my lawn up off its grass for another growing season. So I treated it to a dose of my Spring Wake-Up Tonic: 50 lbs. of pelletized gypsum, 50 lbs. of pelletized lime, 5 lbs. of bonemeal, and 2 lbs. of Epsom salts mixed in a wheelbarrow. Apply this mix with a broadcast spreader no more than 2 weeks before your first official lawn feeding.
And unfortunately, springtime’s outdoor chores usually bring allergy symptoms right along with them—well, for me, anyway. To clear my sinuses, I whipped up this steamy soother: 1 tablespoon each of rosemary and eucalyptus mixed in 1 cup of boiling water. Place a towel over your head to make a tent, and sniff the fumes for 5 minutes for blessed relief.
3/27/07
Hi. Love the site! Would like to know where (12508 zip) I can purchase some “pelletized gypsum” that is mentioned so often in the tonics?
Thanks~
love2garden
Hope you’re feeling better. I feel your pain. I live in Northwest Louisiana and up until a couple of days ago EVERYTHING was coated with pollen. Thank goodness for rain.
Do you have a recipe for killing clover? I’ve tried a couple of commercial items (or at least my yard guy has) and nothing seems to work.
I have looked at your Gardneing DVDs just wondering where to buy chewing tobacco?I am looking to the store where sell cigarette they only have the tin chewing tobacco kind of expensive for this kind use. Where has the kind you use — looseleaf chewing tobacco? If you can post the here I really appreciated.
thanks for the tips Jerry,I used it, and it worked – I mean the porch cleanser.
I love Jerry’s tips and tonics…they work and are organic! Also fairly cheap. Most items I already have.
I purchased chewing tobacco in a tin at Walmart 2 years ago. I make the tobacco tea with it and a tin will probably make over 10 gallons of the stuff.
I have used the tobacco tea in my garden and hanging potted plants to rid them of all types of unwanted pest. Very effective.
I am a Jerry Believer!