Save time and effort by sprouting hard-skinned seeds like sweet peas before sowing.Place seeds in a jar with a small amount of tepid water. Store in a warm place and change water daily until strong shoot appears on the viable seeds.
Anne Barton. (June 2000 competition winner)

Those mailshot CDs with 'free' internet access for a month on AOL, Compuserve etc. Don't throw them away - thread string through the hole and hang them from canes or wire etc. to move in the wind and the reflective surface scares the birds.
Roger Reeve. (June '99 competition winner)

As a gardener sitting at my computor, watching as yet more rain falls. My tip for this spring is to build an ark.
Doug Barton.

With the invasion of Macdonalds restaurants throughout the country, this tip came to me when treating my 5 year old daughter at one such restaurant recently and could help gardeners all over the world.
Buy a pack of four doughnuts with a choice of chocolate or strawberry sauce, the 4" diameter plastic packing will provide you with a wonderful seed starting container for a windowsill or greenhouse as it is made from clear plastic with an integral lid.
Mike Sloman.

Buying crock feet for plant pots and tubs to stand on can be expensive. Use the upturned lids from coffee jars - especially the gold coloured ones. These not only look good - but do the job admirably.
Lisa James.

To prevent grot entering your water butt push a large bottle brush down the inlet that feeds it. Of course, it's fortunate if the feed runs of the garage as mine does!
Penny.

Net Curtains. I use them for :
Frost protection for bedding plants put outside to harden off.
I also protect tender Camellias and Wisteria with nets on nights when frost is forcast.
Shade for the greenhouse instead of shade paint - I grow a lot of Fuchsias which appreciate the shade.
I use pieces of net in the bottom of Bonsai dishes instead of the expensive mesh which is sold specifically for the job.
I am about to try collars of net under the surface of the copmost in pot plants and at the bottom of pots to try to stop the dreaded Vine Weevil from laying it's eggs in my pots.
Net curtains can be purchased very cheaply at car boot sales. When grubby they just get taken down and laundered.
Elizabeth Burnell.

Plan ahead for NEXT Years runner bean row!! Save all the cores from your toilet rolls, then by the time it comes round to sowing your seeds (which you'll have saved from this years crop), you'll have the perfect core to put compost and seeds in to plant out when the risk of frost has gone and when the plants are large enough. (We've done this for years although we must admit that having children around did help to get the required amount of cores!!)
Lin Churchill.

To guard against slug damage in your vegetable garden, spread wood ash from the bonfire around suceptable plants, this is not only practical but a good way to dispose of your bonfire waste.
Janet Alway.

Don't throw out empty egg cartons, paper or plastic - they make excellent seed trays. The plastic ones have a built-on propagator as a bonus. This year I used the plastic casing from my chocolate Easter eggs as 'lids' on seed trays on the paper egg boxes.
Janet McCarthy.

To make it easier to remove those stubborn mineral build ups on your teracotta pots and saucers, try soaking them in a denture cleaning solution first!
Amanda Hawkins.

If you are making compost you will have hundreds of little white flies in your bin.To stop this all you need is some CFC free flea spray,and you will be rid of these pesky little blighters forever (or at least `till the next time you spray the bin!!!).
John Cheetham.

Keep your garden nice by setting a side 1/2 an hour each day to tidy up.
Theresa and Steve Potterton.

For the keen gardener with a small plot. Plant a range of mints in a border where you don't wish to grow mint. You will be kept busy pulling it out, and simultaneously enjoy the wonderful aroma! (It sounds a little moronic, but it truly is a fabulous 'chore').
Michael Letchford.

©1998 Gecko 55 Ltd. All rights reserved