{"id":4885,"date":"2024-11-07T13:53:35","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T18:53:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/?page_id=4885"},"modified":"2024-11-07T13:53:36","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T18:53:36","slug":"wendys-wanderings-for-november-2024","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/resources\/newsletters\/the-neighborhood-gardener-november-2024\/wendys-wanderings-for-november-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Wendy\u2019s Wanderings for November 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n

Wendy\u2019s Wanderings for November 2024<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"Wendy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Making Do<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUse it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.\u201d This proverb often comes to mind during garden projects, especially when I\u2019m tempted to dash off to the big orange or blue store for the \u201cperfect\u201d tool or material. If I snap the handle off a shovel or my fountain pump breaks (again), yes, I might head to the store. But more often than not, I embrace the challenge to \u201cmake do\u201d with what I already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, if I run out of landscape fabric while setting up a new bed, I check the recycling bin for cardboard. Usually, I have a few boxes that can be flattened and used as weed barriers. Covered with three inches of leaf or pine-needle mulch, the cardboard works just as well as fabric\u2014and it saves me a trip to the store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garden beds often need edging to keep them distinct from the lawn or surrounding ground cover. There are various edging materials available\u2014aluminum, plastic, stone\u2014but I often find myself running out before I finish a bed. When that happens, I start hunting around the yard or shed. Sometimes I can find a few natural rocks or branches that work perfectly. If I\u2019m feeling especially artistic, I take inspiration from my sister\u2019s garden and create a wattle edge by weaving long branches through upright stakes. This gives the bed a charming, rustic look without costing a penny.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A
Wattle edging has a charming, natural look.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Sometimes, when I\u2019m planting a bed, I realize I just need one or two more plants to complete the design. Instead of buying new plants, I look around my garden for side shoots or divisions that can fill the gaps. This \u201cmake-do\u201d approach often results in a beautiful display\u2014and it\u2019s free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I plant something new, I like to keep a tag with it for a few reasons: 1) so I can remember its name, 2) to remind myself that the spot is taken if it\u2019s a plant that disappears seasonally, and 3) to remember it if it doesn\u2019t survive. If a tag isn\u2019t included, I improvise with a strip of old Venetian blinds or a popsicle stick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My favorite make-do trick comes from veteran Master Gardener Volunteer Laurie Sheldon. When we worked together in the bromeliads or roses, she didn\u2019t bother with expensive rose gauntlets. Instead, she simply cut the toes off a pair of tube socks, slid them over her forearms, and put on her regular gloves\u2014a simple, effective hack!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Many gardeners have their own \u201cmake-do\u201d tricks. Next time you\u2019re with a Master Gardener Volunteer, ask for their advice. With a little ingenuity and the wisdom of fellow gardeners, you can save yourself time, money, and another trip to the garden center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Wendy Wilber<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":4861,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"featured_post":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4885","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4885"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4891,"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4885\/revisions\/4891"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/mastergardener\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}