KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – SUMMERTIME HINTS
Below are some great tips for your summer enjoyment. They range from pest control to quick home fixes.
Create your own natural insecticide. Mix 2Tbs. red pepper and 5 drops dishwashing liquid in a gallon of water. Spray on your veggies and watch bugs disappear.
Repel rabbits by sprinkling talcum powder around plants.
Use old stockings to tie up tomatoes or any other vegetable. They are soft and will not damage the plants as well as being very strong.
In the extreme heat of summer some people let their lawns go dormant. Grass will come back as soon as it gets rain. This will also kill off any crab or quack grass in the lawn which needs water to survive. This is also a reason for infrequent deep watering. These nuisance grasses have very shallow roots and love it when you water too frequently.
Freshen your cooler with vanilla! Moisten a paper towel with vanilla extract, wipe out the cooler from top to bottom. Leave open for air to circulate. The alcohol in the vanilla will remove odors and the vanilla leaves a lovely scent.
Use clear cement glue to repair small holes in screens.
Use baking soda to clean outdoor white plastic furniture. Make a paste with water and scrub thoroughly. Rinse with water. It's effective and natural at the same time.
Happy Summer!
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
